The 1989 Donruss baseball card set holds several highly sought after rookie cards and cards of established stars from that era that can be worth a decent amount of money today in the right condition. The 1980s was a boom time for baseball cards when collectors were snapping them up rapidly. While the 80s Donruss sets are not as valuable overall as the iconic late ’80s Topps sets on average, there are still gems to be found that can bring in serious cash for collectors if preserved well. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key 1989 Donruss cards to watch out for that could earn you money.
One of the biggest money cards from the 1989 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey emerged as a true superstar in his playing career and remains one of the most beloved players to this day, making his rookie cards highly desirable collectibles. In pristine Near Mint to Mint condition, the Griffey Jr. rookie commonly fetches $150-300. Well-centered Excellent condition examples can still pull in $75-150, showing the card’s enduring popularity among collectors. While not quite as valuable as his Upper Deck or Bowman rookie cards, the Griffey Donruss rookie still holds strong value.
Another highly sought rookie card is that of San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andy Benes. Benes enjoyed a solid 15-year MLB career and his rookie is one of the more valuable non-superstar cards from 1989 Donruss. In Near Mint to Mint condition, the Benes rookie card sells for $25-50 regularly. Very nicely centered cards in Excellent shape go for around $15-25. Considering it’s one of the more affordable star rookie cards from that year, the Benes is a great option for collectors on a budget. Condition is especially important though, as more worn copies can sell for just a few dollars.
Continuing with rookie cards, the 1989 Donruss issue of San Francisco Giants starting pitcher John Burkett also maintains decent value. Burkett had moments of All-Star caliber performance over his long career and his rookie remains one of the pricier cards for a non-supernova player from that set. Near Mint to Mint Burkett rookies change hands for $15-30. Nicely centered Excellent condition copies can be had for $10-15. As with Benes, centering and condition have a major bearing on the card’s price. More played versions will only yield $3-5.
One of the true superstars featured in the 1989 Donruss set is Nolan Ryan, already well into his legendary career by that point. His familiar smiling face and blazing fastball made him hugely popular among collectors even in the later stages of his playing days. A pristine Ryan card from ’89 can demand $15-25. Very nicely centered cards in the 8.5-9 grade range on the 10-point scale will pull in $10-15 online. Even well-worn but identifiable copies in Poor to Fair condition can get a couple bucks on the market. Ryan’s enduring stature maintains collector interest in his vintage cards across conditions and issuers.
Two other veteran superstars who command strong prices in the 1989 Donruss roster are Orel Hershiser and Wade Boggs. Hershiser was coming off his record-setting 1988 season and World Series performance, making his cards very collectible entering 1989. Near Mint Hershiser cards sell in the $10-15 range. Nice centered copies graded Excellent can bring $7-10 still. Wade Boggs, meanwhile, was already a seven-time batting champ by ’89 and his smooth lefty swing made him a fan favorite for card collectors. Boggs cards priced in the $7-12 bracket near mint, $5-7 excellent. Both of these 1980s icons hold value across most of their vintage issues thanks to storied careers and popularity.
Beyond the elite rookies and stars, there are a few other key 1989 Donruss cards to know about if you come across them in your collections. Mark McGwire had his breakout 49 home run season in ’87, making his ’89 Donruss issue a sleeper hit for collectors prior to the steroid era. Near mint McGwire sells in the $7-12 range today. Will Clark’s smooth lefty swing also earned him a strong following on the west coast and in the hobby. Nicely centered Clark cards from ’89 go for $5-8 near mint. And Dave Stewart, who had just won the second of his three World Series rings with the A’s, has a $3-5 near mint value given his popularity in Oakland.
Centering, sharpness of image, and lack of creasing/whitening are essential to maximizing the value of any key 1989 Donruss card you may have. Top rookie and star issues from the set have the most earning potential for collectors if preserved exceptionally well. But there are also opportunities to profit even on more moderately graded copies of specific players. For a mainstream ‘80s release, the 1989 Donruss set holds up remarkably well value-wise thanks to memorable rookie debuts and consistent performances from iconic veterans of the era. With patience and savvy selling, choice examples could make for a nice payday down the road.
