The value of baseball cards from 1989 can vary significantly depending on several factors, but in many cases cards from that year do hold value and could be worth collecting or investing in. 1989 was a milestone year for baseball as the sport was locking out the players during a labor dispute that eventually led to a delayed start to the regular season. This lockout created scarcity and interest in cards from that year which can positively influence values today.
One of the most important things that determines the value of any vintage baseball card is the condition or grade of the specific card. The two main grading services, PSA and BGS, rate cards on a 1-10 scale with 10 being pristine mint condition. For 1989 cards to have meaningful value, they would generally need to grade at least a PSA 7 or BGS 7. Anything lower and the condition issues would overcome any other desirable traits of the card. Cards that grade gem mint PSA 10 or BGS Black Label 10 can be exceptionally valuable, but cards in that condition from 30+ years ago are quite rare.
Along with condition, the specific player and any accomplishments they achieved also factor heavily into a card’s potential value. Hall of Fame players, MVP winners, Cy Young award winners and players with strong playing careers spanning many years tend to have the most valuable rookie or common cards from particular seasons. In 1989, some top rookies that could hold value include Ken Griffey Jr, Gregg Olson, Jeff Bagwell, Larry Walker, and Sandy Alomar Jr. Veterans entering their primes like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith and Nolan Ryan also have collector appeal.
Rookie cards in particular see increased interest so cards of future stars like Griffey Jr. and Bagwell from their debut season have a good chance of retaining value long term. Even star players can have quite affordable common cards from early in their careers before they achieved success if the cards are not in top condition. Many other useful role players from the era have cards that hold only nominal value today unless they grade extremely well.
Beyond specific players, variations, errors, oddball subsets and rare serially numbered parallels can take otherwise ordinary cards and make them much more valuable. Things like glossy/matte variations, rare retired numbers parallels, oddball manufacturers like Mother’s Cookies or Kool Aid, and serially numbered chase cards underneath 1/1000 can spike the value of otherwise mundane cards exponentially if graded and preserved well. Without true key traits, most common 1989 cards likely hold value under $10 even in top grades.
When considering which 1989 cards to collect or invest in, it’s important to do research on population reports from the grading services. This gives an idea of both demand and availability of high graded examples. Scarcities in the upper reaches of the population pyramid are a good sign of long term collectibility and potential for price appreciation over decades as populations continue getting “slabbed” and removed from the active collecting marketplace. Some of the lowest population 1989 rookie cards like Griffey Jr. PSA 10 may be out of reach investment wise today but could appreciate well over the long haul.
In recent years, the vintage card market has boomed with renewed collector interest and demand outpacing new supplies. Prices on key rookies, HOFers and rare variations have jumped notably. This bodes quite well long term for holding onto pristine graded examples of stars and desirable subsets from 1989 and earlier. While price dips will happen periodically, top condition vintage from the junk wax era seems an increasingly solid long term collectible when selected carefully.
Whether a 1989 baseball card holds value depends greatly on condition, player, scarcity and other niche traits. Commons are unlikely to be worth much raw but key rookies or stars that grade extremely well could realize significant returns. With skyrocketing auction prices on top cards and low populations retaining sets, the vintage boom seems far from over. By selectively collecting pristine 1989 standouts now before they become more recognized and scarce, savvy collectors may find undervalued gems that appreciate nicely over the coming decades as new collectors get nostalgic for the late 80s and early 90s era of the pastime.
