1982-1991 Donruss Diamond Kings Baseball

I bought my first pack of baseball cards in early 1991 from a KMart in Mentor, Ohio. 45 cards for $1.49. In that pack, I got my first ever Diamond Kings card: Dave Stieb, whom I had seen pitch a no-hitter live at Cleveland Stadium only months before.

Sometime around 2017, I decided to add on to my pile of sets I'm doing and try to see how far I could get on the Diamond Kings signed through 1991. I picked 1991 because it was the last year that they weren't a special, separate insert, but rather among the base set as the first 26 cards. I also would love to find the later-set King of Kings cards of Pete Rose and Nolan Ryan signed, and the Dick Perez card from 1983.

There are 263 cards total in this run; the first one I got came on August 4, 2010 with Kelly Gruber signing his 1990 card, a good seven years before I decided to start this as a project (I later upgraded it to one with a blue Sharpie sig). I hope to hit 200 signed by the end of 2024.

1982

1 Pete Rose

2 Gary Carter Trade, Phil Carter, January 2023

3 Steve Garvey TTM, May 2020

4 Vida Blue Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

5 Alan Trammell Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

6 Len Barker IP, July 2018

7 Dwight Evans

8 Rod Carew

9 George Hendrick Trade, Darrell Halk, June 2020

10 Phil Niekro Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

11 Richie Zisk Trade, Manny Maltezakis, February 2021

12 Dave Parker TTM, August 2021

13 Nolan Ryan TTM, June 2023

14 Ivan DeJesus Purchase, Bill Brooks, March 2022

15 George Brett

16 Tom Seaver

17 Dave Kingman TTM, March 2021

18 Dave Winfield

19 Mike Norris Purchase, Greg Johnston, May 2021

20 Carlton Fisk

21 Ozzie Smith

22 Roy Smalley Trade, Patrick Page, December 2021

23 Buddy Bell IP, July 2024

24 Ken Singleton Trade, Lee Alexander, May 2018

25 John Mayberry Trade, Manny Maltezakis, February 2021

26 Gorman Thomas TTM, September 2020

1983

1 Fernando Valenzuela

2 Rollie Fingers IP, July 2024

3 Reggie Jackson

4 Jim Palmer TTM, September 2021

5 Jack Morris

6 George Foster Trade, Bob Tiefenbacher, April 2021

7 Jim Sundberg Purchase, Brian Kritz, June 2021

8 Willie Stargell

9 Dave Stieb Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

10 Joe Niekro Trade

11 Rickey Henderson

12 Dale Murphy Purchase, Jessi Yborra, September 2021

13 Toby Harrah Trade, Chris Winkles

14 Bill Buckner

15 Willie Wilson TTM, March 2021

16 Steve Carlton TTM, June 2024

17 Ron Guidry TTM, February 2017

18 Steve Rogers TTM, March 2021

19 Kent Hrbek TTM, April 2021

20 Keith Hernandez

21 Floyd Bannister TTM, December 2016

22 Johnny Bench

23 Britt Burns Purchase, Ray Novak, July 2021

24 Joe Morgan

25 Carl Yastrzemski

26 Terry Kennedy TTM, May 2017

--- Dick Perez TTM, March 2022

1984

1 Robin Yount

2 Dave Concepcion

3 Dwayne Murphy

4 John Castino TTM, October 2018

5 Leon Durham

6 Rusty Staub

7 Jack Clark Private Signing, Bob Quigley, September 2021

8 Dave Dravecky Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

9 Al Oliver TTM, July 2021

10 Dave Righetti TTM, November 2018

11 Hal McRae

12 Ray Knight

13 Bruce Sutter

14 Bob Horner TTM, September 2021

15 Lance Parrish TTM, May 2017

16 Matt Young Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

17 Fred Lynn IP, July 2024

18 Ron Kittle TTM, December 2016

19 Jim Clancy TTM, December 2016

20 Bill Madlock TTM, September 2021

21 Larry Parrish Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

22 Eddie Murray

23 Mike Schmidt

24 Pedro Guerrero Private Signing, Chris Rifon, November 2021

25 Andre Thornton Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

26 Wade Boggs Trade, Jeff Baker, December 2022

1985

1 Ryne Sandberg TTM, July 2020

2 Doug DeCinces TTM, February 2018

3 Richard Dotson Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

4 Bert Blyleven Trade, Jason Bodensteiner, May 2022

5 Lou Whitaker Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

6 Dan Quisenberry

7 Don Mattingly

8 Carney Lansford Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

9 Frank Tanana TTM, March 2017

10 Willie Upshaw Trade, Felix Ochoa, January 2023

11 Claudell Washington

12 Mike Marshall TTM, November 2017

13 Joaquin Andujar

14 Cal Ripken, Jr.

15 Jim Rice Purchase, The Trove, January 2022

16 Don Sutton

17 Frank Viola Trade, Manny Maltezakis, February 2021

18 Alvin Davis Purchase, Raymond Castillo, April 2023

19 Mario Soto Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

20 Jose Cruz TTM, July 2020

21 Charlie Lea

22 Jesse Orosco Trade, Lee Alexander, August 2020

23 Juan Samuel Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

24 Tony Pena Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

25 Tony Gwynn Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

26 Bob Brenly Purchase, Greg Johnston, May 2021

1986

1 Kirk Gibson

2 Rich Gossage TTM, April 2020

3 Willie McGee Purchase, Octavio Leon, March 2022

4 George Bell

5 Tony Armas Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

6 Chili Davis Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

7 Cecil Cooper TTM, September 2017

8 Mike Boddicker TTM, April 2021

9 Davey Lopes Trade, Michael Oettiker, February 2018

10 Bill Doran Purchase, Greg Borucki, July 2022

11 Bret Saberhagen TTM, September 2021

12 Brett Butler TTM, February 2018

13 Harold Baines TTM, May 2020

14 Mike Davis TTM, November 2019

15 Tony Perez

16 Willie Randolph

17 Bob Boone Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

18 Orel Hershiser Trade, Mark Theotikos, August 2022

19 Johnny Ray TTM, February 2017

20 Gary Ward Trade, Bobby Biggs, June 2020

21 Rick Mahler Purchase, eBay yayareasports, April 2020

22 Phil Bradley Trade

23 Jerry Koosman Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

24 Tom Brunansky TTM, February 2017

25 Andre Dawson TTM, March 2021

26 Dwight Gooden Purchase, The Trove, January 2022

653 Pete Rose

1987

1 Wally Joyner Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

2 Roger Clemens

3 Dale Murphy (Leaf Version) Trade, Jason Bodensteiner, 5/22

4 Darryl Strawberry Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

5 Ozzie Smith

6 Jose Canseco TTM, August 2018

7 Charlie Hough TTM, September 2019

8 Brook Jacoby TTM, February 2017

9 Fred Lynn Purchase, Pat Lancour, November 2021

10 Rick Rhoden Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

11 Chris Brown

12 Von Hayes TTM, August 2019

13 Jack Morris

14 Kevin McReynolds TTM, April 2021

15 George Brett

16 Teddy Higuera Purchase, eBay, m.d.-sportsconnection, 2018

17 Hubie Brooks Trade, Mark Theotikos, August 2022

18 Mike Scott Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

19 Kirby Puckett

20 Dave Winfield

21 Lloyd Moseby

22 Eric Davis Trade, Adam Rosenstein, December 2018

23 Jim Presley Trade

24 Keith Moreland Trade, Brian Reser, May 2020

25 Greg Walker Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

26 Steve Sax Purchase, Stephen O'Brien, March 2023

1988

1 Mark McGwire

2 Tim Raines Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

3 Benito Santiago Trade, Shawn Bates, August 2018

4 Alan Trammell TTM, March 2023

5 Danny Tartabull Trade, Ross McDonald, June 2020

6 Ron Darling Trade, Mark Theotikos, August 2022

7 Paul Molitor Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

8 Devon White Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

9 Andre Dawson TTM, March 2021

10 Julio Franco

11 Scott Fletcher Trade, Levi Rosenquist, June 2017

12 Tony Fernandez

13 Shane Rawley TTM, April 2021

14 Kal Daniels TTM, May 2021

15 Jack Clark Trade, Chris Winkles

16 Dwight Evans

17 Tommy John Purchase, W.R. George, May 2021

18 Andy Van Slyke

19 Gary Gaetti Trade, Levi Rosenquist, July 2020

20 Mark Langston Trade, Chris Winkles

21 Will Clark TTM, August 2017

22 Glenn Hubbard TTM, May 2017

23 Billy Hatcher Trade, Neil Carrier, May 2021

24 Bob Welch Trade, Todd Palmer, January 2023

25 Ivan Calderon Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

26 Cal Ripken Jr.

1989

1 Mike Greenwell Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

2 Bobby Bonilla

3 Pete Incaviglia IP, October 2016

4 Chris Sabo Trade, Jason Baker, November 2017

5 Robin Yount

6 Tony Gwynn

7 Carlton Fisk

8 Cory Snyder Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

9 David Cone Purchase, W.R. George, August 2021

10 Kevin Seitzer Trade, Brian Reser, May 2020

11 Rick Reuschel Trade, Levi Rosenquist, June 2017

12 Johnny Ray TTM, February 2017

13 Dave Schmidt TTM, May 2020

14 Andres Galarraga Trade, Darrell Halk, June 2020

15 Kirk Gibson

16 Fred McGriff

17 Mark Grace Purchase, Brian Radtke, April 2022

18 Jeff Robinson Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

19 Vince Coleman Purchase, Jessi Yborra, September 2021

20 Dave Henderson Purchase, eBay main-street-sports-cards-vt, 2018

21 Harold Reynolds Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

22 Gerald Perry Purchase, W.R. George, March 2021

23 Frank Viola Purchase, eBay ian5922, February 2020

24 Steve Bedrosian Trade, Michael Taptykoff, 4/22 (Potter Sports COA)

25 Glenn Davis Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

26 Don Mattingly

1990

1 Bo Jackson

2 Steve Sax Trade, Brandon Stebbins, October 2022

3 Ruben Sierra IP, July 2015

4 Ken Griffey, Jr.

5 Mickey Tettleton IP, July 2024

6 Dave Stewart

7 Jim Deshaies Trade

8 John Smoltz Trade, Ramon Salinas, January 2023

9 Mike Bielecki Trade, Alex Kupfer, June 2017

10 Brian Downing TTM, April 2018

11 Kevin Mitchell Purchase, American Icon Autographs, June 2022

12 Kelly Gruber TTM, February 2024

13 Joe Magrane Purchase, eBay gehrkemr1-9, June 2021

14 John Franco Purchase, Randy Garrard, June 2023

15 Ozzie Guillen

16 Lou Whitaker

17 John Smiley Purchase, eBay peacock7834, May 2020

18 Howard Johnson Purchase, Jeff Boone, March 2021

19 Willie Randolph

20 Chris Bosio

21 Tom Herr Trade, Raymond Castillo, February 2018

22 Dan Gladden Purchase, Bill Brooks, March 2022

23 Ellis Burks Purchase, Main Line Autographs, July 2022

24 Pete O'Brien IP, August 2014

25 Bryn Smith TTM, February 2017

26 Ed Whitson Trade, Randy McKim, June 2020

665 Nolan Ryan TTM, June 2023

1991

1 Dave Stieb Purchase, Al Spina, June 2023

2 Craig Biggio

3 Cecil Fielder Private Signing, Chris Dulle, March 2022

4 Barry Bonds

5 Barry Larkin

6 Dave Parker TTM, August 2021

7 Lenny Dykstra Private Signing, Bill's Sports Cards, Sept. 2021

8 Bobby Thigpen IP, May 2013

9 Roger Clemens

10 Ron Gant TTM, February 2017

11 Delino DeShields Trade, Adam Rosenstein, August 2018

12 Roberto Alomar Purchase, James Harrison, February 2023

13 Sandy Alomar, Jr. IP, October 2021

14 Ryne Sandberg TTM, July 2020

15 Ramon Martinez

16 Edgar Martinez

17 Dave Magadan IP, June 2013

18 Matt Williams IP, February 2024

19 Rafael Palmeiro IP, August 2012

20 Bob Welch

21 Dave Righetti TTM, November 2018

22 Brian Harper TTM, May 2017

23 Gregg Olson TTM, March 2018

24 Kurt Stillwell TTM, May 2020

25 Pedro Guerrero Private Signing, Chris Rifon, November 2021

26 Chuck Finley Trade, David Cisneros, March 2022