The 1992 Score Pinnacle baseball card set was one of the most iconic releases of the early 1990s and contained some of the era’s biggest stars and rookies. While the vast majority of cards from the set hold little value today other than nostalgia, there are a select few that have stood the test of time and increased exponentially in worth. Let’s take an in-depth look at the most valuable cards from the ’92 Score Pinnacle set that still command high prices at auction.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rated Rookie – The KGJ Rated Rookie is arguably the most coveted and iconic card of the entire junk wax era that lasted from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. Despite being produced in absurd quantities, Junior’s dazzling rookie still achieves huge sums when pristine copies surface. A PSA 10 Gem Mint of this beauty recently brought in an astonishing $107,370, though even lower graded versions still fetch thousands due to Griffey’s popularity and status as a true icon of the sport. Add in the centering, color, and action shot that perfectly captured his otherworldly talents, and it’s clear why this remains the heavy-hitter from the set nearly 30 years later.
Frank Thomas – ‘The Big Hurt’ exploded onto the scene in 1990 and never looked back en route to a Hall of Fame career. His burly physique and titanic power strokes made him a fan favorite, and his ’92 Score Pinnacle is one of the key Thomas rookie cards available. Graded examples in the 7-9 range will pull in $300-700, while a PSA 10 sold for nearly $3,000 in 2021 showing this pick has some solid long term potential in the collection.
Greg Maddux – Mad Dog cemented his place among the game’s all-time great pitchers and won 4 Cy Young awards between 1992-1995 alone. Any lesser known cards from early in his dominant career before massive production are quite valuable today. His Score Pinnacle Rated Rookie falls into this category, with PSA 10s bringing over $1,000. Even lower quality examples still fetch $100-300 owing to Maddux’s sustained excellence and 3,000+ strikeout career.
Barry Bonds – 1992 was a breakout season for Bonds as he captured his first MVP award and belted 34 long balls. His Score Pinnacle depicts him batting left-handed and focusing intently, a strong design complementing Bonds’ emerging superstar power. Pristine PSA 10s have hit $650-800 in recent sales, while all mint 9s hold value around the $200 mark due to Bonds’ epic run in the late 90s and 2000s that saw him smash the all-time home run record.
Jim Thome (Gold Printing Plate) – Numbered to only 5 copies, these ultra-rare 1/1 gold printing plates are the true crown jewels from the ’92 Score Pinnacle release. Thome was an up-and-coming power hitter at this point before launching 612 career big flies. Incredibly, one of these legendary 1/1 treasures popped up at auction recently and stunned the hobby by achieving an eye-watering $40,700 final bid. Simply put, a card that only exists as a single copy will always be coveted amongst advanced collectors.
Derek Jeter – In just his rookie season of 1996, Jeter established himself as the new Yankee shortstop and wouldn’t slow down en route to a first-ballot Hall of Fame nod. His flagship rookie card is the ultra-popular 1996 Topps, but 1992 Score Pinnacle provides one of the earliest mainstream releases featuring the Captain. Even graded examples below gem mint still pull in $150-300 due to his iconic career and status with the most storied franchise in U.S. sports. PSA 10s have cracked four figures on the secondary market.
Doc Gooden/Dwight Gooden – Although facing personal issues, Doc still possessed otherworldly raw stuff in 1992 and remained a popular player. His Score Pinnacle packs quite apunch for a relatively overlooked card from that era. PSA 10s command $500-700 currently, underscoring how a star-studded subject and sharp aesthetics can boost long term value prospects. Even for a player who didn’t entirely fulfill expectations, this ’92 Gooden holds up as a key vintage piece.
While the junk wax era diluted overall collecting interest for a time, certain star subjects from this generation have proven to retain marketability based on playing career accomplishments paired with aesthetically pleasing and historically relevant cardboard. The 1992 Score Pinnacle release contained many of the players who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers and captivate fans for over a decade. Even 30 years later, Griffey Jr’s rookie along with bonds, thomas, maddux, and others continue to outperform expectations and bring top dollar when highest graded examples change hands. For dedicated collectors, it’s a true victory when nostalgic pieces from the early 90s maintain collection worth spanning multiple generations.
