The 1989 Topps Traded baseball card set was released midway through the 1989 MLB season as a traded set by the Topps Company. It featured players who had been involved in notable trades since the previous season. At 132 cards, it was one of the larger Topps Traded sets produced. Several of the cards in the set highlight some of the biggest trades of that time period and feature players who went on to have Hall of Fame careers.
One of the most prominent trades featured was the deal that sent Nolan Ryan from the Houston Astros to the Texas Rangers on December 9, 1988. Ryan, already a legend in the game as one of the all-time strikeout kings, was included as the set’s second card. At age 41, he was still an intimidating force on the mound for Texas. His card remains one of the most sought after and valuable from the 1989 Topps Traded set.
Another blockbuster trade featured Rickey Henderson’s move from the Oakland A’s to the New York Yankees on March 23, 1989. Henderson, already a perennial All-Star and base stealing phenomenon, was one of the game’s biggest stars at the time. His #3 card in the set highlighted his transition to the Bronx Bombers. Henderson went on to have another great season for the Yankees and helped them reach the ALCS that year.
One of the more unexpected trades was the deal that sent Orel Hershiser from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Cleveland Indians on November 18, 1988. Coming off a record-setting season where he went 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA and won both the Cy Young and World Series MVP in 1988, Hershiser was arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball at the time. His card from the set is one of the more iconic from that era.
The Dodgers received several prospects in return, including catcher Eddie Taubensee, who was included with the #23 card in the set in his Indians uniform. While none of the players the Dodgers acquired amounted to much, the trade signaled the beginning of the Indians’ rise as contenders in the AL in the early 90s. Hershiser also continued his success with Cleveland, winning 18 games for them in both 1989 and 1990.
One of the more interesting trades featured was the deal that sent slugging first baseman/outfielder Franklin Stubbs from the Houston Astros to the San Francisco Giants on March 27, 1989. Stubbs had some productive seasons in Houston but never quite lived up to expectations. In San Francisco, he had a career year, batting .277 with 25 home runs and 90 RBI. His #24 card in the set highlights his change of scenery.
Staying in the National League West, the set also included the trade that sent outfielder Stan Javier from the San Diego Padres to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3, 1989. Javier had some productive seasons in San Diego but was looking for a change. In Los Angeles, he found new life, batting .307 with 13 home runs and 60 RBI in just 102 games. His performance helped the Dodgers make a playoff run.
Two other notable trades featured were the deals that sent outfielders Dave Martinez and Mike Easler to new teams. Martinez was traded from the San Francisco Giants to the Chicago Cubs on April 3, 1989. He went on to have a career year for the Cubs, batting .305 with 7 home runs, appearing in his only All-Star game. Easler was part of a multiplayer deal that sent him from the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers on April 3, 1989 as well. He hit 15 home runs for the Tigers that year.
In total, the 1989 Topps Traded set highlights over 20 significant trades from that time period. It provides a snapshot into some of the biggest player movements between teams during the late 80s. Several of the players featured, like Hershiser, Henderson, Ryan, and Stubbs, went on to have great seasons with their new clubs. The set remains a popular one for collectors, featuring many stars from that era in their new uniforms. For fans and researchers of 80s baseball, it provides an interesting look at how rosters changed hands during a transitional time in the sport.
In addition to tracking trades, the set also included update cards for players who were simply having breakout seasons, like Giants pitcher Scott Garrelts, who won 14 games in 1989. Rookies like Yankees shortstop Tony Fernandez and Dodgers outfielder Todd Zeile also earned cards in the set, highlighting their early success. The 1989 Topps Traded baseball card set provides a unique snapshot of the MLB landscape at the time and remains a favorite for collectors and historians of the sport. The prominent trades and players it features make it one of the most interesting Topps Traded sets ever produced.
