One of the most valuable rookies from the 1993 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. card. Griffey was already emerging as a young star for the Mariners at this point and his rookie card has solidified itself as one of the iconic cards from the 1990s. In mint condition, Griffey’s 1993 Upper Deck rookie card can fetch thousands of dollars, with a PSA 10 gem mint copy recently selling for over $25,000. Even well-worn copies in played condition sell for hundreds, showing the strong fan appeal and collectibility of this card.
Another hugely valuable rookie is the Derek Jeter card from 1993 Upper Deck. As one of the greatest shortstops ever and a longtime Yankees captain, Jeter’s star power has kept interest in his rookie high. A PSA 10 mint Jeter can sell for well over $10,000, with most graded PSA 9 excellent copies selling in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. Slightly played near-mint copies still bring in over $1,000, so this is definitely a card to watch out for in pack searches.
For pitcher cards, the Tom Glavine rookie from 1993 Upper Deck stands out. Glavine went on to have a hall of fame career mostly with the Atlanta Braves, winning multiple Cy Young awards. High grade Glavine rookies in PSA 9-10 condition can reach $2,000-$4,000 at auction. His card maintained significance as he continued having success, keeping it a sought-after piece for Braves and baseball card collections.
Another pitching star with a valuable rookie is Greg Maddux. Like Glavine, Maddux put together a phenomenal career winning multiple Cy Youngs mostly with the Braves in the 1990s. His 1993 Upper Deck rookie has value mirroring Glavine’s card, with PSA 9-10 copies selling around $2,000-$3,000. Maddux built up quite a following as arguably one of the best control pitchers ever, fueling interest in relics from his early career like this rookie card.
For position players beyond Griffey and Jeter, the Chipper Jones rookie stands out considerably. As the longtime star third baseman for the Braves franchise, Jones’ legend has kept collectors searching for his rookie. Near-mint to gem mint PSA 9-10 graded versions regularly sell for $800-$1,200 each. Even well-worn copies still bring $100-$300 based on his iconic status in Atlanta.
Another very notable rookie from 1993 Upper Deck is Craig Biggio of the Astros. As a 7-time All Star and 3,000 hit member, Biggio has created quite a legacy that collectors appreciate. His rookie card still commands $400-$700 for PSA 9s and $150-$300 for clean used copies. Biggio’s consistency and records at second base made him wildly popular in Houston.
Beyond star rookies, there are also several valuable veteran and traded cards to be on the lookout for from the 1993 Upper Deck set. The Ken Griffey Jr refractor parallel is extremely scarce and can reach $5,000-$10,000 in high grades. The Barry Bonds card has value upwards of $300 in mint condition as he was ascending into superstardom. The Nolan Ryan Express retro subset cards also maintain popularity and premium prices.
While pack searching or collecting vintage 1990s sets, the 1993 Upper Deck release contains many historically significant and valuable rookie cards that remain highly sought after by collectors. Stars like Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, and Greg Maddux established the beginnings of their legendary careers that year and their rookie cards command top dollar to this day. Keeping an eye out for stars, parallels, and short prints can make 1993 Upper Deck breaks and collection building highly rewarding from a monetary standpoint as well as commemorating iconic players.