The 1989 Collector’s Choice baseball card set was released during the peak of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s. While not one of the “big three” brands of that era, Topps, Fleer, and Donruss, Collector’s Choice offered collectors a large, nostalgic set featuring many stars from that season and the past. With 700 cards in the base set plus inserts, the 1989 Collector’s Choice set remains popular among vintage collectors today.
Some of the top rookie cards from the 1989 Collector’s Choice set that can still fetch high prices include Ken Griffey Jr., who appeared on the cover of the set. Even well-centered, near-mint condition Griffey Jr. rookie cards usually sell for $150-300. Another hot rookie was Cub’s shortstop Shawon Dunston, who made his MLB debut in 1982 but is best known for his years with the Cubs in the late 80s. Dunston’s rookie typically sells for $30-60. One of the more iconic cards is Ozzie Smith’s final season with the Cardinals in 1989, as his defensive skills were still regarded among the best ever at shortstop. High-grade Smith rookie cards sell in the $50-100 range.
All-Star cards that tend to command larger prices include Don Mattingly’s 1987 season with the Yankees, where he hit .327 with 35 home runs and 115 RBI’s. High-grade versions can bring over $100. Another star from that era, Andre Dawson, also known as “The Hawk,” appeared on Collector’s Choice cards throughout the late 80s. His 1987 season card, when he was named NL MVP hitting 49 home runs for the Cubs, has sold for up to $80 in top condition. Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg’s 1984 season, when he was named NL MVP as a second baseman for the Cubs, has sold for around $75 in top grades as well.
Among the most coveted inserts in the 1989 Collector’s Choice set are the retired stars subset, which featured 34 retired players in strip card format. The most valuable in this subset is undoubtedly the Ted Williams card, featuring a photo of him in a Red Sox uniform. High-grade Ted Williams retired stars cards have sold for over $400. Another high-dollar card is the Willie Mays retired stars insert, which has reached $250 for a pristine copy. The Hank Aaron retired stars card also typically fetches $100-200.
Another popular insert run is the “Top 50” career leaders subset, with cards depicting statistics for the all-time leaders in various categories at the time such as hits, home runs, and stolen bases. The Ty Cobb Top 50 career hits leader card – with over 4,000 hits – commonly sells for $60-100. The Babe Ruth Top 50 career home runs leader card highlighting his record 714 home runs has sold for up to $150 in near-mint condition. The Rickey Henderson Top 50 career stolen bases leader card showing his 130+ steal seasons with Oakland has also sold in the $75-125 range.
Key vintage stars like Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays appeared throughout the base set as well. Their cards remain some of the most sought-after, with a Musial PSA 9 easily reaching $50-75. A pristine Mantle usually sells closer to $150-200 given his iconic status. High-graded Willie Mays base cards have even exceeded $300.
There were also stars of the era well-represented like Mike Schmidt, who won his last NL MVP in 1986. His Collector’s Choice card from that season commonly sells for $40-70. Another Philadelphia star, Steve Carlton, is immortalized on several cards from his years with the Phillies in the 1970s. His 1972 season where he won 27 games and struck out 310 batters has sold for $60-100.
While there are no true “keys” to crack value-wise, the 1989 Collector’s Choice set endures as one of the final mainstream releases prior to the card crash that same year. Featuring a loaded roster of name players from that year and beyond, the set maintains nostalgic appeal among collectors of 1980s/90s cards. With scarcity and condition determining most prices, high-grade examples of franchise stars, rookie phenoms, and career milestones will continue demanding healthy returns for savvy collectors.
