The 1989 Bowman baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable vintage issues from the late 1980s. While it didn’t have any true rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like the 1987 and 1988 sets did, it contained young star players and prospects who would go on to have excellent Major League careers. Several factors have contributed to many 1989 Bowman cards reaching high values today, including scarcity, star power of featured players, and popularity among collectors.
One of the most valuable and sought-after 1989 Bowman cards is that of Ken Griffey Jr.. While not technically a true rookie as he had played in 13 games the previous season, Griffey’s 1989 Bowman card was his first major baseball card released. Many consider it his rookie card and it’s one of the most iconic cards of all-time. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s 1989 Bowman FV sells for thousands of dollars due to his star power and the card’s limited printing. Being one of the first cards to truly capture Junior in his Seattle Mariners uniform makes it an extremely desirable piece.
Another extremely valuable 1989 Bowman card belongs to Darryl Strawberry. As a four-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Strawberry established himself as a true star player by 1989. His career was also cut short due to injuries and personal issues. His 1989 Bowman card in top-graded condition can sell for over $1,000. Like Griffey’s, Strawberry’s strong on-field performance coupled with the card’s relative scarcity drives the value.
Two other extremely valuable 1989 Bowman rookie cards belonged to Barry Larkin and Tom Glavine. Larkin went on to have a Hall of Fame career as one of the best shortstops in MLB history while Glavine became a 300-game winning pitcher and one of the game’s top left-handed hurlers. Both were American League and National League Rookie of the Year winners, respectively, making their rookie cards extremely coveted. A PSA 10 grade Larkin rookie could be worth $3,000-$4,000 while a PSA 10 Glavine would sell for around $2,000.
Beyond star rookies, there were plenty of other young standouts featured in the 1989 Bowman set who went on to productive careers. For example, Bobby Bonilla and Randy Johnson had highly collectible cards due to their future accomplishments in MLB. Bonilla was a six-time All-Star while Randy Johnson of course went on to rack up over 4,000 strikeouts and win five Cy Young Awards. Cards of these talents in pristine condition regularly sell for $400-$700.
Another element contributing to 1989 Bowman’s retro popularity and card values are the aesthetics and photographic style of the issue. The colorful borders, player action shots, and fun neon designs give the set a very “retro” appeal that collectors find nostalgic and visually appealing compared to more modern and generic cards. This vintage look and feel adds to desirability.
The Bowman brand has also increased in prestige and popularity over the years which has in turn elevated interest in its 1980s/90s vintage sets. While not quite as thinly printed as flagship issues from Topps or Donruss of that same era, the 1989 Bowman set still featured much lower print runs than today’s licensed MLB products which sees millions upon millions of cards produced. This leads to continued scarcity that maintains strong values.
With stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine and others; a classic retro aesthetic; the prestige of the Bowman brand; and fairly low original print runs, the 1989 Bowman baseball card set holds a well-deserved place among the most valuable vintage issues to collectors today. Pristine, high-graded examples of major stars can sell for thousands to serious vintage card investors due to all the factors that have allowed this fun 80s set to retain its pop culture cachet and popularity among the hobby’s biggest players.
