The 1989 Score baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 1980s. With 762 total cards featuring every MLB player as well as managers, umpires, and team checklists, collectors from the era grew up with these cardboard treasures and they remain beloved by many today. While the average card from the ’89 Score set holds relatively little monetary worth, there are certainly stand-out rookie cards and stars of the day that can still command high prices when in pristine condition over 30 years later.
One of the rookie gems from the 1989 offerings is Griffey Jr. RC #383. As one of the most hyped prospects ever who went on to have a Hall of Fame career, Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie remains among the crown jewels for collectors. Near mint to mint copies often sell for $150-300 in modern auctions while a true gem mint PSA 10 can go for upwards of $3,000 given Griffey’s legendary status. Another powerful rookie to watch out for is #431 Frank Thomas, known as the “Big Hurt.” With his back-to-back MVP seasons in the 90s, Thomas established himself as one of the best hitters of his generation and his ’89 rookie card typically sells in the $50-100 range for good copies.
Staying on the offensive side, sluggers like #148 Freddie McGriff, #246 Kirby Puckett, and #149 Mark McGwire all have rookie cards from the 1989 Score set that are highly sought after. McGriff’s is likely the most affordable at $15-30 while Puckett and McGwire tend to fetch $50-150 depending on condition with the latter seeing more demand due to the steroid era notoriety. Power pitchers also shine bright, as #352 Tom Glavine, #379 Gregg Olson, #5 John Smoltz, and #35 Randy Johnson all have valuable rookies from this set priced $20-100 on average. Conversely, stars who were already established hold the most monetary worth.
Two of the most expensive regular issues from 1989 Score are #49 Ozzie Smith at $75-150 and #50 Wade Boggs at $100-200 in top grades. As defensive wizards and career .300 hitters who racked up accolades, these all-time greats remain fan favorites. Home run king #218 Barry Bonds also retains value in the $50-150 range depending on condition. For a truly elite gem, the ultra-rare #1 Ken Griffey Sr. checklist card printed on golden retro stock can sell for over $1,000 in pristine condition! Such premium parallel issues are also seen with the umpires, managers, and international subset focusing on Japanese stars like #759 Hideo Nomo.
Beyond rookies and stars, error cards and oddball parallel variations add tremendous rarity and pricing popcorn. The infamous #117 Nolan Ryan Printing Plate is legendary for being accidentally issued on gold film stock rather than the standard grey. Estimated to exist in fewer than 10 copies, this behemoth has sold at auction for upwards of $50,000. Another scarce anomaly is #573 Lenny Dykstra featuring an upside-down photograph, which has brought $3,000+ in Gem Mint.
While most 1989 Score baseball cards hold little monetary value today, the standouts from talent like Griffey Jr, Thomas, McGwire, Bonds, and more provide compelling collecting and investment opportunities for both nostalgic fans and card shows alike. With so many rookies and future Hall of Famers captured, this iconic release remains a pivotal part of hobby history. Condition is critical, so high grades significantly impact pricing on the set’s biggest keys from this impressive 762-card checklist full of stars and memories from baseball’s golden age.
