The 1998 Upper Deck baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the 1990s. While it didn’t feature any rookie cards of future superstars, there are several standout cards from the set that have increased tremendously in value over the past two decades. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the top 1998 Upper Deck baseball cards that are worth money today.
The flagship card of the 1998 Upper Deck set is the Ken Griffey Jr. jersey parallel card. Labeled as “Griffey Jr. Threads”, this parallel insert featured Griffey wearing a piece of his authentic game-used Mariners jersey embedded within the card. Only 50 of these rare parallel cards were printed, making it one of the most coveted Upper Deck parallels ever produced. In near mint condition, a Griffey Jr. Threads card in a PSA 10 gem mint grade is worth around $15,000-$20,000 today. Even well-centered examples in PSA 9 excellent condition can fetch $5,000-$8,000.
Another incredibly rare and valuable parallel from 1998 Upper Deck is the “Diamond Kings” parallel of Sammy Sosa. This parallel featured Sosa’s image made entirely of tiny diamond shapes. Like the Griffey Jr. Threads, only 50 of these were inserted into packs. High-grade Sosa Diamond Kings parallels in a PSA 10 are worth around $10,000 today, while PSA 9s can sell for $4,000-$6,000. Both the Griffey and Sosa parallels are must-have cards for serious vintage collectors due to their extreme scarcity and iconic designs.
In terms of base rookie cards from the 1998 Upper Deck set, there aren’t any that have increased tremendously in value. The Derek Jeter rookie card has maintained strong demand over the years from Yankees collectors. High-grade Jeter rookies in a PSA 10 are valued around $500-$800, while PSA 9s can sell for $200-$400. The Jeter is certainly the most valuable base rookie from the set in top-pop grades.
Another card that has seen good appreciation is the Ken Griffey Jr. base card from 1998 Upper Deck. Considered one of Griffey’s best and most iconic baseball cards ever, high-grade Griffey base cards from this set are worth a pretty penny. A PSA 10 Griffey base in near-mint to mint condition could sell for $300-$500. Well-centered PSA 9s are valued around $150-$250. Even though it’s not a rookie card, Griffey’s popularity and the iconic photo used have kept demand strong for this base issue over the years.
While not quite as valuable as the parallels, there are also a few other key short-print and serially numbered cards from 1998 Upper Deck that have increased nicely in price. The Ivan Rodriguez short-print card, which was only inserted around 1 per pack, has risen to $50-$75 in high grades. The Mark McGwire short-print also commands $40-$60 in top condition.
In terms of serially numbered cards, the “Diamond Anniversary” parallel cards numbered to only 100 copies each have held their value well. The Sammy Sosa Diamond Anniversary parallel in a PSA 10 is worth $150-$250. The Ken Griffey Jr. and Cal Ripken Jr. Diamond Anniversary parallels in a PSA 10 grade sell in the $100-$150 range as well. These low-numbered parallel inserts remain highly sought after by collectors.
While not the flashiest or most star-studded set from the 1990s, the 1998 Upper Deck issue does contain some true gems that have proven to be great long-term investments. The ultra-rare Griffey Jr. and Sosa parallel cards lead the way in terms of value, but there are also strong returns to be had on high-grade versions of Griffey and Jeter’s base cards. Add in the desirable short-prints and low-numbered parallels, and it’s easy to see why 1998 Upper Deck remains a highly collectible vintage release. For those willing to pay top dollar, it offers some true vintage baseball card treasures worth thousands in today’s market.
While it may lack the rookie card firepower of some other classic 90s releases, the 1998 Upper Deck set deserves recognition as one of the most valuable issues from the decade. Headlined by the unprecedented Griffey Jr. and Sosa parallel cards, it provides vintage collectors a chance to own iconic pieces of card history. Factor in strong demand for stars like Griffey, Jeter, and McGwire, and there is money to be made by investing in high-quality examples from this underrated classic set. For those seeking blue-chip vintage cardboard, 1998 Upper Deck continues to deliver great long-term returns nearly 25 years after its original release.
