The 1990 Donruss baseball card set was released at the end of 1989 and featured cards of players from that past MLB season. While not one of the flashiest or most iconic sets of the late 80s/early 90s, the 1990 Donruss set contains some extremely valuable rookie and star player cards that are highly sought after by collectors today. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable cards from the 1990 Donruss set.
One of the premier rookies and most expensive cards from the 1990 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the most hyped rookie prospects ever and living up to expectations early in his career. His rookie card from Donruss is one of the iconic rookie cards of the late 80s/90s rookie boom. High grade versions of this card in mint condition have sold for over $10,000. Even well-centered near mint copies can sell for $2,000-5,000 depending on the exact condition and competitiveness of the market. The Griffey rookie is widely considered one of the top 10 most valuable baseball cards of all-time and remains a highly liquid asset for collectors.
Another incredibly valuable rookie card from the 1990 Donruss set is the Barry Larkin rookie card. Larkin was a franchise player for the Cincinnati Reds and one of the best shortstops of his era. He won the MVP award in 1995. His rookie card is not as well-known as the Griffey, but for serious collectors it remains a prime target. Top-graded PSA 10 copies of the Larkin rookie have sold for over $6,000. Even lower-graded near mint examples still command prices of $2,000 or more. Larkin wasn’t as hyped a rookie as Griffey, but his stellar 12-year career has made this a key Cincinnati Reds and rookie card for collectors.
In addition to rookie phenoms, the 1990 Donruss set featured several accomplished veterans and future Hall of Famers. Chief among these valuable veteran cards is the Nolan Ryan card. Ryan was still actively dominating hitters at age 43 in 1990 and on his way to racking up career strikeout records. His popularity and status as perhaps the greatest power pitcher ever made his base Nolan Ryan card a target, even in the late stages of his career. High grade PSA 9-10 versions of this card have sold for well over $1,000. Considering Ryan’s immense impact on the game, his 1990 Donruss card resonates strongly with collectors.
Another standout veteran star featured is the Cal Ripken Jr. card. Ripken was chasing and eventually breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record during the late 80s and 90s. He captured the imagination of fans nationwide. His 1990 Donruss base card, while not a rookie, still retains value given Ripken’s iconic status. PSA 10 examples have topped $500-600 in sales. Even lower graded copies still trade in the $100-200 range. Ripken’s ironman record and quiet consistency made him a fan favorite, which translated to the strength of his older vintage cards as well.
The 1990 Donruss set also featured Frank Thomas in his rookie season, though he didn’t have an official rookie card in the set since he had played in 14 games in 1989. The Thomas rookie has still retained healthy value for collectors. High graded examples in PSA 10 condition have hit auction prices up to $1,000 in recent years. Even in PSA 8-9 condition, solid copies can sell for $250-500 still. Thomas would go on to have one of the most decorated careers of any hitter in the 1990s and remains one of the top Chicago White Sox players ever.
While stars like Griffey, Larkin, Ryan, Ripken and Thomas highlight the premium vintage cards, there are other $100+ valued gems to be found throughout the 1990 Donruss checklist as well. The Craig Biggio rookie regularly tops $150 PSA 10. The Kevin Mitchell rookie (1989 NL Rookie of the Year) and Darren Daulton rookie also approach the $100 mark in top condition. And periodic short prints like the Roberto Alomar or Kenny Lofton rookie can spike north of $150 in pristine mint.
While not the flashiest flagship set of the time, the 1990 Donruss release formed an affordable starter set that contained valuable rookie hits and classic stars from the late 80s/early 90s. Anchored by the phenomenal Griffey and Larkin rookies, as well as vibrant star power in Ryan, Ripken and others, key 1990 Donruss cards retain collectors attention and strong secondary markets years later. For vintage collectors, assembling or holding examples of these premium cards remains a savvy long term investment even after 30 plus years.
