In 1993, General Mills released its 39th and final series of collectible baseball cards inserted in boxes of cereal as part of its iconic Post Cereal Give-A-Show collectibles program. The 1993 Post Cereal baseball card series would mark the end of an era that spanned from 1955 to 1993 of providing young baseball card collectors affordable packs to build their collections included right in their favorite breakfast cereal.
The 1993 Post Cereal baseball card series featured 330 total cards issued in wax packs containing 9 cards each. Some of the big stars featured included Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Ken Griffey Jr., Robin Yount, Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn. With the dominance of the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays in the early 1990s, the 1993 Post Cereal card set also had a strong representation of players from those clubs like Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Dennis Martinez, Roberto Alomar, and Pat Borders.
One of the unique aspects of the 1993 Post Cereal baseball card set was the inclusion of retired players cards for the first time. Legends such as Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson all had cards spotlighting some of their career highlights. This was a nod to Post’s long tradition of documenting the history of America’s Pastime through its baseball cards inserted in breakfast cereals.
In addition to the base card checklist of 330 total cards, General Mills also inserted short print and autograph cards randomly in packs that provided an extra bonus for collectors. Some of the highly sought short print parallel cards in the 1993 Post Cereal baseball card set included Ken Griffey Jr. at #280SP, Roger Clemens at #175SP, and Barry Bonds at #329SP. These short print parallel cards were much scarcer to pull from packs and thus held premium value for collectors.
Perhaps the most coveted and valuable insert cards from the 1993 Post Cereal baseball card set were the 18 autograph cards inserted at extremely low odds. Some of the all-time greats who had autographed cards include Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Ozzie Smith. Because they were signed by the players themselves and inserted so rarely in packs, these autographed cards carried immense value and prestige for collectors lucky enough to find them.
In addition to the base player checklist and inserts, the 1993 Post Cereal card set also contained 20 team cards highlighting that year’s American League and National League clubs. These provided a nice visual summary of each team’s starting lineup and pitching rotation which added to the educational aspect of collecting the Post cards as a kid.
While many young collectors at the time were beginning to transition to the more mainstream brands like Topps, Donruss, and Fleer that were sold in stores, Post Cereal cards still held a nostalgic appeal due to their long association with breakfast. Their smaller size also made them very affordable and easy for children to carry and trade amongst their friends.
Sadly, with changes in the cereal market and preferences of collectors, the 1993 Post Cereal baseball card series would be the final installment of the fabled Post cards after 39 consecutive years of production from 1955-1993. They remain a cherished bridge from the early childhood days of many collectors who grew up eagerly awaiting to see what classic or star player cards they might pull from their morning boxes of cereal. The 1993 Post Cereal set serves as a fitting finale and commemorates the golden era when America’s favorite pastimes of baseball and breakfast intertwined each other.
