But, the Toronto Blue Jays did let him tryout and I guess that was good enough for Score to put him in their Traded series. What would be the value of a Topps Ripken card with Frank THomas name on it by mistake? That 5000th strikeout that Ryan recorded in 1989 did wonders for his hobby profile, beginning right at the front of the 1990 Topps set. A dynamic power-speed threat early in his career, he eventually settled in as more of a middle-of-the-order run producer. Technological advancements were on the rise but the world was yet to be completely changed by increased connectivity. Autographed Cards Population Totals. This Upper Deck card shows Frank Thomas in the motion of striking a ball. The card companies came calling, and collectors were happy to scoop up rookie cards of the young slugger in 1990, especially when he bashed 29 long balls at Triple-A Oklahoma City that summer before connecting on four more in just 25 games for the Rangers in September. The problem is, that the first half of the 1990s was marred by the junk wax era, which is considered to have lasted from 1987 to 1994. Griffey was one of the most popular players of the era and his cards were always in high demand. Much of the attention is due to the fact that Jordans basketball RC is extremely valuable, while prices of all MJ cards have increased rapidly following the release of The Last Dance. In spite of the steroid allegations, Rodriguezs RC was always going to be high on any list of the most valuable 90s cards. His enduring popularity for a major market team, legendary career, and the fact that it's his only true rookie card have helped make this one of the most valuable raw cards of the 1990s, with ungraded versions regularly topping $100. Well, first of all, you might see the card with a Ken Griffey Jr. auto only, or a Mantle auto only, and then of course, the dual auto that is basically the greatest combo dual auto to ever grace a baseball card. Both players are shown side by side, wearing caps that help to denote the team they play for. Thats a testament to how good he really was. Sports Card Investing: Maximize Portfolio Returns (Ultimate Guide), 10 Best Football Card Packs to Buy in 2023, In-Depth Sports Card Market Trends and Statistics (2023). Marquis Grissom was one of what seemed like an endless string of Expos prospects in the 1980s and 1990s. While currently ranked as the 5th most valuable baseball card, when Trouts 2009 Bowman Chrome Superfractors autographed card serial-numbered 1/1 sold in August 2020, it became the most valuable baseball card in the hobby. He primarily played for the Dodgers and Mets and was an All-Star 12 times between 1993 and 2005. Collectors were more eager than ever to own a piece of Bos cardboard, making his 1990 Topps issue an exciting pull. There are tons of Nolan Ryan collectors so demand is still decent for this card. The only Rodriguez card to make the list, his 1994 SP is one of the flimsiest modern-era rookies in the hobby and is ridiculously hard to find in mint condition, just like the other SP Foil listed above. Choosing between this card or number 3 on the list, the Lebron James refractor, I would choose the Lebron card over the Zion. After the initial production run, someone may detect the error and pull the card from the line. There are a lot of Adrian Beltre cards out there but this one from 97 is for sure the most valuable. Thanks , Your email address will not be published. In todays market, a mint 1991 Chipper Jones could be worth somewhere around the $5k mark. Would anyone be interested in buying my Sports Card Collection. We'll respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time.. Posted by Adam Hughes | Baseball Card Values, Baseball Cards | 4 |. Clean-looking raw versions regularly sell for over $1,000 on eBay, with buyers hoping to strike gold by getting it graded. I feel for the investment, the Lebron card is a less risky buy. His 1990 Fleer card was no exception and has enough value left in the tank to earn a spot on this list. While both cards sell for a similar price ungraded, the shiny foil nature of the Bowman's Best card makes it extremely difficult to find them in gem mint condition. Aside from the emblem and the potential for a few battle scars, its a fairly simple card that features Jones with a bat slung over his shoulders, with a couple of trees in the background. There are clues that will help you tell which was an original dual and which was signed by Griffey after the fact, so be sure to check it out. But, Belle wasnt exactly known for playing cleanly either, although he was more known for using corked bats instead of PEDs. This mint-condition autographed card is selling for $3,500, making it one of the most valuable baseball cards from the '90s. To honor President Bush, Topps printed 100 or so of these with a picture of him during his college days in his Yale uniform. The fact that there are only two of them has helped increase demand, with the 1995 Bowman and 1995 Bowman's Best sets containing his only rookies. The company's chairman, Arthur Shorin, even presented some of them in a binder to the former president in 1989. Alex Rodriguez is a 14-time All-Star, and one of the greatest of all time when youre looking at stats alone. It was an underwhelming season for the team overall and Ripkens numbers werent the greatest either as he batted just .250 with 21 home runs, 84 RBI, and 78 runs scored. In 1989, Bo Jackson reached career highs in games played (135), home runs (32), and RBI (105), and he also stole 26 bases for the Kansas City Royals. The No. So, just how costly are the most sought-after baseball cards? Theyre also prone to counterfeiting, which is why its better to go for a graded option if possible. You May Like: Baseball Tournaments In Southern California. Of course, it was just the beginning of a Hall of Fame run for Mad Dog, and within a few years, when he was stringing together CYAs for the Braves, we were stockpiling ALL his cards including this nifty color-coordinated Cubbies deal. Post contains affiliate links. In the end, Walker had the last guffaw, elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020. This one features a young Ryan with the New York Mets, where he made a first, brief, and wild stop. The card features Kobe in a yellow Lakers jersey passing the ball with one hand. This company was founded in 1988 with headquarters in the US. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. OK, fine, but .., where had his rookie cards been?? Read Also: Nike Youth Baseball Pants With Piping. Coming in the number 1 spot for the most Valuable 1990s basketball cards is the Kobe Bryant Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems card. 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. Cal kept plugging, though, even when the Orioles were bad, and even when he himself wasnt great. As with the Jeter SP, the holofoil causes the player to pop, and it really is a great-looking collectible. 1997 - 1998 UD Game Jersey Michael Jordan #GJ13 $599,999.99. 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. Stats via Baseball Reference. Beware of listings on eBay for hundreds of thousands of dollars on cards like these they probably arent verified or even real foil. The next few years saw McDonald settle in as a solid but not spectacular rotation piece who never quite lived up to his next Roger Clemens billing. The card has a large photo of a rookie A-Rod with a bat clasped in both hands, smiling towards the camera. Ken Griffey Jr. is back again, in one of the most important sets from the 1990s. With Walter Johnson years in his rearview, Nolan Ryan sailed past 5000 strikeouts in 1989, on his way to baseball immortality. The cheapest Jordan rookie by a significant margin, its a chance for collectors to own a bona fide piece of sporting history, even if the cards are slightly overpriced due to the latest influx of MJ fans and hype around his RC options. The most expensive baseball cards of the 1990s were released by Ken Griffey Jr. His 1991 Topps Desert Shield was given the designation as it was a gift for US troops who were serving during Operation Desert Storm. The product was only available to hobby dealers and a few select retail outlets, and the result was a smaller print-run than the massively overproduced counterparts of the era. Read our methodology. Much of the attention is due to the fact that Jordans, RC is extremely valuable, while prices of all MJ cards have increased rapidly following the release of. And, by default, its O-Pee-Chee cousin is also an incredibly desirable baseball card though it is much more difficult to find in top condition. Its an error in the sense that it does not list his correct birthday, but there were several cards that listed that date. Its another reason why its so valuable in comparison to every other card in the set. I've always liked the look of these cards, and as a kid, I loved ripping packs in search of rookies and star players. The card sold for $16,800, featuring Skyboxs iconic layered foil grid backdrop behind Griffey as hes about to transition to a slide. The second, however, showed its value by nearly doubling the price of the former record holder. 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. Is this the error card worth so much? 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. It includes both Griffey and Mickey Mantles profiles, accompanied by their Sharpie signatures. In 2020 a PSA 10 edition of this card sold for an astonishing $180,000. Check out my other Baseball Card Videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrmolUXjojPMbnGNd9g9-DtE4gqbTGPTHHow to submit to PSA: https://youtu.be/. Read our methodology. Of course, those homer numbers were off the charts starting in 1998, when he chased Mark McGwire to Roger Maris single-season record. Unfortunately, it didnt quite work out and it wasnt long before he was back crushing the NBA. Jeters card is white with silver trim and features an action shot of the player in his Yankees uniform. As you can see, it will take them being professionally graded in gem mint condition to be worth much. Dates back to 80s and 90s. This was Henderons first Topps base card after he returned to the As in a midseason trade with the Yankees. The Uribe error thats caused so much ruckus over the last couple of years is the 1990 Fleer same situation, and there is nothing special about that card. After all, the Orioles had selected the big righthander with the first overall pick in the 1989 Draft, then brought him up after just two games in the minors. So, in order for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll either have to be the Tiffany version (Topps' premium factory set) and/or be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition. Its difficult to find a more important autographed duo card in the history of baseball, featuring two players who tore up the record books during their respective careers. David Ortiz is one of the greatest hitters of all time and holds the Boston Red Sox record for the most home runs in one season with an impressive 54. This is one such example of one of the decades rarer cards. (Note: The following sections contain affiliate links to eBay and Amazon listings for the cards being discussed. The most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. card is the Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey Jr. Dual Signed Upper Deck UDA Card. Although back problems hampered him during the 1990 season, Jose Canseco still managed to blast home runs at one of the highest rates of his career as he would belt 37 in just 481 at-bats. 13 Rarest Michael Jordan Cards Ever - Rarest.org . Ungraded & graded values for all '90 Topps Baseball Cards. 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. Read our methodology . 1997 Bowman Chrome #182 Adrian Beltre Buy on eBay #10. This has to be one of the most significant baseball cards of the 1990s, if not all time. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Superstars dont come much more unassuming and steady than Bernie Williams especially Yankees superstars! Maddux turned in his second big season for the Cubs in 1989, with his 19-12, 2.95 ERA helping the northsiders to a division title. He continued to impress at Single-A the following year, and that was enough to earn him a spot on the 1992 Bowman checklist. The Yankees won three World Series to further cement their position as a legendary team and globally recognized brand it was difficult to go almost anywhere in the world without seeing a Yankee hat on someones head. We had an avenue toward Smiths first Cards card, and this was it (Topps division). The eBay scam sort of stuck, unfortunately, and some folks are still paying a premium for a card thats just a common. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, 1987 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide, 1990 Topps Baseball Cards The Ultimate Guide. The GOAT took some time away from basketball to chase his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. This Traded entry was their answer, and its still evocative of that magical summer all these years later. The most expensive cards tend to be rare, and theyre often serial numbered. It took awhile for fans, and especially collectors, to warm up to Larry Walker and his talents. And while were very bullish on the longterm of baseball card valuations you should never invest more than youre willing to lose on anything. 1990 Score Ken Griffey, Jr. (#560) If there is one great player from the 1990s and 2000s who seems to have sidestepped any suspicion of PED usage, it's the inimitable Ken Griffey, Jr. And, from the time Junior appeared on card #1 in the inaugural Upper Deck issue in 1989, he has been been hobby royalty. Lower-grade cards can sell for around $1000 whilst a higher-grade edition went for $8,655 in 2018. You might also enjoy our Ultimate Guide treatment of 1990 Topps baseball cards, right here. Neon Deion Sanders was a hobby phenom right from the start thanks to his electric talent in both football and baseball. When he burst onto the scene, his rookie cards were among the hottest sellers in the entire hobby. While cards are easily available for purchase, the most valuable ones have reached seven-figure territory. Disclaimer: Please note none this is meant as investment advice purely for entertainment and informational purposes only. Olerud took awhile to build a resume that would land him on lists like this, putting up solid, semistar-to-star-level performances year after year. T210 Old Mill Joe Jackson The T210 Old Mill deck is one of the most varied. In truth, MJ wasnt particularly good at baseball, but his RC is still worth adding to your personal collection if and when prices begin to slow down. Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the 10 most valuable rookie cards of the 1990s. I think it was a great way to salute Ryan and these cards remain one of my favorite subsets of all-time from any set. Frank Thomas is no John Littlefield, after all. Over the years since this card was issued, NNOF has become a one-name wonder that lets collectors know right away what youre talking about, sort of like Uribe these days, but with the chops to back it up.