The 1991 Upper Deck baseball card set was truly a landmark release that contained some of the most iconic and valuable cards of the 1990s. Upper Deck revolutionized the baseball card industry when they debuted in 1989 by using higher quality paper stock and photography. Their 1991 offering took things to another level by greatly expanding the set size to include more stars and rookies. While 1991 Topps and Donruss sets were good, Upper Deck blew them away with their photography, production quality, and memorable rookie class. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the best and most valuable cards from the 1991 Upper Deck baseball set.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card – Without question, the crown jewel of the 1991 Upper Deck set is Ken Griffey Jr’s impressive rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the greatest rookie card of all-time, Griffey’s electric smile and smooth left-handed swing made him an immediate superstar and fan favorite. His rookie card has only increased in value over the decades to become one of the most expensive modern baseball cards on the market. In mint condition, a Griffey Jr. rookie regularly fetches well over $10,000 and sets records when a true gem mint PSA 10 specimen crosses the auction block. It’s easy to see why – the card captures Griffey at the dawn of what became a surefire Hall of Fame career and his boyish charm translated perfectly to cardboard.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card – While not as iconic or valuable as Griffey, Frank Thomas also had an amazing rookie card in 1991 Upper Deck. Like Griffey, Thomas was an absolute stud right out of the gate and his rookie captures “The Big Hurt” swinging a bat with his trademark smooth lefty swing. Thomas went on to have one of the most dominant hitting careers for a right-handed batter in MLB history. High grade Thomas rookies still command prices well over $1000 due to his consistent excellence and 500 home run milestone. The card photography and production quality elevate what was already a great rookie card subject.
Chipper Jones Rookie Card – Debuting just before Griffey and Thomas, Chipper Jones quickly established himself as a perennial All-Star after being taken #1 overall in the 1990 draft by the Atlanta Braves. His rookie card in 1991 Upper Deck is one of the more aesthetically pleasing from the set. The bright yellow and red Braves uniform really pops against the green field in the background. Jones is shown crouching with a bat on his shoulder in a classic baseball stance. While not in the same ultra-rare class as Griffey or even Thomas, high grade Chipper rookies still sell for $400-500 due to his first-ballot Hall of Fame career spent entirely in Atlanta.
Tom Glavine Card – One of the true workhorses of his era, Tom Glavine dominated the NL for two decades including 300 career wins and two Cy Young Awards. His sharp looking 1991 Upper Deck card shows the crafty lefty on the mound with a smooth delivery. Glavine was already an established ace at this point after winning 20 games and the Cy Young in 1991 for the Atlanta Braves. The card perfectly captures why he was so effective and durable. Higher grade Glavine cards from this set sell in the $100-200 range.
Roberto Alomar Card – Arguably the greatest defensive second baseman of all-time, Roberto Alomar was already a four-time All-Star and Gold Glover by 1991. His Upper Deck card is one of the more aesthetically pleasing from the set, showing the smooth fielding Alomar stretching for a throw with his pristine glove work on full display. Alomar went on to have a Hall of Fame career and ten Gold Gloves between the Blue Jays and Orioles. His cards typically sell in the $50-100 range depending on condition.
Cal Ripken Jr. Card – While not technically a rookie card since he had been in the league since 1981, Cal Ripken Jr.’s 1991 Upper Deck card is still highly sought after due to his iconic status. The card perfectly captures why Ripken was so beloved – his workmanlike approach at the plate and elite defense at shortstop for seemingly forever. Ripken was on his way to breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record and would cement his legacy as “The Iron Man” of baseball. Near mint Ripken cards can still fetch $50-75.
The 1991 Upper Deck set broke the mold and raised the bar for what a modern baseball card could be. From the rookie sensations like Griffey and Frank Thomas to stars in their prime like Glavine and Alomar, Upper Deck delivered memorable and high quality cards across the board. While the era of junk wax in the early 90s flooded the market, certain key rookie cards and stars from the 1991 Upper Deck set have proven to be great long term investments and remain highly collectible today for good reason. The photography, production quality, and memorable subjects make it one of the most iconic releases in the modern baseball card era.
