The 1989 Topps set is one of the most iconic and valuable baseball card releases of all time. It was the 68th series issued by Topps and marked a return to photography on the front of the cards after several years of using illustrative artwork. The 1989 set saw the debut of rookie cards for future Hall of Famers such as Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. It also featured the final cards for legends like Nolan Ryan and George Brett in their playing careers.
The design of the 1989 Topps set moved away from the cartoony stylings that had been used for several prior years. The simple black and white photographic fronts prominently featured the players’ faces along with their names and teams printed at the bottom. These clean, sharp photos helped the cards feel classic and timeless. On the backs, stats and highlights were presented in easy-to-read black text on a white background. Topps’ distinctive pink gum logo was featured prominently in the bottom right corner of both sides.
Some notable rookies from the ’89 Topps set included Barry Larkin of the Reds, Greg Maddux of the Cubs, Tom Glavine of the Braves, and Randy Johnson of the Expos. Larkin went on to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012 while Maddux, Glavine, and Johnson all gained entry to Cooperstown as well. The rookie cards of these future Hall of Famers are some of the most coveted and valuable from the entire set today.
Legends like Rickey Henderson, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Nolan Ryan appeared on their final regular issue Topps cards while still active players in the 1989 set. Ryan’s card stands out in particular as it captures his famously intense glare on the mound during his final playing season with the Texas Rangers. George Brett’s card was also the last of his iconic career for Kansas City and marked the end of an era for one of the game’s great hitters of the 1970s and 80s.
Some other highlights from the massive 792 card 1989 Topps baseball release include a Hank Aaron career retrospective card, Kenny Rogers’ perfect game card from July 28th, Rangers manager Bobby Valentine riding a horse on his manager card, and Orel Hershiser showcasing his 1988 World Series MVP trophy and stats on his Dodger player card. The set also included entire team cards, league leader cards, and playoff summary cards recapping the excitement of the 1988 postseason.
In terms of chase cards, the short printed Willie Mays and Nolan Ryan rookie cards from the 1952 and 1966 Topps sets respectively have always held legendary status. Due to the sheer size of the ’89 set, there were plenty of other cards that could potentially be coveted by collectors. The Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Randy Johnson rookies as well as the final cards for Henderson, Smith, Boggs, and Ryan are very desirable. Other scarce insert cards like Frank Thomas’ Best of the Rest Golden Anniversary card added to the excitement of puttin together the complete set.
In the years since its release, the 1989 Topps baseball card set has only grown in prestige and collectibility. The perfectly captured photos on sharp, classic designs combined with the debuts and swan songs of so many all-time great players make it a true icon of the hobby. Sets in near mint to mint condition with all the tough cards present can sell for thousands online today. Even common cards from the release retain substantial value decades later. The 1989 Topps set stands as one of the most complete historical documents of 80s baseball in card form and continues to be a set that defines the hobby for collectors of all ages.
