The year 1989 produced some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards of all time. During the late 1980s, interest in collecting baseball cards was at an all-time high due to an exciting time in Major League Baseball that featured young superstar players like Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire who captured the imagination of fans both young and old.
One of the most valuable cards from 1989 is the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie card. Griffey was one of the best all-around players of his generation and his rookie card became the definitive card for the Upper Deck brand when it debuted in 1989. What makes Griffey’s rookie card especially coveted is how infrequently it was pulled from packs compared to similar cards from that era. The Griffey Jr. card is notoriously difficult to find in pristine condition due to fragile coating on the cardboard stock used by Upper Deck at the time. A near-mint Griffey Jr. rookie card in a Gem Mint 10 grade can fetch over $10,000 today and there is one known copy that has sold for over $100,000.
Another massive star from the late 80s/early 90s was Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco. Canseco revolutionized the home run-hitting game during his career and his rookie cards capture that excitement. Canseco’s flagship rookie is from 1989 Topps and Donruss and high grade versions can sell for thousands depending on condition. A particularly scarce and sought-after Canseco rookie is the 1989 Custom Traded/Stadium Club #T1. This stunning on-card snapshot shows Canseco flexing in mid-swing and ranks among the most iconic baseball cards ever produced. A near-mint example would easilyclear $5,000.
The 1989 Upper Deck set is considered one of the greatest and most influential releases in the modern era. This was Upper Deck’s true rookie year when they broke into the baseball card market and wow-ed collectors with stunning photograph quality far beyond anything else at the time. Some of the most valuable cards from the ’89 Upper Deck base set include the Kirby Puckett ($300-400 NM), Dwight Gooden ($250-350 NM), and Ozzie Smith ($200-300 NM). But the true blue chip star is none other than Ken Griffey Jr, as discussed previously.
Speaking of stars, one of the most electrifying players debuting in 1989 was Chicago Cubs super-prospect Mark Grace. While he didn’t achieve the same fame as Griffey Jr. or Barry Bonds, Grace’s rookie cards have achieved cult status among Cubs collectors specifically. His 1989 Topps Traded rookie with the “Chicago” template behind him is a true Holy Grail, often valued over $1,000 in top condition despite Grace never achieving true superstardom. Other highly sought rookies include Cleveland Indians pitcher Cha Seung Baek and Houston Astros first baseman/DH Glenn Davis.
It would be remiss not to mention the dominance of Oakland A’s “Bash Brothers” Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco during this time period. While not rookies, their scintillating performances leading the A’s to championships made them fan favorites. McGwire’s 1989 Topps Traded Giants #1 “Airplane” card is one of his most iconic with Big Mac swinging mid-flight. Near-mint copies sell for $500-800 depending on sharpness of image. Canseco meanwhile continued shredding baseballs to all fields. His staggering athleticism and brawny physique were perfectly represented on his ‘89 Fleer update card among others from that year.
One of the most beautiful and valuable team sets from 1989 is Score. Score released their first baseball card product that year and it became an instant classic among designers. Luxurious foiling, texture and innovative photography produced cards that felt more like works of art than typical recreations of the baseball season. The Chicago Cubs team card anchored by Ryne Sandberg has long been a tremendous prize for collectors, selling forupwards of $200 in gem condition. Other premium cards from Score ’89 include the Baltimore Orioles ($150), Texas Rangers ($125) and San Diego Padres ($100) team cards.
1989 was the true arrival of Upper Deck as the hobby’s premier brand but it was hardly the only player creating innovative new products. For collectors seeking obscure gems, the 1989 ProCards Vide/Recorded Sound issue provides a fascinating time capsule. This was one of the earliest examples of baseball cards combined with innovative multi-media packaging concepts before they became commonplace. While devoid of true stars, nostalgia for late 80s baseball combined with the product’s ambitious proto-insert concept gives individual ProCards cassettes a cult following today valued around $50-75 each.
In summary, 1989 was a banner year that produced durable stars, innovative new products, and memorable rookie cards that have rightfully earned legend status among collectors decades later. Headlined by the iconic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie, items like the Jose Canseco ‘Custom Traded’ and Mark McGwire ‘Airplane’ give collectors signature cards that still excite and entertain fans of the era over thirty years later. The explosive growth of interest that Upper Deck helped fuel in the late 80s continues to make the class of ’89 a treasure trove for savvy investors even today.
