15 Most Valuable 1992 Bowman Baseball Cards

1992 Bowman #302 Mariano Rivera Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $600

Do not be fooled by Mariano Rivera’s look on his 1992 Bowman rookie card.

He could look innocent in that informal apparel, however he was deadly on the mound.

For nineteen seasons, Yankees followers sighed with reduction every time Rivera entered late within the recreation to shut issues out.

Opposing followers groaned.

As the sport’s all-time saves chief with an eye-popping 652 to his identify, nobody did it higher than Rivera.

And he was arguably even higher within the postseason when it counted most.

In 96 video games, Rivera went 8-1, ending 78 of them and racking up 42 saves with a minuscule 0.70 ERA and 0.759 WHIP.

Although he made his MLB debut for the Yankees in 1995, his story began when a then 20-year-old Rivera signed as an novice free agent with the crew on February 17, 1990.

On the time, Rivera had little to no pitching expertise.

However Yankees scouts who noticed him play in Panama noticed sufficient uncooked expertise to make him a proposal.

And the remaining is historical past.

Rivera labored his manner up by means of the Minors and into Yankees lore eternally.

In 2019, Rivera turned the primary and solely participant in MLB historical past to be unanimously elected to the Baseball Corridor of Fame.

1992 Bowman #461 Mike Piazza Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $150

Mike Piazza’s trek to the Majors is a improbable story.

After a stable efficiency as the primary baseman for Miami-Dade Neighborhood Faculty, Piazza set his eyes on taking part in professional ball.

Nevertheless, groups weren’t precisely displaying a lot curiosity.

Happily, Piazza’s father was good associates with then-Dodgers supervisor Tommy Lasorda.

And as a favor to his good friend, Lasorda drafted Piazza with the 1,390th decide of the 62nd spherical of the 1988 MLB Novice Draft.

After a robust displaying within the Minors, the Dodgers referred to as up Piazza in late 1992.

Piazza was OK in components of 21 video games, however not earth-shattering.

That modified in 1993.

Named the Dodgers’ beginning catcher in Spring Coaching, Piazza responded with some of the spectacular Rookie-of-the-12 months seasons in MLB historical past.

Piazza was unimaginable, ending the season with a .318 batting common and 35 dwelling runs, a brand new MLB document for a rookie catcher.

As well as, Piazza’s 111 RBIs tied him for third amongst NL rookies in MLB historical past.

The comparisons to Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench quickly adopted.

And so did a unanimous NL Rookie of the 12 months award, All-Star and Silver Slugger choices, and a Ninth-place end within the NL’s MVP race.

Had Piazza’s father and Tommy Lasorda not been good associates, the baseball world could by no means have seen one in all its all-time greats.

1992 Bowman #11 Trevor Hoffman Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $100

Although he would finish his MLB profession as one of many best closers of all time, Trevor Hoffman did not start his baseball journey on the mound.

In school, he was the very best hitter on a College of Arizona squad that featured different future professional ball gamers like J.T. Snow and Kevin Lengthy.

And because the crew’s shortstop, he sported an unimaginable arm, too.

That arm would finally save his profession (no pun meant).

After the Cincinnati Reds drafted Hoffman within the eleventh spherical of the 1989 MLB Draft, he continued as an infielder for the Single-A Charleston Soiled Birds.

However he should have left his bat in Arizona.

Hoffman struggled on the plate and the crew finally requested him to place his sturdy arm to make use of as a pitcher.

The change labored, and by 1992, Hoffman had made his manner as much as the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Nevertheless, that is when he and the Reds parted methods.

Within the 1992 MLB Enlargement Draft, the Florida Marlins selected him with the eighth decide.

However after a short keep in South Florida, the Marlins traded him to the San Diego Padres in the midst of the 1993 season.

Hoffman would keep there for 16 seasons, carving out a Corridor of Fame resume alongside the best way.

1992 Bowman #82 Pedro Martinez Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $100

From 1997 to 2004, Pedro Martinez both received the Cy Younger (3) or completed within the high 4 of the vote in all however one season.

With a tailing fastball, devasting change-up and a nasty curve, Martinez was a nightmare for opposing hitters.

Over his 18-year profession, there have been primarily three groups fortunate sufficient to have him of their rotation: the Montreal Expos, the Boston Crimson Sox and the New York Mets.

For Los Angeles Dodgers followers, early Pedro Martinez baseball playing cards like this one are painful visible reminders of what might need been.

In 1988, Pedro adopted in his older brother Ramon’s footsteps when he signed with the Dodgers.

Ramon had already labored himself into the Dodgers rotation by then, however Pedro would finally work his manner by means of the Minors and be part of him in 1992.

On September 24, 1992, Pedro entered the eighth inning of a recreation in opposition to the Reds, putting out one, strolling one, and permitting two hits.

The next week, he made his first MLB begin in opposition to the Reds, putting out seven whereas permitting 4 hits and two earned runs whereas getting tagged with a loss.

Ramon would stick with L.A. by means of the 1998 season, however sadly for Dodgers followers, the crew traded him to the Montreal Expos earlier than the 1994 season. 

1992 Bowman #127 Carlos Delgado Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $90

By the point Carlos Delgado was 16, a number of Main League golf equipment have been already displaying curiosity within the younger Puerto Rican phenom.

Finally, the Toronto Blue Jays, with whom he would spend twelve MLB seasons, have been the fortunate winners to signal him in 1988.

And that is the place all of it started for the longer term star.

Nevertheless it started slowly.

In 31 video games for the St. Catharines Blue Jays in Class A Brief Season ball, Delgado hit simply .180 with 16 hits, no dwelling runs and 11 RBIs in 113 plate appearances.

It wasn’t the beginning he had hoped for, however he remained resilient.

Issues started to take off in 1992, when Delgado hit .324/.402/.579 with 30 dwelling runs, 100 RBIs, and 83 runs scored for the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays.

As a nod to his success, Delgado was named USA At present’s 1992 Minor League Participant of the 12 months.

After spending most of 1993 with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies, Delgado lastly received the long-awaited name to the Massive Leagues on October 2, 1993.

He’d bounce backwards and forwards between the Minors and Majors in 1994 and 1995 earlier than fully locking in on the plate in 1996.

From then on, Delgado was some of the feared hitters of his period, ending with 473 dwelling runs and 1,512 RBIs.

1992 Bowman #222 Nolan Ryan

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $75

Nolan Ryan was ejected from a recreation as soon as throughout his 27-year Corridor-of-Fame profession.

The rationale for this is determined by who you ask.

On August sixth, 1992, the 45-year-old righty discovered himself locked in a pitcher’s duel with Oakland’s Kelly Downs.

Oakland slugger Jose Canseco was rung up on a questionable third strike within the sixth inning and received booted for arguing with the home-plate umpire.

An inning later, A’s middle fielder Willie Wilson received right into a heated shouting match with Ryan after cracking a triple off the wall in middle.

Based on Ryan, the issues had been brewing for a minute.

“Willie appears to have an issue,” Ryan mentioned. “He thinks he can scream obscenities all recreation, and if somebody says one thing again, he desires to get a response from the ump.”

By no means one to let a hitter get the psychological benefit, Ryan plunked Wilson within the eighth and was tossed after a ten-minute delay.

Wilson, as you would possibly anticipate, took objection.

“I knew he was going to hit me. I simply did not know what pitch,” Wilson mentioned. “He is all the time executed that. He stares folks down, he walks across the mound, he simply tries to intimidate everyone.”

Midsummer drama apart, Ryan had a stable 12 months for the fourth-place Rangers, ending 5-9 with a 3.72 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 157.1 innings pitched.

1992 Bowman #100 Ken Griffey Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $60

The 1992 Seattle Mariners have been caught in a torrent of relocation threats and awful baseball.

Amid all of the uneasiness on the Kingdome, the crew nonetheless had Ken Griffey Jr. to supply somewhat hope and swagger.

And he did so whereas coping with mounting stress because the undisputed face of a bumbling, stumbling M’s franchise.

“There was lots of stress on him, not simply followers, however from veterans within the clubhouse,” Mariners third baseman Mike Blowers mentioned.

Privately, Griffey’s moods swung from day after day.

On the sphere, he was a charismatic celebrity with the smile and beautiful swing to unite followers of each crew.

Now a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, the 22-year-old “Child” obtained down-ballot MVP consideration regardless of taking part in for the worst crew within the American League.

He posted a .308/.361/.535 slash line in 142 video games with 27 dwelling runs, 39 doubles, 4 triples, 10 stolen bases, 83 runs scored, and 103 RBIs.

On the ’92 All-Star Sport, Griffey strengthened his standing as the sport’s hottest younger star.

He completed only a triple in need of a cycle, profitable recreation MVP honors in a 13-6 American League rout.

1992 Bowman #28 Chipper Jones

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $40

Like many different prospects on this set, Chipper Jones confirmed up in informal apparel that screams “early 90s.”

However, out of all of them, he could have worn it finest.

From the long-sleeve shirt tucked into his shorts, held collectively by an outsized belt, to the superior Nike high-top sneakers, Jones actually accomplished the look.

And whereas this is not a rookie card (see his 1991 Bowman concern), it is one of many extra notorious playing cards from his storied profession.

In 1992, Jones break up his time practically evenly throughout Single-A and Double-A baseball whereas working his manner as much as the Majors.

In 70 video games with the Single-A Durham Bulls, Jones hit .277 with 4 dwelling runs and 31 RBIs.

In the meantime, the switch-hitter fared even higher with the Double-A Greenville Braves, hitting .346 with 9 dwelling runs and 42 RBIs in 67 video games.

And after spending many of the 1993 season with the Triple-A Richmond Braves, Jones made his Atlanta debut on September 11, 1993.

Jones entered the ninth within the 13-1 blowout versus the San Diego Padres and did not document an at-bat.

However he did not care.

He had lastly made it to The Present.

And for nineteen seasons, Jones would placed on a heck of a present for Atlanta followers.

1992 Bowman #340 Don Mattingly

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $40

Don Mattingly could have fallen far off his MVP peak by 1992, however the New York Yankees captain was simply as helpful to the franchise as he ever was.

The 31-year-old first baseman was a galvanizing presence for a retooling Yankees squad, placing in additional time in observe and within the clubhouse to get younger gamers on top of things.

This included a concerted effort to interrupt future five-time All-Star Bernie Williams out of his shy, insecure shell.

“I believe confidence was the large key for Bernie,” Mattingly mentioned later. It’s a must to imagine you may play right here. You possibly can’t hold listening to about potential. I believe Bernie needed to show that to himself. When you get that, you are able to do some issues.”

The 23-year-old outfielder made essential strides in his improvement beneath Mattingly’s tutelage, serving to to push the 76-win Bronx Bombers to their finest document since 1988.

Mattingly was no slouch, both.

He had his finest energy season for the reason that flip of the last decade, slashing .288/.327/.416 with 14 dwelling runs, 40 doubles, and 86 RBIs in 157 video games.

It was a promising step ahead for the captain and his younger expenses, with larger and higher issues simply across the nook.

1992 Bowman #50 Tony Gwynn

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35

1992 was simply one other ho-hum 12 months for Tony Gwynn.

It simply so occurs {that a} ho-hum season for Gwynn was a lot better than the very best efforts of practically some other MLB participant.

Regardless of lacking a month or so of video games because of varied aches and accidents, the 32-year-old San Diego Padres proper fielder positioned within the high 5 of the NL batting race (.317).

His .371 on-base share was his finest in three years, and his 121 OPS+ maintained what would finally change into a career-long 20-year streak of seasons at 105 or higher.

San Diego remained caught in impartial, although, ending third within the NL West for the second consecutive season at 82-80.

The Padres’ sleepy marketing campaign softened opinion on Gwynn’s regular brilliance, because the eight-time All-Star missed out on his sixth Gold Glove and didn’t register an MVP vote for simply the second time in 9 seasons.

1992 Bowman #166 Rickey Henderson

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35

Two prolonged journeys to the disabled record weren’t sufficient to boring Rickey Henderson’s shine as the very best leadoff hitter in baseball.

The 33-year-old missed over a month and a half of recreation time because of harm, taking part in in his fewest complete of video games (117) since his ’87 marketing campaign with the Yankees.

When he might play, although, the recently-crowned all-time stolen base champ pieced collectively the most effective statistical showings of his Corridor-of-Fame profession.

Oakland’s dynamic left fielder posted the third-best OPS+ of his 25 years on the big-league degree (155), slashing .283/.426/.457 with 15 dwelling runs, 18 doubles, 3 triples, 77 runs scored, 95 walks, and 46 RBIs in 396 at-bats.

Henderson’s 48 stolen bases have been adequate for seventh within the Majors, even with over 1 / 4 of the season misplaced on the DL.

The A’s overcame Rickey’s accidents and a bombardment of different DL journeys to take the AL West by six video games over the Minnesota Twins.

Henderson went 6-for-23 with 4 walks and 5 runs scored as Oakland fell in six video games to the eventual World Sequence champion Blue Jays. 

1992 Bowman #400 Cal Ripken Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35

Cal Ripken Jr.’s terrible 1992 season did not kill his standing along with his legions of adoring followers worldwide.

Ripken was the main vote-getter for the 1992 MLB All-Star Sport, a 12 months after topping the Majors in WAR (11.5) and setting new profession highs in dwelling runs (34) and RBIs (114).

The O’s shortstop took All-Star MVP honors that 12 months as he continued his Iron Man march towards Lou Gehrig’s consecutive video games document.

The followers held that season expensive and voted Ripken in droves for the ’92 Midsummer Basic.

It might be the spotlight of an in any other case miserable 12 months for the 31-year-old.

From the get-go, Ripken was mired in a perplexing season-long droop with few sparks of life.

Baltimore stored chugging alongside over the primary four-and-a-half months, locking horns with Toronto and Milwaukee for the AL East crown.

Ripken’s struggles at plate have been compounded because the season wore on, and the remainder of the lineup went stomach up.

From mid-August on, the O’s performed .500 ball, falling out of the race for third within the standings.

Ripken performed his customary 162 video games but set new profession worsts in slugging share (.366), OPS (.689), dwelling runs (14), RBIs (72), and runs scored (73).

1992 Bowman #532 Manny Ramirez Rookie Card

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $35

Manny Ramirez’s athleticism and candy swing transcended language obstacles, making him the primary Latin-American immigrant chosen within the first spherical of an MLB Draft.

Picked thirteenth general by the Cleveland Indians in June 1991, the Dominican Republic native blew the doorways off of rookie ball in 1991, tallying over an RBI per recreation (63 in 59 contests) whereas hitting .326 with 19 homers.

Issues have been way more difficult for the enigmatic outfielder in 1992.

The Indians assigned Ramirez to winter ball within the DR, but he was unwilling to play.

After simply over two weeks, he stop and returned to his dwelling in New York.

Come Spring, Ramirez was despatched to Single-A Kinston of the Carolina League.

He slumped terribly over the primary month or two of the season earlier than discovering his swing in the midst of June.

It regarded just like the 20-year-old was prepared for one more Minor League breakout till a hamate bone fracture ended his season in July.

Ramirez ended his second professional season as an intriguing but confounding query mark, slashing .278/.379/.502 with 13 homers, 18 doubles, 4 triples, 52 runs scored, and 63 RBIs in 81 video games.

1992 Bowman #80 Kirby Puckett

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $30

The defending World Sequence champion Minnesota Twins fell six video games shy of one other playoff look in 1992, shedding out on the AL West title to the Oakland A’s.

On the plus aspect, the second-place Twins cracked 90 wins for the second consecutive season whereas having fun with one other improbable 12 months from franchise icon Kirby Puckett.

The beloved Minnesota middle fielder had a postseason for the ages in 1991, profitable ALCS MVP honors and posting a mixed OPS near 1.100 on Minnesota’s march to a second title in 5 years.

In 1992, the 32-year-old Arizona native picked up proper the place he left off.

Puckett received AL Participant of the Month in Could and June, turning into the second participant in historical past to take action in consecutive months.

He by no means went hitless for greater than two video games and topped 200 base knocks for a fifth time with an MLB-best 210.

Puckett’s 313 complete bases paced the American League and marked the fourth time he crossed the 300-base threshold in eight seasons.

His .329 batting common gave him his seventh .300-or-better marketing campaign over that very same eight-year stretch.

1992 Bowman #114 Frank Thomas

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Worth: $30

In 1993 and 1994, Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas booked a one-way journey to Cooperstown on the power of back-to-back MVP awards.

Analyzing his stat line from 1992, it is virtually prison that it wasn’t a three-peat.

“The Massive Harm” introduced himself as a hitter to be feared when he hit the Southside scene in 1990.

He killed it in an abbreviated 1990 showcase earlier than ending third in AL MVP voting for ’91, setting the stage for a possible award win in ’92.

He did every little thing humanly attainable to make it occur, main baseball with 46 dwelling runs whereas pacing the American League in walks (122), on-base share (.439), and OPS (.975) for the second consecutive season.

Each at-bat for the hulking White Sox first baseman/DH was an occasion.

Shockingly, it wasn’t sufficient to even sniff a top-five MVP rating.

Thomas completed a distant eighth, possible as a result of Chicago completed third, ten video games again of the AL West champion Oakland Athletics.

Two A’s gamers (together with award recipient Dennis Eckersley) and three gamers from the eventual World Sequence champion Toronto Blue Jays completed forward of him in MVP voting.

1992 Bowman Baseball Playing cards In Overview

Whereas the Bowman units from 1989 to 1991 are OK, the 1992 launch was a house run.

Even when it was debatable on the time, the unimaginable rookie card class and record of big-name stars has given this set an amazing enhance in passion credibility.

For collectors of the early Nineties, it is merely vital.

Different details about this set consists of:

Guidelines: 705 playing cards 

Distribution: One Sequence

Subsets:

• FOIL playing cards (all through guidelines)

Inserts

Topps knew that they needed to do one thing particular to offer the struggling Bowman model a lift, they usually actually pulled it off.

And with a number of guys on this set now enshrined within the Corridor of Fame, it ought to have endurance for fairly a while.