The 1989 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable sets from the late 1980s. The set features 792 total cards including base cards, duplicate photo variations, extended stats cards and multi-player cards. Some of the rookies and stars featured in the set have cards that hold significant value even decades later. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1989 Topps cards and what drives their prices.
One of the most expensive cards from the 1989 set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the most exciting young prospects in baseball coming into the 1989 season and lived up to the hype with an impressive debut. His rookie card from Topps is one of the most iconic in the modern era and remains highly sought after by collectors. High grade Griffey rookies in near-mint to mint condition regularly sell for thousands of dollars. A PSA 10 Griffey rookie has sold for over $25,000, showing the card’s staying power. Griffey went on to have a Hall of Fame career fueled by 13 All-Star nods and 10 Gold Glove awards.
Another rookie card that holds significant value is that of Barry Bonds. Like Griffey, Bonds was a can’t-miss prospect who would go on to have an all-time great career. Bonds won 7 NL MVP awards and holds the single season and career home run records. His 1989 Topps rookie card isn’t quite as desirable as Griffey’s but still fetches a high price in the collector market. Near-mint Bonds rookies have sold for over $1,000 and receive a premium in high grades. The card occupies a coveted spot in sets of the game’s career leader in home runs.
Veteran stars from the late 1980s also have valuable cards in the 1989 Topps set. A PSA 10 mint condition Kirby Puckett card has sold for over $5,000 due to his sparkling career batting average of .318 and 6 batting titles. Also pricey are Near-Mint Roberto Alomar and Cal Ripken Jr. rookie cards, valued at $500-700 each for their respective HOF careers. Pitching cards like Orel Hershiser’s $250 NM card receive demand as well due to his remarkable 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988.
Special parallel and photo variation cards stand out in the 1989 Topps set too. The “Glossy Send” parallel shows a glossier photo on a otherwise identical card that drives a premium. Short printed players see rarer parallel cards command over $100 in NM-MT condition. The Mike Schmidt and Don Mattingly “All-Star” variations also carry markup over the base version. Prices can vary based on condition grades from services like PSA and SGC as well. Higher grades add substantial value especially when condition is virtually flawless.
The key factors that determine 1989 Topps card values are the player featured, their career achievements, the card’s print run and parallels, and especially its state of preservation. Rookies of Hall of Famers like Griffey and Bonds hold blue-chip status but even star veterans remain popular. Condition is paramount, and the price leaps substantially for high-end PSA/SGC scores. The 1989 Topps set endures as one of the greatest of its time and a benchmark for both completionists and savvy investors alike due to the lasting allure of its featured players. With iconic rookies, chase parallels, and hall-of-famers throughout, the cards retain relevance in the collecting hobby decades later.
