The 1988 Donruss Diamond Kings is a 27-card insert set included in 1988 Donruss Baseball. Each card features an original painting by renowned baseball artist Dick Perez, showcasing one standout player from each Major League team. The fronts combine Perez’s artwork with player statistics and a distinctive woodgrain border, while the backs include a player biography and career highlights. The Diamond Kings subset became one of Donruss’ signature features throughout the 1980s and remains popular with collectors for its unique blend of baseball history and sports art.

The 1991 Donruss Diamond Kings set continued one of the hobby’s most beloved traditions, combining baseball cards with artwork. Created by renowned sports artist Dick Perez, the 27-card set showcased many of the game’s biggest stars through detailed painted portraits that stood apart from standard photography-based cards.

Featured players included legends and fan favorites such as Ken Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg, Cal Ripken Jr., and Rickey Henderson. Inserted into the regular 1991 Donruss set, Diamond Kings gave collectors a premium-feeling card before inserts became a major part of the hobby.

Today, the 1991 Diamond Kings remain popular among collectors who appreciate the artistic side of card collecting. The combination of Perez’s iconic artwork and the star-studded checklist has helped the set endure as one of the highlights of the early 1990s Donruss release.

The 1990 Donruss Diamond Kings set consists of 26 cards and serves as the opening subset of the 716-card Donruss baseball release. Found as cards #1-26, the set continued Donruss’ long-running tradition of showcasing players through the distinctive artwork of renowned baseball artist Dick Perez. Featured stars included Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Dave Stewart, John Smoltz, Howard Johnson, and Lou Whitaker, among others.

By 1990, Diamond Kings had become one of the hobby’s most recognizable inserts, blending portrait-style paintings with action scenes to create cards that stood apart from traditional photography-based releases. While produced during the height of the junk wax era, the artwork remains highly regarded by collectors and is often considered one of the defining features of Donruss baseball cards.

Today, the 1990 Diamond Kings set is valued more for its nostalgia and artistic appeal than its rarity. Cards featuring popular stars such as Ken Griffey Jr. and Bo Jackson remain collector favorites, and many hobbyists continue to pursue complete Diamond Kings runs because of Dick Perez’s iconic artwork and the unique place the series holds in baseball card history.

Submitted to the Nolan Ryan Foundation for auto in early December 2025, just received in early June 2026.

1989 Donruss Baseball Johnny Ray Diamond Kings #12 - Los Angeles Angels