1993 Baseball Card Price Guide and Values
The 1993 baseball card season marked a transition period for the hobby. While the junk wax era of the late 1980s had collapsed the baseball card market, interest was starting to rebuild in the early 1990s. The 1993 sets featured stars of that era like Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. on the rise. Over 25 years later, these sets still hold value for collectors due to the talent featured. Let’s take a closer look at the top 1993 baseball card sets and how to value cards from that year.
Top 1993 Baseball Card Sets
Fleer – Fleer was the longest running baseball card manufacturer and their 1993 offering featured 396 total cards. Rosters included all teams and the set had parallel “Gold” parallels that added to its allure. Key rookie cards included Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Darren Daulton. Graded gem mint 10 Jeter rookies now sell for over $1000.
Upper Deck – The innovative Upper Deck brand released their third baseball card set in 1993. It featured 405 total cards with innovative hologram technology on many cards. Rookies like Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Kendall made their debut. Near mint graded versions of the Jeter sell for $400-500 today.
Leaf – Leaf offered a smaller 312 card set in 1993 focused more on photography than stats. It included rookie cards of future stars like Jeter, Garciaparra and Todd Hollandsworth. The Jeter and Nomar rookies in near mint to mint condition range from $75-150 each today.
Bowman – Bowman’s 1993 set featured the usual quality photography fans expected from the brand. At only 264 cards, it was one of the smaller mainstream releases that year. Rookie cards like Jeter, Garciaparra and Todd Hollandsworth debuted. Near mint Jeter and Nomar rookies sell for around $50-75 each currently.
Donruss – Donruss’ 1993 offering contained 528 total cards with team photos and stats. Key rookies included Jeter, Garciaparra and Billy Ashley. Near mint Jeter and Nomar rookies can be found for under $25 each in today’s market.
Score – Score’s 552 card 1993 set featured team checklists and player stats. Rookies included Jeter, Garciaparra and Billy Wagner. Near mint Jeter and Nomar rookies sell for around $15-20 each currently.
1993 Baseball Card Values and Price Guide
When valuing any 1993 baseball card, there are several factors to consider such as the player featured, the card’s condition and any special parallels/variations that may have been released. Here are some general price guidelines for top 1993 rookies and stars:
Derek Jeter Rookie Cards:
PSA 10 Gem Mint – $1000+
PSA 9 Mint – $400-500
Near Mint Raw – $150-200
Nomar Garciaparra Rookie Cards:
PSA 10 Gem Mint – $300-400
PSA 9 Mint – $150-200
Near Mint Raw – $50-75
Ken Griffey Jr. Cards:
1993 Upper Deck #1 PSA 10 – $500+
Other Main Set Near Mint – $20-30
Frank Thomas Cards:
1993 Upper Deck #144 PSA 10 – $150-200
Other Main Set Near Mint – $10-15
Barry Bonds Cards:
1993 Fleer Ultra #206 PSA 10 – $100-150
Other Main Set Near Mint – $5-10
Greg Maddux Cards:
1993 Studio #56 PSA 10 – $75-100
Other Main Set Near Mint – $3-5
Special Parallel Values:
1993 Upper Deck Hologram Parallels – 50% premium
1993 Fleer Gold Parallels – 25-50% premium
The 1993 season was a turning point as the baseball card market started recovering from the crash earlier in the decade. Sets like Fleer, Upper Deck and Leaf are still popular with collectors today due to the star rookies that debuted. Top graded examples of Derek Jeter and Nomar Garciaparra regularly sell for hundreds, showing the lasting value of 1993 rookie cards. With over 25 years of appreciation, sets from this year remain a worthwhile investment for savvy collectors.
