The 1989 Score Superstar Baseball card set featured some of the biggest names in the sport on 525 total cards. While not one of the premium flagship sets from that year, it nonetheless contained rookies and stars that have stood the test of time. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top cards from the ’89 Score Superstar issue and what they might fetch on the current collectibles market.
Ken Griffey Jr. was already blossoming into a superstar by his third MLB season in 1989, and the 24-year-old’s rookie card from this set is among the most desirable from the entire decade. Sporting slick mirrored foil borders and images, Griffey’s card clearly stood out in the racks at stores. Nowadays, in near mint condition it can demand upwards of $200. For a true gem mint 10 grade, expect to pay over $1,000 easily on the open market. The card captured Jr. in his prime Seattle Mariners days and was a sign of things to come as one of the game’s all-time great sluggers.
Another young talent bursting onto the scene in ’89 was Chicago Cubs phenom Andre Dawson. After winning the 1987 NL MVP award with Montreal, Dawson was dealt to the Cubs and proceeded to belt 49 homers and drive in 137 runs in his first season on the North Side of Chicago. His ’89 Score Superstar issue card also utilized those flashy foil borders that made it a must-have for any collector. In a PSA 9 grade, Dawson’s rookie card fetches $75-100, while a pristine PSA 10 grade brings multiple hundreds due to his excellence on the field paired with the desire for high-end certified cards today.
Two future Hall of Famers and longtime rivals who dueled for AL supremacy in the late 80s and 90s also had prominent cards in this set – Rickey Henderson and Wade Boggs. Henderson’s offensive prowess with the Oakland A’s was well known by 1989, as the 30-year-old speedster was coming off a season with 66 steals and 119 runs scored. His card ranks among the more affordable of elite stars from the time at $20-30 in top shape. Boggs, meanwhile, was in his prime with Boston and won the 1988 batting title with a scintillating .354 average. The smooth-swinging third baseman’s issue goes for $15-25 in top-rated condition.
A trio of power-hitting stars all commanded big bucks on the trade market prior to the ’89 season – Gary Sheffield, Ken Phelps, and Mike Bielecki. Sheffield went from the Brewers to the Padres in an eight-player blockbuster, while Phelps was part of a trade that brought the slugger to the Yankees from Cleveland. Bielecki, a 20-game winner the prior season for Milwaukee, was shipped off to the Cubs. While they didn’t achieve the heights their raw talent portended, these players’ rookie cards from Score Superstar remain decent investments at $10-15 apiece in top grades due to their historical significance as blockbuster trades.
A handful of other young guns were also breaking in with gusto in ’89. Cubs phenom Jerome Walton took the NL by storm in the first couple months of his debut, making him the Rookie of the Year favorite until an injury derailed his rookie campaign. Still, his shiny cardboard goes for $25-40 depending on condition thanks to his sizzling start. Another soon-to-be star was Bobby Witt, who was in his first full season with the Rangers’ staff. His pitcher rookie commands $15-30 in pristine condition today. Finally, Bobby Thigpen was in the midst of a dominant setup role for the White Sox on his way to setting the single-season saves record. While not a true rookie since he debuted in ’86, his Thigpen’s ’89 card brings $10-20.
The ’89 Score Superstar set also contained veteran hurls like Dwight Gooden ($10-20), Fernando Valenzuela ($8-15), and Nolan Ryan ($12-20) who were still producing impact seasons a half-decade into their MLB tenures. On the position player side, sluggers like Darryl Strawberry ($10-18), George Bell ($8-12), and Will Clark ($10-15) maintained their popularity. Meanwhile, stalwart shortstops Cal Ripken Jr. ($12-18) and Ozzie Smith ($10-15) anchored batting orders in Baltimore and St. Louis, respectively. All fetched respectable values reflective of their reputations at the time and place in baseball lore since.
While not in the ranks of flagship products from the late 80s, the ’89 Score Superstar set shined a light on burgeoning stars, veteran standouts, and significant players from that MLB season. Key rookie issues of Bonds, Griffey, Dawson, and others continue to hold strong collector interest and higher price points decades later. More affordable gold mine options include cards capturing massive trades and young talent first breaking in. For those seeking an investment or addition to their vintage card portfolio spanning one of the hobby’s most prolific decades, this off-the-beaten-path release offers affordable access to history.
