David Justice was an outstanding Major League Baseball right fielder who played for 16 seasons from 1989-2004. While he never achieved the superstar status of some of his contemporaries, Justice had a very solid career and was a key contributor for several World Series championship teams. As such, Justice’s baseball cards from his playing days hold value for collectors today given his success at the highest level of professional baseball.
Justice’s rookie cards from 1989 hold some value given they were the first to feature him as a major leaguer. The most sought after and valuable Justice cards generally come from the peak of his career during the 1990s when he was starring for powerhouse Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees clubs. Two of Justice’s best and most valuable card issues come from 1991 and 1992.
The 1991 Fleer baseball card of David Justice is highly sought after by collectors. In near mint condition, examples of this Justice card in a PSA 10 gem mint state can fetch $100-200. Even in excellent condition at a PSA 8 or 9 grade, the ‘91 Fleer Justice sells for $30-50. This was an excellent early card that featured Justice after his breakout 1990 season where he hit .276 with 21 home runs for the Indians.
Perhaps the most iconic and valuable Justice card comes from 1992 Donruss. This features a close-up action photo of Justice swinging the bat. High grade PSA 10 copies of this card in near flawless condition have been known to sell for over $400. But even well-centered PSA 9 examples still trade hands for $150-250 depending on the market. The ‘92 Donruss was truly Justice’s most popular and identifiable card from his playing days.
In the mid-1990s, Justice entered the prime of his career and was a key member of back-to-back World Series championship teams for the Cleveland Indians in 1995 and 1997. Naturally, his baseball cards increased in value during this peak period. The ultra-rare 1995 Upper Deck SP Autograph parallel card signed by Justice himself is one of the holy grails for collectors. Only 10 were produced and a few have surfaced selling for over $10,000 in recent years.
Other highly valuable Justice cards come from 1996-1997 when he was starring for the Indians dynasty. The 1996 Finest Refractor parallel card #133 sells for $75-150 in high grades. The 1997 Leaf Signature Series autograph patch card numbered to only 100 copies holds value at $300-500. And the 1997 Upper Deck SP Autograph parallel card has similar value to the ‘95 issue in the $1,000-2,000 range depending on condition, as only a handful are known to exist.
After being traded to the New York Yankees in 1998, Justice continued his success and was a member of their 1998-1999 World Series championship clubs. His cards increased in demand from Yankees collectors. The ultra-rare 1998 SP Autograph parallel card is the crown jewel, with the few known copies selling for $3,000-5,000 each. Other notable high-value Justice Yankees issue include the 1998 Ultra Gold Medallion parallel #150 ($100-200 PSA 10), 1999 Fleer Tradition Gold parallel #/2000 ($75 PSA 10), and 1999 Topps Gold Label parallel #/1999 ($150 PSA 10).
In the early 2000s, Justice bounced around to a few other teams before retiring after the 2004 season with the Oakland A’s. His cards from this later period hold less value than his Indians/Yankees prime years. But some still carry significance. The 2000 Upper Deck MVP Materials Jersey parallel #/150 sells for $50-100 in top condition. The 2001 Upper Deck Vintage Collection #178 parallel sells for $30-60 PSA 10. And the 2002 Topps All-Star Rookie Cup parallel #/2002 has sold for $40-80 in pristine condition.
In summary, David Justice had a very good 16-year MLB career that was highlighted by World Series championships with powerhouse Cleveland and New York clubs in the 1990s. Not a true superstar, but a consistent All-Star caliber player. His baseball cards, especially from his Indians/Yankees years in the early-to-mid 1990s hold the most value, ranging from $30-500+ for high-grade examples, with ultra-rare autograph parallels reaching the thousands. Justice cards provide an affordable collecting and investing option for fans of the 1990s baseball era.
