The 1989 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the more valuable sets from the late 1980s. While most common cards from this year have very little value, there are some standout rookie cards and cards of star players that can be worth a good amount of money depending on the player and the condition of the card. To determine if any 1989 Topps cards in your collection might be worth something, here are some specifics on cards from that year that tend to demand the highest prices:
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card: Widely considered one of the most iconic and valuable rookie cards ever printed, the 1989 Topps Griffey Jr. rookie is the crown jewel of the set. In near-mint to mint condition (grades of 8 or higher), Griffey rookie cards can fetch thousands of dollars. Well-centered mint condition 10 graded rookies have even sold for over $10,000. Even in poorer condition, this is still a card that collectors are always on the hunt for.
Ryne Sandberg: Though past his prime by 1989, Sandberg was still a superstar and his cards, especially in high grades, can be quite valuable. A PSA 10 graded Sandberg commonly sells for $100-150 while mint 9s go for $50-75.
Ozzie Smith: Another established veteran star, Smith’s defense made him a fan favorite. His 1989 Topps cards have good demand from collectors and a PSA 10 can sell for $75-100. Even lower grades have value for Ozzie collectors.
Barry Bonds: Though not quite the superstar he’d become, Bonds was already one of the game’s top young talents in ’89. His rookie season was the previous year but collectors still seek out his early Pittsburgh Pirates cards like the 1989 Topps version. High grade rookie year cards can reach $50-75.
Greg Maddux: While not quite the ace he developed into, Maddux was seen as one of the better young pitching prospects in 1989. His rookie card from that year isn’t especially rare but mint condition examples still attract solid prices of around $25-40 from collectors.
Ken Griffey Sr.: The father of “The Kid” had some name recognition himself and his cards have found renewed interest thanks to his famous son. A PSA 10 of his 1989 Topps card recently sold for $70.
Other Stars: Other established players like Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Roberto Alomar had desirable cards in 1989 as well. High grade versions of their common cards can be worth $10-20 while super stars like Henderson may command $30-50 in mint condition.
This covers some of the key individual cards from the 1989 Topps set that tend to hold the most value. There are also several factors that can influence whether any given card from that year is worth something monetary. Card condition is huge – even small imperfections can dramatically decrease a card’s price. The player featured also matters – common backups or role players typically have little value no matter the condition. Supply and demand issues play a role too. Factors like recent on-field accomplishments that spark renewed collector interest can cause even semi-valuable cards to appreciate over time as well. So while most 1989 Topps cards have minimal cash value today, researching the specific players and carefully examining condition is key to knowing if you might have a potentially valuable gem sitting in your collection from that set. With some digging, it’s certainly possible valuable pieces are waiting to be discovered.
While the average 1989 Topps baseball card holds little monetary worth, there are standout rookie cards, stars of the era, and gems in top-notch condition that can still demand significant prices from enthusiastic collectors of the era. Taking the time to inspect your 1989 cards, check on the players featured, and properly grade their conditions are great first steps to determine if you possibly have a valuable sleeper waiting to be cashed in. The set as a whole also has solid nostalgia and completion value forcompletists of the late 80s/early 90s.
