The 1989 Score baseball card set had its share of rookie stars and flashy designs that have made some cards from that year quite valuable in today’s hobby market. While not as iconic or legendary as rookie cards from the 1950s or some of the classic designs from the 1980s, the ’89 Score set showcased several young players who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers.
One of the most noteworthy rookies from the 1989 Score set is Ken Griffey Jr., who had a brief cup of coffee in the majors the prior year but was officially a rookie in 1989. Griffey Jr. went on to have one of the greatest careers of any center fielder ever, slamming 630 home runs and making the All-Star team 13 times over 22 seasons. His 1989 Score rookie card has appreciated tremendously in value over the years and high-grade versions can fetch thousands of dollars today. A PSA 10 Griffey Jr. rookie recently sold for over $25,000, while a respectable near-mint copy might sell in the $500 range.
Another valuable 1989 Score rookie is Frank Thomas, nicknamed “The Big Hurt,” who made his debut that year with the Chicago White Sox. Thomas racked up 521 career home runs and had back-to-back MVP seasons in 1993 and 1994, showing that his burgeoning power was no fluke. His rookie card has followed a similar trajectory to Griffey’s, with a PSA 10 version selling for over $3,000 and a nice near-mint copy worth a few hundred dollars.
One position player rookie that has become very sought after in recent years is Chipper Jones. As the #1 overall draft pick by the Atlanta Braves in 1990, Jones technically had a cup of coffee in the majors in 1995 but established himself in the starting lineup full-time in 1996, kicking off a surefire Hall of Fame career at the hot corner. Even though it’s not his true rookie year, collectors love Jones’ card from the 1989 Score set since it’s one of the earliest representations of the future perennial All-Star and NL MVP. High-grade Jones rookies can now fetch well over $1,000.
In addition to position player rookies, the 1989 Score set included a few future pitching legends getting their first cardboard. While not quite as iconic or pricey as some other pitching rookie cards, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz all debuted in the 1989 Score set. Glavine in particular has become a more sought after card thanks to his impressive career stats and two Cy Young Awards during his time with the Atlanta Braves dynasty teams. A PSA 10 Glavine rookie sold for over $800 in early 2022.
The designs of the 1989 Score set were nothing too flashy but featured colorful borders around each player photo with team logos at the bottom. The biggest plus in terms of collectibility was that Score included both a basic front and a “traded” version for each player who had been dealt to another franchise in the offseason. This doubles the number of rookie and star player cards collectors can seek out. For example, Kirk Gibson’s 1984 Topps Traded card is vastly more valuable than his base version thanks to its scarcity.
While the 1989 Score set overall had somewhat subdued design aesthetics compared to iconic ’80s sets likeDonruss, Fleer, and Topps, it has developed a strong cult following. Part of its appeal is that it came out during baseball’s “steroid era” and captured many stars from that exciting yet controversial period of record-breaking home runs. The likes of Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Jose Canseco all had productive 1989 campaigns.
Although not true rookies, collectors also seek out star cards from the ‘89 Score set that feature powerful Hall of Famers or notables from that era in their prime. Ken Griffey Sr. has gained popularity as one of the more desirable veteran cards alongside sluggers like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, and slugging catcher/first basemen Don Mattingly and Will Clark. Power pitchers like Bret Saberhagen and Dwight Gooden also remain collectible veterans from 1989 Score.
The 1989 Topps and Donruss sets have a certain nostalgic charm too, but Score may have the most dynamic, ‘animated’ player photos of the three. The lack of true superstars, design simplicity, and strong rookie class make 1989 Score a fun set to collect that is more affordable than the true ‘Flagship’ issues of the time but still features future baseball legends in their early days. As time passes, its affordable stars like Frank Thomas, Glavine and several veterans are likely to increase in price making 1989 Score cards a smart long term investment for collectors today.
While not the flashiest or most iconic baseball card set ever produced, 1989 Score holds a special place in the memories of collectors who enjoyed opening packs as kids in the late ’80s. Its strong rookie class featuring Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, and others who would go on to Hall of Fame careers makes certain cards highly valuable today, especially in gem mint condition. Coupled with other stars in their primes like Henderson, Boggs, and Bonds, 1989 Score cards represent an exciting yet affordable entry point for collectors to add vintage stars to their collections from baseball’s “Steroid Era.” With its cult following steadily growing, valuable cards from this underrated set should continue gaining appreciation for years to come.
