If you were ripping packs in the early nineties, you probably have a stack of cards sitting in a shoebox somewhere in your attic. Most of it is trash. Pure junk wax. But if you find a 1990 Emmitt Smith rookie card in there, things get interesting.
Emmitt is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champ. A first-ballot Hall of Famer. But here’s the kicker: because he was drafted in 1990—right at the peak of the card-printing frenzy—there isn't just one "rookie card." There are six. And they are definitely not created equal.
Some of these cards are worth a couple of bucks. Others, if they're in perfect condition, can clear $2,000 or even $5,000. Most people look at the 1990 Pro Set and think they’ve hit the lottery, but honestly, that’s rarely the case.
The King of the Hill: Score Supplemental #101T
If you’re serious about collecting Emmitt, this is the one. Period.
The 1990 Score Supplemental #101T is widely considered his most desirable rookie card. Why? Because it wasn't available in standard packs. You could only get it in the "Supplemental" boxed set that Score released later in the year to include rookies and traded players.
Because it wasn't mass-produced to the same insane levels as the base sets, it’s much harder to find. It features a great action shot of Emmitt trying to break through a New York Giants defense. But there's a catch with this card: the borders.
Those dark blue/purple borders are a nightmare for collectors. They show every tiny scuff and white chip. Finding one of these with perfect "Gem Mint" edges is incredibly difficult. Currently, a PSA 10 copy of this card can easily fetch between $1,300 and $3,200, depending on how the market is feeling that week. Even a raw, ungraded version will usually cost you at least $50.
The "Junk Wax" Giant: 1990 Pro Set #685
This is the card everyone seems to have. Pro Set was basically printing money back then, and they included Emmitt in their Series II packs.
It’s a classic card. It shows Emmitt in his Cowboys home jersey, helmet on, ready to go. Because it was in packs, millions of them exist. You can buy a raw one for about $2.00 on eBay right now. Honestly, you might be able to get a handful of them for the price of a cup of coffee.
So why do some sell for hundreds?
Grading. That’s it. Because the Pro Set cards have a "full bleed" photo (the picture goes all the way to the edge), they are notorious for having "chipped" edges. If you happen to have one that is perfectly centered with no white showing on the edges, and it gets a PSA 10, it's worth around $200 to $250.
Just don't get your hopes up. Most of the ones in your shoebox are probably PSA 7s or 8s, which are worth basically nothing.
The Rest of the 1990 Emmitt Smith Rookie Card Lineup
The big two get all the press, but there are four others you should know about if you're hunting for the full set.
- 1990 Action Packed Rookie Update #34: This is a cool, "premium" card. It’s thick, embossed (3D-ish), and has gold borders. Ironically, this is actually the toughest card to get a PSA 10 in. Only about 5.5% of submitted cards reach that grade. A perfect one can go for $750 to $1,500.
- 1990 Fleer Update #U-40: Fleer caught Emmitt mid-handoff in their year-end set. It’s a clean card, but Fleer was the king of high PSA 10 rates. About 34% of these cards get the top grade. Because they aren't rare, a PSA 10 usually sits around $100 to $150.
- 1990 Topps Traded #27T: This is the "youthful" card. It shows Emmitt kneeling without his helmet. It’s a nostalgia trip, but like the Fleer, it’s common. A PSA 10 will run you about $150.
- 1990 Action Packed All-Madden Team #9: This is technically a "post-season" rookie. It’s not as popular as the #34 card, but it’s still a 1990 original.
Real Talk: Is it a Good Investment?
Look, 1990 was 36 years ago. The "junk wax" era isn't a secret anymore.
If you're buying a 1990 Emmitt Smith rookie card as an investment, you have to go for the high-end stuff. A PSA 10 Score Supplemental is a "blue chip" football card. It has stayed relatively stable because Emmitt’s records are basically untouchable at this point.
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However, buying "raw" cards on eBay hoping they’ll grade a 10 is a gamble. Most of those cards have been sitting in basements for decades. They have soft corners. They have "surface snow" (tiny white dots). They are off-center.
How to Spot a "Fake" vs. Just a Bad Card
Actually, counterfeits of the 1990 cards are pretty rare. Why? Because the real ones are so cheap to produce that it wasn't worth the effort to fake them back then.
The real danger is mislabeling. You'll see people listing the 1991 Score card (which is worthless) as a 1990 rookie. Always check the copyright date on the back. If it says 1991, it's not a rookie. Also, watch out for "reprints." Some companies released "tribute" versions of these cards in the 2000s. They look almost identical but usually have a different card number or a "20th Anniversary" logo tucked away somewhere.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors
Don't just go out and buy the first shiny card you see. If you want a piece of Emmitt Smith history that actually holds value, follow this path:
- Check the Borders: If you're looking at the Score Supplemental, look at the purple edges under a bright light. If you see even a single speck of white, it's not a Gem Mint card.
- Target the "Update" Sets: Focus on the Score Supplemental #101T or the Action Packed #34. These have lower "populations" in the grading reports, meaning they are rarer than the pack-pulled versions.
- Verify the Slab: If you're buying a graded card (PSA, BGS, or SGC), verify the certification number on the grader's website. Scammers sometimes put fake cards in real-looking plastic holders.
- Skip the Pro Set #685 unless it's a 10: Unless you just want it for nostalgia, don't pay a premium for a raw Pro Set rookie. There are simply too many of them in the world for it to ever be a high-value rarity.
The market for Emmitt has remained steady because he represents the "Golden Era" of the Dallas Cowboys. While modern "1-of-1" cards with jersey patches are the new trend, the 1990 rookies remain the foundation of any serious football card collection. Just make sure you know exactly which version you're holding before you start dreaming of a big payday.
Expert Insight: If you really want a "rare" Emmitt, look for his 1989 Florida Gators Smokey the Bear card. It’s a pre-rookie card that was given out by the USDA. It’s significantly rarer than anything released in 1990 and can sell for thousands in high grades.