The 1989 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable issues from the late 1980s. Produced during baseball’s steroid era, the ’89 Topps set featured several soon-to-be legendary players who would go on to cement their status as all-time greats. While it may lack the nostalgia and historical significance of older 1950s and 1960s sets, the ’89 Topps cards offer collectors a chance to acquire rookie and star cards from some of the biggest names in the game during baseball’s peak popularity period.
Perhaps the most notably valuable card from the ’89 Topps set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of, if not the best player of his generation, Griffey was already showing signs of stardom in his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners in 1989. His smooth left-handed swing and effortless skills in center field captivated fans. With his movie-star good looks and humble demeanor, Griffey became an immediate fan favorite. This made his rookie card extremely sought after, and it has only grown more valuable with time as his legacy has been solidified. PSA 10 Gem Mint Griffey rookies currently sell for well over $10,000, while even lower graded copies in the PSA 7-8 range can fetch $1,000-3,000.
Another hugely valuable offering from the ’89 Topps set is the Barry Bonds rookie card. Like Griffey, Bonds was already demonstrating his five-tool talents in his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though not as hyped as Griffey’s rookie at the time, Bonds would go on to have one of the greatest careers in baseball history and smash the all-time home run record. Naturally, interest in his rookie card has exploded over the decades. High-grade PSA 10 Bonds rookies are currently valued north of $20,000, while mid-range PSA 7-8 copies can sell for $3,000-$5,000.
Rounding out the top three most valuable cards from the ’89 set is the Frank Thomas rookie. “The Big Hurt” announced his arrival with a monstrous rookie season that saw him finish second in AL MVP voting. Thomas combined prodigious power with a smooth lefty swing and underrated patience at the plate. His rookie card saw strong early interest that has only strengthened in the intervening years. A PSA 10 Thomas rookie will fetch $6,000-$8,000, with PSA 7s settling in the $1,500 range.
While those three represent the undisputed cream of the crop in terms of value from the ’89 Topps set, there are several other highly soughtafter stars and rookie cards that can demand four-figure prices in high grades:
Greg Maddux: One of the most dominant and consistent pitchers ever, Maddux won four straight Cy Young awards from 1992-95. His second year card fetches $1,000-2000 graded PSA/BGS 8-10.
Tom Glavine: Maddux’s longtime Atlanta Braves teammate and 300-game winner. His sophomore card sells for $800-1500 in top grades.
Ken Caminiti: Winner of the 1996 NL MVP award playing for the Padres. His rookie card lands in the $400-800 range PSA/BGS 8-10.
Trevor Hoffman: The all-time saves leader’s rookie card demands $300-600 for high graded copies.
Jeff Bagwell: An early 90s superstar, Bagwell’s rookie sells for $300-500 PSA/BGS 8-10.
Fred McGriff: A perennial All-Star first baseman known as “Crime Dog”, McGriff’s rookie brings $200-400 in top condition.
Paul Molitor: A Hall of Fame second baseman, Molitor’s traded card fetches $150-300 PSA/BGS 8-10.
Randy Johnson: “The Big Unit’s” rookie year refractor sells for $100-250 graded well.
Jay Buhner: Best known for his time with the Mariners, Buhner’s rookie sold when graded for $75-150 in the late 2010s.
Craig Biggio: A 3,000 hit man enshrined in Cooperstown, Biggio’s rookie brings $50-100 in top shape.
While condition is always key, these cards demonstrate how the performances, records and legacies built by players in the years after their ’89 Topps rookies were issued factor heavily into the cards’ modern valuations. For vintage baseball card collectors, investment opportunities may still exist to acquire ungraded examples of these valuable names at affordable prices with long-term potential. The ’89 Topps set endures as one of the most collectible from the sport’s modern era.
