The 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition baseball card set marked the end of an era for the pioneering Upper Deck company. Following disputes with MLB properties, Upper Deck produced their last baseball card release for several years in 1991. The Final Edition set contained 264 total cards and featured the biggest names in the game from that time period. Several of the cards from this final Upper Deck series have gone on to become extremely valuable gems for collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition baseball cards.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie – Card #1: Widely considered one of the top 5 most valuable baseball cards of all-time, Griffey’s rookie card from the 1991 Upper Deck set is the undisputed top prize. With his good looks, effortless talent, and incredible career ahead of him, Griffey seemed destined for stardom from day one. This helped drive early and continued demand for his rookie card. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s Final Edition rookie has sold for over $100,000 at auction. Even well-centered near mint copies still fetch thousands. Griffey was simply a can’t-miss star and collectors knew it from the start.
Roberto Alomar Rookie – Card #54: Alomar enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and established himself as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. Like Griffey, Alomar’s superstar potential was evident from the start. His rookie card from the 1991 Upper Deck set carries nearly as much cache as Griffey’s in the eyes of collectors. A PSA 10 gem mint Alomar rookie has sold for over $20,000, showing its immense rarity and demand. Even well-centered near mint copies can sell for $1,000 or more, proving this to be one of the most valuable modern rookie cards after Griffey’s.
Barry Bonds – Card #149: While Bonds had yet to fully realize his offensive prowess at this point in his career, collectors recognized his talent and five-tool player potential. His cards would prove to be some of the best investments in the hobby. The 1991 Upper Deck Bonds is one of the star’s earliest cards and holds significant collectors value as a key piece from one of the games’ all-time greatcareers. A PSA 10 has sold for over $3,000 showing solid four-figure value for this rookie card in top condition. Even well-centered near mints can command $500+.
Dale Murphy – Card #179: One of the biggest stars of the 1980s, Murphy put together an amazing peak run that saw him win back-to-back MVPs. His cards from the latter half of his career remain some of the most popular and valuable from that era. The 1991 Upper Deck issue shows “Murph” near the end of his playing days but remains a highly coveted card by his legions of fans. PSA 10 gems have sold for over $1,000 with most well-centered near mints bringing $300-$500 still. Murphy mania lives on with collectors to this day.
Red Sox Future Stars – Cards #176-178: The 1991 Upper Deck set featured an exciting Red Sox “future stars” mini-set highlighting three phenoms – Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, and Mike Greenwell. All three would play pivotal roles in Boston’s postseason success later in the 1990s. The trio of stars packed together makes for an enticing high-grade chase among Red Sox collectors. The complete mint PSA 10 triple runs $1,000+, with even a single PSA 10 Clemens eclipsing $300+. Overall a fun and valuable Red Sox cardboard relic.
In addition to headlined stars, there are several other valuable and collectible short prints dispersed throughout the 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition set. Cards like Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith, and Will Clark feature scarce printing plates and create ongoing collector demand in top grades at auction. The sheer star power and visual style of Upper Deck’s final baseball release also adds nostalgic value for many collectors who grew up with the pioneering brand in the early 90s. Whether chasing mega-hits like Griffey and Alomar or completing nostalgic team collections, the 1991 Final Edition set remains a monument in the hobby.
The 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition baseball card set signified the end of an era but kickstarted the collecting journeys of many. Led by the incomparable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie, several stars from the collection have emerged as truly valuable vintage cardboard investments. WhileCondition sensitive, the top cards from this historic set continue to attract strong prices from devoted collectors years later. The 1991 Upper Deck Final Edition was a fitting finale to one of the hobby’s revolutionary brands and its lasting collectible appeal shows no signs of slowing.
