The 1990 Donruss set marked the beginning of an iconic decade for the popular baseball card brand. These cards captured many of the game’s biggest stars from the late 1980s and early 1990s at the height of their careers. Some of the legendary names featured in the set include Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Andre Dawson.

Because it featured so many all-time great players, the 1990 Donruss set holds historical significance and strong nostalgia for those who collected cards in that era. This creates ongoing collector demand for the set and contributes to card values remaining fairly steady over time. The designs and photography from the 1990 Donruss issues are also beloved by collectors.

When analyzing card values, the most important factors are the player, the card’s condition or grade, and any special parallel issues. Top rookie cards or cards of then-current superstars in near-mint condition can be worth hundreds of dollars or more in many cases. More common cards or those of less heralded players may only be worth a few dollars.

Some of the most valuable individual cards from the 1990 Donruss baseball set include:

Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (PSA 10 Gem Mint): $800-1,200. Griffey was arguably the most hyped rookie since Mickey Mantle. This is one of the key vintage rookie cards.

Nolan Ryan (PSA 10): $75-125. Ryan was already a legend in 1990 and any PSA 10 card of him from this era does very well.

Cal Ripken Jr. (PSA 10): $50-75. Ripken’s iconic consecutive games streak was underway and he was a perennial All-Star.

Ozzie Smith (PSA 10): $40-60. A defensive wizard and several time Gold Glover at shortstop who was still performing at a high level in 1990.

Wade Boggs (PSA 10): $30-50. Consistent batting champion was a fan favorite for the Red Sox and Yankees in the late 1980s-early 1990s.

Frank Thomas rookie card (PSA 10): $80-150. Thomas would emerge as one of the game’s most feared sluggers later in the decade but his rookie is still highly sought after.

Miguel Tejada rookie card (PSA 10): $50-100. Though he wasn’t a rookie until 1997, Tejada brought excitement as a shortstop for the Athletics’ “Moneyball” teams.

In terms of unopened or factory sealed 1990 Donruss packs and boxes, they can vary widely based on supply but are large ticket items. An unopened rack box which originally sold for around $50-60 could fetch $600-800 now. Wax boxes have sold for $1,500-2,500 while even loose unopened packs might pull in $50-100 each depending on condition.

Long-term, as the generation that collected these cards in their youth matures and passes interest onto their own children, demand for complete or high-grade 1990 Donruss sets is likely to remain consistent or possibly increase over the decades ahead. Factors like the 25th or 30th anniversary releases could also provide short-term boosts. Overall it’s a very collectible vintage issue that holds value well for investors. The combination of star players, iconic designs, and nostalgia ensures the 1990 Donruss baseball cards will remain a highly treasured part of sports card history.