The 1990 baseball card season featured some of the most iconic and valuable cards from the junk wax era. While many see the late 1980s and early 1990s as a low point for baseball cards due to overproduction, there were still some highly sought after rookie cards and stars of the era featured in the 1990 sets. The junk wax era may have flooded the market, but it also gave collectors their first chance to own rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Frank Thomas, Gregg Maddux, and Ken Griffey Jr.
One of the most prominent sets from 1990 was Donruss’s flagship product. The 1990 Donruss baseball card set featured a classic design with black borders and team logo designs. Some notable rookie cards included in the set were Frank Thomas’ rookie card, which has become one of the most valuable from the junk wax era. Despite the massive print run, Thomas’ dominance as one of the best hitters of the 1990s has kept his rookie in high demand. Other top rookies in the 1990 Donruss set were Kenny Lofton, Moises Alou, and David Justice. Star cards of Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, and Ozzie Smith were also popular pulls from the packs. While resell values are lower than older issues, complete sets are still fun for collectors on a budget.
Another major 1990 release was the Score brand. Score was known for innovative parallel and insert sets within its larger base issues. The 1990 Score set had a clean white border design. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Ken Griffey Jr. were the big draws, with Griffey’s being one of the most iconic cards of the era. The set is also known for short printed parallel cards like the “Diamond Kings” parallel which featured borderless photos on a diamond background. Complete 1990 Score sets can often be acquired for under $100 in graded condition.
Upper Deck broke into the baseball card market in 1989 and quickly became the premier brand of the junk wax era. Their 1990 offering built on the success of the previous year. The design featured team action photos with a blue colored trademark border. The biggest rookie cards were Frank Thomas and Sandy Alomar Jr. Chipper Jones also had his first card in the set as a minor leaguer. The 1990 Upper Deck Griffey Jr. is one of the most iconic modern baseball cards ever made due to its stunning photo and the start of Griffey mania. PSA 10 copies of this card routinely sell for over $1000.
In 1990, Fleer opted for a borderless design with a white background. The set is best known for Ken Griffey Jr.’s impressive rookie card, which rivals his Upper Deck issue for the best card of his early career. Other notable rookies included Derek Jeter, Jeff Bagwell, and Larry Walker. While Jeter and Bagwell went on to Hall of Fame careers, Walker fell just short. The 1990 Fleer Griffey rookie in PSA 10 condition can reach over $500. For Jeter collectors, it remains one of the more affordable ways to add a true rookie to a collection.
Leaf was a smaller brand that offered innovative parallel and insert sets within its releases. Their 1990 offering featured a classic black border design with team logos. Randy Johnson, Jeff Kent, and David Cone were among the star players featured. The set is best known for short printed parallel subsets like “Diamond Kings”, which have gained a strong cult following. While the base Leaf cards hold little value today, complete parallel subsets can attract serious bids from the brand’s niche collectors.
While production numbers were massive overall in the junk wax era, some 1990 issues stand out for their classic designs, rookie selection, and inclusion of some of the biggest stars of the 1990s. Sets from Donruss, Score, Upper Deck, and Fleer gave collectors their first chance at future Hall of Famers like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., and Greg Maddux. While resell values on individual cards may not reach the heights of vintage issues, completing 1990 sets is still an affordable way to enjoy the hobby or start an investment collection. The era may have flooded the market, but for fans of the players and designs, these sets remain very collectible today.
