The 1990 baseball card season featured several rookies and stars that have cards now considered very valuable. While every card produced in 1990 isn’t hugely expensive now, there are certainly some standout cards that can fetch high prices when graded and preserved in mint condition.
One of the most valuable 1990 baseball cards is the Ken Griffey Jr rookie card produced by Upper Deck. Griffey was one of the most hyped rookie prospects ever and living up to the hype with his play. His rookie card has maintained strong demand and currently PSA 10 gem mint examples can sell for over $10,000. Even well-centered near mint copies in the PSA 8-9 range will still sell for $1000+. Griffey’s rookie card is arguably the most desirable 1990 issue and remains a highly liquid asset for serious collectors and investors.
Another very sought after 1990 rookie card is that of Roberto Alomar produced by Score. Alomar went on to a Hall of Fame career and his rookie positioning him as a future star created lasting demand. PSA 10 copies of Alomar’s Score rookie have sold at auction for around $4000-5000 in recent years, showing stable high value for the card. While not as iconic or expensive as Griffey’s issue, Alomar remains one of the most valuable rookies from the set overall.
For star cards of established players, the 1990 Topps card of Nolan Ryan stands out. Ryan was nearing the end of his career but still held legendary status. His record breaking strikeout tally and historic no-hitters made any Ryan card from the late 80s-early 90s hold prestige. High grade examples of his 1990 Topps base card in PSA/BGS 10 have reached upwards of $2500 at auction. Even well-centered vintage copies still demand over $100 due to the players enduring popularity.
Another 1990 issue that has proved itself as blue chip investment is the Ken Griffey Sr rookie produced by Topps. While not as well known as his sons card, Griffey Sr’s rookie populated the flagship Topps set and has retained collector interest. PSA/BGS 10 examples have sold for $800-1000 showing the cards long term upward potential. It serves as a high quality, recognizable issue from the vintage 1990 season.
In terms of stars of the day, pitcher Roger Clemens’ 1990 Topps traded card stands out. Clemens was coming off back to back Cy Young seasons and was the most feared hurler in baseball. His traded version which featured a photo from his days with the Red Sox is quite scarce to find in pristine condition. Just a few years ago, a PSA 10 sold for around $650 showing the sustained demand for a Clemens highlight card.
Finally, 1990 Donruss had one of the most iconic rookie cards in Frank Thomas. “The Big Hurt” was a force from day one and his giant smiling rookie became a defining card from the brand. PSA 10 Thomas rookies have reached north of $1000 at auction confirming its iconic status. Even well-centered copies in PSA 8-9 grade remain four figure cards. Thomas’ dominance and personality made this a real standout issue.
The 1990 season featured future Hall of Famers and established stars that produced some true blue chip collectibles. Cards like Griffey Jr, Alomar, Ryan, and Thomas rookies maintain legitimacy in the vintage market due to iconic imagery and subject pedigree. With the 90s baseball boom still influencing collectors today, condition sensitive examples of the above mentioned standouts are sure to remain highly sought after items for years to come. Their extended run of strong auction performance confirms the 1990 season as a benchmark year.
