Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most exciting players in Major League Baseball during his era. With his smooth left-handed swing and athleticism in the outfield, Griffey captivated fans throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. He also had a long and illustrious baseball card career, starting from his days as a top prospect coming up through the Seattle Mariners system.
One of the most prominent baseball card companies to feature Griffey early in his career was Bowman. Bowman had a reputation for highlighting some of the game’s top young talent in their annual baseball card sets. In 1987, Griffey was selected first overall by the Mariners in the MLB Draft after starring for high school powerhouse Moeller High School in Cincinnati. That same year, Bowman recognized Griffey’s potential by including him in their 1987 baseball card set as a rookie prospect for Seattle.
Griffey’s 1987 Bowman rookie card showed him in a Mariners batting practice jersey with “Seattle” across the chest. Even as a teenage prospect, Griffey’s athleticism and pure hitting ability were evident on the card. While Griffey didn’t make his MLB debut until the following season in 1989, his Bowman rookie established him as one of the game’s most prized prospects. In the ensuing decades, Griffey’s ’87 Bowman rookie would become one of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards ever issued.
In 1988, Griffey’s first full minor league season saw him hit .318 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI between Single-A and Double-A ball. His impressive stats and prospect status led Bowman to again feature Griffey prominently in their 1988 set. This time, Griffey received an all-star style card that highlighted some of his offensive and defensive skills through various action photos. The card helped build even more hype for Griffey’s impending MLB arrival.
That debut finally came in 1989. Griffey broke into the Mariners lineup and immediately made an impact, batting .264 with 8 home runs and 47 RBI in 89 games. Naturally, Bowman was there to commemorate Griffey’s rookie season with MLB cards in both their 1989 base set and rookie/traded set. The base card showed Griffey in his classic Mariners uniform and batting stance. Meanwhile, his rookie card featured a close-up headshot of the 20-year-old star.
In 1990, Griffey took his game to new heights. He batted .284 with 22 home runs and 72 RBI and finished third in AL MVP voting, establishing himself as one of the game’s brightest young stars. Bowman once again recognized Griffey’s breakout season with prominent cards in their 1990 set that highlighted Griffey’s offensive production and Gold Glove-caliber defense. The cards helped cement Griffey as a true superstar and fan-favorite in the baseball card world.
The early 1990s represented the peak of Griffey’s career in Seattle. From 1990-1999, he averaged over 40 home runs per season and won the AL MVP in 1990 and 1997. During this decade-long stretch, Bowman produced some of the most iconic Griffey cards of his career in their annual sets. Cards from this era captured Griffey in some of his most memorable Mariners poses and uniforms, like swinging away at the Kingdome or patrolling center field in the trident logo jerseys.
Griffey’s move to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000 opened a new chapter in his baseball card history. Bowman commemorated the homecoming with cards showing Griffey in his new Reds duds, including a redesigned action card from their 2000 set. Cards from Griffey’s Reds tenure focused on his production for the hometown team later in his career. Injuries began affecting Griffey more in the late 2000s, but Bowman still featured him in sets as a respected veteran.
When Griffey finally retired in 2010, Bowman paid tribute to his legendary 22-year MLB career with retrospective cards in sets that year. The cards highlighted many of Griffey’s biggest career accomplishments and included some of his best action shots from over the decades. It was a fitting way for Bowman to close the book on one of the most prolific players they ever featured.
In the years since his playing days ended, Griffey’s baseball cards have taken on an iconic status of their own. His rookie cards from Bowman and other companies are among the most valuable in the hobby. But Bowman in particular holds a special place when it comes to Griffey’s card history. From prospect to superstar to retiring veteran, Bowman was there every step of the way to chronicle Griffey’s amazing career through memorable, collectible cards. They helped cement Griffey as not only one of baseball’s all-time greats, but also one of the most revered names in the entire sports collecting world.
