The 1990 Donruss baseball card set showcased some of the biggest stars and top rookies of that era. While most of the cards in the 700+ card series hold little resale value today, a select few have appreciating tremendously due to the superstar status of the players featured. For serious card collectors and investors, here are some of the most valuable and desirable 1990 Donruss cards to seek out.

Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (Card #1)
Widely considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing and iconic rookie cards ever made, the 1990 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. card is arguably the crown jewel of the set. Griffey was already primed for superstardom in 1990 as a hugely talented 20-year old phenom showing off his effortless lefty swing and Gold Glove caliber defense in center field. His rookie card has only increased in demand over the years as his Hall of Fame career cemented his legacy as one of the greats of the game. In high grade Gem Mint 10 condition, the Griffey Jr. rookie now regularly sells for well over $1,000 and can fetch over $3,000 in BGS/PSA 10. Even Good/Very Good conditioned copies still sell for hundreds.

Barry Bonds Rookie Card (Card #138)

While not as visually impressive as the Griffey, Barry Bonds’ rookie card is one of the true rarities from the 1990 Donruss set. That’s because Donruss severely underprinted Bonds’ rookie compared to the huge demand that exists today. Bonds went on to rewrite the record books with his power and dominance at the plate in the 1990s and 2000s. As one of the true villains and heroes in baseball history, collectors have battled it out driving up prices on this card. Pristine PSA 10 grades have sold for over $15,000 given how few high-grade examples exist. Even well-worn raw copies can bring $500-1000 due to the card’s legendary status.

Chipper Jones Rookie Card (Card #420)

Arguably the third most recognizable and valuable rookie in the set after Griffey and Bonds is Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones’ 1990 Donruss issue. Like Griffey, Jones thrilled Atlanta Braves’ fans for years with his smooth lefty swing and Gold Gloves at the hot corner. His Hall of Fame credentials and iconic career with one team have made his rookie a must-have for serious Braves PC collectors. High grade PSA 10 Jones rookies have cracked the $3,000 plateau, with most going for $1,000-2000 depending on condition. Even lower graded copies still sell well due to Chipper’s popularity in the hobby.

Tom Glavine Rookie Card (Card #445)

While not in the same galactic stratosphere of value as the above superstar cards, Lefty hurler Tom Glavine’s rookie is highly sought after by Atlanta collectors due to his dominant career and 305 career wins mostly with the Braves. Glavine won two Cy Young Awards and helped the Braves capture the 1995 World Series title. Pristine PSA 10s trade hands for $600-1000, with most in the $200-400 range. Even raw near mint copies pull in $100 due to Glavine’s lasting popularity and impact for the Atlanta franchise.

Cecil Fielder Rookie Card (Card #598)

Big-time slugger Cecil Fielder smashed 51 homers in 1990 on his way to being named American League ROY and MVP. His mammoth shots and enthusiastic bat flips made him a fan favorite. While his career was short-lived, Fielder’s rookie card holds decent value due to his huge power numbers that season and singular big-bodied style of play. PSA 10s command $500-800 while most graded copies fall in the $150-300 range. Raw near mint copies trade for $50-100 for collectors looking to land a piece of this unique player’s early career impact.

Ken Griffey Sr. Rookie Card (Card #639)

For those looking to add a true oddball and obscure rookie to their PC, how about Griffey Jr’s dad? While not nearly as heralded a player as his son, Ken Griffey Sr’s rookie card holds fascination and value today largely due to his Hall of Fame bloodline connection. Pristine PSA 10 copies have reached $400 before, with most in the $150-250 zone. Even well-worn raw copies in Good+ condition still pull $50-75 despite his middling career stats, showing this card’s intrigue within the hobby.

Roberto Alomar Rookie Card (Card #672)

Smooth fielding secondbaseman Roberto Alomar was a rising star in 1990 with his slick glove and hitting skills on full display in Toronto. He would go on to a Hall of Fame career and be known as one of the premier all-around 2B of his era. Naturally, his rookie card holds great value, with PSA 10s now selling in the $400-600 range. Most graded copies ring up between $150-300 based on condition. Raw near mint copies trade hands for $75-150 regularly. Alomar’s championship pedigree and refined skills make this a popular card.

Sandy Koufax Patch Card (#656 SP)

Highly limited insert cards featuringpatches and autographs fetch immense values in sets. Hidden among the 1990 Donruss base cards was a super short print Sandy Koufax uniform patch parallel card. The iconic Dodgers lefty was already a Hall of Famer by 1990 of course, making any such rare relic of his highly coveted. A pristine PSA 10 Koufax patch once sold for a staggering $12,600 back in 2018. Few ever grade that high, but even poorer conditioned copies sell briskly for $1000-2500 in today’s market. This is about as true a condition-sensitive card as exists in the old Donruss, so it represents a true blue chip investment piece should one surface in a collection.

Ozzie Smith Jersey Card (#663 SP)

Another hugely popular 1990 Donruss SP insert featured a jersey swatch of Wizard of Oz defensive wizard Ozzie Smith. Fewer than 10 are known to exist, so examples are exceptionally scarce when they do trade. High graded PSA 10 copies from this parallel sold in excess of $8,000 before. Even well-worn copies have notched 4-figure sums. As a true 1/1 style relic parallel, this ranks right up there with the Koufax as the true diamond in the rough should one surface from a factory set break after 30 years on the shelves.

While most of the 1990 Donruss base cards hold very little long term value today, there are still some real hidden gems and blue chip prospects featuring the biggest stars and most hyped rookies of that era like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, Chipper Jones and more. Higher graded examples in phenomenal condition can net collectors thousands. But even lower quality copies still attract robust budgets to land historic pieces from the early careers of future Hall of Famers or exotic parallel inserts. For investors, these elite 1990 Donruss cards represent the true creme de la creme to seek out.