Ken Griffey Jr. is considered one of the greatest players to ever play Major League Baseball and his incredible talent and athleticism made him a huge star at a young age. As a result, Griffey Jr. baseball cards from his rookie season in 1989 and throughout his 22 year career are some of the most sought after and valuable baseball cards on the hobby.
Due to his early success and popularity as a rookie, Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Upper Deck baseball card is one of the iconic rookie cards in the history of the sport. Griffey Jr. broke into the league with dazzling play for the Seattle Mariners and immediately became a fan favorite. His rookie card, featuring Griffey Jr. swinging a bat left-handed despite being a righty, became one of the most significant rookie cards ever printed and helps encapsulate the excitement around his debut season.
On eBay, PSA Gem Mint 10 graded versions of Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Upper Deck rookie card routinely sell for thousands of dollars. In April 2022, one example sold for $15,300, showing just how desired pristine versions of this iconic cardboard remain. Even lower graded examples still demand strong prices due to Griffey Jr.’s popularity and status as a rookie card legend. A PSA Excellent-Mint 8 version recently sold for $3,050, while raw copies can still fetch $500 or more depending on condition.
Beyond his rookie, Griffey Jr.’s best and most expensive baseball cards generally come from his early Mariners career in Seattle during the late 80s and 90s. This includes flagship issues like his 1989 Bowman, 1990 Bowman, and 1991 Upper Deck cards. Mint condition copies of these parallel the value of the 1989 Upper Deck rookie. Low-mint 9 versions can sell for $1,000-$2,000 on eBay.
Evenriff Hein’s odder, regional issued cards see big numbers due to their scarcity and association with his ascent. His rare 1989 Pacific Washington Rooftops SP card recently sold for $8,300 in a PSA 10 grade. Likewise, his 1990 Leaf Rookies and Stars of Baseball Washington SP in a BGS 9.5 Gem Mint + grade brought $6,600. For the most advanced Griffey Jr. collectors, finding high-grade examples of these oddball issues is a major prize.
After being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, Griffey Jr. continued cranking out big hits and making All-Star Games but began dealing with numerous injuries. Nevertheless, his cards produced during this Reds tenure remain beloved by fans and collectibles. Cards like his 2000 Topps Traded, 2002 Upper Deck Vintage Refractors parallel in BGS 9.5 pristine condition can sell for $800-900.
Griffey Jr.’s legendary status was cemented after a few more seasons with the career-closing stops with the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. While cards from his later playing days don’t carry the same cachet as his early Mariners issues, they still entertain strong collector interest. Even so, a PSA 10 2008 Topps Tribute Autographed Patch parallel card yielded nearly $1,000 due to its on-card autograph and swatch relic.
When perusing Griffey Jr. cards on eBay, factors like the player’s age, team, and parallel issues come into collecting consideration. Also significant is the card’s grading company authentication and assigned numerical grade. Top graded examples in PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ pristine condition will naturally be the most expensive due to rarity and appeal to advanced collectors.
For average Griffey Jr. PC builders or fans, there are still plenty of affordable options across his career in lower graded states. Outside of the true superstar rookie cards, common issues from his later playing days can usually be found raw or graded at $10-100 depending. This allows most collectors the chance to build a solid KGJ cardboard collection representing different seasons and stages of his legendary MLB tenure.
Whether pursuing pristine investments for the long haul or more budget-friendly fan collectibles, eBay remains a vibrant marketplace for obtaining Ken Griffey Jr. cards. His iconic rookie issues from the late 80s will likely never lose significance. But the full breadth of his unbelievable 22-year playing career and accomplishments have also spawned numerous cards that live on as cherished pieces of baseball nostalgia for collectors around the world.
