The 1990 Topps baseball card set remains a popular and collectible set from the late 1980s/early 1990s era. The set features 792 total cards including base cards, rookie cards, stars, future Hall of Famers, and a variety of unique inserts. While not as iconic or valuable as sets from the late 1950s or early 1960s, there are still many desirable and valuable cards to be found in the 1990 Topps set. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top rookies, stars and other notables from the set and explore what their card values have been in recent years.
One of the biggest stories from the 1990 Topps set was the rookie card debut of future all-time hits leader Pete Rose Jr. as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. While Pete Rose Jr. did not have the career of his father “Charlie Hustle”, his rookie card #1 remains one of the key cards from the set due to the name recognition. In near mint to mint condition, Pete Rose Jr.’s rookie card has sold for over $100 on auction sites like eBay in recent years.
Another hype rookie card debut was Ken Griffey Jr’s first Topps card as a Seattle Mariner. Griffey would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and his early Topps rookie cards, including the 1990, are highly sought after by collectors both for investment and nostalgia purposes. A Griffey Jr. 1990 rookie in gem mint condition could fetch over $150-200 today.
Other notable rookie cards include Bernie Williams, Edgar Martinez, Derek Jeter, Brady Anderson, and Chipper Jones. Jeter’s and Griffey’s rookies are usually the most valuable fetching $50-100+ in top grades while the others can bring $10-50 depending on condition.
Some of the superstar veterans from the set that command higher prices include Nolan Ryan (#181), Cal Ripken Jr. (#225), Wade Boggs (#249), Ozzie Smith (#302), Kirby Puckett (#358), and Roger Clemens (#477) just to name a few. These stars in mint condition typically sell in the $10-50 range today.
A fun and valuable subset from the 1990 Topps set is the All-Star Cards insert which featured 25 players in All-Star uniforms on colored foil-like cardboard. Short prints like the Don Mattingly (card #685) and the Ryne Sandberg (card #689) regularly sell in the $50-100 range while the Ken Griffey Jr. (#687) has sold for over $150 in top grades.
The Ted Williams tribute card (#1) remains a true gem from the 1990 Topps archives. Featuring one of the game’s all-time greats in his final season with the Boston Red Sox, the Ted Williams card pays homage to the Splendid Splinter. In pristine mint condition, the Williams tribute card has sold for upwards of $250 proving its place as one of the real crown jewels of the entire 792 card checklist.
While the late 1980s/early 1990s may not command ultra high prices compared to the true vintage 1950s/60s era, the 1990 Topps set still houses some real value-filled gems over 30 years later. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Jeter, and Chipper Jones will likely always be in high demand. Meanwhile, stars of the era like Ripken, Boggs, Ryan, and Smith continue to hold nostalgic value for collectors of that time period. For those looking to add some classic cards to their collection or make a worthwhile investment, the 1990 Topps baseball set remains a great vintage option.
