HARTFORD (CBS Connecticut) — Baseball card collecting has changed dramatically from the late 1980s and early 1990s. The time of leaving middle school to go to the local store to get a pack of cards with the stick of gum for a buck are long-gone. Nowadays packs can run up to $5 with all the specialty cards that are included.
Growing up in the 90s, there were certain cards every collector wanted. In no particular order, are the 13 of the most sought-after cards collectors of the 1990s always wanted.
1985 Mark McGwire Topps
This was the card du-jour that collectors wanted while McGwire was going on his home run tear during. The 1985 Topps Olympic card sold — at some points — for hundreds of dollars. But after he was found to have taken performance enhancing drugs after breaking Roger Maris’ single-season home run record in 1998, the value of the card plummeted. The card now sells anywhere from $15 to $20.
#MLB #Cards 1984 #Topps Usa Baseball #401 Mark Mcgwire. Oakland A's, St Louis #Cardinals. http://t.co/WZUv8l4oAz #Baseball #Card
— MLB Cardinals Store (@CardinalsStore1) June 18, 2015
1986 Jose Canseco Donruss
Everyone wanted this card in the early 1990s when Canseco was — at the time — one of the greatest ballplayers in the world. Canseco’s Donruss Rated Rookie card was nearly as popular as him, with some sellers asking at the time for well over $100. But the card fell back to earth when Canseco’s career did. It now sells for around $20.
Well @chrisolds2009 may own like 50 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco rookies, but surely none of them are like mine! pic.twitter.com/nb3sxpWbUS
— Cardboard Icons (@cardboardicons) June 27, 2013
1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck
This was THE card every collector wanted. It seemed perfect in every way. The future Hall-of-Famer flashing that signature smile with his bat over his shoulder on a glossy white card. It was absolutely beautiful. Griffey’s Upper Deck rookie card used to be valued well over $100, but now you can get it for around $50.
4 Ken Griffey Jr 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Card #1 http://t.co/dQEgrzGni8 pic.twitter.com/JSGyzLEk7t
— delightful deal (@martinianovald4) June 18, 2015
1989 Billy Ripken Fleer
His brother might have been the better ballplayer, but Billy Ripken had the better card. Ripken’s 1989 Fleer card became famous — or infamous — after the card company printed the card with the words “F*** Face” written on the knob of his bat. In later runs, Fleer used black and white boxes to remove the swear word on the bat.
Bought a box of 1989 Fleer hoping for a Billy Ripken "Fuck Face" error card. Pulled a censored version. Still Rad. http://t.co/fPGvbf7SHq—
Shawn Stewart (@Awexome1) September 21, 2014
1990 Bo Jackson Score
It might not be worth much in value, but it is one sweet-looking card. Every child collector wanted this Bo Jackson Score card, just for the coolness factor. Jackson was one of the greatest athletes of our time, playing both baseball and football simultaneously before a hip injury derailed both careers. Despite what happened, this card reminds us of the greatness of Jackson.
Bo Jackson #697 Bo Knows x5 #687 Dream Team x5 1990 Score lot of 10 cards total http://t.co/HnjtNE1xUT pic.twitter.com/F0M3xhqDqe
— fine product (@loyolarubin) June 20, 2015
1990 Frank Thomas Leaf
This was the Frank Thomas rookie card every collector wanted to have. The 1990 Leaf series was pretty pricey in the early 90s, as collectors drooled over this card. The Thomas card used to sell for over $100, but like with many of his counterparts, the card has come back down. It sells for around $40 nowadays.
Investor Lot of (13) 1990 Leaf #300 Frank Thomas RC Rookie HOF White Sox http://t.co/3ckH7Fr3fP pic.twitter.com/MxtvZ808ZH
— recommended product (@adelinoansuate1) June 22, 2015
1990 Frank Thomas Topps No-Name
The “no-name” card is one of the rarest to find. For some reason, Thomas’ name doesn’t show up on the front of the card. It’s still popular to collectors nowadays, as it can retail for upwards of $1,000.
#8 Topps 1990 Frank Thomas No Name card #tedstoptwenty pic.twitter.com/AJuRuKUb
— Teddy Ballgame (@teddyballgamebb) December 29, 2012
1991 Michael Jordan Upper Deck
This was a must-have for collectors — Jordan taking batting practice with the Chicago White Sox during spring training in 1991. It became real though in 1994 when he left basketball to play baseball for a year. This card sells for around $20 nowadays.
Michael Jordan 1991 #SP 1 UpperDeck Baseball Rookie Card White Sox http://t.co/ZlDmsa6dsp pic.twitter.com/mrCBGgUov0
— extremely attractive (@victoriatupac) June 22, 2015
1991 Nolan Ryan Pacific
It might not go for much, but the card is still money. Who didn’t want a card with Nolan Ryan still pitching while blood was dripping from his lip onto his uniform?
Nolan Ryan autographed baseball card (Texas Rangers) 1991 Pacific #92 Bloody Lip Ryan
http://t.co/2GmmJ9qZEp pic.twitter.com/TtR4Kl1uPn
— GrabCart (@GrabCart) January 8, 2015
1991 Chipper Jones O-Pee-Chee
This was the Chipper Jones rookie card to have in 1991. It’s one of the shorter print cards that was run of Jones that year. The O-Pee-Chee rookie card can still fetch $50 today.
1991 O-PEE-CHEE #333 CHIPPER JONES RC PSA 8 B1938884-813 http://t.co/qoLkDZE67Z pic.twitter.com/TGQH9fkfyy
— gorgeous products (@quntanadesider2) June 22, 2015
1992 Jeff Bagwell Fleer Rookie Sensation
It’s relatively priced nowadays for a few bucks, but this Jeff Bagwell Fleer Rookie Sensation card was very popular among collectors in the early 1990s. Maybe the card will go up a few bucks if Bagwell finally gets into the Hall of Fame.
"Featuring rookie sensation Jeff Bagwell!" (This is funny if you know baseball) #PagesFrom1992XForce pic.twitter.com/dLiB668wZ9
— Brie Spangler (@BrieSpangler) August 20, 2013
1993 Derek Jeter Upper Deck SP
This is the priciest of the Derek Jeter rookie cards. Graded SP rookie cards of Jeter can sell in the thousands.
#Yankees #Cards 1993 Upper Deck SP Derek Jeter New York Yankees #279 Baseball Card http://t.co/vnvWJJcRaY #MLB #Card #Deals
— New York Yankees Fan (@i_Yankees_Fans) June 23, 2015
1994 Alex Rodriguez Upper Deck SP
Before becoming embroiled in controversy, collectors seemed to want to hoard any and all A-Rod rookie cards. This one used to be the highlight of the Rodriguez rookie cards, but can now sell for around $30 to $40 ungraded.
Alex Rodriguez 1994 Upper Deck SP Foil #15 Rookie Card PSA 9 http://t.co/P7Rpc6hDRP pic.twitter.com/WxMSewENSe
— extremely attractive (@villauldarico4) June 23, 2015
What cards would you add?