The 1990 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most popular and desirable sets of the late 1980s/early 1990s junk wax era. While packs could be found in stores for cheap during the height of the overproduction period, certain key rookie cards and stars from the ‘90 Donruss set have since skyrocketed in value and become some of the most expensive vintage sports cards on the modern market.
There were 520 total cards in the standard 1990 Donruss base set, as well as additional insert cards like Traded, First Day Issue, etc. Among these are several chasing cards that have gained legendary status as prized possessions for hardcore collectors of the era. Here are the top 10 most valuable and expensive 1990 Donruss baseball cards as of 2023 based on recent PSA 10 Gem Mint condition sales prices through auction:
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #1 – Perhaps the single most recognizable and coveted baseball card of the entire junk wax era, Griffey’s rookie card from the 1990 Donruss set consistently achieves astronomical prices due to high demand and relatively low population of high-grade copies. PSA 10 examples have sold for as much as $400,000 as Griffey approaches mythical status as a rookie card icon. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can still fetch over $10,000.
Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card #265 – Another highly sought after rookie card from the set, Juan Gonzalez was an attacking force for the Rangers in the 1990s and won back-to-back AL MVP awards. His Donruss rookie holds value on the secondary market, with a PSA 10 recently selling for just under $15,000 – an impressive price point relative to the rest of the set.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card #493 – Though not quite as famous nationwide as Griffey, Frank Thomas was one of the most dominant hitters of the 1990s. His rookie card isn’t quite as rare in top-grades as Griffey or Gonzalez either, but PSA 10’s still achieve $3,000-5,000 when they surface. A true star from this era.
Ryne Sandberg Stamp #74 – One of the key short print error cards from 1990 Donruss, this Sandberg includes a black imprint stamp on the front which is now iconic for collectors. PSA 10 gems of this variant card recently crossed $5,000 at auction.
Nolan Ryan #75 – Even out of his Astros uniform, Ryan’s outstanding career accomplishments and legendary status afforded his 1990 Donruss card lasting value. A true one-of-a-kind athlete, with recent PSA 10 sales over $4,000.
Dwight Gooden Rookie Cup #62 – Another hugely popular and desirable card for Mets fans and collectors of the era. Gooden’s rookie cup variant from Donruss ‘90 now achieves over $3,000 in PSA 10 condition after his dominance on the mound.
Ozzie Smith #215 – A consistent all-star and defensive wizard at shortstop throughout the 1980s, the Wizard’s 1990 Donruss has sustained desirability. PSA 10s see $2,500-$3,000.
Bo Jackson #490 – Rare PSA 10 examples of Bo Knows’ rookie card still fetch over $2,000 despite the massive production run of this set, simply due to his folklore status as an iconic two-sport athlete.
Cal Ripken Jr. Traded #T20 – In the midst of breaking Lou Gehrig’s iconic streak, Ripken mania was in full force in the early 90s. His popular Traded insert from ‘90 stays hot at $2,000+ for a PSA 10.
Roger Clemens #64 – One of the most dominant pitchers of all-time, Clemens’ rare peak in Boston is commemorated here. PSA 10s top out at just under $2,000.
While the junk wax era made almost every other card from the 1990 Donruss set essentially worthless in higher grades today, sharp focus on star rookies and key short prints has kept elite examples of certain chase cards quite valuable despite the massive original production numbers. Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie notably stands above the rest due to his transcendent stardom and lasting legacy, ensuring it remains the true blue-chip gem of the entire set. Condition-sensitive collectors continue to splash big money on pristine copies of these headlining cards decades later.
