The year 1989 marked a turning point in the baseball card industry. While the 1980s boom was starting to cool off, 1989 produced some of the most iconic and valuable rookie cards of all-time. Several future Hall of Famers made their debuts on baseball cards in 1989 including Ken Griffey Jr, Gregg Maddux, and Chipper Jones. With the rise of these young superstars, 1989 cards have become highly sought after by collectors.
Topps had the exclusive license to produce major league baseball cards in 1989. They released 696 total cards split between two series. The design featured a primarily white border with team logo and player name across the top. Statistics were listed on the back along with a short career recap. Some of the most notable rookies included in the 1989 Topps set were Griffey Jr, Maddux, Jones, and Tom Glavine. These players would go on to have outstanding careers and their rookie cards from ’89 are among the most valuable in the hobby.
Ken Griffey Jr’s rookie card is arguably the most iconic of the 1980s/90s. As the son of a major league All-Star, expectations were high for the young Griffey coming into the league. He did not disappoint, winning rookie of the year and becoming a perennial All-Star. The popularity of “The Kid” helped drive demand for his rookie card to new heights. PSA 10 examples now sell for well over $10,000, making it one of the highest valued modern baseball cards.
Another highly sought after rookie is Gregg Maddux from the ’89 Topps set. Maddux went on to have one of the greatest pitching careers in MLB history, winning 4 Cy Young awards among countless other accolades and championships. Like Griffey, the success and fame of Maddux increased collector demand for his rookie card. High grade PSA/BGS copies can fetch thousands.
Chipper Jones’ rookie is also a major prize card from 1989 Topps. As the #1 overall pick and future Hall of Famer, Jones burst onto the scene with the Atlanta Braves. He was a perennial MVP candidate who helped lead the Braves dynasty of the 1990s. High quality Chipper rookies regularly sell for well over $1000.
Tom Glavine, who like Maddux was a star pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, also debuted in the ’89 set. While not as expensive as the three above, a PSA 10 Glavine rookie can still sell for $500-1000. Other notable rookies included Ben McDonald, Gregg Jefferies, and Bobby Thigpen among others.
Beyond the star rookie cards, 1989 Topps featured many future Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Tony Gwynn among its veteran players. The set is loaded with stars from that era. The design and photography quality also holds up well compared to other 1980s issues. This all contributes to the enduring popularity and collector demand for the ’89 Topps baseball card set.
While Topps had the MLB license, other companies produced unlicensed sets in 1989 as well. The most prominent was Fleer. They released a set featuring retired stars and minor leaguers since they could not use active major leaguers. Some of the retired players included in the ’89 Fleer baseball card set were Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax. The designs had a distinct retro feel paying homage to earlier decades.
Score also produced an unlicensed ’89 baseball card set. They featured active major leaguers but without team logos or names for legal reasons. The photography and design styles were more generic than the licensed Topps issue. Nevertheless, complete sets can still be fun for collectors on a budget.
The 1989 baseball card season was truly a watershed year. Between the debuts of future Hall of Fame superstars and the overall quality and design of the flagship Topps set, 1989 issues remain some of the most recognizable and sought after in the entire hobby. Prices have skyrocketed for the highest graded versions of stars like Griffey Jr, Maddux, and Jones. Even less expensive veterans and commons can be enjoyed by collectors on a budget. The ’89 season will always be remembered as the year a new generation of baseball trading card legends first appeared.
