The 1989 Score collector set baseball cards hold nostalgic value for many who collected cards in the late 80s and early 90s. The set featured major league players and rookies from that season. While the individual common cards may not be worth much today, there are a few key cards that can still fetch a high price from dedicated collectors.
The 1989 Score set had 525 total cards in the base set. Some of the notable rookie cards included in the set were Barry Bonds, Gregg Jefferies, Bobby Witt, and Tom Glavine. Bonds would go on to have one of the greatest careers in baseball history, while Glavine became a Hall of Famer. Jefferies and Witt showed promise but did not live up to their full potential due to injuries. Still, their rookie cards from this set remain popular with collectors today.
The biggest money cards from the 1989 Score set are the short printed parallel cards that were much harder to obtain. Ken Griffey Jr. had one of the most sought after rookie cards from this era. His parallel card from the 1989 Score set is card number 413 and was printed in much lower quantities than the base card. In near mint to mint condition, Griffey’s parallel rookie has sold for over $2,000. Another short printed parallel that can fetch over $1,000 is the Frank Thomas rookie card from the set. Thomas went on to have a Hall of Fame career and his parallel from 1989 Score is still in high demand.
In addition to short printed parallels, there are also a handful of error and variation cards that can carry a high premium. One of the most notable is the Nolan Ryan card numbered to 525 in the set. Due to a printing error, some copies of this card were accidentally printed with the number 524 instead. These 524 Nolan Ryan variations have sold for upwards of $800 when graded and preserved in mint condition. Another interesting error card is the Ken Phelps card, which had its photo and stats accidentally swapped with another player on some print runs. Examples of this error that are in high grade can sell for over $500.
When it comes to grading the condition of 1989 Score cards, the three main companies collectors use are Beckett, PSA, and SGC. PSA and SGC slabs are generally considered the most desirable, as they were founded later and are known for their stricter grading standards compared to the now defunct Beckett grading service. Cards that grade PSA/SGC Gem Mint 10 or Mint 9 are extremely scarce and valuable, especially for the key rookies. Even lower graded copies in Near Mint+ to Excellent condition can still hold value for dedicated collectors.
For common base cards in the 1989 Score set, prices really depend on the grade and player featured. Solid rookie cards of future stars like Barry Bonds, Tom Glavine, or Gregg Jefferies in PSA/SGC 8 or higher can sell in the $10-30 range. All-Star level players from that season in similar condition may go for $5-15. But most common cards in raw Near Mint or lower grade are only worth around $1-3 each today. Still, for enthusiasts of late 80s/early 90s cards, even these common copies can be desirable to finish out their collection.
While the 1989 Score base set cards on their own may not carry huge monetary value in the greater collecting landscape today, there are still some gems that excite collectors. Short prints, errors, and the prized rookie cards of future legends like Bonds, Griffey Jr., and Frank Thomas maintain strong demand. For those hoping to potentially cash in big on cards from their childhood, it’s worth taking a closer look through their old collection for any of these key parallel or rookie standouts from the 1989 Score baseball release. The set remains an iconic reminder of the heyday of the baseball card boom for many enthusiasts.
