The 1989 baseball card season was one of the most exciting years in the modern era of the sport. Players like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Ken Griffey Jr. were entering their primes and beginning to put up huge numbers that foreshadowed the upcoming steroid era. The rookies debuting that year also featured some of the game’s future all-time greats. When looking back at the best 1989 baseball cards, several stand out for their significance, rarity, and the players featured.
One of the most coveted and valuable 1989 baseball cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card from Upper Deck. Griffey was already one of the most hyped prospects in baseball and living up to it by winning the AL Rookie of the Year award in 1989. His graceful style of play and prodigious power made him a fan favorite. The Griffey rookie card captured him in his Mariners uniform at the beginning of what would become a Hall of Fame career. Only produced by Upper Deck that year, the Griffey rookie is one of the most iconic and sought after cards ever made. In near mint condition, examples regularly sell for thousands of dollars due to its rarity, Griffey’s legendary career, and the card’s iconic design.
Another extremely significant and valuable 1989 rookie card is the Barry Bonds from Bowman. Like Griffey, Bonds was already on the path to Cooperstown in just his first few seasons. His rookie card showed the athletic 5 tool talent he was for the Pittsburgh Pirates. What makes the Bonds rookie especially rare is that it was the only year Bowman had the MLB license before losing it prior to the 1990 season. As one of the final true Bowman rookie cards of a superstar, examples have sold for over $30,000 when graded gem mint. The Bonds rookie captured one of the game’s most prolific hitters and arguably its best all-around player at the start of his 24 year career.
Donruss also featured some of the best 1989 baseball cards with rookies of future Hall of Famers. The Chipper Jones rookie is highly sought after by Atlanta Braves fans and collectors alike. Jones went on to have a 19 year career entirely with the Braves that culminated in a World Series title and induction into Cooperstown. His rookie card portrayed the smooth swinging third baseman at the dawn of what became an incredible career. The Piazza rookie from Donruss is another that skyrocketed in value in recent decades. Piazza shattered records as perhaps the greatest hitting catcher ever and his Hall of Fame enshrinement only added to his legendary status. Both Jones and Piazza rookies from the popular Donruss set are highly valuable in high grades today.
Upper Deck also had phenomenal rookie cards outside of Griffey in 1989. The Tom Glavine rookie showed the uber-competitive lefty early in his illustrious career with the Atlanta Braves. Glavine went on to win 305 games, 2 Cy Young Awards, and 5 MLB titles over 22 big league seasons. The Chipper Jones rookie from Upper Deck, while not as iconic as his Donruss issue, also captured the young slugger at the start of what became a surefire Hall of Fame career. Both Braves rookies hold significant value for team collectors and represent two of the best pitchers and position players of the 1990s.
Veteran star cards from 1989 are also highly sought after today, especially for the biggest names of the late 80s and early 90s. The Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. and the Bowman Barry Bonds are iconic for obvious reasons but also hugely valuable graded high. The Donruss Mark McGwire and Donruss Jose Canseco captured the legendary “Bash Brothers” in their Athletics prime, mashing home runs before the steroid era took off. Both sluggers routinely cracked the 50+ home run barrier in the late 80s. The high grade examples of these A’s stars command top dollar.
The 1989 baseball season was truly a transition year that set the stage for the upcoming decade. The rookies featured some of the all-time greats like Griffey, Bonds, Jones, Piazza and Glavine. Meanwhile, veterans like McGwire and Canseco presaged the impending steroid era home run records. When looking back, the ’89 Upper Deck Griffey, Bowman Bonds, and Donruss rookies of Jones and Piazza stand out as particularly valuable and iconic cards. They captured legends at the start of their careers. For team and player collectors alike, high grade examples from the exciting 1989 season remain hugely coveted and valuable today. It was a watershed year for the sport.
The 1989 baseball card season featured several of the most significant rookie cards ever produced with Griffey, Bonds, Jones, Piazza and more. Meanwhile, stars McGwire and Canseco from Donruss foreshadowed the impending steroid era. When grading the “best” 1989 cards, the Griffey and Bonds rookies on iconic designs stand above the rest. The entire year featured cards that captured legends at the beginning of their careers. For collectors and investors, examples from 1989 remain hugely popular and hold value due to the talent featured and the excitement of the time. It was a transition year leading to the 1990s renaissance in baseball.
