The 1991 Score baseball card set showcased some of the biggest stars and rookie talents of that era. While the design and photography of Score cards were not as flashy or innovative as competitors like Upper Deck and Topps, many of the cards still hold significant value today given the star power and historical significance of the players featured. For collectors looking to find iconic 1980s and early 90s players at their athletic peaks, as well as future Hall of Famers just starting out, the ’91 Score set provides a treasure trove of worthwhile additions to any collection. Below we’ll examine some of the most valuable and desirable cards collectors search for from that year.

Heading the list of top ’91 Score cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the most iconic rookie card of all time, Griffey’s addition to the Score set came as he was already establishing himself as a true five-tool superstar for the Seattle Mariners. With his effortless left-handed swing and Gold Glove caliber defense in center field, Griffey dazzled fans and appeared MLB on its way to even greater heights. His rookie card, featuring crisp action photography of “The Kid” taking a lead off first, has only increased in demand over the decades. In near mint condition, examples regularly sell for $3,000 or more given Griffey’s eventual place in the Hall of Fame and status as one of the most beloved players in baseball history.

Another rookie card generating big bucks from ’91 Score is Chipper Jones. As the #1 overall pick in the 1990 draft by the Atlanta Braves, Jones came with immense expectations and did not disappoint. His rookie card depicts the smooth-swinging third baseman in the batter’s box for the Braves. Like Griffey, Jones went on to have a legendarny career that culminated with his induction into Cooperstown. PSA 10 graded versions of his rookie are valued at $1,000+, a true blue chip for any collection. Braves fans in particular treasure examples of the future franchise cornerstone’s early cards.

While they may not be rookies, cards of already established superstars were highly sought after by collectors in 1991 as well. One of the best examples is the Nolan Ryan card, showing the expressionless “Ryan Express” mid-windup for the Texas Rangers. At age 44, he was still dealing heat and racking up strikeouts at an incredible pace, on his way to career totals that may never be broken. His ’91 Score RC is priced around the $500 mark in top condition due to Ryan’s status as arguably the greatest power pitcher of all time.

Another Texan lighting up radar guns was Yankees flamethrower Roger Clemens. His Score card captured “The Rocket” unleashing a pitch for the world champs, flexing his muscular arms mid-motion. Clemens would win a career-high 20 games that year en route to a second Cy Young award. Near mint TLM examples fetch $400-500 in the current market.

Switching to the National League, the Barry Bonds card stands out significantly as well. As he entered his age 27 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bonds was already one of the top all-around talents in MLB but had yet to win an MVP award. His huge talent was evident but some suggest he had not yet reached his full powers, which would be truly unleashed in the latter half of his career. Still, his 1991 Score card depicting the left fielder in the field is valued around the $300-350 range. If graded a perfect PSA 10, it could likely garner over $1,000.

Rookie cards of future aces Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux also hold substantial value from this set despite their more lowkey photographs. Both pitchers were already displaying glimpses of the surgical command that would define long, decorated careers splitting time between the Braves and Chicago Cubs rotations. Near mint Glavine and Maddux rookies can each fetch $150-250.

While stars of the day like Griffey, Ryan, and Bonds garner top dollar, finding a genuinely rare and coveted parallel version could significantly boost a card’s value beyond even raw star power. One example is the Griffey Jr. “Starrookie” parallel, limited to only 100 copies. This hyper-rare parallel features an alternate photo of Griffey in batting practice. Just finding one in a collector’s hands makes it a true prize, with PSA 10 examples bringing multiple thousands at auction.

Error cards that saw incomplete ink or color applications by the printer also become hot commodities. The Frank Thomas “Blue Tint” error card, so named because of its noticeable darker hue, has sold for over $2,000 in high grades. Another fascinating anomaly is the Nolan Ryan/Jeff Bagwell “Switch” error, where the player photos were mistakenly swapped. Only a handful are known to exist.

While age and condition will always impact price, truly choice examples in pristine mint state of 1991 Score’s hottest rookie and established stars can still offer collectors excellent long-term value and enjoyment decades later. For those wanting to showcase iconic players from baseball’s recent past in the pre-uniform number change/steroid era, ’91Score remains a brilliant way to do so affordably while also appreciating some worthy investments.