The 1989 Upper Deck baseball card set was the company’s first release and revolutionized the baseball card industry. The higher quality cardboard stock and attention to detail made Upper Deck cards a hot commodity when they were released over 30 years ago. While the excitement over Upper Deck has cooled since its debut, many of the rookie cards and stars from the 1989 set still hold significant value today.
One of the most valuable cards from the ’89 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best prospect phenoms in baseball history, Griffey lived up to the hype with a Hall of Fame career. His iconic Upper Deck rookie card in a PSA 10 Gem Mint condition can fetch over $10,000. Even well-centered Near Mint copies in PSA 9 holders sell for $2,000-3,000. Griffey was featured prominently in the initial packaging and marketing of Upper Deck cards, helping spur early interest and demand.
Other star rookie cards that still rank among the most valuable from 1989 Upper Deck include Frank Thomas, Jeff Bagwell, and Mark McGwire. All three players went on to have prolific MLB careers and earn spots in the Hall of Fame. A PSA 10 Gem Mint McGwire RC sells for around $3,500. Thomas and Bagwell gems around $2,000 apiece. In top grades of PSA 9 or BGS 9.5, their rookie cards trade hands for $800-1,200. Fellow future Hall of Famer Barry Larkin also had his rookie card debut in the ’89 Upper Deck set. High-grade Larkin RCs demand $400-600.
Two of the most expensive cards overall from 1989 Upper Deck are the Kirby Puckett and Nolan Ryan inserts. Only 50 copies of each were produced, making them true short-prints. A Puckett “Turn Back The Clock” insert in pristine condition sold at auction in 2018 for $18,660. High-end Nolan Ryan “No-Hitters” inserts reach $5,000-8,000. The base versions of Puckett and Ryan are still valued highly as well. Puckett is $150-250 in PSA 9 and Ryan $100-150.
Other star players whose base rookie or traded cards hold onto meaningful value include Roger Clemens ($150 PSA 9), Andy Van Slyke ($75 PSA 9), and Bryn Smith ($50 PSA 9). For Clemens, Van Slyke and Smith, their cards remain quite collectible as rare “pre-rookie” or true rookie cards issued prior to their more common 1990 releases. Gregg Olson, whose 1989 Upper Deck RC was the first card issued of the reliever-turned-starter, fetches $40-65 in top condition.
Beyond rookies, several key refractors and inserts carry four-figure valuations as well. The “Diamond Kings” parallels of Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ted Williams are each $1,000-1,500 gems. A Mike Schmidt “Record Breakers” refractor sold on Ebay last year for over $2,000. The “League Leaders” subsets highlighting batting champs Wade Boggs and stolen base king Vince Coleman can reach $800-1,200 pristine.
Many stars of the late 1980s and 1990s have collectible base cards too despite not being rookies in the ’89 Upper Deck set. A PSA 10 Griffey traded card sells for $150-250 depending on the uniform depicted. RCs aside, well-centered mint condition copies of Bo Jackson, Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson, and Ozzie Smith command $50-100 each. For players more established then like Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, and George Brett, their base cards earn $25-40 in top grades.
Lower-tier rookie cards that increased in popularity and price over the past decade include Tim Belcher ($20 PSA 9), Daryl Boston ($15 PSA 9), and Felix Jose ($10 PSA 9). Also finding new collector interest are the short-printed rookie variations like the black-bordered Frank Viola and off-center cut Tom Gordon, which can fetch $60-80 gems. The autographed cards inserted throughout packs at approximate 1-in-36,000 odds each sell between $300-500 when certified authentic.
While certain ’89 Upper Deck stars and short-prints inevitably dropped in value over the past 30+ years, the debut release remains one of the most important issues in the modern collecting era. Prices for Griffey, McGwire, Thomas, and others may never reach the peaks they saw during the 1990s Bull Market. But as one of the original ultra-premium baseball sets, 1989 Upper Deck cards—especially those housed in impeccable condition—continue holding significant monetary worth for informed collectors. Savvy investors would be wise keeping an eye on rookies, inserts and parallels from this groundbreaking cardboard pioneer.
