Last Updated on June 11, 2025 by Matt Musico
Baseball card artistry reached a creative pinnacle in 1990. Nowhere was this more evident than in Donruss’ series of legendary Diamond Kings baseball cards. While Upper Deck was revolutionizing photography and Topps stuck to their tried-and-true formula, Donruss had something entirely different—Dick Perez’s masterful painted portraits that transformed cardboard into canvas.
Sports Illustrated’s Jason Schwartz recently took a nostalgic dive into the 1990 Diamond Kings collection and highlighted five “essential” cards from the set. Let’s dig into those five cards and why this style is still turning heads more than 30 years later.
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The Five Diamond Kings Baseball Cards That Defined an Era
Here are the five cards that Schwartz singled out from the 1990 Donruss Diamond Kings series:
Bo Jackson (#1) – The two-sport superstar at his peak, featured with those iconic “ketchup splatter” borders that somehow worked perfectly for the era’s aesthetic.
Ken Griffey Jr. (#4) – The Kid’s sophomore surge captured with flames in the background, symbolizing his explosive emergence as baseball’s next generational talent.
Dave Stewart (#6) – Oakland’s intimidating ace shown in a rare moment of warmth, sporting that classic A’s warmup jacket and an uncharacteristic smile that revealed his true personality.
Kevin Mitchell (#11) – The 1989 NL MVP frozen in time during his career year, when he was launching moonshots that Giants fans wouldn’t see again until the Barry Bonds era.
Tommy Herr (#21) – An unexpected inclusion that tells baseball’s deeper story, representing the “small ball” fundamentals era with a unique Scrabble board background design.
When Art Collided with America’s Pastime
The 1990 Diamond Kings series represented something revolutionary in baseball card collecting. While other manufacturers focused on crisp photography or flashy foil, Donruss committed to an artistic vision that treated each card like a miniature masterpiece. Perez’s distinctive style blended portrait work with action sequences, creating a visual narrative that spoke to both the player’s personality and performance.
This approach wasn’t just aesthetic—it was strategic. As Upper Deck created stunning team checklist cards and Reggie Jackson tributes, Donruss needed to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive market. The painted portraits offered something no photograph could: an interpretive lens that captured not just how players looked, but how they felt.
The series also benefited from impeccable timing. Baseball was experiencing a golden age of star power, with generational talents like Griffey Jr. emerging alongside established superstars like Jackson.
Bo Jackson: The Ultimate Two-Sport Icon
Bo Jackson’s placement at #1 in the 1990 Diamond Kings checklist wasn’t coincidental. It was a reflection of his unparalleled popularity during the height of his dual-sport career. The 1989 season had been particularly kind to Jackson, as he hit .256 with 32 home runs for Kansas City while simultaneously terrorizing NFL defenses for the Los Angeles Raiders.
What made Bo’s Diamond Kings card so compelling wasn’t just Perez’s artistic interpretation, but the cultural moment it captured. This was before his devastating hip injury, and when Jackson seemed superhuman in his athletic abilities. The card became a symbol of limitless potential, featuring those distinctive “ketchup splatter” borders that collectors embraced as a cutting-edge design.
Ken Griffey Jr.: The Kid’s Sophomore Surge
If Bo Jackson represented raw athletic power, then Ken Griffey Jr. embodied pure baseball artistry. His 1990 Diamond Kings card captured The Kid during his remarkable sophomore campaign when he improved dramatically from his promising but modest rookie year. Those flames in Perez’s background weren’t just artistic flair—they perfectly symbolized Griffey’s explosive emergence as baseball’s next superstar.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for collectors and the hobby alike. Griffey was transitioning from prospect to proven commodity, making his Diamond Kings card a bridge between his iconic rookie card and his eventual Hall of Fame career.
What sets this card apart from typical baseball photography is how it captures Griffey’s youthful exuberance while hinting at the greatness to come. The painted portrait style allowed Perez to emphasize his infectious smile and natural charisma—qualities that made him not just a great player, but a transcendent baseball ambassador for an entire generation.
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