The 1990 baseball card season featured several notable rookie cards and star players in their prime. The 1990 season marked a transition period for the baseball card industry as the boom of the late 1980s was coming to an end. There were still many exciting players and storylines to feature on the over 700 different baseball card sets released that year by the major card companies.
One of the most anticipated rookie cards of the year was Ken Griffey Jr’s debut for Upper Deck. Griffey was one of the most hyped prospects in baseball and did not disappoint in his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners. His beautiful left-handed swing and effortless fielding in center field quickly made him a fan favorite. Despite only playing in half a season after being called up in April, Griffey hit .284 with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. His impressive rookie stats combined with his 5-tool playing ability and movie star looks made his 1990 Upper Deck rookie card one of the most valuable from the entire decade. Griffey would go on to have one of the greatest careers in MLB history, cementing this rookie card as one of the iconic cards from the junk wax era.
Another highly sought after rookie card was Frank Thomas’ first year with the Chicago White Sox for Fleer. Thomas had a breakout rookie campaign in 1990, hitting .294 with 53 RBIs and finishing third in rookie of the year voting. His smooth lefty swing and muscular physique were harbingers of the power hitter he would become. This rookie card captures “The Big Hurt” at the start of his hall of fame worthy career that would see him win two MVP awards. Other notable rookie cards included Moises Alou (Score), Derek Jeter (Score), Jeff Bagwell (Fleer), and Chipper Jones (Score).
Some of the biggest stars of the late 80s and early 90s continued to be featured prominently on baseball cards in 1990 as well. For Topps, Ken Griffey Sr’s son had just joined him in Seattle making for a fun father-son combo. Griffey Sr was in his 16th season and still crushing balls for the Mariners. Another future hall of famer having an MVP caliber season was Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin. His sweet lefty swing and Gold Glove defense at shortstop made him a fan favorite, exemplified by his classic back pose on his 1990 Topps card.
In Los Angeles, Orel Hershiser was coming off a record setting season in 1988 where he went 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA and 8 saves to win the Cy Young and World Series MVP. He followed that up with another stellar season for the Dodgers in ’89 despite injuries. His intimidating over the top delivery and poise on the mound made him one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball in the late 80s/early 90s as shown on his ’90 Donruss card. In Oakland, Jose Canseco was still in his prime jacked up days, blasting 33 bombs to go along with 117 RBIs for the eventual World Series champion A’s on the ’90 Score card.
The Boston Red Sox featured some homegrown stars as well. Pitcher Roger Clemens was in his absolute peak seasons, going 21-6 in 1990 with a 1.93 ERA and 210 strikeouts to win his second consecutive Cy Young award as depicted on his classic ’90 card from Score. Outfielder Mike Greenwell continued his consistent production for Boston, hitting .325 in ’90 with 213 hits as shown batting left-handed on his Donruss Diamond Kings card. And burly first baseman Jim Rice was in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, still smashing 17 homers for the Sox in ’90 in his 15th season as portrayed on his 1990 Fleer card.
While stars of the late 80s like Hershiser, Canseco, and Clemens were featured prominently in the new ’90 sets, several new superstars were emerging that would carry baseball into the 90s as well. In Oakland, the diminutive but powerful Rickey Henderson was in arguably his absolute prime stealing 90 bases and hitting .305 in 1990. His lightning speed and flair for the dramatic highlighted by his Bowman card that season. For Toronto, Canadian slugger John Olerud was in his first full season hitting a crisp .305 with 17 homers and finishing 4th in MVP voting evidenced by his great batting stance on the 1990 Fleer card.
Over in San Diego, Gary Sheffield was in his 2nd year with the Padres and started to display the prodigious power that would make him a perennial 30 home run threat. He smashed 18 homers in 1990 while batting .267 for San Diego as shown hitting left-handed on his Score issue. In Montreal, Larry Walker was also in his sophomore campaign with the Expos and began to show the 5 tool talent that would earn him 3 batting titles. He hit .284 in ’90 while displaying excellent plate coverage, speed, and defense as captured on his ’90 Donruss card. And over in Chicago, future Hall of Famer Robin Ventura had a breakout season for the White Sox in his rookie year, batting .288 with 11 homers and 65 RBIs starting at 3rd base as highlighted on his ’90 Score RC.
While many stars and rookies of the early 90s received renewed attention on cards that season, a few legends of the past who had recently retired were also recognized one last time. The burly Reggie Jackson finished his illustrious career the previous season and remained a fan favorite. Topps paid homage by including his last MLB action shot wearing a California Angels uniform on their ’90 Tribute card set. Another Bronx born slugger and 5-time World Series champ, Graig Nettles, had called it quits after the ’88 season. But collectors could enjoy seeing “Puff” doing what he did best one last time – patrolling the hot corner with his familiar high leg kick stance on this final ’90 Fleer card.
The changing baseball card industry was evident in 1990 as well. While the traditional giants like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss still reigned supreme, new upstarts were beginning to challenge them. Score brand continued expanding their formidable baseball lineup with sharp photography and progressive designs. Upper Deck had just come onto the scene the previous year with their premium Chrome cards and revolutionized the hobby. And smaller niche brands like Leaf were starting to gain traction producing innovative parallel and insert sets like their “Lustrous” parallels or “Hall of Famers” inserts showcasing legends of the past like Ernie Banks or Sandy Koufax.
Despite new competitors and market changes, the 1990 season still featured many of the biggest and most beloved names in the game receiving iconic card treatment from the major manufacturers. Stars of the late 80s like Hershiser, Clemens, and Canseco continued to star on cards cementing their legends. Future all-time greats like Griffey Jr, Frank Thomas, and Larry Walker received the first widespread exposure on their impressive rookie cards. And new emerging talents like Rickey Henderson, Gary Sheffield, and John Olerud began to showcase the skills that would make them future stars chronicled first on their 1990 baseball cards. While the era of the junk wax was ending, 1990 cards still highlighted many legendary careers and the blossoming stars that would carry baseball into the next decade.
The 1990 baseball card season, though a transition period, still featured many of the established and emerging stars of the game receiving iconic card treatments from the major manufacturers. Future HOFers like Ken Griffey Jr and Frank Thomas had impressive rookie cards chronicling the start of their great careers. Established stars of the late 80s like Clemens, Hershiser, and Canseco continued to be featured in their primes. New superstars of the 90s like Rickey Henderson, John Olerud and Larry Walker began receiving mainstream attention on their 1990 issues. While changes were underway in the industry, 1990 cards remain representative of both baseball’s established legends and stars of the future in a memorable transition year for the hobby.
