The 1989 Topps baseball cards were issued during a pivotal time in the baseball card industry. While not quite the peak of the junk wax era, 1989 saw tremendous overproduction of cards that has led to many common cards from the late 1980s being worth just pennies in near mint condition today. Within the massive 1989 Topps set there are still several valuable and desirable rookie cards, stars of the era, and interesting parallel and short print cards that command premium prices.
The standard 1989 Topps set contains 792 cards issued in wax packs, rack packs, and factory sets. The designs featured colorful borders and action photos of the players. The main set included rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, and Gregg Maddux that are key cards to look for. Even those rookies are only worth $5-10 apiece in near mint condition today as they were produced in exceptionally high numbers.
Where collectors will find the best values from the 1989 Topps set are in the short prints and star rookie/star player cards that saw lower production runs. The two most coveted short prints from the set are cards #640 Don Mattingly and #523 Ozzie Smith. These cards were accidentally omitted from some factory sets and wax pack distributions, making them significantly rarer than the other cards in the base set. In high grade near mint or mint condition, the 1989 Don Mattingly and Ozzie Smith short prints can fetch $100-250 each depending on condition.
Other valuable short prints to look for include cards #156 Frank Viola and #289 David Cone. Both pitchers were stars of the late 1980s and their short printed cards often sell in the $25-50 range. High number cards #776-792 from the base set are considered short prints. While not as highly valued as the accidental omissions, these high numbers do carry small premiums over base cards, with mint condition copies selling in the $5-15 range.
When it comes to rookie cards from 1989 Topps, by far the most coveted is Ken Griffey Jr. As one of the greatest players of all-time, Griffey’s rookie card #1 remains a highly sought after piece for collections. In pristine mint condition the Griffey Jr. rookie has sold at auction for over $1000, while a nice near mint copy can still command $75-200 depending on the auction. The Griffey is the clear standout, but other notable star rookie cards include Gregg Maddux (#454), Tom Glavine (#556), and David Justice (#573). These late 1980s star rookies often sell for $10-30 each in top grades.
Beyond the base set, collectors should also be aware of the parallel and premium insert sets released in 1989 Topps. The “PhotoGraphics” parallel set featured special photo or artistic treatments of 100 main set cards in a much lower print run. Popular PhotoGraphics cards like the Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jrs. can sell for $20-50 each depending on condition. Additionally, Topps Traded and Topps Graded sets featured premium rookie and star players from the main issues. Keys cards like the #126 Ken Griffey Jr. from Traded and #14 Greg Maddux from Graded often sell in the $50-100 range in top shape.
When pricing a collection of 1989 Topps cards or evaluating singles, there are several key factors that influence a card’s value beyond its visual condition and scarcity. Player performance and career accomplishments certainly factor in, as stars like Mattingly, Ozzie Smith, and especially Griffey will usually retain stronger collector interest than otherwise equal quality cards of short-timer players. The card’s position and visual appeal within the set also matters, with early and late issue cards tending to attract slightly higher bids. Ultimately for 1989 Topps, it’s highly conditional rookie cards, short prints, and star players that provide the best opportunity for finding higher end values within this mammoth and affordably collected vintage release.
While 1989 Topps baseball cards were produced in massive numbers that have kept most common issues quite affordable, savvy collectors know where to look to find the true gems that can yield stronger returns. Whether it’s accidental short prints, premier rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, or difficult to find parallel versions, the right 1989 Topps cards in top grades still appeal greatly to set builders and investors decades later. Taking the time to properly identify, grade, and price check keys from the set can reward collectors looking to assemble an affordable vintage collection with some key, valuable pieces to include.
