The 1991 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. baseball card is one of the most iconic and valuable cards in the entire hobby. Griffey was already well on his way to superstardom in just his third MLB season in 1991 with the Seattle Mariners, and this particular Donruss issue would help propel him to new heights of popularity. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes this specific Griffey rookie card so special and sought after by collectors to this day.
Ken Griffey Jr. had established himself as one of baseball’s brightest young stars by 1991. After being drafted first overall by the Mariners in 1987, he made his major league debut in 1989 at just 19 years old and immediately began displaying his five-tool talents. Griffey hit .264 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI in his rookie season, showcasing his prodigious power to all of baseball. He followed that up in 1990 by hitting .299 with 24 home runs and 91 RBI, making the American League All-Star team for the first time at age 20.
Griffey had officially arrived among the game’s elite players by 1991, his age 21 season. Baseball card manufacturers were well aware of his budding superstardom and the growing demand from collectors to commemorate Griffey’s career thus far. This is where the 1991 Donruss Griffey card comes into the picture. Produced as part of Donruss’s flagship set that year, it was one of the first mainstream baseball cards to feature Griffey in a Mariners uniform after his first two MLB seasons.
The design of the 1991 Donruss Griffey is quite simple yet iconic. It shows a clean photo of Griffey from the waist up in his Mariners teal jersey with his familiar “24” on the back. His name is at the top in white text with “DONRUSS” below and the team name and year along the bottom. Despite its basic look, there is an aura of coolness and star power that radiates from Griffey’s photo on the card. He stares confidently at the camera with his signature smile, foreshadowing the superstar he was destined to become.
In 1991, Griffey took his game to new heights. He batted .308 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI and was selected to the All-Star team again while leading the league in runs scored with 116. This breakout season made baseball fans across the country take notice of Griffey’s immense five-tool talents. As one of the first mainstream baseball cards from his early superstar years, the 1991 Donruss Griffey perfectly encapsulated the rising fame and popularity of one of the sport’s brightest young icons.
Demand for the 1991 Donruss Griffey grew exponentially over the following decades as Griffey went on to a legendary 22-year career. He slashed .284/.370/.538 over his career with 630 home runs, winning 10 Gold Gloves and being selected to the All-Star team 13 times. Griffey was also a fan favorite known for his dazzling plays and infectious smile, cementing his status as one of baseball’s most popular players ever. As Griffey’s legend grew after retirement, so too did demand and prices for any artifacts from his early career – especially rookie cards like the coveted 1991 Donruss issue.
In the modern era, a PSA-graded 1991 Donruss Griffey in Gem Mint 10 condition regularly sells for well over $10,000 at auction. Even lower-graded copies in the PSA 8-9 range can fetch thousands. The card holds immense nostalgia and appeal for collectors who remember the thrill of Griffey’s early career. Its simple yet iconic design also remains a classic in the hobby. Combined with Griffey’s all-time great playing career and likable public persona, the 1991 Donruss Griffey is undoubtedly one of the most cherished baseball cards ever made. It serves as a prized reminder of the greatness of one of the game’s true living legends.
For dedicated baseball card collectors and Griffey fans alike, the 1991 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. will always hold a special place. It captured Griffey in the first steps of his amazing journey, which saw him cement his status as one of the best to ever play. The card perfectly blends nostalgia, design, and commemoration of an all-time baseball icon. Few other singles can rival its legacy in the hobby. As long as there are those who remember and admire Griffey’s career, the 1991 Donruss will remain both a highly valuable collectible and cherished piece of baseball history from the golden age of the sport.
