The 1989 baseball card season marked the dawn of a new era in the hobby. The 1980s had seen explosive growth in collecting driven by the arrival of star players like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens on the scene. By the late 1980s the market was beginning to cool off from the peak of the bubble years.

1989 is often seen as a transitional year, with cards from the tail end of the “junk wax” era before values began a steady decline in the early 90s. There were still some hugely coveted rare and valuable rookie cards produced that year. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1989 baseball cards that continue to attract interest from collectors decades later.

Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck #1 RC (Rookie Card)
Arguably the single most valuable and recognizable baseball card ever printed, the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie remains the undisputed king of 1989. Widely considered one of the finest all-around players of his generation, Griffey lived up to the huge hype around his debut. Extremely limited production numbers and a flawless on-field career have made ungraded Griffey Jr. rookie cards worth thousands even in well-worn condition today. A PSA 10 Gem Mint example recently sold for over $347,000, showing no signs of losing its crown as the premier modern era collectible.

Chipper Jones Fleer RC #415
Another transcendent player who had an immediate impact was Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. His 1989 Fleer rookie is highly sought after by Atlanta Braves collectors in particular. While not in the same astronomical price range as Griffey, PSA 10 Chipper Jones rookies have still topped $10,000 recently. Even well-centered, sharp copies in PSA 8+ condition command four-figure values due to Jones’ stellar 19-year career entirely with the Braves.

Greg Maddux Score RC #574
Three-time NL Cy Young winner and Hall of Famer Greg Maddux broke in with the Chicago Cubs in 1986 but his iconic long blonde mullet and glare on his 1989 Score rookie made him a fan favorite. Unsurprisingly this was Maddux’s most widely distributed and collected card in the late 80s/early 90s. Though common today, high-grade Maddux rookies still sell extremely well for a pitching card. A PSA 10 just brought over $4,000 at auction.

Frank Thomas Bowman’s Best RC #146
Another legendary Chicago White Sox slugger whose rookie appeared in 1989 was “The Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, who won back-to-back AL MVP awards in 1993-1994. While not in the same league as Griffey or Maddux in terms of production numbers, Thomas’s superb on-card image and strong performance out of the gate make his Bowman’s Best RC a solid mid-range investment card today. Graded PSA 10 copies can be found in the $2,000-$3,000 range.

Tom Glavine Score RC #671
Like Maddux, Hall of Fame Braves ace Tom Glavine spent most of his career with a single franchise. His imposing rookie glare from the 1989 Score set is one of the most iconic pitcher cards of the modern era. Despite being common as a novice issue, pristine Glavine rookies in PSA 10 condition still sell briskly for $500-750 based on strong long-term demand from Braves collectors. This is a very affordable high-end card for a HOF pitcher.

Barry Larkin Donruss RC #121
The 1989 Donruss design became synonymous with the “junk wax” era, but for Cincinnati Reds fans Barry Larkin’s rookie is treasured as one of the finer shortstop talents of his time. A 12-time All-Star and 1995 NL MVP, Larkin was inducted into Cooperstown in 2012. Despite heavy initial production, his super-sharp Donruss RC still frequently tops $300-400 in PSA 10, largely buoyed by local Reds collectors.

Randy Johnson Bowman’s Best RC #137
While primarily known for his dominance later in the 1990s with Seattle and Arizona, “The Big Unit” first appeared in packs in 1989 as a young flamethrower with the Montreal Expos. Scarce and under-produced at the time, Randy Johnson rookies have increased greatly in desirability over the past decade as collectors appreciate his all-time great career. High-grade ’89 Johnson rookie Bowman’s Best cards now reach $600-800.

Sandy Alomar Jr. Fleer RC #409
A six-time All-Star catcher mostly with Cleveland, Sandy Alomar Jr. got an early start in the show in 1988, making his slick on-card Fleer debut out of many collectors’ reach the next year. Now recognized as one of the finest defensive catchers of his era, Alomar rookies remain a favorite for Indians fans. Well-centered PSA 10 examples crack four figures today due to their rarity, while lower grades still bring $300-500 frequently.

Will Clark Score RC #573
As one of the biggest stars of the late 1980s San Francisco Giants, slugging first baseman Will Clark’s iconic rookie glare and swing from the ’89 Score set defined that era of the team for many fans. Though enormously common in worn lower grades, pristine PSA 10 Clark rookies have proven to have excellent long-term collector appeal, reaching the $600-800 range recently for a true “junk wax” issue.

Bobby Thigpen Bowman RC #216
In 1990, Bobby Thigpen set the then single-season Major League record with 57 saves as Chicago White Sox closer. His pinstriped rookie from 1989 Bowman is coveted by Sox collectors looking to commemorate his historic campaign. Near-Gem PSA 9 copies remain very affordable at $100-200 given the card’s tough post-hype market, but a properly graded PSA 10 could potentially sell for over $1,000 down the road as appreciation grows.

While the 1989 season came at the very end of the overproduction boom years, there were still several star players who debuted that would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. High-quality rookie cards from top talents like Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, and Frank Thomas remain blue-chip investments over 30 years later. Even more common 1989 issues of players like Maddux, Glavine and Larkin can be had in pristine PSA 10 condition for under $1,000, offering affordable access to genuine artifacts from the late 1980s/early 90s baseball card market.