The 1989 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set was the last year that O-Pee-Chee produced cards before losing the license to produce cards in Canada. As such, the 1989 set holds nostalgia and significance for collectors of vintage cards from the late 1980s. Let’s take a deeper look at the set and provide a price guide for some of the top rookies and stars featured in the 1989 O-Pee-Chee set.
The 1989 O-Pee-Chee set consisted of 514 total cards and had the same design and photography as the flagship Topps set released in the United States that same year. Like most 1980s sets, the cards featured white borders around colorful team logo designs on the fronts. Player stats and brief bios were featured on the backs. Some of the biggest stars of the day like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith were highly featured in the set.
Rookies were also a big part of the 1989 O-Pee-Chee set. Future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr got his first card in the set as one of the top rookies. Other top rookies included Gary Sheffield, Gregg Olson, and Bobby Thigpen. The Griffey Jr. rookie has become one of the most iconic and valuable cards ever produced and in top gem mint condition can sell for over $10,000. In a PSA 10 grade, the Griffey Jr. rookie would easily bring in over $50,000.
In terms of other stars, the Roger Clemens card has maintained strong value over the years. In PSA 10 condition, the Clemens card has recently sold for $800-1,000. The Wade Boggs card, Ozzie Smith card, and Nolan Ryan card have also done well at the $100-300 price range in top condition. Young superstars like Barry Bonds have also seen their rookie cards from the 1989 set increase in value, with a PSA 10 recently selling for over $3,000.
Some other notable rookies and their current prices include (in PSA 10 condition):
Gary Sheffield rookie: $500-800
Gregg Olson rookie: $300-500
Bobby Thigpen rookie: $200-400
Tom Glavine rookie: $150-250
David Wells rookie: $100-200
In terms of the set as a whole, complete near-mint to mint sets in slabs have sold recently for $500-800. Loose near-complete sets have sold for $200-400 depending on the included stars. The 1989 O-Pee-Chee set is a nostalgic piece of cardboard history since it was the final year of production for O-Pee-Chee in Canada. While it doesn’t have quite the same cachet as flagship Topps sets from the same era, the inclusion of future Hall of Famers like Griffey Jr. and stars of the day like Clemens give it relevance and lasting value to collectors.
For investors, the Griffey Jr. rookie remains one of the best long-term holdings in the hobby. Other stars like Clemens, Boggs, and Smith can also be seen as safe bets. Meanwhile, overlooked rookie gems like Sheffield, Olson, and Thigpen that have appreciation potential if those players get closer looks from Hall of Fame voters. For Canadians and those looking for a piece of baseball card history beyond just Topps, the 1989 O-Pee-Chee set deserves consideration from both collectors and investors given its significance as the final year of the brand. Condition is critical, so be sure to focus on high graded examples to maximize returns down the road.
The 1989 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set provides an interesting historical snapshot of the late 1980s game. Anchored by stars, the set also introduced several future all-stars as rookies. While the Griffey Jr. rookie takes the spotlight, solid value can also be found across the set in high grades. For collectors and investors, the 1989 O-Pee-Chee cards represent both nostalgia and potential appreciation for those holding pieces of the final year of the iconic Canadian brand.
