1989 Leaf Baseball Cards Price Guide
Introduction
The 1989 Leaf baseball card set was released during the peak of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s. Like most sets from that era, it featured glossy photo cards of major league players with fun, colorful designs. While not one of the highest profile issues from ’89, the Leaf set remains a favorite among collectors due to its memorable photography and designs. In this price guide, we will examine the top rookies and stars from the ’89 Leaf set and provide estimated current market values for near mint condition copies.
Top Rated Rookies
Some of the most coveted and valuable rookie cards from the ’89 Leaf set include:
Ken Griffey Jr. (Card #207): Widely considered one of the best rookie cards of all time. Griffey’s sweet swing and effortless style made him an immediate fan favorite. Near mint copies in a plastic sleeve can fetch $150-200. Higher grades move closer to $300-500.
Gregg Jefferies (Card #306): The smooth-swinging Jefferies was one of the top prospects in baseball and had high expectations with the Mets. His rookie is highly sought after by Mets collectors. Near mint sells for $50-75.
Randy Johnson (Card #377): The “Big Unit” was in his early days with the Mariners but already showing signs of dominance. His rookie card from this set is relatively affordable at $30-50 NM/MT.
Chuck Knoblauch (Card #401): Knoblauch was an exciting rookie second baseman for the Twins who would go on to win Rookie of the Year. His card sells for $25-40 in top condition.
Tom Glavine (Card #424): The crafty lefty was just getting started with the Braves and would become one of the best pitchers of the 1990s. Near mint Glavine rookies sell around $20-30.
Star Players and Hall of Famers
Other notable stars and future Hall of Famers featured in the ’89 Leaf set include:
Ozzie Smith (Card #1): Considered one of the finest defensive shortstops ever. His sharp uniform design and action shot make this a popular card. Near mint copies sell for $15-25.
Rickey Henderson (Card #11): The all-time stolen base king is shown rounding third on this exciting action image. His star power demands $10-18 in top condition.
Wade Boggs (Card #36): The hit machine and “Chicken Man” was in his Red Sox prime. Near mint Boggs cards trade hands for $8-12.
Roger Clemens (Card #126): The Rocket was dominating out of the Sox rotation and a popular star. His card has found new appreciation from collectors and fetches $10-15 NM/MT.
Kirby Puckett (Card #156): The beloved “Puck” was a fan favorite in Minnesota. His fun smiling image remains popular and sells for $8-12 near mint.
Don Mattingly (Card #166): The classy Yankee first baseman was one of the biggest stars of the decade. Near mint Mattinglys command $10-15.
Design and Photography
The 1989 Leaf set is highly regarded for its creative card designs and sharp action photography captured by the Leaf photographers. Some additional design highlights include:
Colorful borders framing each photo that featured team colors and geometric shapes. This added great visual pop.
Fun cartoon mascots like the Phillie Phanatic and Slider adorned the fronts of many cards.
Reversable card stock allowed designs on the front and back. Many backs featured stats or cartoon characters.
Subtle holograms were used on select cards that added a premium feel.
Crisp, well-lit action shots that really let each player’s skills and style shine through.
The photography and designs still hold up extremely well today. This helps maintain interest in the set from both investors and fans.
Condition Sensitive Set
As with most 1980s issues, the 1989 Leaf set is highly condition sensitive when it comes to value. Even minor flaws or wear can significantly decrease a card’s worth. The following condition guidelines are good to keep in mind:
Near Mint (NM): Bright, sharp images with no flaws. Corners are sharp. These top the value charts for each card.
Mint (MT): Very close to NM with maybe one slight flaw that doesn’t detract much. Still highly valuable copies.
Excellent (EX): Clear photos but may have some minor edge wear or corner wear. Still eye-appealing but value takes a hit.
Very Good (VG): Duller images with definite wear. Corners are no longer sharp. Values fall to 50% or less of NM.
Good (G): Heavily played with creases, stains or damage. Mainly of interest to die-hard collectors of specific players.
Investment Potential
While the 1989 Leaf set never achieved the same iconic status as flagship issues like Topps and Fleer, it has proven to be a relatively sound investment for patient collectors over the long term. Rookie stars like Griffey and Johnson have seen steady gains in value as their careers blossomed. Key veterans from championship teams have also held value well. Even mid-level stars can appreciate over time. With sharp, affordable copies still out there, the ’89 Leaf set remains a fun way to build a collection or invest in the late 1980s baseball card market. Condition, as always, is paramount to realizing long term profit should an investor look to sell holdings later.
In closing, the 1989 Leaf baseball card set deserves recognition among set collectors and investors for its memorable photography, creative designs, and presence of emerging young stars and veteran greats from baseball’s golden era. While it doesn’t command ultra-high prices, its affordability and quality make it a consistently enjoyable set for both casual fans and serious collectors alike. With patience, it can also prove to a sound smaller investment within a portfolio of baseball cards from the 1980s boom.
