The 1991 Donruss baseball card set is considered one of the classic and iconic issues from the late 1980s and early 1990s era. The set features 752 total cards including base cards, rookie cards, stars, and subsets. While not the most valuable set from the junk wax era that saw an overproduction of cards in the 1980s and early 90s, the 1991 Donruss cards still hold nostalgia and value for collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top rookies, stars, and other notables from the 1991 Donruss set and their potential monetary value.
One of the biggest rookie cards in the 1991 Donruss set is Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. Larkin would go on to have a Hall of Fame career that included an MVP award and multiple All-Star and Gold Glove selections. In top graded mint condition of PSA 10, Larkin’s rookie card has sold for over $1,000. In more common well-centered near mint to mint condition of PSA 8 or BGS 9, Larkin rookies commonly sell in the $50-150 range. Another star rookie is Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Carter’s rookie is much more common but still holds value for Jays fans and collectors. Expect PSA 8 and 9 Carter rookies to sell for $10-30.
Two other notable rookies from 1991 Donruss are Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Doug Drabek. Both went on to have strong careers and even win Cy Young awards. Glavine rookies in PSA 8-9 grade sell in the $30-80 range while Drabek rookies have similar $20-50 values depending on grade. Another Braves rookie to watch is catcher Javy Lopez who had a power-hitting career. Lopez rookies can be found for $5-15. Two rookie pitchers that never panned out but are still sought after are Brien Taylor of the New York Yankees and Todd Van Poppel of the Oakland A’s. Even in low grades, these rookies still attract $10-30 due to their hype and potential at the time.
In terms of star veterans, the 1991 Donruss set featured the likes of Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett, and Ozzie Smith among many others. All of these star cards have strong collector demand and hold value even in the overproduced early 90s. A PSA 10 Nolan Ryan would command $300-500 while a PSA 9 is $75-150. Clemens and Boggs PSA 9s sell in the $30-75 range. Puckett and Smith PSA 9s are $20-50. Other stars like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., and Roberto Alomar had early career cards in 1991 Donruss that are valued in the $10-30 range depending on player, team, and grade.
In terms of subsets, the 1991 Donruss set featured Traded cards showing players on their new teams. These traded subsets included stars like Bobby Bonilla (Mets), Danny Tartabull (Yankees), and Bip Roberts (Reds). While common, these traded cards hold $3-10 values. Another fun subset was Donruss Futures which featured prospects like Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, and Nomar Garciaparra. These futures cards are quite collectible and a PSA 9 Jeter would sell for $75-150 while the others are $20-50. The Diamond Kings parallel subset featured refractors of stars and have gained popularity. A PSA 9 Kirby Puckett Diamond King sold for $120.
While production numbers make individual 1991 Donruss cards very attainable and affordable, there is still nostalgia and collector demand that creates value – especially for the star rookies and veterans. Factors like player, team, grade, and parallels all impact pricing. The 1991 Donruss set remains a fun and iconic release from the junk wax era that any collector can enjoy finding cards and building sets from within reasonable budget. Top rookies like Larkin and stars like Ryan and Clemens lead the way value-wise but there are bargains to be found across the entire 752 card checklist if one is willing to hunt the bargain bins.
