Elite

Elite: Series of inserts, and later a stand-alone product, released by Donruss. Beginning in 1991, Donruss included a series of ten serial-numbered inserts into their base brand (eight "Elite Series" cards numbered to 10,000, a Nolan Ryan "Legends Series" card numbered to 7500, and a "Signature Series" card autographed by Ryne Sandberg and numbered to 5000). Donruss continued with a second batch of ten Elites in '92 and would continue with them until Donruss' final year of 1998. Little known Hobby fact: In 1991, Fleer was set to release a new "high-end" brand called "Fleer Elite." But after Donruss released the Elite inserts, Fleer was forced to change the name to "Fleer Ultra."

Beginning in 1997 Donruss produced a new premium set under the Elite name. Donruss Elite, the card set, featured high quality cards, and plenty of serial-numbered inserts, most notably, the Passing the Torch autographed inserts.

Both the Elite inserts and the Elite brand were both resurrected by Playoff in 2001, and have remained an annual Hobby staple ever since.