The 1991 Studio baseball card set provided collectors an expertise in contrast to something they’d ever seen.
And that is precisely what Leaf was going for…
With competitors at historic ranges, producers had been attempting something to face out in a crowded market.
Leaf had already re-positioned itself as a premium product with its 1990 launch to compete with Higher Deck.
However, in 1991, Topps and Fleer jumped into the premium phase with their “Stadium Membership” and “Extremely” choices.
Leaf needed to diversify but once more.
They usually did so by piggybacking on one other scorching market at the moment: studio images.
Again then, picture studios had been in malls, supermarkets, mom-and-pop outlets, and plenty of different locations.
They usually had been fairly common.
Enter the 1991 Studio baseball set.
Using black and white studio headshots, Leaf showcased gamers in a way more private method.
Card backs provided collectors a glance not on the participant’s stats however at his hobbies, pursuits and different private particulars.
It might appear quirky by right now’s requirements, however collectors discovered this set fairly particular again then.
And on this information, we’ll check out the 15 most beneficial.
Let’s bounce proper in!
1991 Studio #172 Jeff Bagwell Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $500
Chosen within the fourth spherical of the 1989 MLB Draft by the Boston Purple Sox, Bagwell was traded to Houston in 1990 and shot up the Minor League ladder with a .325 common over two seasons.
With the Astros in the course of a teardown, the 23-year-old first baseman skipped Triple-A completely to affix the Huge League membership because the beginning first baseman.
It made sense, and much more as soon as Bagwell bought swinging.
The long run Corridor-of-Famer led the Astros in dwelling runs (15), runs scored (79), and RBIs (82).
He additionally completed second on the staff in hits (163) and batting common (.293).
An affect participant from the bounce, Bagwell dominated the NL Rookie-of-the-Yr Award race with 23 of a doable 24 first-place votes.
“I bought fortunate,” Bagwell mentioned. “I bought an opportunity to play, and that was the principle factor.”
As the one key rookie card within the set, Bagwell’s card is the clear front-runner within the guidelines.
1991 Studio #128 Nolan Ryan
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $300
Age ain’t nothing however a quantity.
So is seven.
On Could 1st, 1991, 44-year-old Texas Rangers surprise Nolan Ryan ripped by the high-octane Toronto Blue Jays for his seventh profession no-hitter.
The Jays got here into the sport as probably the most potent offensive staff within the American League.
They left with 16 strikeouts and a bit of MLB historical past.
It was one more defining second for Ryan.
Now three no-hitters away from second-place Sandy Koufax, the Ryan Categorical was as dominant as ever in his twenty fifth MLB season.
The flamethrowing righty completed 12-6 on the yr with a 2.91 ERA, simply his second sub-3.00 ERA in eight years.
He struck out over 200 batters (203) for the fifth straight yr and led all pitchers in WHIP (1.006), Ks per 9 (10.6), and hits per 9 (5.3), the latter serving as his greatest mark in 20 years.
Unbelievably, none of this was sufficient to garner a Cy Younger vote or an All-Star choice.
1991 Studio #97 Don Mattingly
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $85
Simply months after the worst season in franchise historical past, the New York Yankees resolved to begin recent.
In hopes of jumpstarting a moribund franchise, Yankees supervisor Stump Merrill named veteran stalwart and former MVP Don Mattingly the tenth captain in staff historical past.
“It is one of many greatest thrills and largest honors for me in baseball,” Mattingly mentioned. “I take it significantly.”
Mattingly was the plain alternative.
Nevertheless, he was additionally the autumn man on a capsized boat.
New York skidded by one other brutal yr in 1991, ending fifth within the AL East at 71-91.
The Yankees misplaced 16 of their first 23 video games, costing Merrill his job by season’s finish.
Mattingly had a greater yr than the earlier season, hitting .288 with 9 dwelling runs and 68 RBIs in 152 video games.
He additionally wore his frustrations on his sleeve, overtly questioning his place within the group and asking for a commerce.
The captainship was good.
Nevertheless it did not repair a lot within the Bronx.
1991 Studio #112 Ken Griffey Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $75
The lasting picture of Ken Griffey Jr. on a baseball discipline will at all times be his smile.
You would not comprehend it by taking a look at this card, although.
“The Child” at all times gave the impression to be having enjoyable, together with his backward cap and all.
What many overlook is how intense and tenacious of a competitor he was.
Take Griffey’s strategy in opposition to the Yankees, for instance.
On July twenty third, 1991, the Seattle Mariners middle fielder pummeled his first profession grand slam to take down the Bombers, 6-1.
Relatively than leaving it there, the 21-year-old took the chance to attract some battle traces after the sport.
“I simply don’t love New York,” Griffey mentioned. “I do not just like the Yankees. My dad performed right here and instructed me all of the stuff that occurred with the gamers and the entrance workplace.”
Griffey’s hearth burned deep and helped to place collectively his greatest season but in ’91.
The main vote-getter for the All-Star Sport, Junior slashed .327/.399/.527 with 22 dwelling runs, 42 doubles, 18 stolen bases, 76 runs scored, and 100 RBIs in 154 video games performed.
1991 Studio #104 Rickey Henderson
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $55
Rickey Henderson by no means let a failure or two deter him from his final purpose.
Coming into a Could 1st, 1991 contest with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Oakland A’s outfielder sat tied with the nice Lou Brock with 938 stolen bases.
Another swipe and Rickey can be on their own together with his report.
Henderson tried for historical past within the first inning however was gunned down by catcher Matt Nokes.
He bought his second within the fourth, although, timing a Tim Leary changeup to run down Brock and take his place atop the report books.
“I mentioned to myself, ‘It is throughout. You are primary,’ “Henderson mentioned. “Lots of stress left me at that second like I used to be 50 kilos lighter.”
An inning after the celebration died down, Henderson was thrown out once more.
It isn’t that he did not be taught.
It is that he did not need to.
Henderson completed the season because the AL chief in stolen bases for a report eleventh time (58).
1991 Studio #9 Cal Ripken Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
Cal Ripken Jr.’s 1991 season is a baseball’s dream.
Named AL MVP for the second time (1983), the 30-year-old celebrity grew to become the primary shortstop ever to put up 200 hits (210), 40 doubles (46), and 30 dwelling runs (34) in a single season.
He additionally topped all American League shortstops in fielding proportion (.986), double performs turned (114), assists (528), and putouts (267).
It was as full an effort as you are ever going to get.
Ripken led all Main Leaguers in Offensive WAR (9.2) and Defensive WAR (3.5).
His 11.5 whole WAR is a report amongst each shortstops and Orioles gamers.
It additionally set off a fierce debate.
The Orioles completed sixth within the seven-team AL East at 67-95, placing an enormous dent into Ripken’s MVP bid.
His closest competitor, Cecil Fielder, was the power-hitting coronary heart of a Tigers staff that remained in rivalry for a lot of the yr.
Finally, Ripken received out with 15 first-place votes to Fielder’s 9.
1991 Studio #40 Frank Thomas
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
When Frank Thomas made contact with a ball in 1991, good issues typically occurred.
After an eye-opening 60-game rookie stint in 1990, you’d assume Thomas would have issue dwelling as much as the hype.
As an alternative, the 23-year-old Chicago White Sox DH/first baseman was even higher in his first full season, main all MLB hitters in walks (138), on-base proportion (.453), OPS (1.006), and OPS+ (180).
He cracked the 30-homer plateau as nicely (32) and went 100/100 in runs scored (104) and RBIs (109).
Thomas was as studied as a hitter as there ever has been.
Considering two or three steps forward at practically each flip, he solely appeared to swing if it was an optimum time to select up a success.
“The Huge Damage” ended the ’91 marketing campaign with a .398 common on balls put in play.
Solely Kansas Metropolis’s Danny Tartabull (.421) proved higher.
1991 Studio #62 George Brett
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
In 1990, Kansas Metropolis Royals icon George Brett parlayed a white-hot second half to win his third AL batting title, turning into the one participant to win a league crown in three separate many years.
Brett hit .388 after the All-Star break to take dwelling the honors.
It helped to erase a pedestrian first half by which he hit .267 with restricted to no pop.
The hope was that Brett’s late-season outburst can be an indication of issues to return in 1991.
As an alternative, the 38-year-old designated hitter/first baseman reverted to his early ‘90 type for his worst season since his 1974 rookie yr.
Dogged by the fifth documented knee damage of his profession early within the yr, Brett posted a career-worst .255 batting common with 10 dwelling runs and 61 RBIs in 131 video games.
His 101 OPS+ was that of a league-average hitter.
Brett would by no means once more attain his earlier heights, retiring two years later on the finish of the ‘93 marketing campaign.
1991 Studio #90 Kirby Puckett
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
“And we’ll see you tomorrow night time.”
The particulars of Kirby Puckett’s 1991 common season are misplaced on reflection.
Ending seventh within the AL MVP race for the worst-to-first Minnesota Twins, the 31-year-old middle fielder slashed .319/.352/.460 with 15 dwelling runs and 89 RBIs in 152 video games.
By OPS+ (119), it was truly Puckett’s worst season since 1985.
None of that mattered on October twenty sixth.
Winners of their first two, Minnesota dropped three straight in Atlanta to fall inside a lack of a crushing Sequence defeat.
The battle between two unlikely Fall Basic foes hung within the stability when Puckett strode to the plate within the eleventh inning of a do-or-die Sport 6.
Working the depend to 2-1 to guide issues off, the eventual World Sequence MVP grooved a dangling breaking ball from Charlie Liebrandt into the left discipline seats, sending 55,155 into full pandemonium.
Minnesota went on to win Sport 7, 1-0 in ten, for the franchise’s second title in 5 years.
1991 Studio #220 Dale Murphy
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
The Philadelphia Phillies seemed to be means forward of the division rival Atlanta Braves earlier than the 1991 season.
It’s humorous how one season can change perceptions.
The 1990 Phillies added ten wins from the earlier season and had a budding mixture of veteran and younger skills seemingly poised to take the following step.
Then again, Atlanta was recent off its fourth consecutive season with fewer than 70 wins.
Philadelphia even introduced in Dale Murphy, the previous face of the Braves, to cement the hole between the 2 franchises.
The most effective-laid plans and all that.
The Braves took a large step out of the cellar in 1991, strolling away with their first NL pennant of the Atlanta period.
As for Philly, they sputtered in place at 78-84.
Murphy was tremendous if uninspiring in his solely full season with the staff, slashing .252/.309/.415 with 18 dwelling runs and 81 RBIs in 153 video games.
1991 Studio #245 Tony Gwynn
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $50
Tony Gwynn was the type of hitter that videotape was made for.
He knew the completely different outcomes particular tweaks in his swing might convey and even counted the variety of hops his groundballs took to get by the outlet.
He was each a pure and the hardest-working hitter within the recreation.
And he was revered for it.
“The younger ones watch him,” St. Louis Cardinals supervisor Joe Torre mentioned. “He’s an artist. You educate what he’s doing.”
Gwynn might have taught a 400-level school course with highlights from the primary three months of the 1991 season.
The 31-year-old San Diego Padres proper fielder hit .357 from April by June, spraying 110 hits to his seventh All-Star nod.
Accidents held him again from there, costing him a fifth batting title (.317, third).
Nevertheless, it remained a season of vindication a yr after ex-teammate Jack Clark made sport of dragging him each publicly and in personal.
1991 Studio #222 Barry Bonds
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $45
There have been two Barry Bonds within the early Nineteen Nineties.
One in all them was the very best regular-season hitter within the Nationwide League.
The Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder positioned within the high two of the NL MVP balloting annually from 1990 to 1992, bookending two award wins with a runner-up end in ‘91.
The opposite one was a postseason ghost.
After hitting an alarming .167 in a six-game NLCS loss to Cincinnati in 1990, the reigning MVP resolved to show his first postseason outing as a fluke.
It seemed like a secure guess from April by September.
Bonds hit .292 with 25 dwelling runs and 43 stolen bases, main the league in on-base proportion (.410), OPS (.924), and OPS+ (160). One other massive yr introduced one other NL East title to the 98-win Pirates.
Then, the calendar turned to October.
Bonds was even worse than the earlier yr, hitting .147 with a .207 on-base proportion in a seven-game NLCS loss to Atlanta.
1991 Studio #11 Wade Boggs
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35
Should you didn’t need to pitch to Wade Boggs, why would you?
In 1991, the Boston Purple Sox third baseman fell a handful of hits shy of his sixth AL batting title at .332.
Boggs additionally cracked a .400 on-base proportion for the ninth time in a decade (.421).
He was additionally averted all at prices.
Boggs led all AL hitters in intentional walks for the fifth consecutive marketing campaign.
His 25 free tickets had been a career-high.
Additionally they had been yet one more than the remainder of his Boston teammates mixed.
It ended up being the ultimate nice season of Boggs’ Boston tenure.
Within the offseason, the longer term Corridor-of-Famer pressed the staff’s new administration for a five-year deal, one reportedly promised to him by late Purple Sox proprietor Jean Yawkey.
The brand new administration staff countered with a one-year deal plus an possibility.
Distracted by what Boggs thought-about bad-faith contract negotiations, the Corridor-of-Famer struggled mightily earlier than heading into free company.
1991 Studio #158 Ryne Sandberg
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35
Ryne Sandberg secured a historic bag thanks to a different massive yr in 1991.
A soft-spoken celebrity and probably the most beloved Chicago Cubs participant since Ernie Banks, Sandberg completed first amongst all NL gamers in Offensive WAR (6.3) and second in whole WAR (7.0).
He went 100/100 in runs scored (104) and RBIs (100) for the second straight yr, including on a .291 common with 26 dwelling runs and 22 stolen bases in 158 video games.
The Cubs remained anchored to the comfortable center of the Nationwide League at 77-83.
But, together with his reputation and affect on the gates, they might not justify letting Sandberg hit free company.
Slated to enter the ultimate yr of his contract in ‘92, Sandberg as soon as once more imposed a Spring Coaching deadline to get an extension executed.
Days earlier than the exhibition video games began, he bought his deal: a four-year, $28.4 million pact that made him the highest-paid participant in MLB historical past.
1991 Studio #106 Mark McGwire
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $30
The 1991 season, for lack of a greater time period, sucked for Mark McGwire.
Overwhelmed down by divorce proceedings affected by exhausting emotions, the 27-year-old Oakland A’s first baseman had the worst season of his 16-year MLB profession.
McGwire barely hit above the Mendoza line (.201) and noticed his slugging proportion drop to .383, 235 factors worse than his 1987 Rookie-of-the-Yr marketing campaign.
McGwire did all the pieces he might to show it round.
He even altered his batting stance from recreation to recreation, on the lookout for any little adjustment that might set off a breakout second.
It didn’t come.
The yr stored dragging on, and McGwire grew to become a punching bag for a lot of exasperated followers within the Bay Space.
“If I get something throughout, it’s that athletes are human,” McGwire mentioned. “When the common man on the road has issues together with his spouse, attempt to inform me it doesn’t carry over to his work.”
1991 Studio Baseball Playing cards In Evaluation
The design of the 1991 Studio baseball set is easy.
I do not know what shade of purple or lilac the borders are, however they’re the one elaborate design factor value mentioning.
All the pieces else is fairly simple.
With out additional context, the black-and-white images may need appeared like a step backward.
However these had been no unusual motion photographs or poses.
They had been headshots within the fashion of studio images, a product and repair that was all the fashion through the early 90s.
These studios had been just about the one means folks might entry high-quality images.
And Leaf performed off that common secondary market to supply a singular expertise for baseball card hobbyists.
It was a bet that actually bought collectors’ consideration.
The 264-card guidelines provided a unique approach on sports activities card accumulating.
Some gamers took the chance to indicate their lighter aspect with humorous quite than critical photographs.
Jeff Kunkel’s card exhibits the Texas Rangers infielder blowing an enormous bubble and a big parrot accompanies Philadelphia catcher Steve Lake on his shoulder.
And whereas many opted for a colder, extra critical look, the entire card reverses spotlight private hobbies and pursuits to lighten issues up no less than somewhat bit.
Total, the Studio model efficiently helped set Leaf aside.
And whereas it could not have had the impact of being an iconic set with an enduring affect like ’89 Higher Deck or 1993 Topps Best, most collectors look again on ’91 Studio with a fond sense of nostalgia.
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