The 1989 Donruss Warren Spahn Puzzle is one of the more memorable pieces of Donruss’ classic puzzle tradition. Featuring Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn, the puzzle consists of 63 pieces, distributed across 21 three-piece panels. Collectors could find individual panels in wax packs, while factory sets included the complete puzzle.

Spahn was a fitting choice. A 20-time All-Star and the winningest left-handed pitcher in Major League history, he represents one of baseball’s greatest pitchers and one of the game’s most recognizable legends. The completed puzzle creates a striking portrait of Spahn and adds a little piece of baseball history to what might otherwise be remembered simply as a late-1980s “junk wax” set.

For collectors of the 1989 Donruss release, the Spahn puzzle is a reminder of what made opening packs so much fun—you weren’t just looking for cards; you were also slowly putting together a picture of a baseball legend.

The 1989 Donruss Diamond Kings continue one of the hobby’s most recognizable traditions, featuring beautifully painted portraits by artist Dick Perez. The 26-player subset was placed at the very beginning of the 660-card Donruss set, with one Diamond King representing each major-league team.

The checklist features stars such as Tony Gwynn, Robin Yount, Carlton Fisk, Kirk Gibson, Fred McGriff, Mark Grace, and Don Mattingly, giving the set an impressive collection of the era’s biggest names.

What makes the 1989 Diamond Kings especially appealing today is the artwork. Rather than simply showing players in action, Perez’s paintings gave each card the feel of a miniature baseball portrait. They capture a time when Donruss was beginning to make the Diamond Kings one of the signature subsets in the hobby.

For collectors of the classic Donruss years, the 1989 Diamond Kings are a great snapshot of late-1980s baseball—and a reminder of why the Diamond Kings became one of Donruss’ most beloved traditions.

The 1992 Donruss Rod Carew Puzzle was the final puzzle issued by Donruss, bringing an end to a tradition that had accompanied the company’s baseball cards for more than a decade. The puzzle consisted of 63 individual pieces, which were inserted into Series One packs—three pieces per pack—and could be assembled into a painted portrait of Hall of Famer Rod Carew. The artwork was created by renowned baseball artist Dick Perez, the same artist responsible for the iconic Diamond Kings artwork.

The puzzle is particularly significant because it was essentially the last remnant of Donruss’ workaround from the 1980s, when baseball-card companies faced restrictions involving how their cards could be packaged. By 1992, the hobby had changed dramatically, with insert cards becoming increasingly important. Donruss was already moving in that direction by turning Diamond Kings into an insert set that same year.

Interestingly, the puzzle disappeared after Series One—Series Two packs contained no puzzle pieces. That makes the 1992 Rod Carew Puzzle not only the final Donruss puzzle, but also a small piece of the transition from the traditional junk-wax-era pack experience into the modern insert-driven hobby.

For collectors of vintage Donruss, it is a fitting final chapter: 63 little pieces of cardboard that completed a portrait, and the end of one of the hobby’s most recognizable traditions.

– Roberto Clemente

The 1987 Donruss Hall of Fame Diamond King Puzzle featuring Roberto Clemente is one of the most memorable inserts of the junk wax era. While Topps included a stick of gum in every pack, Donruss continued its unique tradition of including puzzle pieces, giving collectors something extra to chase beyond the baseball cards themselves.

Each wax pack contained one puzzle card with three interlocking pieces. Collectors needed all 63 pieces to complete the full-color portrait of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, making it both a collectible and a fun challenge. Factory sets included the complete puzzle, allowing collectors to enjoy the finished artwork immediately.

The artwork was created in the distinctive Diamond King style by the renowned Perez-Steele Galleries, whose paintings became one of Donruss’ signature features throughout the 1980s. Rather than simply reproducing a photograph, the illustration captures Clemente with a classic, timeless feel that reflects both his greatness on the field and his enduring legacy off it.

Roberto Clemente was a fitting choice for the 1987 puzzle. A 15-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner, four-time National League batting champion, 1966 National League MVP, and two-time World Series champion, Clemente remains one of baseball’s most respected figures. His tragic death in 1972 while delivering earthquake relief supplies to Nicaragua cemented his reputation as both an extraordinary player and humanitarian.

Today, the Clemente puzzle remains a nostalgic favorite among collectors. While individual puzzle pieces are common, completing an entire 63-piece puzzle often requires patience, making finished examples especially satisfying to display. For many collectors who grew up opening 1987 Donruss packs, seeing the Clemente puzzle instantly brings back memories of sorting pieces on the floor, trading duplicates with friends, and hoping the next pack would finally contain the missing piece.

More than just a pack insert, the 1987 Roberto Clemente Hall of Fame Diamond King Puzzle represents a time when collecting was about the experience as much as the cards themselves. It remains one of the defining non-card collectibles of the 1987 Donruss release and a lasting tribute to one of baseball’s greatest ambassadors.

The 1987 Donruss Diamond Kings subset continued one of the hobby’s most beloved traditions. Featuring the stunning artwork of renowned sports artist Dick Perez, the 26-card set highlighted one standout player from each Major League team with beautifully painted portraits rather than traditional photographs.

Unlike the earlier Diamond Kings sets, 1987 marked the beginning of repeated player selections for some teams. Donruss and Perez-Steele realized that continually finding a new “Diamond King” every year would eventually become impossible, so established stars began receiving repeat appearances. While this changed the original concept, collectors still embraced the series because it showcased many of baseball’s biggest names.

The 1987 checklist includes stars such as Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith, Darryl Strawberry, Dave Winfield, and Steve Sax, making it one of the strongest Diamond Kings lineups of the 1980s. The cards also feature the distinctive black-and-gold Donruss design, giving them a bold look that perfectly complements Perez’s colorful artwork.

Although they were produced during the height of the junk wax era and are generally affordable today, the 1987 Diamond Kings remain popular with collectors for their artistic appeal and nostalgia. More than just baseball cards, they represent a time when Donruss transformed card collecting into an appreciation of sports art—a tradition that helped make the Diamond Kings one of the most iconic subsets in hobby history.