The 1989 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 1980s. While not quite as coveted as sets from the 1950s or 1960s, numerous high-price cards emerged from the 660-card 1989 Topps issue that was released more than 30 years ago. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1989 Topps baseball cards that still fetch impressive prices at auction today.
Perhaps the most well-known card from the ’89 Topps set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the premier young prospects in baseball at the time and his rookie card became a highly-desired item for collectors. In pristine gem mint condition, graded MINT 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), Griffey Jr.’s rookie card has sold for over $25,000 at auction. Even in lower, PSA 8-9 condition, it still regularly brings in $1,000-2,000. The card remains among the most valuable modern rookie cards from the late 20th century.
Other star rookie cards from 1989 that retain significant value include Frank Thomas, Gregg Maddux, Randy Johnson, and Barry Larkin. A PSA 10 Thomas rookie has sold for over $12,000. Top graded versions of Maddux, Johnson, and Larkin rookies have all exceeded $3,000 at times as well. These players went on to have Hall of Fame careers, fueling demand for their early basketball cards. The cards have sustained high valuations likely until the players have been enshrined in Cooperstown.
Beyond rookies, the hottest card from the ’89 set has been Nolan Ryan’s record-breaking 301st victory card issued after he surpassed Hall of Famer Walter Johnson’s hallowed career wins mark. Only two versions of this ultra-rare error card are known to exist. One in PSA 9 condition traded hands for a stunning $47,500 in a 2013 auction. The other, graded PSA 8.5, sold for $31,800 in 2009. What makes these cards so significant is that Topps rushed to produce them to commemorate Ryan’s historic feat before his next start, but made the mistake of putting him in an Angels uniform despite having just been traded to the Rangers.
In terms of sheer cosmetic condition, the crown jewel of the 1989 Topps set may be the gem mint PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. subject card that smashed records in 2018 when it sold for $90,000. It was the first time a PSA 10 card from the ‘89 issue broke the $10,000 barrier in a public sale. Additional PSA/DNA 10 versions of this card have since changed hands privately for over $100,000 each. Fewer than a dozen Griffey Jr. subject PSA 10s are even known to exist out of the millions of copies of this common base card produced. Condition is truly king when it comes to high-end modern sports card values.
Beyond rookie cards and error variations, other key ’89 Topps cards garnering big money include superstar inserts like the Nolan Ryan retirement tribute card, which has crossed $4,000 in top condition. Game-used memorabilia cards are also highly valued, such as the Steve Carlton jersey card ($3,000 PSA 10) and Dwight Gooden bat card (>$2,000 PSA/DNA 10). For teams, the Kansas City Royals and Oakland A’s team cards hit over $1,500 in pristine grades due to their popularity and success in the late 1980s.
While it may lack the true vintage appeal of 1950s issues, the 1989 Topps set still contains many prominent, investment-grade cards. Headlined by the legendary rookie cards of Griffey, Thomas, Maddux and others, along with one-of-a-kind errors like the Nolan Ryan 301st win card, values remain strong for elite conditioned copies. The sheer affordability and accessibility of these cards over three decades ago also means higher pop reports than older sets. But condition-sensitive premium cards from ’89 like the Griffey Jr. subject PSA 10 continue to demonstrate the potential for modern sports cards to appreciate substantially given the right circumstances of demand, rarity, and preservation over time.
