Overlooked Sets from the 90s?

[marinocollector]

Figured I'd start a fun convo for me.

Was sharing and talking on IG with some buddies, and it amazes me how many 90s sets are out there that no one knows about or talks about...

I'll start with a personal fav that seems to come up a lot the past 2 months...

1996-1998 Playoff Honors

21 card set that is inserted over 3 years and 7 products... it would take 107,500 packs to complete this set with perfect collation.

Here's a thread I did on it before:
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1346403

I'm sure I'll add more as the fun slows down. But let's talk about stuff no one talks about enough from the 90s!!!!!

[88horsepower]

I still feel like the 1996 Select Certified Mirror sets (all four of them) are extremely underrated. They are some of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen and are condition sensitive, has a great crop of rookies. I really don't feel like it gets enough love.

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

I still feel like the 1996 Select Certified Mirror sets (all four of them) are extremely underrated. They are some of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen and are condition sensitive, has a great crop of rookies. I really don't feel like it gets enough love.

Agree. For the love baseball gets, these are pennies on the dollar.

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by marinocollector

Agree. For the love baseball gets, these are pennies on the dollar.

Exactly. The baseball sets sell for quite a bit, and it still stuns me to see how the football sets sell for a fraction of the price. They were announced in low print runs and have such a gorgeous look to them, especially in hand. I've been working on the rookie portions of the Mirror Red, Mirror Blue, and Mirror Gold sets and there's simply no way I could even try that with the baseball sets which go for so much. Even Marvin Harrison, Eddie George, Jonathan Ogden, they are all relatively affordable.

[mfw13]

1993 Score Franchise.....color photos against a black background....cards really pop.

Possibly the best looking insert set of the 90's....

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by mfw13

1993 Score Franchise.....color photos against a black background....cards really pop.

Possibly the best looking insert set of the 90's....

That an interesting one. I imagine the pop reports are non-existent almost on those. Thats like 1990 Score Hot Cards. I kinda want a psa 10 Marino of that card, just bc its so sensitive and is actually fairly rare for early 90s.

[f2tornado]

1992 Topps Gold. The Hi Series had mild attention at one time now the stuff is largely forgotten sans the Favre. It's tough to find well centered cards from the set. It might also be the first parallel insert set. I'll also give a nod to 1994 Topps Special Effects. This set was made in lieu of the Gold and is very unique. I cannot recall anything like it for a basic Topps set since.

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by f2tornado

1992 Topps Gold. The Hi Series had mild attention at one time now the stuff is largely forgotten sans the Favre. It's tough to find well centered cards from the set. It might also be the first parallel insert set. I'll also give a nod to 1994 Topps Special Effects. This set was made in lieu of the Gold and is very unique. I cannot recall anything like it for a basic Topps set since.

1994 Topps Special Effects is excellent! 1995 Topps Spectalight MLB/NBA is also quite good.

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by f2tornado

1992 Topps Gold. The Hi Series had mild attention at one time now the stuff is largely forgotten sans the Favre. It's tough to find well centered cards from the set. It might also be the first parallel insert set. I'll also give a nod to 1994 Topps Special Effects. This set was made in lieu of the Gold and is very unique. I cannot recall anything like it for a basic Topps set since.

I remember that 92 High series. It was released a little after Stadium (which was scorching the Earth hot) so everyone was hoping Topps would be as good.

It wasn't.

I want both those sets. Unfortunately, for football, they didnt have a factory set version of the gold like baseball and basketball.

The 1994 Special Effects would be a PROJECT.

[hugh]

1994 Finest is an awesome looking set. I'm not sure if it's overlooked

[88horsepower]

Originally Posted by marinocollector

I remember that 92 High series. It was released a little after Stadium (which was scorching the Earth hot) so everyone was hoping Topps would be as good.

It wasn't.

I want both those sets. Unfortunately, for football, they didnt have a factory set version of the gold like baseball and basketball.

The 1994 Special Effects would be a PROJECT.

The best I can give you is the rookie set that I made. It took a few years to get every single draft pick, but it looks great completed!

[lecreccio]

Adding to OP’s original Playoff set, I’ll say any set that comes from Playoff or Pacific inserts. I personally think in the 90’s Playoff made the best football cards across the board than every other producer. Their cards were made of quality stock and original designs with amazing action photography and amazing use of colors and some back/white cards. To name a few;
Prime Surprise
Metal XL
Mini back to backs
Boss Hogs
These weren’t tough pulls but they are great looking cards that are condition sensitive. Try finding copies that you would send to get graded. And with that I’ll mention my favorite Pacific inserts their
Pro Bowl Die-Cuts
They were so original back then and super super super condition sensitive. Most of Pacific base cards were crap but they did inserts with great flair and creativity.

[hugh]

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

I still feel like the 1996 Select Certified Mirror sets (all four of them) are extremely underrated. They are some of the most beautiful sets I've ever seen and are condition sensitive, has a great crop of rookies. I really don't feel like it gets enough love.

The /500 Artist Proof parallel is pretty nice too

[mfw13]

I'd add the original (1992, I think) Gameday set.....color photos against a black & white background, tallboy style. Those were some gorgeous cards.

The second year, with color backgrounds, wasn't quite as good.

[lecreccio]

Originally Posted by mfw13

I'd add the original (1992, I think) Gameday set.....color photos against a black & white background, tallboy style. Those were some gorgeous cards.

The second year, with color backgrounds, wasn't quite as good.

I forgot about those. I loved those. Good call.

Oh, I was remembering the 93 rookie standouts insert set. This one

[oplum29]

idk, but to me, it was Wild Card and Action Packed.

i have never pulled a Stripe or a 24K card. my cousin, who doesn't collect cards bought a pack one time, and she pulled an Emmitt Smith braille card...man i was happy on the outside, but jealous and upset on the inside

[mfw13]

The 90's were the golden age for collectors....so many high quality choices for collectors.....

[oplum29]

Originally Posted by mfw13

The 90's were the golden age for collectors....so many high quality choices for collectors.....

loved the 90's! Wild Card, Fleer Ultra, Pinnacle, Gameday, Pro Set, Collector's Edge, Pacific, Topps, Upper Deck, Score, Fleer, Stadium Club.....

man what a time. what a time.

i remember when the Ben Coates rookie was discovered out of Pacific and how that was a smoking hot $10 card

when i finally bought it, it was GLORIOUS

[sportzking]

Not sure if it's overlooked but I really like the 1997 Donruss Preferred Precious Metal cards. It's not cheap, guess it's because of the metal content.

[marinocollector]

Originally Posted by sportzking

Not sure if it's overlooked but I really like the 1997 Donruss Preferred Precious Metal cards. It's not cheap, guess it's because of the metal content.

Im a huge fan of the 1999 Preferred Precious Metal set. The 1997 set is more of a limited to 100 parallel to the base card to me, while the 1999 is completely unique and only 25 made.

Both I think are overlooked compared to other sets from the era, or compared to their counterparts in other sports.

[Bassplayah101]

Pinnacle Trophy Collection
DUFEX!

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by Bassplayah101

Pinnacle Trophy Collection
DUFEX!

Yes! DUUUUUUFEX!!!!

But seriously, dufex printing technology is super cool.