The 1989 Donruss baseball card set holds a special place in the hearts of many collectors as one of the more valuable vintage card releases from the late 1980s and early 90s. While it didn’t feature the huge stars that Topps highlighted in ’89 like Ken Griffey Jr. and Roger Clemens in their rookie cards, Donruss still managed to produce several key rookie cards and short prints that have gained tremendous value over the past 30+ years. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable rookie and short print cards collectors seek out from the 1989 Donruss baseball release.
Perhaps the most well known of the valuable rookie cards from the ’89 Donruss set is Kirby Puckett’s. As a member of the Minnesota Twins, Puckett went on to have a hall of fame career that culminated in winning World Series MVP awards in 1991 and 1992. His defensive skills and hitting prowess made him a fan favorite. In 1989 Donruss, Puckett was still early in his career but showed glimpses of the star potential he would fulfill. His rookie card, while not nearly as scarce as others due to a higher print run, still demands a premium price today. Graded PSA 10 examples can sell for over $1,000 while PSA 8s still bring $100-200.
Another rookie card that has greatly increased in value is that of Randy Johnson. “The Big Unit” went on to have one of the most distinguished pitching careers in MLB history, striking out over 4,800 batters during his 22-year career. In 1989 with the Montreal Expos, collectors got their first glimpse of the 6’10” flamethrower. His Donruss rookie is much scarcer than Puckett’s so even lower grade copies in PSA 5-7 condition can sell for $50-100. Higher grades above a PSA 8 have been known to surpass $1000.
Two short print rookie cards from the ’89 Donruss set that excite collectors are those of Matt Williams and Jeff Bagwell. Williams burst onto the scene with the San Francisco Giants in 1987 and went on to have a stellar career that included winning a batting title in 1992 when he hit .336. His rookie, which is printed on a glossy paper stock versus the standard matte finish, is often valued at $150-300 even in lower grades. Bagwell’s short print rookie is perhaps even more valued given his hall of fame career spent largely with the Houston Astros. This tough-to-find card regularly sells for $500-1500 across all grades with PSA 10s reaching several thousand.
Another short print card collector’s prize is the Ken Griffey Jr. photo variation. While Topps owned Griffey’s true rookie card rights in 1989, Donruss still managed to secure the rights to photos from his rookie season with Seattle. In the standard Donruss set, Griffey’s photo has a blue tint giving it a “flasher” look. But there also exists a rarer print variation with a true color photo that pops much more vividly. These photo var rookies are highly sought after by Griffey PC collectors and have been known to bring over $1000 even in lower graded condition.
Donruss also featured several stars of the late 80s in tough-to-find short printed parallels in 1989. The Frank Viola and Dennis Eckersley SPs are examples that regularly sell for $250-500 each in top grades due to their scarcity and depicting players consistently in Cy Young award discussions in the late 80s. Another short print card that gains more attention each year is that of Barry Bonds. While not technically a rookie in ’89 Donruss, Bonds burst onto the scene in 1986 and was well on his way to being recognized as the game’s best hitter by the end of the 80s. His SP parallel is rarely offered for sale but has still managed to eclipse the $1000 mark in high grades.
One of the most visually striking inserts from 1989 Donruss is the “Diamond Kings” parallel set. Featuring parallel images of thirty star players woven into diamond-patterned cardboard holders, these inserts really popped on card shop shelves in the late 80s. Today they remain desirable for any premium 80s/90s card collection. Keys like the Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn and Nolan Ryan Diamond Kings can often command $150-300 each in top centered, well preserved condition. The rarer finds showcasing Andre Dawson, Will Clark and Don Mattingly have even been known to crack the $500-1000 range for pristine PSA 10 quality.
And finally, while not technically a short print, collectors are always on the hunt for 1989 Donruss puzzles and O-Pee-Chee puzzle cards featuring covers and puzzles focused around the All-Star Game held at Anaheim Stadium in 1989. Complete puzzle cards often sell in the $50-100 range while some of the more desirable puzzle pieces like Rickey Henderson or Wade Boggs singles can sell in the $25-50 range depending on condition for PSA 8s and 9s. The puzzles represent a fun insert set from the late 80s Peak Donruss era that maintained appeal as collectibles on their own accord outside the standard card checklist.
While Ken Griffey Jr. and Roger Clemens dominated the rookie card conversation from 1989, shrewd vintage baseball card collectors know the value to be found with key short prints, photo variations, insert sets and star player cards hidden within the 1989 Donruss set released over 30 years ago. Keys from rookie standouts like Kirby Puckett and Randy Johnson as well as tough pulls like the Frank Viola SP continue gaining increased recognition which pushes prices higher each year. For avid 80s/90s collectors, discovering pristine top graded examples from this fun and visually aesthetically pleasing Donruss flagship set is always exciting knowing the steady returns on value achieved over the long run.
