The 1990 Upper Deck baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While most cards from sets released during this time period are not worth much, there are a few standout 1990 Upper Deck cards that can hold significant value, especially if in top graded condition.

One of the most valuable and sought after cards from the 1990 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the brightest young stars in baseball at the time and his rookie card became a highly coveted chase card for collectors. In top mint condition grades, Griffey’s 1990 Upper Deck rookie currently sells for thousands of dollars. A PSA 10 gem mint Griffey rookie has sold for over $25,000, with some even topping $40,000. But even in lower, yet still high grades of PSA 8 or 9, the Griffey rookie commands prices well into the four figure range. Its popularity and demand ensure it will remain one of the crown jewels for any junk wax era collection.

Another star rookie from the 1990 Upper Deck set that holds great value is the Frank Thomas rookie card. Like Griffey, Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career and his rookie became a highly sought after piece for sets from this period. Graded PSA 10 examples of the Thomas rookie have sold for over $5,000, with PSA 9 copies reaching $1,500-$2,000. Even in lower mint grades down to PSA 8, the Thomas rookie remains a several hundred dollar card. Its popularity among collectors of both the White Sox star and the entire junk wax era make it a consistently strong card from the 1990 UD set.

While the star rookies understandably grab the headlines, there are a few other noteworthy veterans cards that can hold significant value from the 1990 Upper Deck release as well. One is the Nolan Ryan card, featuring the legend pitching for the Texas Rangers at the time. High graded copies in PSA/BGS 10 are 4 figure cards, with 9s still maintaining mid-range 3-digit prices. The Ozzie Smith error card, where his name is misspelled as “Ozzie Guillen” also commands big money, with the scarcity and story behind it moving PSA 9-10 versions for $2,000-$5,000 each.

Outside of star players and unique errors, the 1990 Upper Deck set also has a few other attractive chase inserts that maintain strong collector demand. One is the Derek Jeter Topps Traded minor league card that was inserted in UD wax packs that year. High graded versions fetch thousands due to Jeter’s popularity and the rarity of this special minor league issue of his Topps Traded design. The Brien Taylor Top Prospect card also garners over $1,000 in top condition despite Taylor’s disappointing major league career. Collectors appreciate its historical significance as a highly touted prospect from that era.

While most 1990 Upper Deck base cards hold little value raw or even graded, some more notable veterans from that year can still be $20-$50 PSA 9 cards. These include stars like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, and Kirby Puckett among others. For team and player collectors looking to fill out specialized PC collections from the junk wax era, even these types of mundane cards have niche demand and command respectable prices.

While the vast majority of 1990 Upper Deck cards hold little intrinsic value ungraded, there are certainly stand out, key rookie and star player cards that maintain collector interest and value significantly above the regular junk wax pricing. The Griffey and Thomas rookie cards understandably top the list, but cards like the Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith error, Derek Jeter minor league issue, and Brien Taylor prospect also hold onto steady long term demand. For the discerning collector willing to hunt the right cards in pristine condition, opportunities remain to find valuable gems within the expansive 1990 UD baseball release.