The 1989 Topps baseball card set was the 568th different baseball card release from Topps, issued during the season that saw the Oakland Athletics defeat the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. The set includes 792 total cards and featured players from all 26 Major League Baseball teams at the time.
Some key facts about the 1989 Topps set:
Design: The design featured a larger centered headshot photo with the team logo and player name/position below in a banner. Statistics were provided on the back.
Rookies of note: None of the rookies from the 1989 set went on to the Hall of Fame, but names like Sandy Alomar Jr., Gregg Olson, and Tom Gordon debuted.
Short Prints: The set included 24 short printed cards that were much harder to find, like #1 Nolan Ryan and #100 Ozzie Smith.
-checklist: The checklist ran from #1 to #792 and featured all but a handful of players on MLB rosters that season. Notable omissions included unsigned prospects like Ken Griffey Jr.
High Numbers: The company’s attempt to combat the debut of Upper Deck led them to include many utility players and pitchers in the high number range from #721 to #792.
Now let’s take a deeper look at one of the most famous cards in the 1989 set, #650 featuring legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan:
At the time, Nolan Ryan was entering his age 42 season with the Texas Rangers after 23 years in the majors. Still throwing in the high 90s, Ryan has defied Father Time like no other pitcher in baseball history. The 1989 season would be his 27th and final in the big leagues.
On the front of the card, Ryan is shown in a Texas Rangers uniform, his hat bending slightly as he stares down at the catcher, ready to deliver another blazing fastball. In the background, the roof of Arlington Stadium is visible. It’s an iconic pose that exemplifies Ryan’s dominance on the mound well into his 40s.
Some key stats on the back of the card:
1988 Stats: 14-5 record, 2.76 ERA, 210 strikeouts (led AL for 8th time) in 223.1 innings pitched
Career Stats to date: 324-226 record, 3.04 ERA, 5,000 strikeouts (most all-time)
7-time ERA Title Winner, led league in strikeouts 5 different decades
Had just thrown his record 6th no-hitter in ’88 at age 41
Ryan would go on to have another excellent season in 1989, posting a 4.01 ERA with 211 strikeouts in 211.2 IP across 33 starts. He earned his 5,000th career strikeout that June, further cementing his legend.
The condition and collectibility of the 1989 Topps Nolan Ryan #650 has only increased over time. While production numbers for the set were high, Ryan’s iconic posture and accomplishment of reaching 5,000 Ks ensured this card remained highly sought after.
In Gem Mint condition, PSA 10 examples have sold for over $500 in recent years. Even well-worn raw copies can fetch $20-50 depending on the seller. For baseball card investors and enthusiasts, it’s seen as a must-own piece from one of the game’s greatest pitchers.
When Topps issued the 1989 set, no one could have predicted Ryan’s improbable dominance well into his 40s. With each passing season, his accomplishments seemed more unbelievable. The #650 card perfectly captures that mystique and places him among the most iconic pitchers ever featured on a baseball card. Over 30 years later, it remains one of the crown jewels in the set.
While not the most valuable or well-known release overall, the 1989 Topps baseball set sold millions of packs and capturea key careers like Nolan Ryan in his final season. For fans and collectors of ’80s cardboard, it remains a highly cherished release from the company’s vast history of producing baseball cards. Individual standouts like the Ryan #650 continue to fascinate observers and symbolize why statistics alone can’t define an athlete’s greatness.
