The 1989 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 1980s. Fleer released their baseball cards annually from 1981-1992 and the 1989 set in particular features some of the biggest stars and rookies from that era of the game. While the cards may not carry the same cachet as vintage offerings from the 1950s, many 1989 Fleer cards still hold substantial value today, especially for higher graded examples in mint condition. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from the 1989 Fleer set and what they can fetch on the current market.
The 1989 Fleer set contains a total of 792 cards issued in wax packs. Some of the biggest names featured include Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Ryne Sandberg. The true gems of the set revolve around the rookie cards it includes. Ken Griffey Jr. headlines the rookie class after being drafted number one overall in 1987. Widely considered one of the best players of his generation, Griffey’s rookie card from the 1989 Fleer set is arguably the most coveted and valuable in the entire issue.
In a PSA 10 gem mint condition, Griffey’s rookie recently sold for over $25,000. Even lower graded examples still command prices well into the thousands. The card’s combination of starring one of the game’s all-time great sluggers and being from his true rookie season has cemented it as a holy grail for collectors. Another huge star with a rookie in the 1989 Fleer set is Barry Bonds. Though he had played parts of two prior seasons, 1989 was Bonds’ first full year in the majors and the card is classified as his true rookie by collectors. High grade Bonds rookies have sold for upwards of $10,000 as well.
Two other notable rookies from the 1989 Fleer set that hold substantial value are Sandy Alomar Jr. and Gregg Jefferies. Alomar went on to have a solid 14 year career primarily as a catcher and his rookie routinely fetches $500-$1000 for top examples. Jefferies was once a highly touted prospect but didn’t pan out as hoped – still, his rookie remains quite scarce and has sold for over $1000. Beyond the star rookies, there are also several short print and error cards from the 1989 Fleer set that command premium prices. One is the Ken Griffey Jr. photo variation, where his head is cut off at the top of the card image.
Only approximately 100 of these variations are believed to exist and they can sell for thousands when high graded. Another short print is the Ozzie Smith card featuring a “w” logo on his jersey from an error in the production process. High grade examples have sold for well over $1000 given the card’s scarcity. The 1989 Fleer set contains several other short prints and parallels that are much tougher pulls and hold added value as a result. This includes gold foil parallel cards of Clemens, Smith, and others. Condition is also extremely important when appraising the value of 1989 Fleer cards.
While raw, lower grade copies of the big rookie cards may only fetch $50-100, slabbed and high graded examples can be 100x more valuable or greater. This is because the condition of the card directly impacts its eye appeal and preservation of the original printed image. Professionally graded mint 9s and gem mint 10s allow collectors to clearly see and trust the condition, thus justifying premium prices. In the high-end collector market, condition often matters more than specific players or sets when determining a card’s worth. This makes obtaining pristine, top graded examples from the 1989 Fleer set especially desirable – and lucrative – for informed collectors today.
While the 1989 Fleer baseball card set as a whole does not reach the value of true vintage 1950s issues, it does contain several key rookie cards and short prints that have stood the test of time. Headlined by the Griffey and Bonds rookies, condition-sensitive examples from ’89 Fleer can still sell for thousands to tens of thousands depending on the player, scarcity, and grade. The popularity of the players featured keeps nostalgic demand high, and the relatively low original print run sizes compared to modern issues adds to the set’s allure. For savvy collectors, hunting down pristine ’89 Fleer gems remains a worthwhile pursuit that can yield strong long-term financial returns.
