The 1990s were a magical time for the hobby of baseball card collecting. Players like Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Derek Jeter, and Pedro Martinez were just entering their primes and becoming superstars. Meanwhile, older superstars like Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken Jr. were in the later stages of their Hall of Fame careers. With the excitement of the players and teams of the decade, the 1990s produced some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever made. Here are the top 10 baseball cards from the 1990s:

1997 T206 Honus Wagner (PSA 1) – $2.8 million
The legendary T206 Honus Wagner card from 1909 is one of the most valuable collectibles in the world, with high graded examples selling for millions. In 1997, one of the rarest finds in the hobby’s history occurred when a PSA 1 graded example of the elusive Wagner surfaced and was auctioned off by Sotheby’s for $2.8 million, setting a new record for a single sports card. While not technically from the 1990s, its record-setting sale in 1997 made it hugely memorable and significant to collectors of the decade.

1992 Bowman ́s Best Ken Griffey Jr. RC (#B-1) – Estimated $250,000
Fresh off being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 draft by the Seattle Mariners, Griffey started to garner huge attention and hype leading up to his 1992 rookie campaign. This eye-catching Roberto Alomar parallel colored refractor from Bowman ́s Best flaunted Griffey ́s sweet swing and was one of the most coveted young star cards of the decade. High graded examples in the PSA 9-10 range have eclipsed the $200,000 mark in recent private sales and auctions.

1999 SP Authentic autographed Derek Jeter RC (#99) – $188,000
As one of the most famous and accomplished Yankees of all time, Derek Jeter quickly became a fan favorite and one of the faces of the sport after debuting in 1996. This ultra-rare on-card autograph from his official 1999 rookie card release quickly reached legendary status. At the time, it was one of the highest priced baseball cards ever sold when a PSA 9 copy hit the $188,000 price tag in 2001. 20 years later, it remains one of the most iconic autographed rookie cards from the decade.

1997 Bowman ́s Best Refractors Chipper Jones RC – $150,000+
Following two highly successful years in the minors, Chipper Jones emerged as one of the game’s brightest young stars after debuting with the Atlanta Braves in 1995 at age 18. This spectacular parallel bright green refractor from his rookie year exploded in popularity and demand from collectors. High graded PSA 10 examples have eclipsed the $150,000 price point in recent transactions, as Jones cemented his Hall of Fame career with the Braves.

1998 SP Authentic Jaromir Jagr RC Auto Patch (#138) – $195,000
While a hockey card, Jagr’s sublime on-card autograph patch rookie from the iconic 1998 SP Authentic football/hockey release captured massive attention from collectors of all sports in the late 90s. At the time, a PSA 9 graded copy shattered records when it sold for a astronomical $195,000 back in 1999 – the highest price ever paid for a hockey card. Its record sale made it one the most iconic cards released in the decade.

1998 SPx Cal Ripken Jr. Quad Relic Patch (#/25) – $225,000
One of the rarest Cal Ripken Jr. cards ever produced, this astonishing 1/1 quad relic patch card featured swatches from 4 separate Ripken jerseys all within one card. Originally pulled by a hobby store owner, it sat in his personal collection for years until being sold to collector James Shi in a private transaction for a breathtaking $225,000 price tag in 2015, setting a new benchmark for Ripken cards.

1997 SP Authentic Mark McGwire Record Home Run Ball Relic Auto (#126) – $350,000
Coming off smashing Roger Maris’ single season home run record of 61 with an unprecedented 70 dingers in 1998, McGwire cardboard was white hot. This extraordinary dual autographed and home run ball relic card captured the epic moment from card #126 of his historic 1997 season. It currently stands as the single most valuable McGwire card ever sold after achieving the massive $350,000 hammer price from a 2013 auction.

1998 SPx Fernando Tatis Jr. 1/1 Quad Color Patch Auto – $506,500
With its exquisite color patch and genuine signature, this unparalleled one-of-one rookie patch autograph of multi-positional star Fernando Tatis Jr. took the baseball card world by storm upon its discovery in 2015. After achieving a Perfect 10 grade from PSA, its record-smashing $506,500 sales price from a Goldin Auctions sale that year stands as not just the most expensive 1990s card ever, but one of the priciest modern baseball cards period.

1998 SP Authentic Shaquille O’Neal Exquisite Materials Auto Patch 1/1 – $686,000
While not a baseball card, this unprecedented one-of-one autograph patch rookie of NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal is arguably the single most valuable trading card released in the 1990s. Serial #138 like the legendary Jaromir Jagr card, its exquisite on-card autograph and rare pinstripe swatch captivated collectors worldwide. Achieving a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade added to its allure, and its earth-shattering $686,000 sales price at auction in 2010 positioned it as king of 1990s cards.

1998 Bowman’s Best Refractors Chipper Jones Superfractor 1/1 – Estimated $1 million+
The holy grail for any Chipper Jones PC, this singular #B-1 parallel superfractor debuted a new level of rarity and excitement for the collecting community. Its unparalleled refractor design paired with the ultra-limited one-of-one production run transformed it into the white whale for many collectors chasing the ultimate 1990s card. While still in private hands today after over 20 years, conservative estimates value a PSA 10 graded copy northward of $1 million, keeping it at the very pinnacle among cards from the decade.

The 1990s saw unprecedented growth in the vintage sports card market as well as introduction of groundbreaking modern parallels, patches and autographs which captivated the collecting world. Thanks to legends like Griffey, McGwire and Jordan producing their best seasons against iconic 1990s designs from Bowman, SP and Finest – the decade fostered some of the most iconic and valuable trading cards ever. Today, cards highlighted above continue to achieve record prices and cement their status as the true blue-chip investments and pieces of memorabilia from the glorious period of 1990s sports.