The 1989 Score baseball card set holds a special place in the hearts of many collectors for a variety of reasons. Packaged in redesigned packaging from previous years, the 1989 Score set marked a transition to a modern era in baseball cards while still retaining nostalgia for the past. For those lucky enough to have an unopened 1989 Score wax pack sitting untouched for over 30 years, it represents a time capsule into the late 1980s baseball world as well as a potential gold mine of valuable cards waiting to be discovered.
The 1989 Score set was the 15th edition in the long-running Score brand which began in 1975. By 1989, Score had established itself as one of the most popular mainstream baseball card brands alongside Topps and Donruss. That year, Score graphics and design took a leap forward with colorful horizontal card fronts featuring enlarged player photos. The rectangular shaped cards resembled more closely the photographic baseball cards that would be produced in the 1990s as opposed to the illustrations of the 1970s.
While signaling changes, the 1989 Score set also paid tribute to baseball history. For the first time, Score included Traded sets that highlighted key player transactions from that season. These traded cards, which pictured players in their new uniforms, were inserted randomly in wax packs. Score also produced Studio Portrait cards that revisited classic photos from the 1950s-1970s era. These blasts from the past connected today’s fans to the stars of yesterday.
Perhaps the biggest draw of 1989 Score packs was the return of Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards. After breaking into the majors with Seattle in 1987, Griffey’s powerful playing skills and charisma captured the attention of the sporting public. His rookie cards from 1987 Donruss and Fleer sets remain two of the most iconic and valuable in the modern hobby. The Griffey excitement carried into 1989 Score as collectors scrambled to pull his high-gloss rookie which featured a close-up photo of “The Kid” smiling in a Mariners uniform.
While Griffey led the star power, the rest of the 1989 Score checklist was loaded with future Hall of Famers and all-time greats. Straight out of the pack, collectors could uncover rookie cards of Gary Sheffield, Larry Walker, and Jim Abbott among others. Superstars of the day like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Roger Clemens dotted the set ready to be discovered. Even role players and backups held nostalgia and hobby value as representations of their respective 1980s franchises.
Beyond the on-field talent, the 1989 Score set showcased unique photography and creative design elements that added to its appeal. Close-up head shots, action scenes, and unique backgrounds took card visuals to another level. Score also tried experimental techniques like holograms, embossed lettering, and uncoated stock on selected cards. While not all of these innovations were a hit with collectors, they showed Score’s willingness to take risks and push the limits of card making technology.
Today, an unopened 1989 Score wax rack pack remains a true collector’s prize. Over three decades of carefully storing these fragile cardboard packs have properly “aged” their contents. With Griffey the obvious headliner, an unopened pack holds potential unclaimed gems from another era. Ripping apart the glue to see what’s inside is akin to unwrapping a time capsule. Will another rookie phenom be hiding there? Or maybe a traded card transitioning a star to a new uniform? The anticipation alone makes an unopened 1989 Score pack among the most thrilling cardboard artifacts to possess in the hobby.
For those who want to properly experience the magic of the 1989 Score set but don’t have an original unopened pack, there are still ways to enjoy it. The cards have maintained popularity in the secondary market where individual commons can be purchased for under $1 while stars range from $5-25 with the Griffey rookies topping $100-200 depending on grade. Replica wax packs are also available containing randomized assortments of cards to simulate that original pack opening experience. Nothing can replace finding treasures from the past still locked away in that three decade old piece of waxed cardboard waiting to be cracked. For 1989 Score collectors, an untouched pack is a small window back to another baseball era that encourages reminiscing about how far the hobby has come.
In summary, 1989 Score baseball cards hold a special nostalgic significance for many collectors and represent a transition point between classic and modern design aesthetics. For those who have avoided tearing into an original unopened wax rack pack from that year, it serves as an irreplaceable time capsule holding the potential for forgotten gems or rediscovered favorites. After over 30 undisturbed years, the magic of what cards may lie in wait still lives on for those original 1989 Score collectors lucky enough to have one of these untouched relics from the past sitting on their shelf.
