1990 Leaf #300 Frank Thomas Rookie

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received an 81.5 overall Hobby Score.

The 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas Rookie Card is widely regarded as one of the most premium rookie issues of the junk wax era. Released during a time when overproduction was the norm, the Leaf brand stood out for its slick card stock, crisp photography, and limited print run relative to other major sets that year. The card has long been viewed as the most desirable Frank Thomas rookie, with strong collector demand and better condition stability over time compared to Topps or Score.

Frank Thomas — affectionately known as "The Big Hurt" — was a two-time AL MVP and one of the most feared hitters of the 1990s. His combination of patience and power made him a Hall of Fame lock, and his Leaf rookie card remains a symbol of a brief moment when premium base cards actually felt rare. While population counts are still high compared to modern standards, this card holds up historically and visually as one of the better rookie offerings from the early '90s.