The 1990 Donruss baseball set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While sets from this time period produced cards in extremely high numbers, flooding the market, some standouts have emerged that are still highly sought after by collectors today. The following cards were among the most notable rookies, future Hall of Famers, and star players featured in the 792 card 1990 Donruss set.
One of the biggest rookie cards in the set is Ken Griffey Jr. As one of the most talented players of his generation, Griffey Jr. went on to have a legendary career and is considered one of the greatest outfielders of all time. His 1990 Donruss rookie card, while common in the millions printed, still holds value due to his iconic status in the game. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples have sold for over $1,000 showing the card’s enduring popularity. Another major rookie is Frank Thomas, who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career winning two MVP awards. Thomas’ rookie is one of the more valuable from the set, with PSA 10s selling in the $300 range.
Two of the biggest stars of the late 80s and 90s are featured prominently, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. Bonds was already establishing himself as one of the game’s best players, and his card remains one of the most iconic from the era. McGwire on the other hand was still early in his career before exploding onto the scene in the late 90s. His power potential was evident even in 1990 though, and both stars’ cards hold value for collectors. Another star outfielder featured is Dwight Evans, in his final season before retirement. Known as “Dewey” he had one of the strongest arms in the game, and his career .268 average with over 300 home runs make his card a nice addition for Red Sox fans.
On the pitching side, one of the biggest names is Nolan Ryan. As arguably the hardest thrower in baseball history, Ryan’s express train fastball was still going strong in 1990 for the Texas Rangers at the age of 43. His card remains a highly sought after piece for any collection. Another future Hall of Famer is Tom Glavine, in his rookie year with the Atlanta Braves. Glavine would go on to win 305 games and two Cy Young awards over his storied career. His rookie card from the 1990 set is a strong long term investment piece. Dennis Eckersley is also prominently featured, coming off his first season closing for the Oakland A’s after converting from a starter. Eckersley dominated as a reliever, winning the AL Cy Young and MVP in 1992, cementing his card’s status in the set.
Some other notable veterans in the set include Don Mattingly, still in his prime for the Yankees, and Ozzie Smith, known as the best defensive shortstop of all time. Both were perennial All-Stars that added prestige to the Donruss brand. Dave Stewart is included, fresh off winning the 1989 World Series MVP and Cy Young award with the A’s. And the set pays tribute to the late, great Roberto Clemente, including a special photo variation card in his honor for collectors.
In terms of parallel and insert cards, the 1990 Donruss set included several exciting chase cards as well. The gold parallel cards, limited to one per case, were hotly pursued. Pulling a gold parallel of a star like Bonds or Griffey was a major hit. Other parallels like the black-bordered “Team Heroes” cards added another layer of rarity. Multi-player inserts like “Diamond Kings” and “League Leaders” were also popular subsets. And the coveted “Diamond Anniversary” parallel cards numbered to only 30 copies each made for true treasure hunt cards.
While produced in enormous quantities, time has shown that some of the rookies and stars featured in the 1990 Donruss set still hold significant collector value today. Sets from the junk wax era are no longer just for basic set building. Examples graded gem mint can still command four-figure prices for the right players. The allure of pulling a rookie card of Ken Griffey Jr. or Frank Thomas still captivates collectors and investors alike. And vintage cards of legends like Nolan Ryan and Tom Glavine will always be in high demand. The 1990 Donruss baseball release was truly a special time capsule capturing the greats of that era, cementing its status as one of the most iconic modern issues.
