The 1989 Donruss baseball card set is considered by many collectors to be one of the more intriguing and potentially valuable sets from the late 1980s. While it may not have the iconic rookie cards or legends of some other years, the ’89 Donruss set offers collectors a interesting snapshot of the game at that moment in time. Let’s take a deeper look at this set and whether certain cards from it could hold value today.

Donruss released baseball cards annually from 1981 through 1992 when the company lost its MLB license. Their 1989 set in particular featured 585 total cards including base rookie cards, traded players, managers, checklists and airbrush photo variations. Some of the bigger names included rookie cards for Tom Glavine, Gregg Jefferies and Eddie Murray’s last card in a Dodgers uniform before being traded to the Dodgers. Overall it offered a who’s who of the late 80s baseball scene.

When first released in 1989, Donruss cards followed the general trends of the baseball card boom period. They sold well on store shelves through the spring and summer. By the early 90s the bubble had burst and the overproduction of cards combined with waning interest caused values to plummet industry wide. The ’89 Donruss set especially took a hit given it didn’t feature any true iconic rookies on the scale of a Ken Griffey Jr. or Frank Thomas rookie from the same era.

For years after, the ’89 Donruss cards were considered fairly common and quite affordable. You could pick up full sets online for $20-30 raw without problem. Even key rookie cards of Glavine, Jefferies and others floated around a few dollars at most. The condition of the available supply was also usually well-loved from years of being tossed in shoe boxes and card books.

In the late 2000s things began changing as the generation who grew up with these cards reached adulthood and nostalgia set in. They rekindled their love for the hobby and looked to rebuild sets and PC collections from their childhood. Suddenly cards from the late 80s boom period saw renewed interested. The 1989 Donruss cards benefitted greatly from this.

Now in today’s market, the ’89 Donruss set carries much more potential value depending on the specific cards and their grades. Here are some examples of what certain key cards could be worth today:

Tom Glavine Rookie Card (card #78): In PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, this iconic rookie has sold for over $1,000. Even raw or in lower grades, it consistently fetches $20-50.

Gregg Jefferies Rookie Card (card #158): The hype never panned out but it’s still his flagship rookie. A PSA 10 has brought $500-800. Most raw copies sell $10-25.

Ken Griffey Jr. Traded (card #234): Even though it’s not his true rookie year, Griffey mania makes this a hot commodity. Top graded examples up to $200-300.

Eddie Murray Final Dodger Card (card #365): His final year depicted in Dodger blue before a trade makes this somewhat sentimental. $30-50 raw, $100+ graded.

Nolan Ryan card (card #518): Always a fan favorite, even at this stage of his career. $10-20 raw on average.

Jeff Reardon card (card #526): Holds curiosity as the pitcher with the most career saves at the time. $5-10 even ungraded.

Frank Viola Traded card (card #551): Another traded player card with recognition. $5-10 raw.

Of course, those are just examples of the highest sell-through cards. Beyond those marquee names, there is profit potential in finding raw gems of other ’80s stars that could be graded and resold. Things like rookie cards for players like Bobby Thigpen, Chuck Knoblauch and John Kruk offer decent $5-10 raw upside if surfaces grade well.

As for the set as a whole – complete raw sets in average condition are a $50-75 investment depending on the seller these days. Finding one graded and sealed by PSA or BGS could significantly multiply its worth into the $300-500 range at a minimum. But any incomplete runs carry less value and may only fetch $20-40 in today’s market.

In summary – while the 1989 Donruss baseball card set may not have the household name rookie debuts of other years, there is real nostalgia and collecting potential present three decades later. The set offers an affordable avenue into late ’80s MLB history and certain stars’ rookie cards have followed appreciation curves seen with other brands during that time. If carefully acquired – whether individually or as a complete set – ’89 Donruss baseball deserves a closer look as worthwhile investment cards today versus their past perception as “junk wax era” commons.