Welcome to the exciting world of 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan Cards! Today, we’re going to talk about some really cool cards featuring a famous player named Nolan Ryan. These cards were made by a company called Donruss in 1990. Nolan Ryan was an amazing pitcher who could throw the ball super fast. He played baseball for a very long time and was really good at it. Let’s look at some of his best cards from that year and learn why they’re special.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #166 Base Card
This card is a classic! It shows Nolan Ryan in his Texas Rangers uniform, ready to throw a pitch. The card has a bright red border, which makes it easy to spot. Many people like this card because it’s simple and shows Ryan doing what he does best – pitching.
The estimated PSA 10 value of this card is about $50. PSA is a company that grades cards to tell how good their condition is. A PSA 10 means the card is perfect, like it just came out of the pack.
This card is pretty easy to find because Donruss made a lot of them. But finding one in perfect condition can be tricky. The red borders can easily show wear, so collectors look for cards with sharp corners and no scratches.
On the back of the card, you can find some cool facts about Nolan Ryan. It tells you how many games he won and how many times he struck out batters. Ryan was known for striking out a lot of players, which means he threw the ball so well that batters couldn’t hit it.
Even though this card isn’t super rare, it’s still popular with collectors. People who grew up in the 1990s often remember opening packs of cards and hoping to find this Nolan Ryan card. It’s a nice piece of baseball history that doesn’t cost too much money.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #665 King of Kings
This card is extra special because it’s not just a regular baseball card. It’s part of a set called “King of Kings” that Donruss made to honor the best players. The front of the card has a painting of Nolan Ryan instead of a photo. It looks really cool and different from other cards.

The estimated PSA 10 value for this card is around $70. That’s a bit more than the base card because it’s part of a special set. The painting on the front was done by a famous artist named Dick Perez, who was known for making beautiful baseball art.
What’s really interesting about this card is that there are different versions of it. Some cards have the right information on the back, some are missing the card number, and some even have the back of a different Nolan Ryan card! These mistakes make some versions of the card more valuable to collectors.
The “King of Kings” title on the card shows how much people respected Nolan Ryan. He was seen as one of the best pitchers ever, so they gave him this special name. On the back of the card, you can read about why Ryan was so amazing.
Collectors like this card because it’s unique. The artwork makes it stand out from regular photos, and the different back versions make it fun to hunt for all the types. It’s a great card for people who want something a little more special in their collection.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #659 5000 K’s
This card is really cool because it celebrates a big moment in Nolan Ryan’s career. The “5000 K’s” on the card means that Ryan had struck out 5,000 batters in his career. That’s a lot of strikeouts! Not many pitchers have ever done that.
The estimated PSA 10 value of this card is about $125. It’s worth more than some other Ryan cards from 1990 because it marks such an important achievement. The card has a yellow star next to Ryan’s name and “5,000 K’s” written in fancy letters at the bottom.
On this card, you see Nolan Ryan in his Texas Rangers uniform. He looks ready to pitch, just like he did when he got all those strikeouts. The red border of the card makes the image of Ryan really stand out.
The back of the card tells the story of how Ryan reached 5,000 strikeouts. It talks about the game where he did it and how amazing it was. This information makes the card more than just a picture – it’s like a little piece of baseball history.
Collectors love this card because it reminds them of a big baseball moment. Even kids who didn’t see Ryan play can learn about his amazing skill from this card. It’s a great way to remember one of the best pitchers ever.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #678 Highlights
This card is part of a special set called “Highlights” that Donruss made to show big moments from the baseball season. Nolan Ryan had a lot of highlights in his career, so he got a card in this set.
The estimated PSA 10 value for this card is around $40. It’s not as expensive as some other Ryan cards, but it’s still cool because it’s part of a special set. The card has a different design from the regular Donruss cards, with a black border instead of red.
On the front of the card, you see Nolan Ryan pitching. The picture might be from one of his best games that year. The “Highlights” logo at the top of the card makes it look extra special.
The back of the card talks about some of the great things Ryan did that year. It might mention games where he struck out a lot of batters or maybe a no-hitter if he threw one. A no-hitter is when a pitcher doesn’t let the other team get any hits for a whole game, which is really hard to do.
Collectors like this card because it’s part of a set that tells the story of the baseball season. It’s fun to look at all the “Highlights” cards together and remember the exciting moments from that year.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #BC-11 Baseball’s Best
This card comes from another special set called “Baseball’s Best.” Donruss picked the players they thought were the very best and gave them cards in this set. Of course, Nolan Ryan was included because he was one of the greatest pitchers ever.
The estimated PSA 10 value of this card is about $30. It’s not super expensive, but it’s special because not every player got to be in the “Baseball’s Best” set. The card has a different look from the regular Donruss cards, which makes it stand out in a collection.
On the front of the card, you see a great action shot of Nolan Ryan pitching. The “Baseball’s Best” logo is on the card too, showing that Ryan was considered one of the top players in the game.
The back of the card probably has some stats that show why Ryan was chosen for this set. It might talk about how many games he won, how many strikeouts he had, or other things that made him so good at baseball.
Collectors like this card because it’s part of a set that honors the best players. It’s fun to have a card that says your favorite player is one of “Baseball’s Best”!
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #BC-1 Diamond Kings
The Diamond Kings cards are really special in Donruss sets. They show paintings of players instead of photos, and only the best players get to be Diamond Kings. Nolan Ryan was chosen as a Diamond King in 1990, which shows how great he was.
The estimated PSA 10 value for this card is around $50. It’s worth a bit more than some other cards because the Diamond Kings are popular with collectors. The painting on the card makes it look different from regular baseball cards.
On the front of the card, you see a painting of Nolan Ryan. It might show him pitching or maybe just a close-up of his face. The artist tries to capture what makes Ryan special as a player.
The back of the card usually has a write-up about why Ryan was chosen as a Diamond King. It might talk about his best games from the previous year or his whole career. This information helps people understand why Ryan was so important to baseball.
Collectors love Diamond Kings cards because they’re like little pieces of art. Having a Nolan Ryan Diamond King card is like having a tiny painting of a baseball legend in your collection.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #108 All-Star
All-Star cards are made for players who were chosen to play in the All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from different teams come together to play. Nolan Ryan was picked as an All-Star many times in his career.
The estimated PSA 10 value of this card is about $35. It’s not the most expensive Ryan card, but it’s cool because it shows he was one of the best players that year. The card might have a special design to show it’s an All-Star card.
On the front, you’ll see Nolan Ryan in his team uniform. There might be an All-Star logo or something else to show this is a special card. The picture probably shows Ryan looking strong and ready to pitch in the big game.
The back of the card likely talks about Ryan’s performance that got him picked for the All-Star team. It might mention how many games he won or how many batters he struck out. This information helps fans understand why Ryan was chosen as one of the best players that year.
Collectors like All-Star cards because they show the best players from each season. Having an All-Star card of Nolan Ryan is like having a little piece of that year’s big game in your collection.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #692 MVP
MVP stands for Most Valuable Player, and it’s a big honor in baseball. While pitchers don’t often win MVP awards, Donruss made MVP cards for top players like Nolan Ryan to show how valuable they were to their teams.
The estimated PSA 10 value for this card is around $30. It’s not the rarest Ryan card, but it’s special because it recognizes his importance to his team. The card might have a different design from regular Donruss cards to show it’s part of the MVP set.
On the front of the card, you’ll see a picture of Nolan Ryan, probably in a pitching pose. There might be an MVP logo or some special design elements that make the card stand out. The image likely shows Ryan looking strong and confident.
The back of the card probably explains why Ryan was so valuable to his team. It might talk about games he won, how he helped other pitchers on the team, or how he brought fans to the stadium. This information helps people understand why Ryan was more than just a good player – he was a leader on his team.
Collectors enjoy MVP cards because they highlight the most important players. Even if Ryan didn’t win an actual MVP award, this card shows that Donruss thought he was one of the most valuable players in the game.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan #BC-7 The Rookies
Even though Nolan Ryan wasn’t a rookie (new player) in 1990, Donruss included him in their “The Rookies” set. They did this to compare new players to a legend like Ryan. It’s a unique card that brings together the past and future of baseball.
The estimated PSA 10 value of this card is about $40. It’s an interesting card for collectors because it’s unusual to see a veteran player in a set meant for new players. The card probably has a special design to show it’s part of “The Rookies” set.
On the front, you’ll see a picture of Nolan Ryan, maybe side-by-side with a new player. The card might have “The Rookies” written on it somewhere. It’s cool to see Ryan, who had been playing for a long time, next to players just starting their careers.
The back of the card likely compares Ryan’s early years to his current stats. It might talk about how he was still playing great baseball after many years in the game. This information can inspire new players and remind fans how amazing Ryan’s career was.
Collectors like this card because it’s different. It’s fun to have a card that shows a baseball legend in a set usually meant for new players. It helps people think about how the game changes over time but great players like Ryan can play for many years.
1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan Error Card
Error cards are cards that were printed with a mistake. Sometimes these mistakes make the cards more valuable to collectors. There’s a Nolan Ryan error card from 1990 Donruss that has the wrong information on the back.
The estimated PSA 10 value for this error card can be much higher than regular cards, sometimes over $100. The value depends on how rare the error is and how many of these wrong cards were printed before the mistake was fixed.
On the front, the error card looks just like a regular Nolan Ryan card. The mistake is on the back. It might have stats from a different player, the wrong card number, or some other incorrect information. You have to look closely to spot the error.
Collectors get excited about error cards because they’re different from normal cards. It’s like finding a typo in a book – it’s not supposed to be there, but it makes that copy special. Some people try to collect both the error version and the correct version of the card.
Error cards teach us that even big companies like Donruss can make mistakes. They also show how card collecting isn’t just about famous players – it’s also about finding rare and unusual cards that not everyone has.
In conclusion, the 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards offer a great variety for collectors. Whether you’re interested in special sets like Diamond Kings, cards that celebrate achievements like the 5000 K’s card, or even error cards, there’s something for everyone. The base card (#166) is a good starting point for new collectors, while cards like the King of Kings (#665) offer something more unique for experienced collectors.
Remember, the value of these cards can change over time. What’s most important is enjoying your collection and the history it represents. Nolan Ryan was one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, and these cards help us remember his amazing career.
Frequently Asked Questions: 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards
What makes the 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards special?
These cards showcase one of baseball’s greatest pitchers in various special sets and designs. They celebrate Ryan’s achievements and his status as a baseball legend.
Which 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan card is the most valuable?
Generally, the #665 King of Kings and #659 5000 K’s cards are among the most valuable, especially in perfect condition. However, some error cards can also be very valuable.
Are 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards rare?
Most aren’t extremely rare because many were printed. However, finding them in perfect condition can be challenging, especially cards with red borders that easily show wear.
What should I look for when buying 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards?
Look for cards with sharp corners, good centering, and no visible wear. For special cards like Diamond Kings, make sure the artwork isn’t faded or scratched.
Why are there different versions of some 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryan cards?
Some cards, like the King of Kings, have variations due to printing errors. These variations can make certain versions of the card more valuable to collectors.