The 1990 Score baseball card set was one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from that time period are not generally known for containing highly valuable cards, there are still a handful of standouts from the 1990 Score set that are worth discussing. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top rookies, future Hall of Famers, and other notable cards from that year.
One of the biggest rookie cards from the 1990 Score set is Ken Griffey Jr. As one of the most talented players of his generation, Griffey was already highly touted as a prospect coming up through the Mariners system. His rookie card shows him in a Mariners uniform with an action shot of him swinging the bat. While production of Griffey rookie cards was massive due to the junk wax era, strong demand has kept it a valuable and desirable card. PSA 10 examples regularly sell for thousands of dollars now.
Another star rookie from 1990 Score was Frank Thomas of the White Sox. Like Griffey, Thomas went on to have an incredible Hall of Fame career and his rookie card shows him in the process of launching a home run. Thomas rookies are quite valuable as well, with high-grade copies selling in the $100+ range. The card captures Thomas at the beginning of what became one of the most dominant careers for a slugging first baseman in baseball history.
Sandy Alomar Jr. also had his rookie card in the 1990 Score set as a member of the Padres. Alomar enjoyed a long, productive career primarily with the Indians as a catcher and his rookie is still popular among collectors today. While not quite as valuable as the Griffey or Thomas rookies, a PSA 10 Alomar can fetch $50-75. The card shows Alomar receiving a pitch and was arguably the best rookie catcher card in the set.
Two other notable rookies from 1990 Score were Billy Ripken of the Orioles and Gregg Jefferies of the Mets. While neither panned out as the superstars their talent suggested, their rookie cards remain popular pieces for team and player collectors. Ripken’s card is especially well-known for an amusing error on the back, which has added interest and value over the years.
In addition to star rookies, the 1990 Score set included cards for several active Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Wade Boggs, and Rickey Henderson. Ryan’s card shows him firing a pitch for the Rangers and remains a classic image of the flamethrower in his later career. Brett and Boggs also have historically significant cards capturing them for the Royals and Red Sox respectively that hold value.
The 1990 Score set also had the last cards issued for a few legends who were in their final seasons. Cards for Don Sutton (Dodgers), Steve Carlton (Indians), and Jim Palmer (Orioles) all depict them in their last MLB uniforms. For collectors fascinated by the end of legends’ careers, these serve as important pieces of baseball history from that season.
Aside from future Hall of Famers and star rookies, there were also notable stars and talented players featured throughout the 1990 Score set. Cards like Barry Bonds (Pirates), Mark McGwire (A’s), Roberto Alomar (Padres), and Randy Johnson (Expos) were some of the biggest names in the game at that time. While production numbers were enormous, strong demand has kept most of these cards desirable and holding value among collectors.
In terms of rarer and more valuable cards from 1990 Score, parallel and autographed rookie variations have gained collector interest in recent years. Parallel cards like the gold foil Ken Griffey Jr. rookie are quite scarce and can sell for thousands. Autographed rookie cards for Griffey, Frank Thomas, and others from certified signings have six figure valuations in top grades. Error cards like the “Billy Ripken F**k Face” variation also remain some of the most sought after pieces from the release.
While 1990 Score cards were produced in massive bulk due to the junk wax era, strong nostalgia and collector interest has kept many of the stars and rookies valuable and desirable decades later. For team and player collectors, the cards provide iconic and historically significant images from that season. With Hall of Famers, famous rookies, and talented players throughout, it remains one of the most memorable and collected baseball card sets from the early 90s boom period, flaws and all. The best cards continue to hold value and attraction among vintage baseball card collectors.
