The 1990 Topps baseball card set is one of the most storied releases from the late 1980s/early 1990s era. While not quite as coveted as some other years such as 1952, 1957, 1969 or iconic rookie sets such as 1975, the 1990 Topps set featured many legendary players and has generated substantial interest from collectors in recent decades which has driven up prices.
The 1990 Topps set totaled 792 cards including 162 cards featuring major league ballplayers on the front with no photo on the back. The cards featured colorful portrayals of team logos and player images rather than photos. This style was a shift from Topps’ previous several years of releasing sets that primarily focused on photographic images. The lack of photos on the backs made 1990 Topps very different from Topps releases before and since.
While a departure in design, 1990 Topps still contained plenty of star power to attract collectors. The set included rookie cards for future Hall of Famers such as Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, and Mike Piazza. Other notable rookies included Bobby Bonilla, Scott Cooper, and Tom Goodwin. Veteran stars featured prominently included Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Ozzie Smith, and George Brett among many others.
At the time of release in 1990, the cards were incredibly popular with both kids opening packs for fun and collectors pursuing complete sets or individual cards of favorite players. In the following decades after the 1990s, the cards somewhat lost popularity compared to flagship releases from the 1950s and 1960s as the National began to focus more on vintage cards. With a large number of the cards produced and surviving in sub-par condition after heavy childhood use, 1990 Topps values lagged behind other sets from the pre-1990 era.
In recent years, collectors have rediscovered the 1990 Topps set and values have markedly increased. The blend of exciting rookie cards, photographic stars of the day, and the unique non-photo design have made 1990 Topps a hotly pursued set among both vintage collectors and investors. Several factors have contributed to the rising value of the 1990 Topps cards in the collecting market:
Increased Popularity of 1980s/1990s Sets – After the peak of 1950s/1960s cards, collectors began delving deeper into the 1970s/1980s/1990s era which reignited interest in sets like 1990 Topps.
Aging 1980s/1990s Players Retire – As stars and rookies from the 1990 set reach end of career milestones, their retired player cards gain nostalgia and significance which raises prices.
Condition Concerns – With many copies shuffled and played with heavily as kids, near mint and mint condition 1990 Topps cards are becoming far more scarce. This drives up the value of high grade specimens even more.
Investment Potential – Savvy collectors realized early rookie cards from the 1980s/1990s like Piazza and Pettitte had potential to retain and increase value over time, fueling demand.
Unique Design – The non-photo vintage style design combined with great photos of the time period make 1990 Topps both visually appealing and historically relevant.
So with all these factors considered, here is a breakdown of some key individual 1990 Topps card values in different grades:
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie (SP) – PSA 10: $12,000. PSA 9: $3,500. Raw: $400-600.
Frank Thomas Rookie – PSA 10: $8,000. PSA 9: $2,000. Raw: $150-250.
Gregg Jefferies Rookie – PSA 10: $3,000. PSA 9: $700. Raw: $50-100.
Don Mattingly – PSA 10 $2,500. PSA 9: $500. Raw: $25-50.
Kirby Puckett – PSA 10: $1,500. PSA 9: $350. Raw: $15-30.
Nolan Ryan – PSA 10: $1,200. PSA 9: $300. Raw: $10-20.
Ozzie Smith – PSA 10: $1,000. PSA 9: $250. Raw: $8-15.
George Brett – PSA 10: $750. PSA 9: $200. Raw: $5-10.
Cal Ripken Jr. – PSA 10: $600. PSA 9: $150. Raw: $3-8.
Mike Piazza Rookie – PSA 10: $500. PSA 9: $125. Raw: $2-5.
As you can see, with condition and star power considered, raw 1990 Topps cards in played condition still carry value in the $1-60 range on average. High grade specimens of stars or rookies regularly sell for hundreds to thousands depending on the player. With its nostalgia, design, and star content, the 1990 Topps set should remain a blue chip investment for collectors for years to come. Given increasing scarcity and strong demand, the card values outlined here are anticipated to trend upwards over the long term for icons of the baseball card era.
