The year 1989 was a pivotal time for the baseball card industry. While the junk wax era was in full swing, cranking out billions of mostly worthless cards, a select few from ’89 have stood the test of time to become extremely valuable today. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable baseball cards from the legendary rookie season of Ken Griffey Jr. and the last flecks of the golden age before the bubble burst.
Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC (#1) – The crown jewel of any ’89 collection is without a doubt the Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the single most iconic cards of the modern era, what makes the card so expensive is a combination of factors. As the star-studded rookie of “The Natural,” Upper Deck distributed an extremely limited print run of just 1 million copies to kick off their brand, which was a fraction of other companies. Junior lived up to the hype by becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved players ever. In pristine mint condition, this RC now sells for tens of thousands, with the all-time record being a PSA 10 Gem Mint that went for over $300,000 at auction in 2018.
Frank Thomas Leaf RC (#37) – While not as heralded as Griffey, “The Big Hurt” established himself as one of the most feared power hitters in baseball during the 1990s with the White Sox. His ’89 Leaf rookie is highly sought after today partially due to the limited distribution of Leaf sets during the time. Thanks to Thomas’ stellar career which saw him belt 500+ homers and win back-to-back MVPs, high-grade copies of this card have sold in the $3,000-5,000 range. Anything graded a true mint PSA 10 is worth north of $10,000 and climbing due to increased nostalgia among collectors.
Randy Johnson Bowman RC (#91) – The Big Unit’s intimidating 6’10” frame and 100+ mph fastball made him a legend on the mound. His rookie card came from the popular but lower-print run Bowman set. While not in the same realm of rarity as Griffey and co., Randy Johnson earned his status as possibly the most dominating pitcher in history by going on to tally nearly 5,000 career strikeouts and accumulate 5 Cy Young Awards. Top-graded copies in PSA 10 condition have still sold for over $2,000, showing the fascination with capturing The Unit’s beginnings on cardboard.
Barry Bonds Fleer Update RC (#1) – Rookies were inserted late into that year’s Fleer Update set after Bonds’ stellar ’87 season. While he wouldn’t truly breakout into “Barry Bonds” until the early 1990s in Pittsburgh fueled by steroids, collectors recognized his budding superstar potential even this early on. High-end PSA 10 versions have hit $2,000 or more as well thanks to the card’s insert scarcity plus Bonds eventually smashing the all-time home run record despite the PED controversy.
Tom Glavine Bowman’s Best RC (#2) – As one of the cornerstone pitchers of the Atlanta Braves dynasty in the 1990s, Glavine racked up 305 career wins and two Cy Youngs. His rookie is a true short-print from the premium Bowman’s Best set which had among the lowest distribution that year outside of Upper Deck. Copies have sold for north of $1,500 in high grades, underscoring his excellence and lasting popularity with collectors.
Jeff Bagwell RC Bowman (#479) – The smooth-swinging first baseman became the face of the franchise for the Astros, racking up over 400 home runs and an MVP in 1994. His base rookie from Bowman holds significant value due to the print run limitations. PSA 10s have gone for over $1,000, a remarkable price point for a card outside the true elite class of 1989 that hints at his stardom.
Sandy Alomar Jr. Fleer Update RC (#6) – The fleet-footed catcher earned ten Gold Gloves over his career primarily with the Indians. His Update issue rookie stands out as one of the short-printed inserts in an already limited-distribution set. Considered among the key rookies to acquire from 1989 beside Griffey Jr., pristine PSA 10 copies have changed hands for more than $800 in recent years.
Greg Maddux Bowman’s Best RC (#29) – Widely heralded as one of the smartest and most dominant pitchers in history, Mad Dog’s Hall of Fame resume saw him rack up 355 wins and four Cy Youngs. While not his true base card, collectors esteem the pristine Bowman’s Best issue highly due to the set’s miniscule print run. Top-graded PSA 10s have sold for over $700 reflecting his ultimate excellence on the hill.
While the junk wax era drove prices down overall, these select ’89 rookies have maintained strong collector demand and appreciation owing to starring careers and stringent print runs. Even as the MLB landscape evolves rapidly, nostalgia ensures the hobby’s golden age legends like Griffey Jr., Thomas, and Bagwell stay treasured cornerstones in the genesis of any baseball card collection.
