David Justice was an outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1989 to 2006. During his 18-year MLB career, Justice established himself as a power hitter and solid defensive outfielder, making him a highly collectible player for baseball card enthusiasts. In this in-depth article, we will explore David Justice’s baseball card history and some of his most valuable and sought-after vintage cards on the market today.
Justice’s rookie baseball cards came in 1989 after he was drafted 5th overall by the Atlanta Braves out of Rutgers University. Some of his notable rookie cards include his 1989 Fleer card (#371), 1989 Score (#679), and 1989 Topps (#672). While not considered true “rookie cards” since Justice debuted in the majors late in 1988, these were the first baseball cards issued of Justice as a major leaguer. Values for Justice’s 1989 rookie cards in near mint condition range from $5-15, depending on the set and card condition.
In the early 1990s, Justice established himself as a power-hitting corner outfielder for the Braves dynasty teams. His 1991 and 1992 Fleer Ultra cards (#184, #60) from those championship Braves seasons have gained popularity in recent years. Near mint copies of these cards can fetch $20-30 due to Justice’s success and popularity during Atlanta’s run of NL East titles.
Justice’s most coveted regular issue baseball card comes from the iconic 1993 Topps set. Sporting a powder blue Braves uniform with a menacing glare, the 1993 Topps David Justice card (#160) is one of the defining images of Justice as a player. With the Braves winning their first World Series title in Atlanta that year, combined with the classic Topps design, the 1993 Topps Justice is highly sought after. Near mint copies in good centering regularly sell for $50-75.
In 1994, Justice enjoyed one of his best statistical seasons with a career-high .329 batting average to go along with 35 home runs and 101 RBI. His flagship rookie card from that season is the 1994 Fleer Ultra Traded (#T-DJ), depicting Justice in an Indians uniform after being traded from Atlanta mid-season. This traded card captures a pivotal moment in Justice’s career and is valued higher than his base Indians rookie card from that year. Near mint T-DJ cards sell in the $30-50 range.
Justice was a key member of the 1995 Cleveland Indians team that came within one game of winning the World Series. His 1995 Leaf Signature Series autograph card (#25/99) from that exciting Indians playoff run holds significant value today. With Justice’s signature and serial numbering, mint condition copies have sold for over $100. The 1995 Pinnacle Indians team card (#T11) that features Justice prominently is also a popular and affordable pick up for Indians PC collectors.
After rejoining the Braves in 1996, Justice enjoyed several more productive seasons and playoff appearances with Atlanta. His 1996 Upper Deck MVP Autograph card (#57/99) captured Justice receiving one of his few individual accolades. This autographed rookie patch card in gem mint condition can fetch upwards of $150. Justice’s final season was with the New York Yankees in 2006, capping off a strong 18-year MLB career.
In summary, David Justice established himself as a consistent power threat and defensive standout over nearly two decades in the majors. While not a true “star” player, Justice’s contributions to several championship teams like the 1990s Braves and 1995 Indians have made his vintage baseball cards quite collectible, especially autos and memorabilia cards from his peak seasons. Values range from $5 for most common rookie cards up to $150 or more for rare autographed inserts from Justice’s best years. Overall, Justice baseball cards provide affordable options for completing team and player collections from some of the 1990s most memorable MLB clubs.
