The 1989 Topps baseball card set is regarded as one of the most iconic and collectible issues ever produced by the longtime baseball card manufacturer. In addition to featuring stellar rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Maddux, the 1989 Topps set also included a 12-card All-Star subset highlighting some of the biggest stars from that season.
Released the year after the infamous baseball strike that canceled the 1994 World Series, the 1989 season saw baseball fans return to the ballparks in droves now that the sport was back in full swing. With talented future stars like Griffey and Maddux starting to make their mark on the league alongside established veterans, it was an exciting time for the game. The 1989 Topps All-Star subset reflected this new wave of talent coming up alongside the veteran stars who had long anchored their respective franchises.
The subset featured three cards for both the American League and National League, with each card showcasing a specific player from the 1988 All-Star teams at each position – starting pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. This positional breakdown allowed Topps to capture nearly everyAll-Star at each slot from the midsummer classic the previous season.
Leading off the AL portion of the subset is Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros, representing starting pitchers. At 41 years old in 1988, Ryan was still in the midst of his remarkable late-career dominance on the mound. His card featured a classic photo of the fireballer mid-windup, winging another blazing fastball toward the plate. Catchers were represented by the Boston Red Sox’s Tony Pena, a slick fielder and steady contributor both behind and at the plate.
Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees headlined first basemen with his smooth left-handed swing. Second base belonged to Oakland A’s speedster Willie Randolph. Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs, known more for his elite hit tool than anything else, held down the hot corner. Shortstops were portrayed by Alan Trammell, the dependable cog in the Detroit Tigers lineup. Boston left fielder Mike Greenwell, coming off a breakout season, earned the nod for his position.
Center fielders in the AL got no bigger than Rickey Henderson, the electric leadoff man and perennial stolen base champion of the Oakland A’s. And finishing out the AL portion of the ’89 Topps All-Star subset was Kansas City Royals right fielder Kevin Seitzer, a supremely talented but oft-overlooked player in the late 80s.
Switching over to the National League portion of the All-Star subset, starting pitchers were represented by the Mets’ Dwight Gooden. At just 23 years old in 1988, “Doc” was already a two-time Cy Young Award winner and one of the most electric hurlers in baseball. Catching for the NL was the Cincinnati Reds’ Bo Diaz, a solid receiver who would also chip in some timely hitting.
At first base was the Philadelphia Phillies’ Mike Schmidt, wrapping up an illustrious Hall of Fame career. Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, fresh off an MVP season, held down the top of the NL order. Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Bobby Bonilla, an underrated power hitter, earned his place amongst the All-Stars. Ozzie Smith, the wizardly shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, was a lock for his position.
In left field was the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Barry Bonds, already displaying the elite talent and hyper focus that would make him the greatest to ever play. Darryl Strawberry, the mammoth slugger for the New York Mets, proudly represented center fielders. And finally rounding out the NL portion of the subset was San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn, on his way to a record-setting batting title that would be the first of many for the surefire Hall of Famer.
With this comprehensive breakdown of every position represented amongst the 1988 midsummer classic rosters, Topps succeeded in capturing a who’s who of baseball during that late 80s season. Even over 30 years later, it remains one of the most iconic and well-curated All-Star subsets ever featured in the hallowed cardboard. Alongside the star rookie cards, it cemented the 1989 Topps issue as one of the most significant and valuable releases from the entire vintage era of the baseball card boom.
