The 1990s were a turbulent but exciting time to be a sports card collector. A surprising boom-and-bust cycle flattened sky-high sports card prices, only to lift them back up as the decade came to a close and the modern high-tech card market was born. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable baseball, football, and basketball cards of the 1990s and find out what makes those cards so special.
Basketball
1997: Upper Deck NBA All-Star Michael Jordan (Game Jersey)
It’s not hard to see why this card is worth slightly over $2,100,000 today. This basketball card assembles two of the biggest names in the basketball card community:
- Michael Jordan, one of the undisputed legends of the NBA in his spectacular prime.
- Upper Deck, a name that’s hard to come by today but represents some of the most valuable 1990s sports cards.
Michael Jordan played a huge role in bringing basketball to the world at large, picking up six championships and putting in 14 All-Star performances over the course of his career. This particular piece embodies that unique career, featuring an autograph and a piece of his All-Star game jersey.
1996: Topps Refractor Kobe Bryant
Seasoned collectors will immediately notice how odd it is to see a Topps sports card mentioned in a ranking of valuable 90s NBA cards. Lineups from Upper Deck and SkyBox Metal Universe dominated this period, but this Kobe Bryant card is a notable and precious exception.
The Black Mamba is a 5x NBA Champion and the 4th highest scorer in NBA history, peaking at 81 points in a single match. However, that isn’t what makes this one of the most valuable 1990s sports cards. Like some of the most valuable baseball cards of the 1990s, the #138 piece scores a perfect ten on all four BGS categories. This card also looks striking with a black silhouette compared to the more colorful alternatives released by Metal Universe at the time.
Football
1997: Metal Universe Brett Favre
Metal Universe cards featured some of the most striking and innovative sports card designs at the time, and they’d even be considered bold by today’s standards. However, they were also some of the most fragile sports cards money could buy, which is why they’re so hard to find today.
This 1997 Brett Favre card (rated at a PSA 9) is a rare survivor, and its value reflects that scarcity. As one of the most valuable 1990s football cards, it was valued at over $80,000 in 2021 and depicts Favre against an iconic, appropriately-chosen neon green background. Another notable fact making this one of the most valuable sports cards of the 1990s is that it was released just after the Packers took home the Super Bowl.
1997: Metal Universe Jerry Rice
It’s not every day you see a PSA 6 card sell for six figures. To make things even more interesting, this card, just like some of the most valuable 1990s basketball cards, came out in the ‘junk wax’ era. So, what makes this card so valuable?
In a word, scarcity. Only 15 copies of this particular card were released by Metal Universe, and only a handful survive today. This card sold for around $100,000 in 2023 and is now priced at over $150,000 by Fanatics’ online auction service.
Baseball
1993: Upper Deck Derek Jeter
Arguably the most valuable baseball card of the 1990s, many experts even consider this to be one of the most iconic cards of all time. Interestingly, this piece is the very opposite of the Jerry Rice card we listed above and still manages to be one of the most valuable 1990s sports cards.
This SP foil Upper Deck card was everywhere when it came out in 1993. However, it was also incredibly prone to flaking and peeling. PSA 9 and 10 versions of this card are exceedingly rare today, with a PSA 10 being priced at over $600,000.
1990: Topps Frank Thomas (No Name On Front)
Misprints are harder to come by today due to advances in printing technology and higher-quality materials. However, older cards occasionally saw misprints that would turn impressive cards into all-time icons. If you’re looking for proof, look no further than the legendary Shadowless Charizard card.
As one of the most valuable 1990s sports cards, this Frank Thomas rookie card bears one striking feature: it’s missing his name. It might not have the striking design we’ve seen in the most valuable football cards of the 1990s, but this massive error has pushed the card’s value to nearly $200,000.
Collect Your Icons
Whether you’re looking for the most valuable 1990s baseball cards or new sports card releases, Giant Sports Cards has you covered. Check out our online sports card store or local card shop in the Atlanta area and discover the icons of today and tomorrow. Shop rare singles in-store, or order sports card boxes online and get free shipping on orders over $199. Unbox Your Love Of The Game™ today.
