1989 Upper Deck Baseball Cards Price Guide and Values
The 1989 Upper Deck baseball card set was truly revolutionary and changed the baseball card collecting hobby forever. Featuring innovative design elements like gold foil stamping, sharp photography, and quality cardboard stock, Upper Deck set the new standard that other companies would try to emulate. While not the most valuable set from the junk wax era that spanned the late 1980s through the early 1990s, 1989 Upper Deck remains one of the most iconic issues and holds nostalgia for many collectors who were around during that time. Let’s take an in-depth look at the key cards, players, and values from the 1989 Upper Deck baseball card price guide.
The Set
The 1989 Upper Deck baseball card set contains 792 total cards featuring players, managers, umpires, and record breakers. The design is clean and focuses on large crisp photos with minimal text. A blue and white color scheme is used throughout. Some key facts about the set include:
Cards are numbered 1-792 with no parallel or short print variations.
Rookies featured include Barry Larkin, Gregg Olson, and Frank Thomas among others.
Record breakers cards highlight milestones from the 1988 season.
Checklists and manager/umpire bios are also included.
Gold foil stamping is used on selected cards like the record breakers.
Card stock is thicker and of higher quality than typical issues at the time.
Key Rookie Cards
Some of the top rookie cards to look for in the 1989 Upper Deck set that can still hold value include:
Frank Thomas (#421) – One of the best power hitters of his generation. PSA 10 recently sold for over $1,000.
Barry Larkin (#609) – Smooth fielding shortstop who would win an MVP award. PSA 10 around $500-600 range.
Gregg Olson (#660) – Dominant reliever who led league in saves. $100-150 PSA 10.
Randy Johnson (#688) – “The Big Unit” before dominating in the 1990s. $75-100 PSA 10.
Tom Glavine (#709) – Future Hall of Famer won 305 games. $50-75 PSA 10.
Star Player Cards
While not the most valuable set, some star player cards from 1989 Upper Deck that can demand higher prices include:
Nolan Ryan (#1) – Iconic photo of “The Ryan Express.” $150-200 PSA 10.
Ozzie Smith (#33) – “The Wizard” was a fan favorite. $100-125 PSA 10.
Wade Boggs (#105) – Consistent .300 hitter won 5 batting titles. $75-100 PSA 10.
Roger Clemens (#232) – On cusp of becoming one of game’s best pitchers. $125-150 PSA 10.
Rickey Henderson (#400) – Stole bases like no one before him. $100-125 PSA 10.
Rare Inserts and Parallels
While the base set had no true short prints or parallels, Upper Deck did include some rare promotional inserts:
Golden Moments – Gold foil embossed cards highlighting iconic MLB images. Extremely rare in high grade.
Team USA – Features players who competed in 1988 Olympics. Also quite rare to find in gem mint.
Record Breakers – Gold foil stamped stats from 1988. More common but higher end grades still desirable.
Grading and Condition Premiums
As with any collectible, condition is key when determining value for 1989 Upper Deck baseball cards. Even top rookie cards need to grade well to command four-figure prices. Here are some condition premiums to keep in mind:
PSA 8 vs PSA 9 – Could be a 2-3x price difference depending on card.
PSA 9 vs PSA 10 – Often 5-10x price jump or more for a true gem mint copy.
Raw/Ungraded Cards – Typically sell for 20-50% less than comparable graded cards.
While production numbers were massive during the junk wax era, the combination of iconic design, star rookies, and quality control has kept 1989 Upper Deck as one of the most collectible issues from that time period. Condition sensitive values still exist for the top rookie cards, stars, and inserts if they grade well. The nostalgia factor will likely ensure this set maintains relevance with collectors for decades to come.
The 1989 Upper Deck baseball card set broke the mold and set new standards when it was released over 30 years ago. Featuring a clean design, gold foil accents, and some of the best rookie cards of all-time, it remains one of the most iconic issues from the junk wax era. While common in raw form, high grade examples of stars, rookies, and inserts can still hold significant value. Condition will always be key, but the 1989 Upper Deck baseball cards were truly revolutionary and hold an important place in the history of the hobby.
