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1994 SELECT BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1994 baseball season was one of change and new beginnings in Major League Baseball. A work stoppage resulted in the cancellation of the 1994 World Series, and two new franchises joined the league that year with the addition of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins. The 1994 baseball card season reflected these changes and featured many rookies and stars who would go on to have huge careers. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable and valuable 1994 baseball cards.

Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the biggest stars in baseball in the early 1990s and his 1994 Upper Deck SP card is considered one of the most iconic of the decade. Griffey was in his prime with Seattle and coming off back-to-back AL MVP awards. His smooth left-handed swing and effortless style made him extremely popular with fans. The SP version of his 1994 Upper Deck card is one of the most sought-after examples from the brand and routinely fetches hundreds of dollars in PSA 10 condition due its stunning photo and Griffey’s superstar status at the time.

Another huge star from 1994 who remains well-known today is Frank Thomas of the Chicago White Sox. “The Big Hurt” blasted 41 home runs in 1994 while driving in 101 runs and capturing his second straight AL MVP. Thomas’ powerful lefty swing made him Must-See TV in the 1990s and his elite talent was recognized on his flagship 1994 Fleer card. High grade versions of this card featuring Frank’s glorious swing sell for well over $100.

Rookies who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers also made debuts on 1994 cards. One of the most iconic is the 1994 Pinnacle Mint Cal Ripken Jr. card which captured Cal Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games played record of 2,130 games. Ripken played his 2,131st straight game on September 6, 1995 which cemented his legacy as one of baseball’s iron men. This extremely tough pull card in pristine condition can fetch prices over $1000.

Another rookie who took the league by storm in his debut season was Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros. Bagwell slammed 15 home runs and drove in 61 runs in 1994 while batting .287, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. His Topps design rookie card is iconic from the 1990s and high grade versions from Topps, Fleer, or Pinnacle are worth hundreds in pristine condition due to Bagwell’s Hall of Fame career.

The Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins both joined Major League Baseball as expansion franchises in 1993. Both teams featured stars who would go on to have huge careers and their 1994 rookie cards remain quite valuable. For the Rockies, that includes Larry Walker who batted .306 with 26 home runs and 73 RBI in his first season. High grade copies of his 1994 Donruss Optic or Upper Deck cards are worth well over $100 each. For the Marlins, their biggest star proved to be Gary Sheffield who slugged .514 with 25 home runs and 75 RBI. Sheffield’s 1994 Upper Deck and Fleer Ultra rookie cards are key cards from the brand.

Pitching legends Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson also debuted in 1993 but had breakout seasons in 1994 that put them on the map. Martinez went 14-2 with an ERA under 2 as a 22-year old for the Dodgers, thrusting him into superstardom. Meanwhile, “The Big Unit” Johnson struck out 204 batters in 190.1 innings for Seattle. Both players have Hall of Fame pedigree and their 1994 rookie cards from brands like Upper Deck,fleer and Topps are worth $50-100 each in pristine condition considering their dominant careers.

The 1994 season also saw veterans reach milestones as Cal Ripken Jr. did. Rickey Henderson stole his 900th base as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays late in 1994. Henderson remains the all-time stolen base king and his 1994 Upper Deck Gold Label SP card which captured this huge accomplishment is worth $200-300 in top grades. Meanwhile, Nolan Ryan fired his 5,000th career strikeout while with the Rangers, cementing his place as perhaps the greatest pitcher in baseball history. Low population PSA 10 copies of his 1994 Fleer Ultra Action Trax card honoring this achievemen fetch $500-1000.

When looking back at the rich history and talent from 1994, it’s evident this season produced many hall of famers and iconic cards despite being cut short. High grade copies of stars like Griffey Jr, Bagwell, Ripken, Thomas, Sheffield, Martinez, Johnson and more continue to be widely collected and hold value decades later. The rookie cards of these legends combined with milestone moments for Henderson and Ryan make 1994 an incredibly significant season in the collecting hobby. While the baseball world missed out on a fall classic, collectors are still enjoying reliving 1994 through the vintage cardboard that defined a generation.

BASEBALL CARDS SELECT 2022

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Baseball cards have been a beloved collectible for decades, allowing fans to own a piece of their favorite players and teams. The 2022 season saw new stars emerge and old favorites continue excelling, so this year’s baseball card releases contained many exciting rookie cards and big name veterans. The select brands like Topps, Bowman, and Panini offered collectors a wide array of products to chase their wish list cards. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top baseball cards from select 2022 releases.

Topps is the longest running and most iconic baseball card company, and their 2022 offerings as usual contained the true rookie cards for many of the year’s top prospects. One of the most sought-after was Adley Rutschman’s prizm rookie card. As the top pick in the 2019 draft and number one overall prospect, expectations were immense for Rutschman as he debuted with the Orioles. He didn’t disappoint, showing why he’s considered a future star at the catcher position. His Topps Chrome Prizm rookie rocketed up value lists and became a must-own for Orioles PC collectors.

Another hyped Topps rookie was Julio Rodriguez’s paper base card. Rodriguez emerged as one of 2022’s biggest breakout stars, slashing his way to the AL Rookie of the Year award with the Mariners. His prospect pedigree and electric play made his Topps rookie a centerpiece for many Mariners collections. Bobby Witt Jr’s Topps Chrome Prizm rookie also gained steam, as the uber-hyped Royals prospect brought excitement back to Kansas City with his debut. These three rookies all look poised for stardom and their flagship Topps cards are sure to gain value as their careers progress.

While Topps owns the true MLB rookies, Panini’s licenses with the MLBPA allow them to use players’ names and images a year earlier in their Bowman Draft and Prospects sets. This gives them access to a player’s first photo in a major card before they join an MLB team. In 2022, Druw Jones absolutely exploded onto the scene as one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory following his second overall selection in the draft by the Diamondbacks. His Bowman 1st Chrome Purple Refractor /150 parallel rocketed up as collectors scrambled to acquire the first card showing Jones in a Diamondbacks uniform before his pro debut.

Panini also captured several other top prospects like Brooks Lee in their 2022 Bowman sets. As the 8th overall pick by the Twins, Lee had great pedigree and his Bowman Chrome Autograph Purple Refractor /250 became a hot ticket. Jackson Holliday, the #1 overall pick in 2022 by the Orioles, also found early interest in his Bowman cards. While still amateurs, prospects like Jones, Lee, and Holliday generated major buzz that carried over to robust early card values as collectors look to get in early before their inevitable rises up prospect rankings.

Some veterans also saw career years that boosted interest in high-end vintage cards from the years prior. For example, Shohei Ohtani’s incredible two-way performances of 2022 sparked renewed collector attention to his early BBM Japanese baseball cards from before he came to MLB. High-grade versions of his colorful BBM rookie cards climbed steadily. Similarly, Aaron Judge’s chase of the AL single season home run record headlines brought the spotlight back to his Topps Chrome and Bowman Chrome rookie cards from 2013 as collectors looked to commemorate his rise to stardom. Pristine PSA 10 examples of these Judge rookies jumped up secondary market pricing.

The 2022 season also featured breakout campaigns from players like Julio Rodriguez that gave collectors new PC centers to focus on. For example, Rodriguez mania led to heightened demand for his 2019 Bowman Chrome Autograph Refractor rookie, which became a cornerstone for growing Mariners collections. Similarly, Bobby Witt Jr fever drove up his 2019 Bowman Paper Base Autograph rookie as fans looked to get in early. These examples show how a star-making season can provide PC building blocks for years to come in a player’s earliest cards. With so many new emerging talents, the 2022 card year provided options for collectors at every interest level.

The 2022 season gave the baseball card hobby many new and continuing storylines to follow. Rookies like Rutschman, Rodriguez, and Witt established themselves as future stars, while veterans like Ohtani and Judge cemented their place among the game’s elites. The card companies captured these moments for collectors through releases like Topps Chrome, Bowman Chrome, and BBM. With prospects like Jones, Lee, and Holliday also generating buzz, the 2022 crop of cards provided building blocks for collections young and old. It was an exciting year to be involved in the hobby, and these select cards from the season are sure to retain their value for dedicated collectors in the years to come.

2022 PANINI SELECT BASEBALL TOP CARDS

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The 2022 Panini Select baseball card release has provided collectors another exciting opportunity to add sought-after rookie cards and chase inserts to their collections. As with any modern baseball card release, a few select rookie cards and parallels have emerged as the most coveted and valuable in the set. While it’s still early and the hobby is very fluid, here’s a look at some of the top 2022 Panini Select baseball cards based on current demand and recent sales data:

Bobby Witt Jr. Gold Refractor (#39) – The Kansas City Royals star prospect had a phenomenal debut season that has only increased interest in his rookie cards. The Gold Refractor parallel from Select, limited to only 10 copies, has quickly become one of the most expensive cards of the year at over $10,000 PSA Gem Mint. Even raw ungraded versions have sold for thousands. Witt’s dominance on the field and unlimited potential have collectors clamoring for any luxury parallel they can find.

Julio Rodriguez Gold Refractor (#166) – Like Witt, Mariners rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez burst onto the scene in 2022 with electric play that landed him in the AL Rookie of the Year discussion. His Select Gold Refractor parallel shares the same ultra-low print run of 10 copies and carries a commensurate premium. Multiple have traded hands for $8,000 or more in PSA 10 condition. Collectors are making big bets that Rodriguez’s star will only continue to rise.

Juan Soto Dual Jersey Auto (#76) – No stranger to collector demand himself after several monster seasons, Juan Soto offers one of the more exciting dual-relic auto pulls in Select. Auto parallels of established stars tend to hold value exceptionally well long-term. Even base Soto dual auto patch cards are a big hit on the secondary market at $1,000+ consistently.

Spencer Strider Auto (#210) – One of the breakout pitching stars of 2022 was Braves flamethrower Spencer Strider. His rookie season exploits have driven collector focus firmly onto his rookie cards. The Strider Select auto parallel is highly popular despite a comparatively higher serial number of /99. PSA 10 examples have sold for $600-800 already.

CJ Abrams Gold Refractor Auto (#195) – Abrams showed terrific promise in his MLB debut campaign with the Padres. His availability as the coveted Gold Refractor parallel auto adds tremendous long-term intrigue. One freshly graded PSA 10 copy achieved $1,300 in an online auction, evidencing his card’s growth potential.

Oneil Cruz Blue Refractor Auto (#130) – While injuries slowed his 2022 season, Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz still wields immense talent and physical tools that leave fans dreaming on his upside. His scarce Blue Refractor auto parallel out of Select at /50 copies is a true short-print card drawing big bids north of $1,000 already from collectors banking on future success.

Adley Rutschman Gold Refractor Auto (#205) – After a breakout rookie season that ended in an All-Star bid, top Orioles prospect turned franchise cornerstone Adley Rutschman has secured elite prospect status. With Gold Refractor autos even more rare than the base parallel at /10 copies, this doubles as one of the scarcest cards in the set. Recent PSA 10 sales closed at $1,500+.

Riley Greene True Rookie Patch Auto (#35) – Tigers outfield force Riley Greene showed why he’s such a foundational piece for the rebuilding franchise in 2022. His Select patch auto pulls strong interest at $300-500 per copy in top grades given his franchise cornerstone potential in Detroit.

MacKenzie Gore Rainbow Foil Auto (#115) – Padres starter MacKenzie Gore began to flash the upside that made him a highly-touted prospect in 2022 before injuries slowed him. As one of the most aesthetically pleasing parallels in the set at short-print /25 copies with vivid rainbow foil treatment, his auto offers true long-term upside for collectors. Even raw copies have sold in the $500 territory accordingly.

Michael Harris II Gold Refractor Auto (#170) – Rookie of the Year caliber season or not, Braves centerfield standout Michael Harris II gave a glimpse of his 5-tool talent that promises big things ahead. His scarce Gold Refractor auto out of /10 copies encapsulates that promise in a true short-print grail card finding early huge demand at $1,000+.

The 2022 Panini Select release treated collectors to a stellar rookie class and short-print parallels that are already emerging as the year’s most sought-after modern baseball cards. With continuing prospect development and MLB success, these top cards shape up to achieve considerable long-term gains for patient holders alongside the young stars’ ascensions. An exciting new crop of talents is being cemented in the hobby through this latest stellar Panini offering.

1993 SCORE SELECT BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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The 1993 Score select baseball card set was unique in that it featured alternative photography and statistical details compared to Score’s flagship full sets in that year. Score select focused on offering rarer images and more refined player stats and bio info on the backs of cards for collectors. The set came at the tail end of the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 90s that saw an overproduction of cards, but Score select offered collectors a more premium product within reach of the average hobbyist.

The set featured 350 total cards and included active players, managers, and even a few rookie cards of note from the 1992 season. Some of the more notable rookie cards included in the set were Jason Giambi, Nomar Garciaparra, Darren Dreifort, Larry Walker, and Billy Ashley. Standout veteran cards included Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr., Roberto Alomar, and Frank Thomas. Score worked to secure rare action shots or candid poses that collectors wouldn’t see in Score’s flagship set releases that year.

On the back of each card, collectors found more robust statistical breakdowns than typical Score base sets. Detailed minor league stats, pitching repertoires with tendencies, fielding percentages and more were highlighted. Longer player bios and career retrospective quotes added value for fans. For star players especially, collectors could find stats stretching back multiple seasons along with career milestones marked. The level of detail helped set Score select apart from other sets as a true collector’s item.

The rookie class of 1992 added great value and excitement to the 1993 Score select checklist as well. Alongside Giambi, Garciaparra, Walker and Ashley, other notable rookies included Dante Bichette, Eric Chavez, Mark Guthrie, Aaron Sele, and Brian Boehringer. Many of these players would go on to have stellar MLB careers. Giambi and Garciaparra in particular are still considered among the elite offensive talents of their era. Finding their rookie cards in the Score select set at retail provided collectors an opportunity to acquire potentially valuable chase cards.

Beyond rookies, superstar veterans drove interest in 1993 Score select. Ken Griffey Jr. was in his prime and coming off a career year in 1992. Collectors flocked to his cards in the hopes of acquiring early career Griffey for a reasonable price. Likewise, Barry Bonds was a perennial MVP contender and his cards were always in high demand. Similar stars like Cal Ripken Jr. and Frank Thomas held tremendous value as cornerstone cards for any collection. The set captured some of baseball’s biggest names during the peak of their popularity and ability.

In terms of parallels and insert cards, 1993 Score select offered collectors only a basic checklist outside of the base roster of 350 cards. An ‘XRC’ parallel featured stamped foil lettering on the fronts. A ‘Captain’ parallel honored team leaders and All-Star players with special designations on their cards. Additionally, Score included ‘Top Prospects’ as specially designed rookie cards for some of the game’s brightest young talents like Benito Santiago who had recent success in the majors. As a set without oddball parallels, the core cards provided most of the value for collectors.

Demand for the 1993 Score select cards has remained strong in the decades since their initial release. Iconic stars from the set like Griffey, Bonds, Ripken and Thomas are still household names in baseball. Rookie cards of breakout players like Giambi, Garciaparra and Walker are consistently highly sought after on the secondary market. While printed during the industry’s boom period, Score select stood out with its premium photos and stats presentation. This enabled the set to retain collector interest where many other early-90s releases have faded over time. For both dedicated vintage collectors and casual fans, 1993 Score select delivers iconic cardboard from one of the sport’s most exciting eras.

The 1993 Score select baseball card set delivered a premium collecting experience within the reach of the average hobbyist during the junk wax era of the early 1990s. Featuring 350 total cards including notable rookie appearances and superstar veterans, the set distinguished itself through rarer photography and robust statistical information on the reverse of each card compared to other Score releases that year. Demand has remained steady for stars of the era like Griffey, Bonds, Ripken and rookies of Giambi and Garciaparra. Even without crazy parallels, 1993 Score select succeeded in capturing the feel of a true collector’s set focused on quality over quantity from a transformative time in baseball history. For both investment and enjoyment, the checklist continues to entice collectors nearly 30 years later.