The year 1989 produced many valuable baseball cards that are highly sought after by collectors today. Fuelled by the rise of popular players like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds entering their primes, the late 1980s were a boom time for the baseball card industry. Sets from Topps, Donruss, Fleer and Score generated massive interest from kids and adults alike who hoped to find the next rookie phenom. Though inflation and time have diminished raw returns, cards from ’89 remain a worthwhile long term investment for savvy collectors.
One of the most coveted rookie cards from any year is Ken Griffey Jr’s upper deck card. Debuting in the big leagues in 1989 at just 19 years old, Junior immediately established himself as a future star with prodigious power and grace in center field for the Seattle Mariners. His rookie cards capture him at the dawn of what would become a Hall of Fame career. PSA 10 examples of his flagship Upper Deck rookie in near mint condition have sold for over $100,000, with most graded copies fetching thousands. Even well-worn copies still carry value due to Griffey’s iconic status.
Barry Bonds also had a breakout season in 1989, smashing 34 home runs en route to winning the National League MVP award at just 24 years old. As a fourth year player with the Pittsburgh Pirates, his rookie cards actually came out in 1986 Topps. His ’89 Donruss, Score and Topps Traded baseball cards that depict his MVP campaign are extremely collectible as they captured Bonds on the verge of superstardom during steroid-free peak. Pristine high-grade copies can sell for multiple thousands.
Another highly valued rookie from ’89 is Tom Glavine’s cards. The smooth left-hander won Rookie of the Year pitching for the Atlanta Braves, hinting at the two-time Cy Young championships and 300 career win plateau he would eventually reach. While not in the Griffey/Bonds superstar stratosphere, Glavine’s rookie Donruss and Upper Deck cards still carry four figure values for mint condition specimens. The same goes for fellow Braves rookie and 300 game winner Greg Maddux.
The sheer depth of talent in the 1989 rookie class extends beyond just the headliners. Cards of future all-stars like Gary Sheffield, Mo Vaughn, and Larry Walker hold value in high grades. Then there are the less heralded players who had short but productive MLB careers. Mark Grace’s rookie Donruss sticker is affordable but scarce in pristine condition due to tattered corners being fragile even when newly packed as a kid.
Veteran stars of the late 80s also allure collectors. Kirby Puckett was in the midst of several All-Star and Gold Glove seasons as the beloved Twins centerfielder, making his ‘89 Topps and Fleer Update cards extremely collectible. Likewise, sluggers like Wade Boggs, Dwight Gooden, and Roberto Alomar delivered Hall of Fame caliber seasons at their peaks. In top condition, these remain moderately priced card investments especially relative to the headliners.
While raw output has declined versus the peak 90s boom, the magic of baseball cards from 1989 endures. Not only did they capture amazing young talent, but they also provide a nostalgic window into the sports world before PED usage impacted perceptions of stars’ legacies. With the retro collecting movement going strong in the 2020s, values should only appreciate further for pristinely preserved cards from this seminal yearbook. Whether chasing superstars or more modest PC builds, 1989 holds enduring appeal and collectibility for savvy vintage baseball fans.
The convergence of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Maddux, Glavine and Bonds entering their primes alongside a deep rookie class makes 1989 abenchmark year for the baseball card industry. High grade specimens from the year especially of rookies, MVPs and all-stars maintain strong intrinsic value and desirability that will likely compound further thanks to the lasting romance of these players’ formative big league seasons.
