The 1980s and 1990s were a golden age for collecting baseball cards. During this time, some of the greatest players in MLB history made their debuts and had breakout seasons that defined their careers and legacies. As a result, several key cards from this era have gone on to become tremendously valuable for collectors and investors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most prized 1980s and 1990s baseball cards that can fetch huge prices today.

One of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever is the rookie card of MLB home run king Barry Bonds from 1986 Fleer. Bonds was just starting out with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986 after being drafted as the sixth overall pick in 1985 out of Arizona State University. No one could have predicted that the skinny 22-year-old would go on to shatter the all-time home run record. In mint condition, a 1986 Barry Bonds rookie card in a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade can sell for well over $100,000 today. Even well-centered examples in PSA 8-9 Excellent-Mint grades will sell for thousands.

Another massively valuable 1980s rookie card is the Kirby Puckett from 1984 Topps. Puckett broke out with the Minnesota Twins in 1984, batting .296 with 17 home runs and 82 RBI to finish third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He would go on to capture six All-Star selections and help lead the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. A 1984 Topps Kirby Puckett rookie card in PSA 10 condition can sell for over $50,000. High-grade versions remain extremely scarce.

Two of the biggest stars of the 1990s had ridiculously valuable rookie cards as well. The 1992 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. is widely considered the most iconic baseball card of the modern era. Kid Griffey was already a budding superstar with the Seattle Mariners by 1992 at just 22 years old. A PSA 10 Griffey Jr. rookie in pristine condition can demand a jaw-dropping price in excess of $100,000. The card is one of the most sought-after and impressive finds in the hobby.

Not to be outdone, the 1990 Bowman Derek Jeter rookie card has also ascended into the upper echelon for baseball cards from the era. Jeter was just a 20-year-old prospect in the Yankees farm system in 1990 before breaking out in 1996 to begin a legendary career that saw him win 5 World Series for New York. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, a Jeter rookie can sell for anywhere from $50,000-100,000 depending on market demand. Few are found at this level due to print runs and the delicateness of the paper stock used by Bowman in 1990.

Some other notable 1980s and 1990s baseball cards that are worth substantial money in high grades include the following:

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. (PSA 10 sells for $15,000+)

1992 Bowman Chipper Jones rookie (PSA 10 around $15,000)

1990 Bowman Manny Ramirez rookie (PSA 10 recently sold for $12,500)

1988 Fleer Pedro Martinez rookie (PSA 10 sells for $7,000-10,000)

1987 Topps Mark McGwire rookie (PSA 10 around $5,000)

1989 Bowman Craig Biggio rookie (PSA 10 sells for $4,000-6,000)

1992 Upper Deck Frank Thomas rookie (PSA 10 around $3,000-4,000)

1989 Leaf Ken Griffey Jr. rookie (PSA 10 fetches $3,000+)

1990 Topps Greg Maddux (PSA 10 sells for $2,000-3,000)

1991 Upper Deck Moises Alou rookie (PSA 10 sells for $2,000+)

1991 Studio Vladimir Guerrero rookie (PSA 10 sells for $2,000+)

1990 Topps Nolan Ryan (PSA 10 around $2,000, due to his legacy)

The prices for these top 1980s and 1990s rookie cards are driven massively higher by their extreme rarity and importance to the careers and legacies of future Hall of Fame players like Bonds, Griffey Jr., Jeter, Thomas and more. With print runs much smaller than modern issues, high-quality specimens from this era are exponentially harder to uncover. For savvy collectors and investors, these vintage cards represent some of the safest long-term holdings in the hobby.