The 1990 baseball card season marked a transitional period for the hobby. While the junk wax era was in full swing, producing cards in astronomical numbers, some of the most iconic rookie cards of all-time were also released. 1990 saw the debut of future Hall of Famers like Frank Thomas, Gregg Maddux, and David Justice. It was also the final season that Donruss and Fleer competed head-to-head with Topps for licensing rights.

Topps remained the dominant force in 1990, continuing their 66-year run as the exclusive producer of Major League Baseball cards. Their flagship set featured 792 total cards with photo or action shots of every player. Rated rookies like Thomas, Maddux, and Justice received call-out treatment on their rookie cards. Thomas’ imposing physique and sweet swing made his one of the most sought-after modern rookie cards. Maddux’s pinpoint control was already evident as a rookie and his card showed promise of a long and successful career.

Donruss also had 792 cards in their main set with additional parallel and insert sets. Their Photo Patches subset featured unique die-cut patches of team logos on player photos. Rookie Phenoms highlighted the first card issued for future stars. For the first time, Donruss also included traded players in update sets to account for season trades and call-ups. This helped make their sets more complete representations of the MLB rosters for that year.

Fleer released their final baseball card set in 1990 with 756 total cards before losing their MLB license. Their design featured action shots and clean white borders. Rookie cards like Thomas and Justice stood out with a special logo marking their debut. Fleer also experimented with oddball parallels like Glossy Sendbacks, giving collectors multiple versions to find of stars like Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey Jr.

Score released an 804-card flagship set with creative action shots and team-colored borders. Their Traded set captured midseason moves. Stadium Club debuted as an ultra-premium offering with on-card autographs and memorabilia pieces of the game’s greats. Upper Deck arrived on the scene as well with their innovative design and focus on quality over quantity.

While the glut of mass-produced cards diminished values industry-wide, certain 1990 rookies retain their luster. Frank Thomas’ rookie card has appreciated greatly due to his Hall of Fame career and 500-homer milestone. His imposing physique and sweet left-handed swing made him a fan favorite. As one of the most dominant hitters of the 1990s and 2000s, interest in his rookie remains high.

Gregg Maddux’s rookie established him as a can’t-miss prospect with his control and pitchability. He went on to win four Cy Young Awards and dominate hitters for two decades en route to Cooperstown. His rookie card is one of the most iconic and valuable from the early 1990s. David Justice never reached the heights predicted but had a solid career playing for perennial contenders in Atlanta and Cleveland. His rookie remains a key piece for team sets.

While the late 1980s and early 1990s produced an overabundance of mass-produced cards, certain rookies and stars from 1990 like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Gregg Maddux retain immense popularity. Their rookie cards are touchstones from a transitional period when baseball cards moved from the junk wax era towards the resurgence spearheaded by Upper Deck. For collectors, the 1990 season marked both the end of an era with Fleer and Donruss and the beginning of a new chapter with exciting young stars and innovative companies changing the hobby landscape.