Today, his early-career issues, like this one, remain popular, even if they lag behind what youd expect for the guy who broke Hank Aarons all-time home run record. After going 40-40 and winning an MVP award in 1988, Jose Canseco found himself injured more often than not in 1989, appearing in just 65 games. 22) 1990 Topps Roger Clemens (#245) This is about as bland a card as you're likely to find for one of the greatest pitchers of all time, but I guess that was Roger Clemens ' punishment for having not won a Cy Young award for two years running at the time of issue. What seemed to start out as a sort of cheap attempted knockoff of the classic 1975 Topps set actually has some character of its own. With his production continuing to slide, and the Braves going nowhere fast, Atlanta sent their legendary two-time MVP to the Phillies in a sort of complicated August trade. Though he may not have been MLB's hottest rookie in 1990, he certainly turned into one of the biggest superstars of his era. Stats via Baseball Reference. This card is ungraded, has no autograph of him but is very valuable. There are a lot of Adrian Beltre cards out there but this one from 97 is for sure the most valuable. To that point, only 59 of 16,753 that have been graded by PSA have come back with a PSA 10 grade. And then there are some pretty interesting subjects, from draft picks to error cards to scads of Nolan Ryans. Both of his rookies eclipsed $100 raw following his Hall of Fame announcement, but it's the Ultra version that sells for slightly higher in high-grade condition. had made good, that we were pretty sure Grissom could live up to his advance billing. For his efforts, Canseco earned a trip to his fourth All-Star game and picked up the second Silver Slugger of his career at that point. Like the Griffey card on this list, this may not be the most exciting card in the world. Then, at age 29, a blown rotator cuff ended his career. The price for a piece of Americas pastime keeps going up. I especially remember that monstrous 1997 season he had with 49 home runs, 143 runs scored, 130 RBI and a .363 batting average. Its a novel card and extremely rare so it has a decent value. In 1995, he notched an incredible 52 doubles and 50 home runs, becoming the only player in MLB history to finish the season with 50 or more doubles and home runs in a single season. As if collectors needed more reason to chase Kirby Puckett, the Minnesota Twins fire hydrant of a centerfielder had won his first (and only, as it turned out) American League batting title in 1989. The action shot shows Griffey Jr. after a successful swing, and the card immediately catches the eye thanks to the shiny border. In 1999 he was still with the Chicago White Sox. Despite being a first-round pick in '95, he did not appear on his first MLB licensed card until 1997 when he was included in the Bowman, Bowman Chrome and Bowman's Best sets. We had an avenue toward Smiths first Cards card, and this was it (Topps division). Heres a list of seven of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1990s, with info about each one, including an explanation as to why theyre so expensive. What would be the value of a Topps Ripken card with Frank THomas name on it by mistake? If its something else, it would be interesting to see whats up. That got his cards perking again after a bit of a lull during the in-between years. And, after a brief September call-up, there was at least a chance Juan Gonzalez would be doing his mashing in the bigs in 1990. 17 overall pick in the 1995 draft, Roy Halladay debuted in 1998 and pitched well in a swingman role the following year, but he was shelled to the tune of a 10.64 ERA in 67.2 innings in 2000. Unfortunately, the 1990 season would be Jackson's last full season in baseball as a devastating hip injury during a football game in 1991 prevented him from ever playing at his All-Star level again. The checklist includes rookies of Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, David Justice and John Olerud, along with a second-year card of Ken Griffey Jr., but the most sought-after card in the set without question is the Frank Thomas rookie card. 1990 Fleer Baseball Cards - 25 Most Valuable - Wax Pack Gods But theres still a certain cynicism among many when we hear about a rookie being the next big thing. In the current market, Jordan cards from 91 are worth anything up to $400. Well, for Topps this was the one, and its still special more than 30 years on. Prices for 1990 Fleer Baseball Cards 1990 Fleer card list & price guide. As an added disclaimer no copyright infringements were meant to be made in regards to the publishing of the images and cards. The Seattle Mariners outfielder was one of the top players in the game during that decade, and his cards are now highly sought after by collectors. 1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera Buy on eBay #9. So, while this 1990 Score card is not a . Nothing huge, though, as its really just a printing mistake. Right!? These cards often sell for $50 to $75, depending on the popularity of the player. It has seen better times as far as values go but its still universally beloved for those that collected in the 1990s. The clean design, upscale look, bright photo not to mention the fact we pretty much all had at least one make it one of the most memorable 1990 cards still today, even if it comes with a cautionary tale. Two years later, he was an All-Star for the first time, and the year after that he won his first of two Cy Young awards. We love the '80s (and '90s) baseball cards: The top 15 sets of the era | Sporting News Astros +400 Dodgers +600 Mets +700 Yankees +700 Braves +900 Padres +1000 Phillies +1200 Blue Jays +1300. You should do your own due dilligence before spending your money on anything including baseball cards. 10 most valuable basketball card of the 1990s. Despite such controversy, the 90s produced some fantastic highs and quality players which would affect the baseball card market in the long term. It wasnt often that a base card of an individual player landed card #1 back in those days, but Ryan was entering bonafide legend territory, and the following years would only solidify that standing and boost his card values across the board. Michael Jordan Cards: The Most Expensive of All Time. Thats a testament to how good he really was. Basketball legend Michael Jordans ill-fated attempt to become a baseball star is generally meme-worthy, but his RC from 1991 is still one of the better cards from the decade. It would take a few years for Sammy Sosa's career to heat up so I don't recall this card being too hyped at the time. Only two have achieved a BGS 9.5 grade, and it thoroughly deserves a place among the most valuable '90s options. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? The top card in a major debut release, it has a memorable look for a generational talent. His is the last of the key rookie cards in this set. Today, even after the great slugger downfall of the 2010s, Sosas rookie cards maintain enough hobby swagger to appear on lists like this one. Its the 24k gold foil overlay that really makes this card stand out. By the time collectors started pulling his rookie card, enough of those guys Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, etc. 1989 Star Jerome Walton Autographed Card #1 Signed Auto 1990 Donruss RC Error! 1990 Topps #414 Frank Thomas Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $175 Check prices on: Amazon Now, this is what Thomas's rookie card is supposed to look like when his full name appears at the bottom of the card. I feel for the investment, the Lebron card is a less risky buy. And, while Sanders never quite excited collectors like fellow crossover artist Bo Jackson did, his cards continue to draw solid interest from fans of both sports. Also Check: National League Standings For Baseball. As such, it was never corrected because there wasnt really anything to correct. Well, no, actually. Like Barry Bonds and others from the steroid era, Clemens reputation has fallen on hard times in recent years, but his amazing numbers are hard to overlook even if his 1990 Topps doesnt stoke your nostalgia fire. Topps cards were relatively error-free throughout the 1980s, so its a bit surprising in retrospect that they uncorked such a doozy to lead off the new decade. Predictably, his cards skyrocketed like one of his Wrigley Field blasts. Where had this guy been all our lives? I mean, wow. The most expensive baseball cards of the 1990s were released by Ken Griffey Jr. After a slow start to his minor league career, he put together a breakout season at High-A in 1991, hitting .277/.344/.540 with 27 doubles, 29 home runs and 80 RBI in 117 games. The New York Yankees signed 20-year-old Mariano Rivera out of Panama on Feb. 17, 1990, and he allowed just 17 hits and one earned run with 58 strikeouts in 52 innings in his pro debut at the rookie ball level later that year. Those wild borders, for example, arent just colorful they have print dots. The man needed to take a day off now and then, they said, and forget about chasing Lou Gehrigs record for consecutive games played. Back in the late 80s and early 90s during their time with the Pirates, he and Bobby Bonilla became known as the Killer Bs as one of the most feared hitting duos in the league. Read our methodology . It was sold at an auction in 1966. Jones had a great career with the Atlanta Braves and was a key figure in their success during the 90s. Theyre also prone to counterfeiting, which is why its better to go for a graded option if possible. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. While batting .318 with 32 home runs, 104 runs scored, and 109 RBI, Thomas also led the league in walks (138), OBP (.453), and OPS (1.006), helping to launch his reputation as a disciplined and well-rounded hitter. Currently, listings on eBay value this card around the $2000 mark but they have been known to fetch more than triple that at auction. Even cards in less-than-perfect condition can go for hundreds, maybe even thousands, and a professionally-rated card is darn-near mythical. Top 25 Most Valuable Baseball Cards from the 1990's - Rookie Cards Only Price: $600,000 . Its perhaps one of the most valuable cards of the 90s and definitely, one to be kept as its value is likely to continue to soar. Still known as David Arias when his rookie cards were printed, it wasn't until he made his MLB debut late in the 1997 season that he informed the Twins that he preferred David Ortiz. Things were about the same (or worse) for Iron Cal in 1990, and his critics put the blame firmly on The Streak. Ortiz spent six seasons with the Minnesota Twins before joining the Boston Red Sox in 2003, and he immediately broke out as one of the game's premier run producers. There are a few of them about but its nearly impossible to find copies with high-quality grades. Even now, decades after his retirement and years after he fell off the Hall of Fame ballot, Mattingly still carries plenty of weight in the hobby he helped build. Prices are updated daily based upon 1990 Classic listings that sold on eBay and our marketplace. ). Unfortunately, the back issues kicked in at the wrong time as he struggled with back spasms throughout the entire postseason. These cards often sell for $50 to $75, depending on the popularity of the player.