The 1990 Topps Baseball card set is considered one of the classic and highly collectible issues from the late 1980s and early 1990s. With 792 total cards issued, the 1990 Topps set featured every major league player and all managers and coaches. While the set initially did not command huge prices upon release, over the past 30 years appreciation has grown significantly for select rookie cards and star players from the set. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the key cards that have outstanding value from the 1990 Topps baseball card series.
Perhaps the most coveted and valuable card from the 1990 Topps set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the top rookie cards of all-time, Griffey’s impressive 22-year career and status as a true five-tool superstar has made his 1990 Topps RC incredibly sought after. In pristine Mint condition, a 1990 Griffey rookie currently commands prices upwards of $10,000. Even well-centered near mint copies can bring $3,000-$5,000. The Griffey rookie is the undisputed crown jewel of the set and one of the iconic cards from the junk wax era of the late 1980s/early 1990s.
Another hugely valuable rookie card from 1990 Topps is Felix Hernandez. Known as “King Felix”, Hernandez went on to become a six-time All-Star and won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award with the Seattle Mariners. His career isn’t over yet either. Mint condition Hernandez rookies have sold for over $1,000 in recent years. The Frank Thomas rookie is also highly regarded, with top-graded PSA 10 specimens reaching $800-$1,000. Randy Johnson, who would become a future Hall of Famer and five-time Cy Young winner, has an equally sought after inaugural card valued at $300-$500 price in top condition.
In additions to star rookies, select hall of famers and franchise icons from the 1990 Topps set command big numbers as well. A Mint condition Ken Griffey Sr. card, the father of “Junior”, has sold for $900 due to Griffey Sr.’s long, productive career and his role in raising one of the game’s all-time great players. Similarly, Cal Ripken Jr.’s 1990 issue that depicts him at the peak of his consecutive games played streak has reached $600 for pristine copies. Ripken’s iconic status and career achievements with the Baltimore Orioles make his 1990 Topps card a must-have for Ripken collectors.
Turning to star pitchers, Nolan Ryan’s 1990 Topps card is among the set’s most valuable veterans cards. As one of the most prolific strikeout pitchers in history, Ryan was still pitching effectively in 1990 at age 43, before retiring after the 1993 season. His 1990 Topps continues to rise in price, with a recent mint condition sale reaching $450. Orel Hershiser’s 1989 issue is nearly as coveted, capturing “Bulldog” at the peak of his powers after winning both the Cy Young and World Series MVP award just a year prior. Nearly flawless Hershiser ’90s have crossed the $400 mark in today’s market.
Besides standout rookies and stars, the 1990 Topps set also contains several scarce “short printed” parallel cards with increased values. Examples include SP versions of Darren Daulton (SP value $100), John Kruk (SP $75), Dennis Martinez (SP $50), and Steve Bedrosian (SP $30-40), which are considerably rarer in high grades than the standard base issue due to lower print runs. For error and variation card collectors, 1990 Topps also includes dye-cut and cut autograph errors that can reach into the hundreds of dollars depending on the player and condition rarity.
While 1990 Topps baseball cards began the junk wax era decline, the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Griffey Jr. and stars like Frank Thomas have truly stood the test of time. Combined with the accomplishments of players like Ken Griffey Sr., Cal Ripken Jr., Nolan Ryan and Orel Hershiser, the 1990 Topps set harbors significant vintage cardboard that remains a hot commodity for collectors over 30 years later. For the crown jewels in pristine condition, six-figure price tags may not be out of reach someday for select 1990 Topps rookies and stars.
