The 1989 Bowman baseball card set was the 26th annual baseball card release from the prolific Bowman brand. While not one of the flagship Topps or Donruss sets of that year, the 1989 Bowman set still holds significance and value for collectors due to the talent featured and the rarity of certain cards. Let’s take a deeper look at the set breakdown and key factors that influence the value of individual cards and complete sets from the 1989 Bowman release.
The 1989 Bowman baseball card set consists of 404 total cards issued in factory-sealed wax packs. The base card design shows a head shot of the player along with their team logo and stats on a white background. The set includes rookie cards for future Hall of Famers such as Gregg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Fred McGriff that are highly sought after by collectors. Two parallel “Gold Medalists” insert sets were also included which featured American Olympians – one for summer Olympians and one for winter Olympians. Beyond the base cards and inserts, there were also several special parallel subsets such as Glossy All-Stars, Team Leaders, and Milestones inserts featuring career accomplishments.
Perhaps most notably, the 1989 Bowman set introduced hobbyists to phenoms such as Ken Griffey Jr. with his highly coveted rookie card. While Griffey Jr. cards from other contemporaneous sets hold immense value, his 1989 Bowman RC stands out due to its rarity. Only 360,000 copies of the Griffey Jr. rookie were printed, making it one of the scarcest modern rookie cards in existence. In high grade, this single card alone can be worth thousands of dollars or more to collectors. Other stars with desirable rookie cards include Gary Sheffield, Chuck Knoblauch, and Brian Jordan.
When assessing value for the 1989 Bowman set, there are several important condition and grading factors to consider:
Centering – How perfectly centered the image is within the border. Off-center cards lose value.
Corners – Dings, dents or faults at the corners severely hurt grade and value.
Edges – White borders should be clean and not damage, creased or dirty.
Surface – No scratches, spots or flaws on the printing surface. A clean surface preserves max value.
Focus/Sharpness – The clarity and focus of details like faces and logos. Blurry prints are less desirable.
Of course, the bigger names and more scarce parallel variations within the set will invariably carry premium prices above the base rookies and common players. But even mid-level stars can have value in high grades from reputable services like PSA or BGS, especially for completed team sets.
When looking at pricing comps for 1989 Bowman singles and full completed sets, there are a few different factors to account for:
Overall population reports from grading companies provide a snapshot of a card’s relative scarcity. The fewer high grade examples in existence, the more valuable they become over time.
Recent auction sales through platforms like eBay provide real-world market guidance. But beware of outlier prices that don’t reflect true market value.
Online dealers with an inventory of graded vintage cards can give a general price range expectation once you factor in grade. But they also need to turn a profit.
Comparing similar condition/grade examples across different sales mediums will ensure you get a well-researched fair market value assessment.
In fully complete and well-centered condition graded Gem Mint or better, the 1989 Topps set has been known to command prices up in the $8,000-$12,000 range depending on the population of high grades still available. Singles can vary enormously – with the Griffey Jr. RC routinely fetching four-figure sums alone even in lower grades. But solid condition copies of other stars like Maddux, Glavine or McGriff rookies can still hold value of $100-300 or more depending on the particular player and grade.
For collectors, the 1989 Bowman baseball card release remains a very desirable set to pursue over 30 years later given the star power and historical significance of the rookie cards included. With condition, scarcity and the test of time further concentrating the available high quality copies, completion of this set – especially in top grades – stands as quite an achievement. Comprehensive research, patience and targeting discounted online auctions can still make set completion a realistic goal for dedicated hobbyists on a budget as values continue their steady long term appreciation.
