We’re looking at another junk wax era set today as we delve into the best that 1990 Score Hockey offers. Several notable rookie cards, while there has been a recent resurgence regarding interest from collectors.
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1990 Score Hockey Box Investment Rating: Buy (3.8 out of 5)
Ownership Disclosure: 1990 Jagr RC x3 PSA 10
Best 1990 Score Hockey/Rookie Card: 1990 Jaromir Jagr Score RC #428 (Buy on eBay)
Unboxing videos are one reason for the newfound popularity and grading services that can provide separation despite the many copies that remain in the present day. Here’s everything you could need to know about 1990 Score Hockey rookie cards, along with five of the most excellent options to look out for.
Best Cards
The 1990 Score Hockey set is instantly recognizable thanks to a red, white, and blue border design, which is supposed to represent a rink. It works well, as you’ll be able to spot a card from the set from a mile away. A 440-card set, American and Canadian versions of the cards have a few notable differences. Aside from 12 alternative players, the Canadian edition also used a red Score logo on the front of the card rather than the blue seen with US versions.
You’ll also be able to find a bilingual reverse for French readers on the latter. It’s not to be confused with the 1990 Score Rookie & Traded set, which was released later in the season. We’ve come up with five of the best cards from the set below.
5. 1990 Eric Lindros Score Future Superstar RC #440
Eric Lindros was the number one pick in the 1991 NHL Draft. He made an immediate impact in his first year, putting the biscuit in the back of the net 41 times to go along with 34 assists for a mind-blowing 75 points.
Seen as the go-to card for Lindros investors, the Future Superstar RC features large text at the top, and a crisp action shot of the player on the ice. The player also signed an exclusive deal with Score before being drafted, proving to be a worthwhile decision.
4. 1990 Wayne Gretzky Score #1
The first card from the set features Wayne Gretzky. A man who needs no introduction, a Gretzky rookie card, the O-Pee-Chee RC #18 (which we have featured previously on Gold Card Auctions), sold for $1.29 million in December 2020.
It might not be one of his 1979 RCs, but the first card from the set is another decent option if you’re hoping for cut-price investments. The action shot is one of the best, featuring Gretzky as he prepares to smash a puck.
3. 1990 Martin Brodeur Score RC #439
Martin Brodeur spent 22 seasons in the NHL, 21 with the New Jersey Devils, winning three Stanley Cup championships and five Eastern Conference championships. A true legend between the sticks, the 1990 Score RC focuses on Brodeur being chosen as a first-round draft pick by the Devils.
A combination of mediocre card stock and the red border at the top makes it difficult to find a copy of Brodeur’s 1990 Score that is still in good condition almost 20 years on. This is also the only 1990 set to include Brodeur.
2. 1990 Mario Lemieux Score #2
His RCs may have been released in 1985, but Mario Lemieux is another player with a card worth checking out from the ‘90 Score set. Le Magnifique purchased the Penguins in 1999 and brought the franchise out of bankruptcy, while he still holds or shares numerous NHL records with the likes of Wayne Gretzky. Found just after Gretzky in the set, his card is numbered #2. It features an action shot of the player with the biscuit at his feet, surrounded by the familiar red, white, and blue border design.
1. 1990 Jaromir Jagr Score RC #428
Another memorable RC from the set features Jaromir Jagr mean-mugging toward the camera in a great profile shot. Jagr is a Penguins legend who played a mind-blowing 24 years in the NHL, notching a career total of 1921 points.
His Score RC is our pick of the options available, especially as the 1990 OPC Premier RC #50 is slightly more expensive. It takes the number one spot on the list as we believe it has great potential for profit in the future, especially when looking at gem-mint-graded versions.
Values
The most valuable 1990 Score hockey card is a PSA 10-graded Jaromir Jagr rookie card numbered #428 in the Canadian version/language. The three most valuable Score 1990 hockey cards are shown below.
- Jaromir Jagr #428
- Martin Brodeur #439
- Eric Lindros Superstar #440
Checklist
Investment Outlook
An expansive collection of cards are contained in the 1990 Score set, and it’s easy to forget just how popular they were when they first came out.
There’s no denying the overall quality of higher grades, as they were meant to be looked after and held onto as a potential long-term investment. It’s clear how the bubble burst after the junk wax era with hindsight, but older sets are becoming ever more popular as a cheaper option for anyone who wants to crack open a new hobby box.
Graded options offer some separation, which is necessary given the substantial print runs from the time. A robust list of RCs included in the 1990 Score release, along with cards featuring some of the more prominent names from the era.
As well as offering plenty of hits, gem mint versions of many copies are highly affordable. It’s an exciting option for hockey card collectors, especially if you’re looking for entry-level investment pieces.