The 1991 Bowman baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While many sets from this time period featured prolific printing that led to cards becoming virtually worthless, the 1991 Bowman set stands out due to some major rookie cards that would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. Several factors contributed to making select cards from this set hugely valuable nearly 30 years later.
The 1991 Bowman set was the first issued by the Bowman company since 1982. After a nine year absence, Bowman returned with a 512 card base set that featured players from both the American and National Leagues. What made this set stand out was its exclusive access to rookie cards and prospect photos prior to players appearing on regular Topps or Fleer cards. Two future Hall of Famers in particular, Chipper Jones and Jim Thome, had their only true rookie cards in the 1991 Bowman set which has driven values up significantly over time.
Chipper Jones’ rookie card is arguably the most valuable card from the entire 1991 Bowman set. As the number one overall pick in the 1990 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves, Jones went on to have a 19 year career entirely with the Braves which culminated in being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018. His impressive career stats, longevity, one team legacy, and status as a true Atlanta icon have all contributed to his rookie card’s high demand. In near mint to mint condition, Chipper Jones’ 1991 Bowman rookie currently sells for thousands of dollars and is out of reach for most collectors. Graded examples by PSA or BGS in pristine gem mint 10 condition have even reached five figure auction prices.
Another highly valuable 1991 Bowman rookie is Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome. Like Jones, Thome put together a Hall of Fame career spanning 22 seasons while establishing himself as one of the game’s most feared power hitters. Thome’s 612 career home runs are eighth all-time and his 1991 Bowman rookie was the only card issued of him as a prospect in the Indians’ system. In high grades, it now sells for hundreds to low thousands depending on condition with the strongest examples often surpassing $5,000. What makes both the Jones and Thome rookies particularly rare is that they were short printed within the massive Bowman set which exacerbated their already limited supply.
In addition to the headlining rookies of Jones and Thome, there are several other notable young stars featured in the 1991 Bowman set that have driven values upwards. Hometown hero and Chicago White Sox pitcher Wilson Alvarez has one of the set’s more valuable commons cards. His outstanding performance in a no-hitter as a rookie in 1991 sparked tremendous interest in his cardboard. Another short printed card belonging to Yankees catcher Jorge Posada also garners high prices due to his sustained success in pinstripes. Posada was a key part of the late 90s dynasty that brought the franchise its latest championships.
While the rookie cards of established Hall of Famers like Jones and Thome understandably demand the highest prices, keen collectors have also taken notice of lesser known but still valuable cards in the 1991 Bowman set. Pitcher Bill Pulsipher, who had a breakout rookie season with the Mets, has seen renewed attention on his card despite flaming out of the majors quickly. The same can be said for Dodgers outfielder Darren Daulton, who had an impressive career with the Phillies after being included as a prospect in the 1991 issue. Even career minor leaguers featured in the set have cult followings due to their scarce low print runs decades later.
In summarizing why the 1991 Bowman baseball card set retains such cache and value nearly 30 years after its release, the combination of exclusive rookie card access coupled with the stardom attained by its headlining names makes it unique among the overproduced sets of its era. The Hall of Fame careers of Chipper Jones and Jim Thome alone justify the high prices their rookie cards continue to demand. While mass produced at the time for collectors, the 1991 Bowman set proved to have some heavily short printed gems that have stood the test of time. Its status as one of the most important issues from the junk wax era is unlikely to change any time soon.
