The 1989 baseball season marked the debut of Upper Deck, the innovative new card company that forever changed the baseball card industry. Upper Deck introduced cutting edge designs and manufacturing processes that vastly improved card quality over the competition. They also strictly limited print runs, making their rookie cards highly sought after collectibles. Several future Hall of Famers had their rookie cards in the 1989 Upper Deck set, making it one of the most valuable vintage issues.
One of the top rookies in 1989 was Ken Griffey Jr, who was called up late in the season by the Seattle Mariners at just 19 years old. Griffey quickly impressed with his immense talent and highlight-reel worthy plays in centerfield. The Upper Deck #1 card captured Griffey in his Mariners uniforms, bat on his shoulder with a fierce determination. They printed just 300,000 copies of Griffey’s rookie, and it has appreciated greatly over the years to become the most valuable modern-era card. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies recently sold at auction for over $100,000, showing Griffey’s star power and the rarity of a flawless example.
Another future Hall of Famer and huge star was Barry Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds. Larkin was already an established shortstop by 1989, having won the Rookie of the Year award the previous season, but his Upper Deck card #132 is considered his true rookie. Larkin is depicted in his classic Reds uniform bending down to field a ground ball. These cards are also extremely scarce in high grades today, with PSA 10s selling in the $10,000 range. Larkin went on to have a stellar 19 year career highlighted by his 1995 NL MVP award.
Greg Maddux, who would become one of the greatest pitchers ever, had his rookie season with the Chicago Cubs in 1986 but didn’t appear in Upper Deck until 1989 on card #297. Maddux is shown wind-up in a Cubs road grey uniform, capturing the beginnings of his incredible control and pitchability. Despite pitching over 300 MLB wins, 3 Cy Young awards and 4 ERA titles, Maddux’s Upper Deck rookie remains very affordable compared to Griffey and Larkin. Even high graded PSA 10 copies can still be acquired for well under $1,000, showing that not all 1989 UD rookies escalated to insane prices.
Another rookie pitcher featured was Mike Mussina on card #421 with the Baltimore Orioles. Mussina enjoyed a long and productive career winning 270 games between the Orioles and Yankees but never achieved superstar status. As a result, his Upper Deck rookie also remains quite reasonable for avid collectors. Copies in PSA 10 Gem Mint can be found in the $300-500 range. Mussina perfected his craft over the years to become a durable innings eater and hard-luck loser despite never winning a Cy Young award.
Not every 1989 Upper Deck rookie panned out to have a Hall of Fame caliber career. Shortstops Walt Weiss on card #132 with the Oakland A’s and Craig Worthington on card #497 with the Minnesota Twins never lived up to expectations. Weiss had a respectable 11 year career as a backup but never matched his prospect status. Worthington fizzled out after just a few seasons in the bigs. Their rookie cards have little value today aside from Yankees completionists seeking Weiss.
The 1989 Upper Deck set revolutionized the baseball card industry and enshrined some of the games future legends. While the Griffey and Larkin rookies understandably demand premium prices, there are still relatively affordable options to be had for collectors on a budget like Maddux and Mussina. Even those whose careers didn’t pan out still preserve a snapshot moment in time and serve as an investment in the memory of America’s pastime. The debut of Upper Deck ensured 1989 would always stand out as a landmark year in the hobby.
