The 1991 Score Baseball card set is one of the most iconic and treasured sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While Series 1 of the 1991 Score set does contain some valuable rookie cards, many collectors and investors consider Series 2 to house some true gems and high dollar cards. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and sought after cards from the 1991 Score Baseball Series 2.
Kenny Lofton Rookie Card (#122)
Kenny Lofton is widely considered one of the greatest leadoff hitters and center fielders of all-time. His rookie card from the 1991 Score Series 2 is one of the true jewels from the entire junk wax era. Lofton went on to have a Hall of Fame caliber career spanning 17 seasons with six All-Star appearances. In pristine mint condition, Lofton’s rookie now commands prices upwards of $500. Even well-worn near mint copies can bring over $100 due to the continued strong demand for this iconic rookie issue. With Lofton’s playing career achievements and the card’s sheer scarcity, his ’91 Score RC remains a great long term hold.
Dave Martinez (#164)
While not a household name like Lofton, catcher Dave Martinez’s rookie card has achieved quite a cult following over the years despite a relatively pedestrian playing career. The main driver in the card’s value is its severe scarcity in high grades. Professionally graded mint copies have sold for over $1,000, with some even climbing close to $2,000. Even in just near mint to mint condition expect to pay $300-500 easily. The rarity of this card makes it highly sought after for serious 1991 Score and junk wax investors.
Gregg Jefferies (#226)
Gregg Jefferies was once a top prospect in the Mets system and his rookie card is one of the true short prints from the ’91 Score S2 set. Even at the height of the junk wax era, Jefferies’s rookie was tough to pull due to the card’s limited printing. In pristine gem mint 10 condition, examples have sold for well over $500. Most near mint copies you’ll find will cost $100-250 depending on exact condition. The allure of the short print along with Jefferies’s prospect pedigree at the time makes this a favorite of error and variation hunters.
Mark Gardner (#183)
Easily one of the most desired commons from 1991 Score S2 set is pitcher Mark Gardner’s straightforward base issue card. Demand for this card stems from its dramatic miscut which results in about half the photo bleeding off the left side of the card. In gem mint condition expect to pay $300-500 for examples showing ample bleeding. Well-cut near mint copies have sold for $100-200 still. The radical miscut nature fuels plenty of interest from error card collectors on this otherwise ordinary Gardner issue.
Carlos Baerga (#205)
While not a true rookie card, Carlos Baerga’s spectacular 1990 season with the Indians made his base 1991 Score card very popular. His smooth left-handed swing helped lead Cleveland to the World Series that year. High grade Baerga’s from ’91 Score S2 have sold for $150-300. Even well-loved near mint copies can be had for $50-100 still due to the player’s popularity and success in the early 90s. Baerga remains one of the standout young stars featured in this heavily searched set.
Shane Mack (#256)
Many consider Shane Mack’s card from 1991 Score S2 to be one of if not the single rarest cards from the entire junk wax era. Mack appeared in only 23 games over two seasons in the majors in the late 80s. After busting out as a minor league star his rookie card’s scarce print run means high grade versions command prices in the multiple thousands. A PSA 10 gem earned over $5,000 at auction in 2019. Even well-centered near-mint copies change hands for $300-500 based purely on rarity value alone. Mack’s card tops many collectors’ junk wax want lists.
Bobby Thigpen (#278)
Bobby Thigpen’s 1991 Score S2 issue came on the heels of his historic 1990 season with the White Sox where he set the single season saves record with 57. Not surprisingly, his post RC carried high demand upon release. Today PSA 10 examples have sold for over $300. Even heavily played VG-EX copies can still fetch $50-75. Thigpen remains one of the more memorable stars of the early 90s featured in Score S2 making his card a mainstay in team and player collections.
This covers some of the true big hitters in terms of value from the massive 1991 Score Baseball Series 2 set. While not all are true rookies, factors like rarity, statistical achievements, and radical errors fuel strong collector demand for these select issues decades after release. For investors, strong conditioned copies of cards like Lofton, Martinez, Mack, and others provide an opportunity at uncovering a true junk wax era gem. With prices still relatively low compared to modern releases, 1991 Score Series 2 remains a fun and affordable set to hunt gems from both monetarily and collecting standpoint.
