Most important 1990s base set

[BBCgalaxee]

On the heals of the"most important 80s base set" thread, which base set from the 90s is most important based on impact, hotness, design and player selection?

Definitely a hard one for me, so many choices.

Between 90 leaf, 92 bowman, 93 finest, 96 topps chrome, 97 bowman chrome and so on, each one could easily be the one.

 

[jszczech]

I would say 93 Finest. There were many great sets in the 90's but the first finest set was a game changer in my opinion.

 

[smapdi]

I don't think Finest was a base set. By design and reception, it was the epitome of high-end at the time. Same for 1990 Leaf. Donruss was the base brand, Leaf was the upgrade.

1992 Bowman, while being printed on glossy stock, was still available at retail and reflected the improved production quality 1989 UD forced on the hobby, just as 1992 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer raised their levels. Despite being justly ridiculed for the high school yearbook photos, people came to overlook the pictures for the names, and the relatively limited production. I still remember that one issue of Beckett a few months after the set came out that had all the rookies listed with double-up-arrows, so you knew it was scorching hot. Some names listed at $20, $30, $40! For about a decade, breakout rookies could be traced back to 92B. Even over the last couple years, Mariano Rivera's RC got "discovered" as the ESPN/Yankee hype machine manufactured another GOAT.

 

[fordman]

I would say '93 Finest as well. Sold thousands of $$$ of them. It set the bar for inserts and really for any premium set in the 90's.

As far as set that brought a company back from extinction? 1991 Fleer Ultra, 1992 Base, Ultra, 1993 Flair. Fleer had to do something to get rid of the 1991 yellow funk. Donruss wasnt far behind from being extinct. The only thing that saved them was the chase for the signed Elite cards, better pics, design, finally went with the white card stock with some gloss.

Fordman

 

[Bill Menard]

For the 90s, I don't think there is one clear stand out here. The hobby went in many directions in that 10 year span. Iconic products to me are:

1990 Upper Deck - first pack-pulled autograph cards
1993 Finest - chrome AND refractor craze set off
1996 Upper Deck Football - first game used cards
1997 Bowman Chrome - Inaugural edition of the marquee prospect product for years to follow

oops... you said base set, but I already typed this out LOL

Base set is 1993 Finest - hello chromium technology and the rest is history.

 

[JoshHamilton]

1. 1992 Bowman. Several future HOF rookies, great design, limited, kicked off the Bowman craze, goofy 90's teenage fashion, gold foil cards, huge set size, and most importantly the ONLY rookie card of the greatest closer ever...Troy Percival!

2. 1993 Finest. Kicked off the super premium craze and refractor craze. Packs were $25...in 1993. Beautiful design. The Ripken was the hottest card in the world in 1995. Like $2500 hot. This would be a clear #1 if it had any rookies other than JT Snow.

3. 1990 Leaf. In 1999, this would have been the clear-cut #1 . It hasn't aged well. Sosa got popped, Frank got injured, people moved on...still a great set.

4. 1993 Flair. Because it's one of the most beautiful sets ever

5. 1997 Bowman Chrome. This should really be at #3 , but I don't feel like copy pasting. So 5 it is.

 

[Philip J. Fry]

No love for 1995 Bowman's Best?

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Somehow I left out 91 stadium club.

At the time of issue, it was blazing hot and although it lacked many impact rookies, the stars lead the way along with the great quality and foil.

 

[gracecollector]

Maybe not #1 or #2 , but 1991 Stadium Club was pretty important, ushering in borderless photography and hi-gloss finish to Topps repertoire. It created the first successful Topps spin-off brand.

I like the choice of 93 Finest as most important. Chrome is king.

 

[Austin]

1992 Bowman

 

[jeremy2]

1991 fleer

 

[matfanofold]

1. 1993 Topps Finest

It was a first in many ways. Very premium cards, very low print run (for the time), refractor cards, chromium finish, high initial price point. Pretty much paved the way for the modern era of baseball cards and defined the turning point in the hobby, going after adults with money.

2. 1991 Topps Stadium Club

Revolutionary as it ushered in the era of focus on photography and gave us something more than standard/traditional baseball card photo's. It was also perhaps one of, if not the first 'premium' base sets to be released and was astonishingly valuable for the time.

3. 1997 Bowman Chrome

It was/is in my opinion the first bowman set that set the stage for what most prospectors covet today. Could easily be #2 or #1 on any list, but for me it is a solid 3.

4. 1992 Bowman

A premium paper stock that focused heavily on prospects and RC cards. Included foil cards that were very HOT for quite a while and gave the hobby something it needed badly, a base set that had a relatively inexpensive buy in and generated huge profit(s) for early adaptors. Still remains a pretty decent set of cards with some key cards.

5. 1993 Flair

With it's super thick card stock, original 'classy' design, 'high end' packaging and price point, it was ground breaking in many ways that the arc of history finds its foot print in todays hobby still.

 

[Will Style 13]

1993 Finest it was unlike anything anyone had seen before. I remember packs selling for above launch price just a few months after release. I remember always wanted to buy some packs but they were all like $20. I remember spending $25 on a jumbo pack of Finest Basketball that year.

 

[mmier118]

1. 1993 Topps Finest

It was a first in many ways. Very premium cards, very low print run (for the time), refractor cards, chromium finish, high initial price point. Pretty much paved the way for the modern era of baseball cards and defined the turning point in the hobby, going after adults with money.

2. 1991 Topps Stadium Club

Revolutionary as it ushered in the era of focus on photography and gave us something more than standard/traditional baseball card photo's. It was also perhaps one of, if not the first 'premium' base sets to be released and was astonishingly valuable for the time.

3. 1997 Bowman Chrome

It was/is in my opinion the first bowman set that set the stage for what most prospectors covet today. Could easily be #2 or #1 on any list, but for me it is a solid 3.

4. 1992 Bowman

A premium paper stock that focused heavily on prospects and RC cards. Included foil cards that were very HOT for quite a while and gave the hobby something it needed badly, a base set that had a relatively inexpensive buy in and generated huge profit(s) for early adaptors. Still remains a pretty decent set of cards with some key cards.

5. 1993 Flair

With it's super thick card stock, original 'classy' design, 'high end' packaging and price point, it was ground breaking in many ways that the arc of history finds its foot print in todays hobby still.

I have to say this rundown pretty much sums it up for me. Personally I like 1991 stadium better and it is one of my favorite sets of the 90's but overall I think 1993 finest had more impact. Also I might try and fit 1990 leaf in there somewhere. If 1996 Leaf signature auto's were a base set I'd add that to the list somewhere but maybe that's for another discussion, maybe if we move on to "best insert sets of the 90's" although that one might have been done already.

 

[u2me57]

1993 Finest with 1992 Bowman a close second

 

[Big Mac McGwire]

for me there was 3,

1990 Leaf
1992 Bowman
1993 Finest

 

[Joey_peapod]

1993 finest for sure. I remember walking in an LCS amazed at all the finest in the case and being like wow!! $25 a pack too was crazy.