Tag Archives: values

1991 DONRUSS BASEBALL CARDS VALUES

Leave a reply

The 1991 Donruss baseball card set was released at the tail end of the junk wax era, and while it doesn’t contain the same star rookies or iconic cards as sets from the late 1980s, there are still some interesting gems to be found. Let’s take a deeper look at the key cards, chase cards, and top performers from the 1991 Donruss offering.

The 1991 Donruss set contains a total of 792 cards issued in wax packs, along with several special inserts. The base card design features a color photo of the player on a white bordered card with their team logo at the bottom. Unfortunately production was massive during this time period, with widespread overprinting dramatically affecting long term values. Still, for fans and collectors of the early 90s, it captures a specific moment in the sport.

Some of the top rookie cards from 1991 Donruss include Paul Molitor’s final season with Toronto (#420), Dennis Martinez’ final season (#438), and Will Clark’s first season with the Rangers (#433). None of these rookies panned out as true superstars long term. The best prospect from the class, Philadelphia’s Curt Schilling, is found on card #647 but suffered through injuries in his early career.

Speaking of Philadelphia, darling of the 1991 season was outfielder Pete Incaviglia. His mammoth home runs made him a fan favorite, and his card #367 has attracted strong interest from Phillies collectors. Graded gem mint examples have reached up to $75 in recent years. Another power hitter, Cincinnati’s Billy Hatcher, pops on card #358 thanks to his .325 average that season. Both are indicators that performance on the field can overcome the ill effects of overproduction for certain cards.

Heading into the premium priced territory, there are a handful of Hall of Famers and true icons whose cards still hold value despite the era. Nolan Ryan’sfinal season is captured on card #652, with a PSA 10 sometimes reaching $150-200. Fellow hurlers Tom Seaver (#653), Don Sutton (#660) and Steve Carlton (#662) on their 1990 clubs fetch $25-50 in top grades as well. Looking at position players, Rickey Henderson’s mammoth season splitting time between the A’s and Yankees is honored on card #705, valued around $50-75. And George Brett’s legendary career with Kansas City wraps up on #728, a $30-50 card.

One of the biggest “hits” from the 1991 Donruss set beyond the stars above is the Turn Back The Clock insert set. Featuring 30 current players depicted in throwback uniforms from bygone eras, these parallel the more valuable Topps counterpart from the late 80s. The best of the lot honor Willie Mays as a New York Giant on card #TBC-2, sometimes reaching $150 in a PSA 10. Also highly sought are TBC-8 of Nolan Ryan as an Angel ($80-125 mint), TBC-15 of Dave Winfield as a Padre ($60-90), and TBC-27 of Steve Carlton as an Athletic ($50-75 mint).

Another insert set worth discussing is Donruss Leaders. Highlighting single season statistical leaders, the Mickie Mantle card showing his Triple Crown season of 1956 (#L-14) fetches $40-60 in top grade. Reggie Jackson’s 3 home run game in the 1977 World Series is featured on card #L-27 at $30-50. And Dennis Eckersley’s 1990 AL saves title is honored on #L-30, a $20-35 card. For diehard stat nerds and fans of the featured years, these parallel cards provide a fun collectible twist on the base set.

When considering the sheer production numbers, it might be surprising any 1991 Donruss cards retain much value at all. For dedicated collectors of specific players, teams or periods within the sport, there are still some gems to be unearthed. While none will achieve four figure prices, cherry picking stars, rookies, inserts or especially strong individual player performances can lead to $25-150 returns depending on condition, even after 30 years. With its fun retro designs and snapshots from the early 90s, the 1991 Donruss set remains a beloved piece of the junk wax era for many.

While 1991 Donruss suffers from the same overproduction issues that plagued the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, dedicated collectors can still find value by targeting top rookie cards, Hall of Famers, inserts highlighting iconic seasons, or cards of players who had breakout years. Examples of Pete Incaviglia, Billy Hatcher, Will Clark, and Curt Schilling’s rookies may attract Phillies, Reds, Rangers and Phillies collectors respectively. Mantle, Jackson, Eckersley and other star performances in the insert sets are also strong considerations. With patience and selectivity, it remains possible to build a fun and semi-valuable collection from the 1991 Donruss offering despite the production magnitude of the junk wax period.

1994 UPPER DECK BASEBALL CARDS VALUES

Leave a reply

The 1994 Upper Deck baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the modern baseball card era. Issued at the height of the baseball card boom in the early 1990s, the ’94 Upper Deck set contained 762 cards and featured some of the sport’s biggest stars and rookie cards that still hold significant value nearly 30 years later. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards and valuation trends from the ’94 Upper Deck set.

Ken Griffey Jr. was the face of baseball in the 1990s and his cards were among the most sought after. His base rookie card from the 1989 Upper Deck set still holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a modern-era baseball card at over $300,000.Naturally, Griffey’s cards in the ’94 Upper Deck set are highly valuable as well, especially his rookie/star card which has a photo of him swinging alongside stats on the back. Fresh off back-to-back AL MVP awards in 1994-95, PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of Griffey’s ’94 UD rookie/star card recently sold for $4,500-$6,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 Near Mint copies can fetch $1,500-$2,000.

Another megastar rookie of that era was Derek Jeter. Like Griffey, Jeter’s 1989 Upper Deck RC is legendary but remains out of reach for most collectors pricewise. His ’94 UD Star Rookie card featuring a photo from his stellar 1993 rookie campaign is perhaps the most affordable way to add an authenticated Jeter rookie to a collection. PSA 10 grades still sell for $3,000-$4,000 while PSA 9 copies can be found for $1,500-2,000. Jeter was well on his way to surefire Hall of Fame status by 1994 so even in lower grades, his ’94 UD RC has solid intrinsic value.

Chipper Jones exploded onto the scene in 1995 and won the NL ROY award. Despite being a year removed from his true rookie season in 1995, interest remains high in Jones’ star/rookie card from the ’94 set due to his iconic career with the Atlanta Braves. PSA 10 grades bring $800-1200 currently and PSA 9’s go for $400-600. Jones is a lock for Cooperstown so his early cards will stay relevant collector pieces.

The power bats of the 1990s are also highly sought. Ken Caminiti’s trophy shot Star/Rookie card from his eventual 1996 NL MVP season has increased in value, with PSA 10’s bringing $400-600 and PSA 9’s around $200. Frank Thomas’ imposing image as the game’s best hitter at the time drives interest in his ’94 UD Star card, with PSA 10’s at $300-500 and PSA 9’s around $150-250.

Pitching standouts get attention as well. Randy Johnson’s dominating left-sided Star card iconic for his multi-era excellence. A PSA 10 fetches $250-350 while PSA 9’s settle in the $150 range. Pedro Martinez had established himself as the AL’s best arm and his Star card reflecting that prowess at a compact 6’0 brigns $150-250 in a PSA 10 grade.

Beyond the rookie and star cards, there is value throughout the ’94 UD set in the inserts and parallels that were ahead of their time. The Diamond Kings parallel introduced refractors and is quite scarce in high grades. A PSA 10 Griffey Diamond King sold for over $10k in early 2022. Pinnacle and O-Pee-Chee parallel sets in high grades hold collector demand as early forerunners of the modern parallel trend in baseball cards.

While the 1990s produced an unprecedented boom and influx of mass-produced sets, the quality control and premium materials used by Upper Deck during their baseball heyday differentiates their products. Sets like 1994 remained incredibly popular despite huge print runs as collectors recognized the brand’s legitimization of the modern collecting era. While raw ’94 UD cards remain plentiful at low costs, enthusiasm for high-grade authentic versions authenticated by services like PSA and BGS bodes well for longterm value appreciation of this all-time classic issue.

As the generation that grew up with these stars and cards reaches their peak earning years, interest and prices will likely remain stable or rise gradually. Factors like the Hall of Fame candidacies of players like Jeter, Griffey, and Chipper ensuring their early cards are part of the annual induction spike in prices also augur well. Recession resilience shown by expensive vintage and modern sports cards in recent economic downturns further reassures that flagship 1990s sets like ’94 Upper Deck will stay a pillars of the collecting community for decades to come.

The 1994 Upper Deck baseball set emerged at the absolute pinnacle of the first modern sports card boom. Featuring legendary rookies, stars and key parallels, it enjoys an iconic status that has sustained strong collector demand and valuation nearly 30 years later. With a unique blend of ingredients including branding, quality, star power and production scale, the ’94 UD set established the gold standard for the era and positioned itself as an blue-chip long term basketball asset class for savvy investors. Whether pursuing individual key rookie cards or building a complete set registry, the 1994 Upper Deck baseball cards show no signs of losing their luster or value appreciation potential any time soon.

1991 FLEER BASEBALL CARDS VALUES

Leave a reply

The 1991 Fleer baseball card set was released during a unique time in the baseball card industry. Fleer had lost the license to produce Topps cards and 1991 would be their first year producing cards with their own photos and design. At the time, the baseball card market was starting to decline from its peak in the late 1980s. The 1991 Fleer set still contained some valuable and interesting cards that have stood the test of time.

The set contains 792 total cards and includes rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman. The photos and design style took a more modern approach compared to previous years. The borders are thinner and many of the photos feature players in action shots rather than static poses. This added a new dynamic look that collectors appreciated. While production numbers were high for the era, fewer 1991 Fleer boxes were saved sealed compared to flagship Topps sets of the time. This has kept mint conditioned examples relatively scarce in the modern market.

Some of the most valuable cards from the 1991 Fleer set include:

Chipper Jones rookie card (card #1): Widely considered one of the top rookie cards of the 1990s, the Chipper Jones is the crown jewel of the 1991 Fleer set. In gem mint 10 condition, PSA-graded examples regularly sell for $2,000-$4,000. Even well-centered raw copies in near mint to mint condition command $500-$1,000. Jones went on to a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Atlanta Braves and his rookie card remains one of the most coveted from the junk wax era.

Ken Griffey Jr. (card #92): Known for his electric play style and one of the most popular players of the 1990s, Griffey’s cards always demand a premium. His 1991 Fleer is one of his more scarce early production issues. PSA 10 examples have sold for over $1,000 with mint 9 copies bringing $300-$500.

Frank Thomas (card #207): “The Big Hurt” was coming into his own as one of baseball’s best power hitters during the 1991 season. His Fleer card captures him during his early White Sox tenure. PSA 10s have gone for $800-$1,200 with near mintplus raw copies at $200-$300.

Ryne Sandberg (card #350): The smooth-fielding second baseman is shown taking a lead off first base in this action shot centered card. Considered one of the sharper looking cards in the set. PSA 10s have crossed $500 with solid mint raw copies at $150-$250.

Roberto Alomar (card #629): Another action photo capturing the smooth-fielding second baseman. Graded mint 9 copies have sold for $300 with a PSA 10 recently bringing over $500. Alomar went on to a Hall of Fame career and this early card remains popular.

Jim Thome rookie card (card #772): Arguably the standout rookie card from the set besides Chipper Jones. Thome blasted 612 career home runs and remains one of the game’s most respected sluggers. Low-population PSA 10 Thome rookies have brought over $1,000 with mint 9s at $300-$500.

While production numbers on the entire 1991 Fleer set were high like many issues from the late ’80s/early ’90s, the lack of sealed boxes has prevented an oversupply on the secondary market. Many of the top stars and rookies from this set remain affordable compared to similar years. Investors would be wise to snatch up low-graded examples of the Chipper Jones, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and Jim Thome cards which could appreciate further as their careers are cemented in Cooperstown. Condition-graded samples of Sandberg, Alomar and others also seem like holds that will retain value long-term. The 1991 Fleer baseball card set holds memories for collectors of the junk wax era while also providing opportunities for savvy investors.

Some other factors influencing the values of 1991 Fleer cards include:

Player autographs and memorabilia cards: Signed and game-used relic versions of stars like Griffey, Thomas, Jones, and Thome have sold for thousands. Even lesser known players can earn a premium with an autograph.

Variations: Errors, missing team logos, photo variations fetch interest from die-hard collectors. Examples include an Cal Ripken Jr. batter variation card and Andy Van Slyke missing a St. Louis logo card.

Promos: Short printed promotional cards awarded through contests have a very low population and can be quite valuable. This includes a Kirby Puckett award leaders card.

Higher grades: As with any set, pristine mint 9 and gem mint 10 graded samples enjoy the largest price bumps. Condition is critical to maximize 1991 Fleer value.

Complete/unfinished sets: Holders of full unopenered 1991 Fleer wax packs or intact factory sets can earn thousands. Incomplete sets are also valued based on included stars.

While no 1991 Fleer card has eclipsed the true vintage icons in price like a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, the combination of rookie star power, scarce higher grades, and relatively affordable pricing overall should ensure this fun set from baseball card history remains a staple for collectors and investors in the decades to come. Properly cared for examples of Chipper, Griffey, Thomas and the other stars seem poised to hold and possibly increase in value long-term.

1958 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS VALUES

Leave a reply

The 1958 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues in the entire history of the hobby. Published the year the Milwaukee Braves won their only World Series title, the 1958 Topps set commemorated some true legends of the game and featured photography that captures the essence of mid-20th century baseball. Over the decades, strong collector demand has driven values up considerably for high-grade examples from this ultra-collectible release.

At the top of the heap in terms of value resides the Mickey Mantle card. Widely considered the most coveted card in the entire hobby, PSA Gem Mint 10examples of the Mantle ’58 have sold for as much as $2.88 million, with most bringing in six figures or more at auction. Even in lower grades like PSA 8, it still fetches thousands. What makes the Mantle so desirable is that it highlights him perfectly squaring to bunt, arguably his most recognized baseball action pose. With only around 50 PSA 10s known to exist, finding one in pristine condition is the diamond in the rough for any collector.

Another 1958 standout with immense value is the Roger Maris rookie card. As the single season home run record holder when Topps published the set, it has significant historical importance. High-grade PSA 10 Maris rookies have sold for over $250,000, with most PSA 8s bringing five-figure sums. Unlike Mantle, a bit more mid-grade Maris cards are known, yet finding one eclipse the $10,000 barrier is still challenging for most collectors. What makes the Maris even more collectible is that he is one of the most famous “one year wonders” in sports history for his 61 home run season of 1961.

While the Mickey and Roger cards command the biggest bucks, there are several other 1958 issues that have attained serious vintage card valuation over time as well. A PSA 10 of Willie Mays’ card, which features the Say Hey Kid batting left-handed, has sold for over $180,000. High-grade examples of Hank Aaron,Ernie Banks, and Whitey Ford also consistently hit the five-figure mark at auction. Further down the value chain but still highly coveted are mid-grade versions of stars like Ken Boyer, Roberto Clemente, Early Wynn, and Roy Campanella that can still fetch thousands in PSA 8 or better condition.

Condition is absolutely vital when it comes to 1958 Topps values. Even fractional differences in grade from say a PSA 8 to a PSA 7 can mean the difference of hundreds if not thousands of dollars. With most examples residing in collectors’ collections for 60+ years now, finding high-grade copies of legendary players in pristine condition has gotten increasingly difficult. This scarcity factor has exponentially grown demand from completionists chasing condition census level rarities. A true PSA 10 1958 set in its entirety would be a feat unmatched, valued well into the millions given how few exist.

Even modestly graded common players from the ’58 set can have respectable values nowadays if certified. An average mid-range player like Harvey Kuenn or Joe Adcock in PSA 5 condition will still sell for a couple hundred bucks. This is a testament to how the market has grown incredibly robust for virtually any certified vintage card from this classic release. Condition matters so much that even low-number graded examples of nobodies can still surprisingly command four-figure sums due to their superior state of preservation standout rarity compared to the survivors.

The 1958 Topps set also features legendary Negro League stars like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks in their rookie seasons with new Major League teams following integration. This adds another layer of social significance and context that heightens collector enthusiasm. Not to mention the pure mid-century Americana nostalgia visualized on every card never grows stale. Strong demand driven by nostalgia, history, player pedigree, and sound long-term investing has cemented the 1958 Topps baseball card set as an enduring blue-chip collectible for generations to come. Values will assuredly remain elevated as finding high-quality examples becomes increasing uncommon.

The 1958 Topps baseball card release was a watershed moment not only for the cards themselves but also for the sport. Capturing legendary players and reflecting post-integration roster changes make it a true time capsule of the era. Superior condition examples remain some of the most valuable collectibles money can buy, a testament to the iconic players and photos frozen in time. whether you chase PSA 10 gems or more modestly graded versions, the 1958 Topps cards ensure a great vintage baseball investment for any collector.