The 1991 Donruss baseball card set is considered one of the most significant releases from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While cards from this time period are not particularly rare due to high production numbers, the 1991 Donruss set stands out for marking Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card and features several other young stars who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. As a result, certain 1991 Donruss cards command premium prices from collectors today.
The 1991 Donruss set consists of 792 total cards issued in wax packs, rack packs, and factory sets. The design features a vertical photo of the player on the front with their team logo and stats on the back. While production was high during the junk wax era, awareness and appreciation for rookie cards has increased demand and prices for key 1991 Donruss rookies in recent years. Chief among these is Ken Griffey Jr.’s iconic rookie card, which has become one of the most sought-after and valuable modern baseball cards in existence.
Griffey debuted with the Seattle Mariners in 1989 at age 19 but did not have an official rookie card until the 1991 Donruss release, as his 1990 Donruss card was considered his second year card. Even in polished condition, Griffey’s ’91 Donruss rookie routinely fetches thousands of dollars. Near mint to mint copies in a PSA or BGS slab have sold for over $20,000, with gem mint 10’s breaking all previous records at auction for more than $50,000. Long regarded as the best all-around player of his generation, plus his trademark smile and swing making the card instantly recognizable, demand for Griffey’s rookie is unlikely to fade.
While no other 1991 Donruss card approaches Griffey’s value, several other stars from that era with Hall of Fame potential have gained recognition and prices too. Chipper Jones’ rookie card is one that has appreciated greatly in recent years, as the longtime Atlanta Braves third baseman was elected to Cooperstown in 2018. High-grade PSA/BGS 10 versions of Jones’ ’91 Donruss card now sell for $1,000-$2,000 each, with most mint 9’s in the $200-500 range. Also well regarded are rookie cards of Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine, and Jeff Bagwell from the 1991 Donruss set.
Other notable rookie and star rookie year cards from the 1991 Donruss release that demand stronger prices include Jeff Kent, Moises Alou, Greg Maddux, Roberto Alomar, and Juan Gonzalez. For team collectors, cards of Kirby Puckett, Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith are regarded as the top short prints and serially numbered parallel cards from the base set. Of course, autograph and memorabilia rookie cards for Griffey, Jones, Thomas, and others from 1991 Donruss have multiplied in price many times over compared to their standard base card counterparts.
While the junk wax era created an oversupply that keeps most 1991 Donruss commons relatively affordable, iconic rookie cards like Griffey’s never seem to lose their appeal to collectors. Strong finishes in third-party grading only help to fuel demand. Even in a rising vintage baseball card market where vintage is king, modern stars of the early 1990s are finally coming into their own. With HOF-worthy talents like Griffey, Jones, Maddux, Glavine, and others, the 1991 Donruss release has proven to not just be a product of its time. Certain key cards are true blue-chip investments for savvy collectors decades after the fact.
1991 Donruss Griffey Rookie Guide:
PSA 10: $50,000+
PSA 9: $15,000-20,000
BGS 9.5: $12,000-15,000
BGS 9: $8,000-10,000
Raw Near Mint: $3,000-5,000
Raw Mint: $1,500-2,500
1991 Donruss Chipper Jones Rookie Guide:
PSA 10: $1,500-2,500
PSA 9: $700-1,000
BGS 9.5: $800-1,200
BGS 9: $400-700
Raw Mint: $150-300
While the 1991 Donruss release remains tied to the junk wax era that surrounded it, iconic rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones have enduring popularity and value. Graded examples in gem mint condition continue appreciating based on Hall of Fame performance and recognition. For assembling complete sets or targeting specific stars, ungraded 1991 Donruss cards can still be obtained relatively affordably compared to their vintage predecessors. But certain key rookies have proven they were never truly “junk.”
