The 1989 Topps baseball card set was released at the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s. With 792 total cards in the set, it featured superstar players like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Nolan Ryan who were leading their respective teams to success. While not one of the most coveted vintage sets, the 1989 Topps cards provide a snapshot of the game during an exciting era and several key rookie cards that can hold value for collectors today.

Among the top draws of the 1989 set are the rookie cards for future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Maddux. Griffey’s card, featuring him with the Seattle Mariners, has long been one of the most iconic and desirable rookie cards in the modern era. In near mint to mint condition, examples can fetch $100-$250 raw or $300-$500 graded by PSA or BGS in high grades. Maddux’s Atlanta Braves rookie is highly regarded as well, with mint copies valued around $50-$150 depending on grade.

Another noteworthy rookie is that of multi-time all-star Edgar Martinez. As a key member of the Seattle “Refuse to Lose” teams, his card remains popular with Mariners collectors. Martinez rookies in top condition sell in the $30-$80 range. Chicago Cubs pitcher Jamie Moyer, who pitched until age 49, also has a rookie card in the 1989 set worth $15-30 for high grades.

Amongst star veterans, the highest valued cards tend to belong to pitchers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Both were absolute dominating forces on the mound in the late 1980s. A PSA 10 or BGS Black Label gem mint Ryan is potentially a $500+ card in today’s market. Clemens, winner of the 1988 AL Cy Young and MVP award, has 10 grade examples reach $150-300.

Other notable star cards include Ozzie Smith ($20-50 PSA 10), Wade Boggs ($15-30 PSA 10), and Rickey Henderson ($10-25 PSA 10). Keep in mind, condition is crucial – most raw copies of these star cards in worn, played condition may only fetch $1-5. Beyond the biggest names, many other star players have $5-15 values across the board in top grades as well.

For team collectors, there are several key rookie and star player cards that maintain strong demand. In addition to the Griffey, Maddux, and Martinez cards already mentioned, highlights include the Ken Oberkfell Reds rookie ($10-20 PSA 10), the Mark McGwire A’s rookie ($10-20 PSA 10), and the Nolan Ryan Angels veteran ($10-20 PSA 10). Seattle Mariners fans covet the Griffey, Martinez, and Jay Buhner rookies especially.

Beyond flagship rookies and stars, there are also several sought-after short prints and serially numbered cards in the 1989 Topps set that hold added value. Key serially numbered cards include the #1 Ken Griffey Jr. (est. $200-400 PSA 10), #350 Ozzie Smith (est. $50-100 PSA 10), and #700 Nolan Ryan (est. $40-80 PSA 10). Some of the scarcer short prints like Robin Yount and Mike Schmidt can reach $20-40 in top condition as well.

While not as iconic or valuable as some of the 1980s flagship sets, the 1989 Topps set remains an accessible and affordable vintage release for collectors. Like most older baseball card products, condition is king – with mint examples of stars and key rookies potentially worth 10x raw, worn copies in many cases. For teams outside the big baseball markets, there can also be hidden gems amongst franchise favorites as well. When searching to build a hobby collection or make an investment, keeping conditions and team/player collectibility in mind is important with the 1989 Topps set.

While the 1989 Topps set does not contain any true ultra-high end cards, it provides a great snapshot of the late 1980s MLB landscape with several Hall of Fame rookie cards and star veterans that retain affordable values even in top grades. For collectors looking to add a classic 1980s set to their collection or investors browsing for cost-effective vintage investments,1989 Topps baseball cards offer a great option. With desirable Hall of Fame rookies and low overall production costs, the set maintains relevance and carries valued cards over three decades later.