The 1989 All Star Baseball card set was a landmark release that commemorated some of the biggest stars and performances from Major League Baseball’s midseason classic that year. The 1989 All-Star Game was held on July 11th at Anaheim Stadium in California, with the National League defeating the American League 2-0. That summer classic featured many future Hall of Famers and stars at the peak of their powers.
Topps captured the action and excitement of the ’89 Midsummer Classic with their traditional All Star card release after the season. The 189 card set featured current All Stars from both leagues as well as a “Then & Now” subset highlighting past All Star greats alongside more modern players. Some notable rookie cards in the set included Barry Larkin, Randy Johnson, and Gregg Olson. The checklist was notable for its depth of talent both young and old from across MLB.
One of the most coveted cards in the set was the #1 Cal Ripken Jr. Ripken was just a couple seasons removed from breaking Lou Gehrig’s famous consecutive games played streak and was establishing himself as one of the premier shortstops in baseball. His sweet left-handed swing and Gold Glove defense made him a fan favorite. This card captured Ripken in the midst of one of his many productive All-Star campaigns.
Another highly sought after card was #25 Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. “The Wizard” was a staple at shortstop for the NL squad throughout the 1980s and his athletic defense routinely drew “ooohs” and “aaahs” from crowds. Though he lacked power with the bat, Smith was a line drive hitter who could bunt and beat out hits with his blazing speed. This caused fits for opposing pitchers and highlighted why he was so valuable both on the field and at the plate.
On the pitching side, #40 Roger Clemens stood out as one of the set’s premier cards. The Boston Red Sox flamethrower was in his absolute prime in 1989 after back-to-back Cy Young Awards. He struck out a then-record 20 batters in an nine inning game that April versus the Seattle Mariners. Clemens went on to lead the AL in ERA, wins, and strikeouts en route to his third Cy Young. This card captured “The Rocket” at the height of his powers before he went on to become one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history.
Aside from current stars, the “Then & Now” subset offered a fascinating look back at legendary players alongside their modern counterparts. #T&N4 paired “Shoeless” Joe Jackson from his time with the Philadelphia Athletics alongside Jesse Barfield of the Toronto Blue Jays. Jackson, of course, was one of the most naturally gifted hitters in baseball history but was banned from the game alongside seven other Chicago White Sox players for their alleged involvement in the 1919 World Series “Black Sox” scandal which cast a dark shadow over his career stats. It was a unique pairing showcasing one of history’s “What ifs” next to Barfield, an underrated slugging outfielder of the 1980s.
Another notable “Then & Now” match up came with #T&N15, which paired Louisville Slugger icon Babe Ruth in his Yankees heyday with slugging first baseman Fred Lynn of the Baltimore Orioles. Ruth was of course one of the forefathers of the home run and changed how the game was played as the Sultan of Swat. It was fascinating to see the Bambino alongside Lynn, who himself hit over 250 career homers primarily with the Boston Red Sox and California Angels in the 1970s-80s as a five-tool player.
With its breadth of talent, iconic players, and fun retrospective concepts, the 1989 Topps All Star Baseball card set has endured as one of the most memorable Midsummer Classic releases from the hobby’s golden era. Featuring many future Hall of Famers like Ripken, Smith, Clemens, and more, the set captured lightning in a bottle by focusing on baseball’s brightest stars at their peaks. For fans and collectors alike, flipping through the checklist takes you back to an exciting year for the game and makes you reminisce about some of its biggest personalities and performances during MLB’s annual All Star celebration.
