Kmart was once one of the biggest retailers in the United States, known for selling household essentials, clothes, toys, and more – all at affordable prices under one roof. In the 1980s and 1990s, Kmart began expanding into new product categories, including sports cards and memorabilia. While Kmart cards never reached the popularity or collectibility of brands like Topps or Fleer, some rare Kmart baseball card issues from this period have grown hugely valuable for dedicated collectors.
One of the most important Kmart card sets ever released was the 1987 Kmart Kenny Rogers Rookie Card set. This promotional insert set was included in Kmart shopping bags in 1987 and featured 20 rookie card styles highlighting pitchers who had all debuted in the major leagues between 1975-1986. The true key card and most valuable in the set was the Kenny Rogers rookie from this unknown brand. At the time, Rogers was already an established star pitcher nearing the end of his career. His rookie was extremely scarce in standard 1977 Topps rookie card form. As one of the only widely distributed Kenny Rogers rookie cards available, it became a must-own for collectors.
Today, a Kenny Rogers 1987 Kmart rookie card in Near Mint to Mint condition can sell for $800-1,200. In top pristine Gem Mint 10 grade, elite examples have even achieved auction prices up to $3,000. For such an obscure promotional issue to be worth that much decades later is a true testament to its scarcity and demand. While the other 19 cards in the set also carry value due to their unknown brand novelty, none compare to the importance and valuation of the Kenny Rogers. It’s widely considered the key rookie card issued by Kmart during their brief foray into the sports card market.
Another highly valuable Kmart card is the 1987 Darryl Strawberry. In 1987, Kmart produced an 86-card set highlighting recent star players from both the National and American Leagues. Unlike the Kenny Rogers set, these were traditional baseball cards sized and designed similarly to flagship issues of the time from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. The key chase card was the flashy young star Darryl Strawberry, who was taking the MLB by storm with the New York Mets. Much like the 1987 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry card, the 1987 Kmart Darryl Strawberry has also become a hugely important rookie card for collectors.
In high grades, 1987 Kmart Darryl Strawberry rookies can sell for over $200 today. One example in a recent PWCC auction achieved $280 in Near Mint-Mint condition. Pristine Mint 9 or Gem Mint 10 examples suitable for a high-end rookie card collection have even reached prices up to $500-600. Condition is extremely critical, as most surviving Kmart cards suffered far more wear and tear than larger brand issues due to their thinner coatings and lighter use. But for Strawberry collectors, the 1987 Kmart issue stands out as one of the more scarce and condition-sensitive representations of his early career that can be acquired.
In the late 1980s through the early 1990s, Kmart sporadically released series of baseball cards as in-store promotions or insert sets in products like sports equipment. A few issues from this period have also attained valuable status. The 1989 Kmart All-Stars checklist cards are quite sought-after, with the Nolan Ryan version regularly bringing $150-250 graded Mint. Kmart also was responsible for one of the rarest Cal Ripken Jr. cards in the early 1990s – the 1992 Kmart All-Americans Promotional Ripken. Only approximately 100 were produced and given out at Kmart stores. An example that recently surfaced and graded PSA Gem Mint 10 was verified as the single finest known and shattered records, selling for an astounding $81,000.
While oddball issues, error cards, and true one-of-ones will always be extraordinarily valuable regardless of brand for their statistical rarities, some late 1980s and early 1990s Kmart releases have also developed strong followings that push their values higher over time. The 1989 Kmart Team USA Promotional Set cards are increasingly hard to find in high grades. Key chase cards like the Kirby Puckett regularly exceed $150 graded Mint. And the 1993 Kmart All-Time Greats Checklist parallel cards led by Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, and Frank Thomas can reach over $100 each in top condition as well.
For dedicated Kmart card collectors and oddball enthusiasts, it’s become clear that some of these obscure promotional issues from the retailer’s brief foray into the sports memorabilia business in the 1980s and 1990s have grown unexpectedly rare and collectible over the past 30-40 years. While they’ll never reach the all-time record prices of Gretzky or LeBron rookies from the giants like Topps, select highly conditioned examples of key Kmart issues centered around stars like Kenny Rogers, Darryl Strawberry, Nolan Ryan, and Cal Ripken can certainly achieve mid-range modern record prices in the hundreds to very low thousands of dollars. For a brand many had long forgotten produced cards, the enduring value of the best Kmart issues shows they’ve carved out an interesting niche in the wider world of baseball card collecting history and popularity.
