The 1991 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most popular releases of the early 90s hobby boom. While the base cards could be found in nearly every pack, several keys cards within the release have become highly coveted by collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the rarest and most valuable 1991 Donruss cards collectors seek out today.
Perhaps the single most valuable and desired card from the 1991 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Known by the card number DG-1, Griffey’s rookie took the hobby by storm upon the set’s release and has only grown in legend and price since. In pristine gem mint 10 condition, PSA-graded examples of Griffey’s rookie now sell for well over $10,000. Even low-grade copies in exhausted condition can still fetch $100+ due to the iconic status of this rookie card. What makes Griffey’s rookie so special is not just that it was one of the best players of his generation’s first major brand card, but also the excitement it generated upon release. The “kid” had taken the league by storm from day one and collectors scrambled to find his new rookie card in packs. Three decades later it remains one of the most important modern baseball cards ever made.
Another immense rarity from 1991 Donruss is card DG-32, featuring Starling Marte’s rookie card. An error occurred during production which saw Marte’s name misspelled as “Starling Martey” on nearly all copies of the card released. Only a tiny handful are known to exist with the correct spelling of just “Starling Marte”. In gem mint condition, the correctly spelled versions have sold for north of $10,000 when they very rarely come to market. The vast majority of collectors are unaware the error even exists, making high grade copies with Marte’s name spelled right a true oddball treasure for enthusiasts of oddball and error cards.
For Dodger fans, one of the rarest Cardinal-oriented cards might be of their greatest rival, but 1991 Donruss card DG-92 depicting Ozzie Smith is considered among the toughest pulls in the entire set. With an incredibly low print run estimated to be under 500 copies, finding a Smith short print in any state of preservation is an accomplishment. In top gem condition it has brought over $6,000 at auction. What makes this card so hard to find is not entirely clear, but it is believed an error may have occurred which severely limited the number included in packs that year. As one of the most iconic defensive specialists in baseball history, high grade Smith short prints are precious prizes for both Cardinals and set collectors alike.
Two other highly valuable and difficult to find short prints from the 1991 Donruss checklist include cards DG-133, showcasing Dodgers ace Orel Hershiser and DG-89, featuring Reds first baseman Hal Morris. Each is believed to have had production runs in the neighborhood of just 1000 copies or less. In top mint condition, both have cracked the $1000 sales mark before. For diehard collectors of either the Dodgers or Reds, finding these über scarce short printed cards in their collections would be an incredible feat over 30 years in the making. While nowhere near as landmark as the Griffey rookie, they represent tremendous challenges to track down.
Beyond the super short prints, there are also several star player cards that hold significant collector interest due to their more readily available but still relatively low print numbers compared to base cards. Cards DG-5 (Roberto Alomar), DG-12 (Ken Griffey Jr.), DG-22 (Tom Glavine), DG-71 (Cal Ripken Jr.), DG-109 (Willie McGee), and DG-112 (Dennis Eckersley) are all known as tough pulls that often trade hands for $50-100 even in lower grades. Finding them in pristine 10 condition can bump values up by two or three times that amount depending on the particular player popularity.
For team set collectors, one especially rare group of cards are those featuring players from the Houston Astros. Due to some type of production mishap, nearly all 1991 Astros are scarce compared to other teams. This includes the team’s biggest stars like Jeff Bagwell on card DG-69. Pristine examples recently sold for over $500. Even medium graded copies can pull $75-100. Cards featuring Ken Caminiti (DG-57), Glenn Davis (DG-63), and Craig Biggio (DG-77) also fall into this category of tough Astros. While not quite short prints, they are significantly tougher pulls than equivalent stars from other clubs.
While 1991 Donruss featured many affordable and widely distributed base cards, it also housed some immense rarities. From true short prints to scarce team variations and star prospect rookies, it remains a holy grail for set collectors three decades after release. Prices have risen sharply in recent years for high grade examples of the toughest cards profiled. With such a major release featuring rookie seasons of future hall of famers like Griffey, Ripken, and Glavine, 1991 Donruss ensures its place as one of the most historically important modern issues.
