The 1989 Topps Baseball Picture Cards Traded Series marked the 28th edition of Topps’ popular traded set focusing on star players from that season. The traded set was inserted one per pack of the main 1989 Topps baseball card series and contained cards not found in the standard release, making them highly collectible among fans.
That 1989 season would be memorable for several key events and performances. The Oakland A’s, led by manager Tony La Russa, won the World Series over the San Francisco Giants. Rickey Henderson set a new single season stolen base record with 126 thefts for the A’s. Roger Clemens established a new strikeout record with 20+ K games in a season for the Boston Red Sox. Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds both broke into the big leagues that year as well.
The 1989 Topps Traded set captured many of the biggest names and performances from that season through 36 unique cardboard portraits. Some of the key cards included in the set were:
Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates: As a rookie, Bonds hit .289 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI. He was one of the young stars to watch going forward.
Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox: In addition to his record-setting season, Clemens’ intimidating stare made him one of the faces of the league.
Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics: As the new stolen base king, Henderson’s cunning smile conveyed his flair on the basepaths.
Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners: At just 19 years old, Griffey Jr. flashed prodigious talent by hitting .284 with 16 home runs in his debut campaign.
Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals: As one of the best defensive shortstops ever, “The Wizard” made diving stops look routine in St. Louis.
Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers: Even at 42 years old, “The Ryan Express” could still hit triple digits on the radar gun for Texas.
Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins: Grinning ear to ear, Puckett provided optimism as the Twins’ young star center fielder.
The visual storytelling of each card through the player photos made the Traded set very engaging for collectors. The scarcity factor of only one card per pack also created excitement each time a traded card was uncovered.
Beyond the star players, the set also included role players and up-and-comers who could become important cogs on their teams. Examples included Andy Van Slyke for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Lance Parrish of the Detroit Tigers, and Mark McGwire in his second season with the Oakland A’s.
In addition to Topps’ standard card design format from the main set, the traded cards stood out with a blue banner across the bottom displaying the player’s team and position. The Traded logo in the bottom right corner further signified the cards’ premium status.
On the reverse side, each card featured individual player stats from 1988 as well as a short personal biography. This provided collectors additional information and context beyond just the captivating front-facing photos.
When it was released in early 1989, the Topps Traded set retailed for $1.25 per pack. As the players captured inside went on to perform that season, many of the cards increased rapidly in value on the secondary market. Ken Griffey Jr’s card in particular is one of the most coveted and expensive from the set today owing to his iconic playing career.
For baseball card enthusiasts and historians, the 1989 Topps Traded set stands as an iconic snapshot of that memorable season. Featuring many future Hall of Famers like Bonds, Clemens, and Smith in addition to rookie standouts, the cards provide a unique time capsule almost three decades later. They remain a highly collected parallel release that complemented Topps’ standard flagship set very well.
The 1989 Topps Baseball Picture Cards Traded Series effectively captured the biggest names and performances during a pivotal year for Major League Baseball. Through creative card designs and compelling front-facing photography, it showcased the league’s emerging talents and established stars in a premium, highly coveted format for collectors. Even over 30 years later, the set retains its nostalgic appeal and has grown in stature as a memorable piece of sports card history from the late 1980s era.
