The 1990 Topps baseball card set was the 69th annual set produced by the Topps Company. The 1990 set saw Topps return to the traditional card stock and gum package they were known for after using thin “slab” cardboard packs in 1989. The 1990 set contained 792 total cards and is one of the larger Topps flagships sets of the late 20th century. Some of the key features and standout cards of the 1990 Topps complete baseball card set include:
Thedesign of the 1990 Topps cards returned to the classic bordered design Topps used throughout the 1980s. Each card featured a white or gray background with a thick multi-colored outer border. Player names, positions and team logos were displayed prominently at the bottom of the cards. The traditional Topps logo was shown at the upper left corner on the fronts of the cards. On the back of each card, statistics and biographical information about the player was shown in black text on a white background. Photo quality and consistency was very high throughout the 1990 set as color printing technology had continued to evolve and improve.
One of the biggest sub-sets featured in the 1990 Topps set were the Topps All-Star cards. This insert set within the base set highlighted 60 major league All-Stars from the 1989 season. The All-Star cards had silver photo borders and displayed “All-Star” below the player’s image. Some of the biggest stars featured in the 1990 Topps All-Star subset include Ken Griffey Jr., Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Roger Clemens and Nolan Ryan. These shiny silver border All-Star cards are among the most coveted andvaluable from the 1990 set by collectors today.
Rookie cards featured prominently in 1990 Topps as many future Hall of Famers made their Topps debuts that year. Some of the top rookie cards from the 1990 set include Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Jeff Bagwell, Moises Alou, and Gregg Olson. Of these, the Chipper Jones and Jeff Bagwell rookie cards tend to be the most valuable, often grading mint condition examples selling for thousands of dollars today. Ken Griffey Jr.’s amazing athletic ability and “The Natural” persona made his continued rise to stardom well documented with flashy Griffey cards appearing across many 1990 Topps subsets.
In terms of chase cards and insert sets beyond the base issues and All-Stars, the 1990 Topps Traded set was also included as per the usual annual Topps Traded release. Highlighting trades and players new to teams, the Traded set contained 60additional cards beyond the base issue numbers. Other fun promotions included “Buffet of Cards”, “Fleer Stickers” and World Series highlights subsets. The World Series cards featured photos from the “Fall Classic” battles between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants. Two particularly rare and sought after short printed parallel variations from the 1990 Topps set are the Gold Border parallel cards which were inserted roughly 1 in 300 packs and Tiffany parallel cards which featured higher quality card stock and were even more scarce.
When fully assembled, the 1990 Topps complete set contains 792 total cards as previously mentioned. The cards are numbered 1-775 for the base issue players and team cards. Cards #776-792 cover the additional All-Star, Traded, special subset and Phillies stadium giveaway insert cards. Aside from being one of the thicker flagship Topps releases of the early 90s, the 1990 set is also noteworthy as it was the last Topps baseball card set to feature limited career statistics on the fronts of the cards below the images. Beginning in 1991, Topps moved all stats exclusively to the back of the cards.
In terms of overall conditions grades, high grade 1990 Topps complete sets in Near Mint to Mint condition still change hands today for $500-1500. Individual key rookie cards like those of Chipper Jones, Jeff Bagwell, and Greg Maddux can easily fetch multiples of that price. The All-Star and Gold parallels hold considerable pull for collectors as well. For those seeking the vintage Topps baseball card experience of the late 80s/early 90s, tracking down or building the full 792 card 1990 Topps set offers an iconic collection for aficionados of the brand and the players of that era. The 1990s saw baseball truly enter a renaissance period which this fun and affordable flagship Topps set well represents.
The 1990 Topps complete 792 card baseball card set remains one of the most beloved mid-80s/early 90s releases from the Topps Company. Featuring legendary players, star rookies and fun additional inserts, finding a high quality example of this set is a worthwhile goal for collectors of the period. With all the key stars, periods and moments of the 1989 MLB season well represented through colorful photography and classic Topps design elements, this classic issue deserves recognition among the premier annual issues in the long history of Topps baseball cards. Achieving a mint 1990 Topps complete set today stands as a notable finish line for vintage card collectors to reach.
