4

30 Most Valuable 1990 Donruss Baseball Cards

Most Valuable 1990 Donruss Baseball Cards

More...

Growing up collecting these as a kid, the 1990 Donruss baseball cards were some of my favorites of the era.

Some collectors never liked the red design but I have always been a fan...

Either way, there's no questioning that these cards are instantly recognizable.

The set is loaded with stars and Hall of Famers of the day, but are any of them really worth much anymore?

In this guide, we take a look at the 30 most valuable 1990 Donruss baseball cards.

Let's jump right in!

Ross Uitts

Ross Uitts - Owner

Love sports cards?

Get my weekly newsletter with the latest hobby updates delivered straight to your inbox!

Before we get started, I do want to make it clear that most of the cards from this set do not have any value these days.

Like the 1990 Fleer, Score, Topps, Bowman and Upper Deck sets, far too many of them were printed and the market is over-saturated with them.

So, for the cards on this list to be worth much, they'll either have to be graded by PSA to be in perfect, gem mint condition.

Or, they'd need to be one of the parallel versions (Aqueous Test, Blue/White Test, etc.) mentioned later in this post that can sell for hundreds of dollars.

That means the card needs to be basically flawless.

Now that we got that out of the way, let's take a look at the top ten:

1990 Donruss #23 Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value (Reverse Negative): $500

Estimated PSA 10 Value (Regular): $50

Check prices on: Amazon

Gonzalez was one of the most feared hitters of his era and seemed like a lock for 40+ homers and 100+ RBI every season.

His rookie card in this set appears in two forms: one with a correct image of him batting right-handed and another in which the negative was reversed, making it appear he's batting lefty.

The reverse negative version is far more valuable since it is rarer and can sell for hundreds of dollars in a PSA 10 holder.

Even though he isn't a Hall of Famer, his status as one of the biggest superstars of the era makes the regular version valuable in top condition, too.

1990 Donruss #33 Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card
1990 Donruss #33 Reverse Negative Juan Gonzalez Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #4 Ken Griffey Jr. Diamond Kings

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $225

Check prices on: Amazon

Donruss has always been famous for its "Diamond Kings" subsets that featured some of the game's top players in any given year.

Cards #1-26 in this set highlight a top player from every MLB team, with Ken Griffey Jr. representing the Mariners.

The reverse of the card discusses Griffey's setback that he suffered during his rookie campaign in 1989 while also pointing out just how promising of a five-tool talent he was.

We all knew back then that "The Kid" was destined for greatness.

It was just a question of how high he would climb.

1990 Donruss #4 Diamond Kings Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Card
1990 Donruss #4 Diamond Kings Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Card Reverse Side

1990 Donruss #1 Bo Jackson Diamond Kings

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $150

Check prices on: Amazon

Bo Jackson's "Diamond Kings" card was the first card in this set, likely because of how popular he was at the time.

He had just appeared in his first MLB All-Star game the year before and his reputation as a two-sport superstar was as hot as ever.

Perez's fingerprints are once again all over this card with his beautifully-created artwork depicting the legendary Bo Jackson in his Royals uniform.

The reverse of the card mentions that Jackson's baseball career was clearly on an upward trajectory and that he might be able to do even more on the baseball field if he were to give up football.

Unfortunately, he'd fall to injury during an NFL game against the Bengals in January 1991, derailing both his football and baseball careers forever.

1990 Donruss #1 Diamond Kings Bo Jackson Baseball Card
1990 Donruss #1 Diamond Kings Bo Jackson Baseball Card Reverse Side

1990 Donruss #61 Bo Jackson

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125

Check prices on: Amazon

Bo Jackson was one of the most popular athletes in the world at the time having gained notoriety for being a two-sport star across baseball and football.

1989 was particularly a great year for him as it would be the one and only time he'd make an MLB All-Star team.

So, by the time the 1990 Donruss set was released, his was one of the most sought after cards.

This guy was a hero to kids of that era and his popularity remains high to this day.

1990 Donruss #61 Bo Jackson Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #659 Nolan Ryan 5000 K's

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $125

Check prices on: Amazon

The 1990 Topps baseball card set went to great lengths to pay tribute to Nolan Ryan's achievement of surpassing the 5,000 career strikeout mark.

But, Donruss had a tribute of their own, albeit less flashy.

Card #659 in the set features Ryan in his Rangers uniform with a yellow star next to his name at the top and "5,000 K's" written in cursive along the bottom.

Like his "King of Kings" card, this one can also be found with different variations of the reverse side.

1990 Donruss #659 5000 Strikeouts Tribute Nolan Ryan Baseball Card
1990 Donruss #659 5000 Strikeouts Tribute Nolan Ryan Baseball Card Reverse Side

1990 Donruss #665 Nolan Ryan King of Kings

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $70

Check prices on: Amazon

Famed artist, Dick Perez, created the artwork for this wonderful tribute to Nolan Ryan dubbed the "King of Kings" card.

You can actually find this card in three different forms, all having to do with variations of the reverse side.

The correct back features the correct card number (#665) as well as a write-up about Ryan.

Another version is missing the number 665.

And the third version actually contains the back of another Ryan card in the set, card #659, which is Donruss's tribute to him reaching the 5,000 strikeout milestone.

1990 Donruss #665 King of Kings Nolan Ryan Baseball Card
1990 Donruss #665 King of Kings Nolan Ryan Baseball Card Reverse Side

1990 Donruss #166 Nolan Ryan

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #166 Nolan Ryan Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #365 Ken Griffey Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $60

Check prices on: Amazon

Ken Griffey Jr. was always a key to any late '80s or early '90s set and this one is no exception.

Shown kneeling in his Mariners uniform, it's not his most exciting card you can own.

But, that didn't stop collectors from tearing through packs in search of it back in the day.

Ever since Griffey's induction into the Hall of Fame and the explosion of the card market in general, collectors have been back on the hunt for his cards, pushing their values up substantially in the process.

1990 Donruss #365 Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #650 Bo Jackson All-Star

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #650 All-Star Bo Jackson Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #86 Tony Gwynn

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #86 Tony Gwynn Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #126 Barry Bonds

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Check prices on: Amazon

It remains to be seen if Bonds will be inducted into the Hall of Fame but I don't think anyone can argue how talented he was.

Back in the late '80s and early '90s during their time with the Pirates, he and Bobby Bonilla became known as the "Killer B's" as one of the most feared hitting duos in the league.

Like the Griffey card on this list, this may not be the most exciting card in the world.

But, because of Bonds' popularity and legacy, it still holds decent value in top grade.

1990 Donruss #126 Barry Bonds Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #144 George Brett

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #144 George Brett Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #190 Don Mattingly

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #190 Don Mattingly Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #201 Ozzie Smith

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #201 Ozzie Smith Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #96 Cal Ripken Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #96 Cal Ripken Jr. Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #125 Jose Canseco

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #125 Jose Canseco Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #427 Deion Sanders Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #427 Deion Sanders Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #705 Tony Gwynn All-Star

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #705 All-Star Tony Gwynn Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #269 Kirby Puckett

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #269 Kirby Puckett Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #304 Rickey Henderson

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

Check prices on: Amazon

Considering how dominant Rickey Henderson was, I'm surprised that he won only one MVP award.

He was an absolute monster on the base paths, going on to become the game's all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored.

But, he could also hit for power, too.

The excitement he brought to the game made him one of the most popular players of his day and his status as one of the game's all-time greats helps keep the value of this card respectable in top condition.

1990 Donruss #304 Rickey Henderson Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #578 Larry Walker Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35

Check prices on: Amazon

I used to love watching Larry Walker play because he was so well-rounded.

He was dangerous at the plate and was a terrific outfielder as well.

His 1997 MVP season in which he had 49 home runs, 143 runs scored, 130 RBI and a .363 batting average was one of the best seasons for any player that I can remember witnessing.

It's a shame he barely missed out on the Triple Crown that year.

His 1990 Donruss rookie card isn't the most expensive in the set but it still holds a little value in top grade.

1990 Donruss #578 Larry Walker Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #68 Wade Boggs

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #68 Wade Boggs Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #105 Ryne Sandberg

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #105 Ryne Sandberg Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #168 Dale Murphy

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #168 Dale Murphy Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #704 David Justice Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $30

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #704 David Justice Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #184 Roger Clemens

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

Check prices on: Amazon

.

1990 Donruss #184 Roger Clemens Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #185 Mark McGwire

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #185 Mark McGwire Baseball Card

1990 Donruss #489 Sammy Sosa Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

Check prices on: Amazon

Sosa's career got off to a slow start so I don't remember many collectors going crazy for this card when it was first released.

But as his career progressed and the home runs kept piling up, he turned into one of the most popular players in the league.

And, even though his reputation may forever be damaged by the PED controversy, his 1990 Donruss rookie still has its place among Sosa fans. 

1990 Donruss #489 Sammy Sosa Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #689 Bernie Williams Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #689 Bernie Williams Rookie Card

1990 Donruss #711 John Olerud Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Value: $25

Check prices on: Amazon

1990 Donruss #711 John Olerud Rookie Card

Valuable 1990 Donruss Parallel Sets

Along with the regular base set, Donruss released several different parallel and test issues in 1990.

Some are more desirable than others but each has a unique story.

And depending on the card and player, some can be worth hundreds of dollars or more...

Aqueous Test

The images on the fronts of these cards were the exact same as the base set but the fronts themselves had a glossy coating to them and the reverse sides show an "Aqueous Test" label.

There were 264 cards in total and they are highly desirable to this day.

In fact, many can go for hundreds of dollars depending on the player and I've even seen a Juan Gonzalez reverse negative rookie go for more than $1,000.

1990 Donruss Aqueous Test Ryne Sandberg Baseball Card

AL/NL Best

These blue-bordered cards were issued as two separate factory sets, one for the American League and one for the National League.

The concept was to feature the best of both league but when you consider that each set contained 144 cards, by the time you got to the bottom of the list the players weren't exactly of superstar caliber.

The bigger names like Bo Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., etc. can go from $30 to $70 or more in top condition.

But, the Griffey Jr. card seems to be on everyone's want list as it can easily sell for hundreds of dollars in top grade.

1990 Donruss Best AL #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Card
1990 Donruss Best NL #45 Barry Bonds Baseball Card

Blue/White Test

The "Blue/White Test" cards showcase the same images of their base counterparts but can come with a blue or white border.

These rare test cards are desirable and can fetch hefty price tags depending on the player.

I have seen the Bo Jackson card below, for example, sell for hundreds of dollars.

1990 Donruss Blue White Test Issue Jose DeLeon Baseball Card
1990 Donruss Blue White Test Issue Bo Jackson Baseball Card

Previews

These preview cards were made available to a select number of dealers as a way to promote their upcoming 1990 set release.

There are only 12 cards in total and the backs of the cards will show each player's card number in that sequence.

1990 Donruss Previews #3 Bo Jackson Baseball Card
1990 Donruss Previews #3 Bo Jackson Baseball Card Reverse Side

1990 Donruss Baseball Cards In Review

So there you have it, the ten most valuable 1990 Donruss cards...as well as a look at some other oddball issues that can have even greater value to them.

As you can see, it will take the base cards on this top ten list being professionally graded in gem mint condition to be worth much.

Unopened Box of 1990 Donruss Baseball Cards

This set was a monster and contained a 716 card checklist in total.

Within the set were also several different subsets, including:

  • All-Stars
  • Bonus MVPs
  • Checklists
  • Diamond Kings
  • Grand Slammers
  • Rated Rookies

The set is huge and with all of the errors, parallels and variations it can seem a bit overwhelming, to say the least.

But for those of us who grew up collecting these as kids, they'll always have a huge nostalgic factor to them despite not having the most monetary value.

Ross Uitts
 

Ross is the founder of Old Sports Cards and has been collecting sports cards for over 30 years. He also loves to write about the hobby and has written for Beckett, Topps, SABR and of course, this website. Need help buying or selling cards or have a general question about the hobby? Contact him at [email protected]

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 4 comments