The 1990 baseball card season featured several highly valuable rookie cards that are big money items for collectors today. One of the most expensive 1990 cards is the Frank Thomas rookie card from Score. Frank Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame career mostly with the Chicago White Sox and was an incredibly dominant hitter. His 1990 Score rookie card is one of the more iconic and desirable rookie cards from the junk wax era of the late 80s and early 90s. In gem mint condition, a PSA 10 graded Frank Thomas 1990 Score rookie card recently sold for over $20,000, showing just how much demand there is for this card in top condition despite the large print run from Score in 1990. Even in a PSA 9 graded condition, Thomas’ rookie still sells for thousands.
Another exceptionally valuable 1990 rookie is the Ken Griffey Jr. upper deck card. Known as “The Kid,” Griffey was one of the most exciting and talented young players to enter the league in decades. His smooth left-handed swing and effortless athleticism in centerfield captivated fans. The 1990 upper deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card became one of the most iconic and sought after rookie cards ever released. Even with the huge production numbers from upper deck in the early 90s, a PSA 10 graded Griffey Jr. rookie recently broke records by selling for over $326,000. That broke the previous record sale price for any Griffey card. But even in lower grades, a PSA 9 Ken Griffey Jr. 1990 upper deck rookie still sells for $10,000+. The popularity and sustained demand for this card is incredible considering it was printed in the millions.
Another extremely valuable 1990 rookie is the Chipper Jones rookie card from fleer. As the number 1 overall draft pick in 1990, Jones went on to have a hall of fame career primarily with the Atlanta Braves. His smooth left-handed swing and solid defense at third base made him a fan favorite for almost two decades in Atlanta. His 1990 fleer rookie card is one of the most iconic cards from that set and year. In a PSA 10 mint condition, a Chipper Jones 1990 fleer rookie has sold for over $15,000 in recent years. Even in lower PSA 9 condition, it still fetches thousands. The combination of Jones’ legendary playing career primarily with one team and the more scarce printing numbers of fleer in 1990 compared to brands like upper deck or score have made his rookie a true blue chip gem for investors and collectors.
Another huge value card from 1990 is the Bryce Harper rookie card from bowman chrome. Seen as a can’t miss superstar from a young age, Harper lived up to the hype by winning NL rookie of the year and MVP honors early in his career. His 2012 bowman chrome rookie remains a tremendously scarce and popular card. In PSA 10 condition, examples have sold for over $50,000 in recent auction results, showing the incredible demand for Harper’s premier rookie card graded mint. Even lower graded PSA 9 copies still sell for $10,000+. What makes the Harper card so fascinating is that it was released in 2012 but is technically considered one of the best rookies from the 1990 season since bowman chrome cards feature players in their draft year.
Aside from the superstar rookie cards, 1990 also featured valuable trading cards of established veteran players. For example, the Nolan Ryan upper deck card featuring his record 7th no-hitter sells for thousands in high grade. Ryan was achieving miraculous feats as a 40+ year old pitcher in Texas which captivated the sports world in 1990. The card beautifully captures one of the most unbelievable accomplishments in baseball history. Likewise, the rare Frank Thomas traded/update card from upper deck highlighting his rookie stats fetches over $1000 PSA 10. This card was only available as an insert in factory sets/boxes and had much lower print runs than the base set.
In terms of team sets, the scarce 1990 flair showcase Atlanta Braves set has individual cards worth thousands. Tom Glavine, Dave Justice, and other stars of their dominant early 90’s run have individual cards worth $500+ in high grades. Likewise, the 1990 upper deck Cleveland Indians team set highlight starring players like Sandy Alomar Jr. and Cory Snyder have individual collectibles worth $200+ in mint condition due to the world series run.
While 1990 was undoubtedly part of the infamous “junk wax” era notorious for extremely high print runs, certain rookies and star players from that season have cards that hold tremendous value for investors and collectors. The combination of a player’s career achievements paired with the rarity of their specific card issues has created modern day blue chips like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, and Bryce Harper that can sell for tens of thousands.
