Studio 91 was a short-lived baseball card company that produced sets in 1991 and 1992 before ceasing operations. Despite only being around for two years, Studio 91 cards featured unique photography and creative designs that have made some of their cards quite valuable to collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable Studio 91 baseball cards on the current market.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rated Rookie (1991 Studio #1) – Perhaps the most famous and sought-after Studio 91 card is Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie card from the company’s inaugural 1991 set. Griffey was already one of the game’s brightest young stars at the time and his card featured exciting action photography of him swinging the bat. In top gem mint condition, this Griffey rookie has sold for over $5,000. Even well-centered near mint copies in the PSA 8-9 range can fetch $1,000-2,000. The Griffey card holds significant value as one of the true rookie cards for one of the most iconic players of the 1990s.
Roberto Alomar & Francisco Cabrera (1991 Studio #168) – This unique dual rookie card stands out for featuring two future Hall of Famers, Roberto Alomar and Francisco Cabrera, on the same card during their debut seasons. Alomar would go on to have a terrific career while Cabrera was an up-and-coming pitcher for Baltimore at the time who never fully lived up to his potential. Still, the rarity of having a card that debuts two rookies, one of whom became a superstar, makes this card very collectible. Pristine mint copies have sold for $800-1,000 in recent years.
Ken Griffey Jr. Action Variation (1991 Studio #1V) – As with many card companies in the early 90s, Studio 91 experimented with different card designs and variations in their short run. One of the rarest variations from their inaugural ’91 set is the Ken Griffey Jr. action card with a black and white photographed variation instead of the primary color photo. Only about 10 of these ultra-rare variations are known to exist, making it the true crown jewel among Studio 91 cards. One that received a PSA 10 grade recently sold at auction for an astounding $17,500, a testament to its amazing condition and scarcity.
Frank Thomas Rookie (1991 Studio #239) – While not quite as iconic or valuable as the Griffey rookie, Frank Thomas’ Studio 91 card from his rookie season with the White Sox is still a key piece for any serious collectior. “The Big Hurt” would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and his photography and stats on this card make it an desirable vintage rookie card issue. High grade PSA 9 copies have sold for $1,000 while a flawless mint PSA 10 fetched $3,000 last year.
Barry Bonds & Andy Van Slyke (1992 Studio #1) – Studio 91 saved two superstar outfielders for the cover of their 1992 set. This dual card features Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke sharing the spotlight in their Pittsburgh Pirates uniforms. Bonds was already one of the game’s top young players at this point while Van Slyke was a veteran leader for the Bucs. Near mint PSA 8 copies routinely sell for $150-250 given the star power on the card. Collectors enjoy the creative photography and subject matter that Studio 91 was known for.
Cal Ripken Jr. Final Season (1992 Studio #231) – While not technically a rookie card, Cal Ripken Jr’s Studio 91 issue from his final season with the label in 1992 holds significance. Ripken was already an Orioles legend and future Hall of Famer by this point. The card highlights his finest statistical seasons. Combined with the short run of Studio 91 sets, this makes Ripken’s final card with them desirable for any O’s or Ripken PC. Well-centered PSA 9 copies have sold for $300-400 in recent years.
Nolan Ryan Milestones (1992 Studio #243) – One of the coolest Studio 91 “hits” cards was this Nolan Ryan issue commemorating some of his major career achievements up to that point in ’92. It lists his strikeout records and milestones in an eye-catching horizontal format. For any Ryan collector, this unique card stands out in his collection and it remains quite scarce to find in pristine condition. A flawless gem mint PSA 10 example sold for a lofty $750 price tag recently.
While short-lived, Studio 91 created some truly iconic and valuable vintage baseball cards during their brief run in the early 1990s. Leading the way are sensational rookies like Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas alongside stars like Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken and Nolan Ryan. With excellent photography and creative designs, these Studio 91 issues appeal greatly to collectors and will likely remain some of the most sought-after vintage cards for years to come.
