In 1991, Topps released a special series of baseball cards commemorating Operation Desert Storm and paying tribute to the troops serving in the Persian Gulf War. Known as Desert Storm cards, this unique set featured over 300 active Major League Baseball players from the 1990 season in military-themed illustrations showing them supporting the troops overseas.
The idea for a special Gulf War card set came from Topps creative director and card designer Art Spiegelman. With American forces engaged in the conflict to liberate Kuwait from Iraq in early 1991, Spiegelman felt Topps could produce a card series that would boost morale for soldiers while also generating interest among baseball card collectors back home.
Topps worked closely with the Department of Defense to get approval and access for the card designs. Each player was depicted in uniform, often holding a radio or binoculars. Many cards showed ballplayers in the desert setting of the Middle East war zone. Aircraft, tanks, and other military equipment frequently appeared in the backgrounds. Short quotes of support for the troops accompanied each image.
Some of the more famous Desert Storm cards included Nolan Ryan standing near an F-15 fighter jet with the message “Go get ’em boys!”; Ken Griffey Jr. peering through binoculars on a dune with “Semper Fi – Marines!” inscribed; and Cal Ripken Jr. giving a thumbs up near an Abrams tank along with “Hold fast – we’re behind you.” The cards captured both the baseball stars and the scenes of modern warfare at the time.
In total, Topps produced inserts of 332 different MLB players from the 1990 season for the Desert Storm set. Rosters included active players from all 26 major league teams at the time of the conflict. Rookies, prospects, and retired players were not included in the commemorative card series. The designs strived to feature each team equally and represent all positions on the field.
The cards were distributed as promotional inserts randomly inserted into 1991 Topps baseball wax packs on shelves. They were not considered part of Topps’ regular annual baseball card release for that year. The Desert Storm inserts were also available in factory sets sold directly by Topps. The company donated portions of the card sales profits to various Gulf War veterans charities and support groups.
Initially, the Desert Storm cards were not highly sought after by collectors. As promotional inserts mixed randomly into regular packs, they were not perceived as particularly rare at the time. In subsequent decades, the cards grew in popularity as a unique piece of baseball and military history memorabilia. Their historical significance and artistic designs made them a coveted find for themed collections.
Today, graded gem mint condition examples of certain Desert Storm cards can sell for hundreds of dollars or more. Stars of the era like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Greg Maddux, and Ken Griffey Jr. tend to command the highest prices. Even lesser known role players from the 1991 MLB rosters have found renewed interest from collectors three decades later.
The success of the Desert Storm cards inspired Topps to produce other special themed baseball insert sets over the years honoring military service. Examples include the September 11th Heroes cards of 2002 and the Veterans Day cards of 2009-2011. The original Desert Storm issue remains the most iconic and collectible of these patriotic baseball card series. For capturing a moment in time at the intersection of America’s pastimes and America’s armed forces, the 1991 Desert Storm cards have become an enduring part of sports and military collectibles history.
The Topps Desert Storm baseball card set was a unique effort in 1991 to boost troop morale during the Gulf War while also generating interest among baseball card fans. Featuring over 300 MLB players depicted in scenes supporting American forces overseas, the promotional inserts found new appreciation from collectors decades later for their historical significance. Today, they represent both the baseball stars of the early 1990s and a snapshot of the Persian Gulf conflict that defined that era.
