The 1990 Score baseball card set is highly sought after by collectors for its scarcity and iconic rookie cards. While the base cards of the set are relatively common, there are several key cards that are extremely rare and valuable. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the rarest 1990 Score cards and what makes them so coveted.
One of the most prestigious rookies from the 1990 Score set is the Griffey Jr. PSA 10 Gem Mint rookie card. Ken Griffey Jr. went on to have a Hall of Fame career and is remembered as one of the most exciting players to ever play the game. The rarity of his 1990 Score rookie comes from the fact that it received a perfect gem mint grade of PSA 10, indicating the card has never been played with and remained in pristine condition from the moment it was pulled from a pack. PSA 10 rookie cards for any player are incredibly scarce, let alone one of the most popular players ever. At the last auction, one of these Griffey Jr. perfect rookies sold for an incredible $360,000, showing just how prized this near-perfect specimen is.
Another ultra-rare card is the Frank Thomas rookie PSA 10. Like Griffey, Thomas enjoyed a prolific career and is regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time. Similar to the Griffey, Frank Thomas rookies that grade PSA 10 are practically unobtainable. The population report from PSA shows there are only 13 of these Thomas rookies in existence that received the perfect 10 grade. At auction, one recently sold for $82,500, cementing it as one of the most valuable 1990 Score cards. The extreme scarcity combined with Thomas’ legendary career make this card a true Holy Grail for collectors.
The 1990 Score set also introduced collectors to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio in his rookie card year. Like Griffey and Thomas, Biggio went on to have Hall of Fame numbers. His rookie in a PSA 10 grade is particularly rare, with a population of just 15 known to exist in that perfect condition. These immaculate Biggio rookies have been selling in the $30,000-$45,000 range in recent years, a big return for a card from a set that originally retailed for about $1. When you consider how few of these near-perfect specimens exist, it shows why they demand such a premium in the market.
Rarer still than a PSA 10 is receiving the ultra-prestigious PSA Gem Mint Mint 9.5 grade. In the 1990 Score set, only a handful of cards have achieved this near-perfect but nonetheless impressive designation. Two that stick out are the Frank Thomas and Craig Biggio rookies that graded 9.5. With PSA populations of just 2 for each, they are statistically some of the rarest modern baseball cards in the world. At auction, they consistently sell for $50,000 or more given their scarcity and condition. No other card better demonstrates just how scarcely a true “black label” gem exists than a 90 Score Thomas or Biggio rookie at a Mint 9.5 grade.
Beyond the impressive Hall of Fame rookie cards, there are other notable short prints and rare variants that make certain 1990 Score cards highly valuable. One is the Billy Ripken “F*** Face” error card, which shows Ripken with the expletive written on his forehead. Only about 100 of these controversial cards are believed to exist in collectors’ hands. At auction, examples have reached upwards of $12,000 due to their notability and scarcity. The 1990 Score set also had light blue Parallel cards that were short printed compared to the standard issue. Rarest of the parallels are the light blueParallel Griffey Jr., Thomas, and Biggio rookie cards, with populations less than 10 each. Similar to the PSA 10 and 9.5 rookies, these scarce parallel versions pull sums over $10,000.
While the standard 1990 Score base cards remain obtainable and affordable, it is the collectibles graded PSA 10 or Mint 9.5 and the ultra-short print variations that make this set truly valuable. For the true “whales” of the hobby, owning examples like the Griffey Jr. or Frank Thomas perfect 10 rookie or a rare parallel variant cements their collection as one of the finest in the world. Few modern sets can rival how prized the rarest 1990 Score cards have become among aficionados, serving as a testament to the iconic rookie talent featured and the unparalleled condition some examples have achieved and maintained over the decades. As demand increases for legacy investment-grade sports memorabilia, these prized cards will likely continue their ascent in value for years to come.
