Ah yes, the height of the junk wax era! With no autos, no parallels, and fairly boring inserts, Topps couldn’t look more different from today’s sets.
But don’t be fooled—there were still chase cards! You can’t tell me as a kid that you weren’t opening these just hoping for a Frank Robinson rookie or a Ken Griffey Jr. card!
However, because this is the junk wax era, few cards retain superior value. As much as that Griffey and Robinson were chased, they were still extremely common. If you were collecting back then, you’ll remember that everyone seemed to have one of each.
If you’re lucky enough to have one of the stars of this set in a PSA 10, you’ll still get some value for it.
20 Best Cards From 1990 Topps Baseball
Here’s the list, starting with the most valuable:
1. 1990 Topps Frank Robinson Rookie #414 “Error No Name”
PSA 10 Value: $100,000+
Yep, you’re seeing that correct. In fact, in December of ’22, a PSA 10 version sold for $170,000. Since it’s a rare error that only saw a few go into circulation, and because it’s of a hall of famer’s rookie card, this error actually has value.
This card is probably the reason that collectors online excitedly post printing mistakes, hoping they’ve stumbled on something great.
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that another error card will ever match the hobby love this one has.
2. 1990 Topps Frank Thomas Rookie Card #414 “Error-Partial Blackless”
PSA 8 Value: $8,500
If you’ve been in the hobby, you’ve probably heard of the “No Name on Front Card”—but have you seen the “Error-Partial Blackless” card before?
Take a look at the name plate—you’ll see there’s a bit of black ink missing from the border by his right foot. Doesn’t seem like a big deal right? Well, there are only 30 total versions of this card that have ever been graded by PSA, making it even more rare than the “No Name on Card” version (245 in PSA’s Pop Report).
It seems a bit silly that a small bit of ink missing would result in a card being worth literally hundreds of times more, but in a set without parallels and few limited prints (like the next card on the list), people will pay big.
3. 1990 Topps #USA1 George Bush
Value: $10k+
Then-president George Bush was given a card in this set, with an estimated print run of around 100. Card collectors will spend a fortune on this card, especially because this card crosses over into presidential artifact territory—another group of rabid collectors.
4. 1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. #336
PSA 10 Value: $400
One of the most loved players in the hobby, it’s no surprise that he does well. However, it is a bit surprising that his second year card still outperforms everyone else’s rookie card in this set!
$400 for a second year card, during the junk wax era, shows that Griffey Jr. is an absolute hobby monster.
5. 1990 Topps Barry Bonds #220
PSA 10 Value: $100
While he may be infamous to most baseball fans around the country, he still has a beloved following in certain places. With a low pop count and a Baseball Reference page that looks make-believe, Bonds beats out all the non-error rookies on this list.
6. 1990 Topps Don Mattingly #200
PSA 10 Value: $97
Playing for the Yankees sure helps the hobby love! Because he’s an MVP winner with a career .307 average, a rare PSA 10 of this set still gets the Mattingly collectors salivating.
7. 1990 Wade Boggs #760
PSA 10 Value $90
This high, huh? When you’re an all-timer, and there’s only 38 of these in existence, some collectors will always want one.
8. 1990 Topps Greg Maddux #715
PSA 10 Value: $86
When you’re one of the top 10 best pitchers of all time, and there’s only 81 of these in the pop count, there will always be some value here.
9. 1990 Topps Sammy Sosa Rookie Card #692
PSA 10 Value: $85
Yep, we’re already down below three figures, for an all-time great’s rookie card! However, it sort of makes sense as he was a player who hit crazy highs, but then had his relevance drop off a cliff (steroid accusations don’t help).
But did you know that he once his 332 home runs in a 6 year stretch? That’s an average of 55 per year!
10. 1990 Topps Jose Canseco #250
PSA 10 Value $80
While not his rookie card, Canseco’s hobby importance seems to carry more weight than his performance should indicate. This could partly be due to only 49 PSA 10s in existence (Frank Thomas has 3,463).
11. 1990 Topps Frank Thomas Rookie #414
PSA 10 Value: $75
This one’s probably farther down the list than you thought. The Big Hurt’s rookie card doesn’t carry a ton of hobby love, but maybe that’s because his biggest collectors want the rare error versions!
Either way, this #1 draft pick, 2-time MVP, and member of the 500 home run club has perhaps the most recognizable card in this set (and the easiest to find).
12. 1990 Topps Cal Ripken Jr.
PSA 10 Value $65
Another hobby giant, Cal Ripken Jr. places fairly well on this list for a mid-career base card! However, any PSA 10 of his will carry some value, especially when there are only 46.
13. 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan #1
PSA 10 Value: $60
Nolan Ryan was the headliner when this set was released, having passed the unfathomable 5,000 strikeout barrier the previous year. That’s why the top 5 spots in the checklist belong to him.
14. 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan #2 “Mets”
PSA 10 Value: $54
Here’s the most valuable of the Nolan Ryan commemorative cards in this set, although they all tend to be around the same amount.
15. 1990 Topps Tony Gwynn #730
PSA 10 Value: $50
Who wouldn’t want a PSA 10 of one of the best contact hitters ever?
My favorite Tony Gwynn stat: He had more 4-hit games than games with multiple strikeouts. What a legend.
16. 1990 Topps Bo Jackson #300
PSA 10 Value: $50
Although not a rookie card, and although not an all-time great, everyone knows that Bo is just a legend. His cards are still sought after in the hobby.
17. 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan #4 “Astros”
PSA 10 Value: $50
18. 1990 Topps Larry Walker Rookie #757
PSA 10 Value: $47
19. 1990 Topps Nolan Ryan #3 “Angels”
PSA 10 Value: $46
20. 1990 Topps Juan Gonzalez Rookie #331
No PSA 10 sales. PSA 9 Value: $7.50
The man barely even got love while he was playing, finishing with only 3 all-star awards even though he won 2 MVPs and finished with 434 home runs. His career OPS of .904 isn’t anything to sneeze at either.
There’s a sale of a PSA 10 of this card with his auto that sold for $40.
There are other cards more valuable than this one left off the list, but he deserves so much more recognition than he got!
(In 1999, he batted .326, had 39 homers and 128 RBIs…and didn’t make the all-star team)
