The 1989 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. With 792 total cards issued, the 1989 Fleer set featured many future Hall of Famers and stars from that era in colorful and creative designs. While the set may not contain any true gem mint condition cards worth hundreds of thousands, there are still plenty of valuable cards that can fetch respectable prices depending on the player and grade. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards from the 1989 Fleer set and what they have sold for in various conditions.
Ken Griffey Jr. was already establishing himself as a superstar by 1989 and his rookie card from this set is one of the most sought after from the entire junk wax era. In pristine gem mint 10 condition, Griffey Jr.’s rookie has sold for over $10,000. More common mint 9 copies can still pull in $1,000-2,000. Even well-worn played copies in poor condition have sold for $100 still due to Griffey’s popularity and status as one of the greats. The condition of the card is extremely important to its value.
Another rookie card standout is the 1989 Fleer Frank Thomas. Like Griffey, “The Big Hurt” went on to have a Hall of Fame career and his rookie is a key card for any collector. Mint condition PSA 10 Thomas rookies have topped $4,000 at auction. Most raw or graded mint 9’s will sell between $500-1,000. Again, played copies are still in demand and can sell for $50-100 based on the condition. Both Griffey and Thomas rookies hold up very well value-wise compared to other junk wax era cards.
Star pitchers like Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens also have valuable cards in the 1989 Fleer set. A PSA 10 of Ryan’s card has brought over $1,000 before. Clemens cards in top gem mint grade have sold for $500-700 range. Both of these hurlers have iconic images that resonate with collectors to this day. Other star pitchers like Orel Hershiser, Dwight Gooden, and Dave Stewart all have cards worth $50-150 in high grades as well from this set due to their success and fame at the time.
Rookies of future Hall of Famers like Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz are often overlooked but can be quite valuable depending on grade. A PSA 10 of any of these Atlanta Braves aces could sell for $300-500. Even well-centered mint 9’s hold value at $100-200 each. Their success in the 1990s has kept collector interest in their rookie cards strong decades later. Other notable rookies like Gary Sheffield, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Jay Bell have mint 9 copies selling in the $50-100 range too.
Beyond the star players, there are also several scarce and error cards that command premiums. The Ken Griffey Jr. and Donruss Griffey rookie card “combo” error, which features both logos on one card, has sold for over $3,000 in high grade. The Cal Ripken Jr. “upside-down” printing error brings $500-1000 for mint copies. Short prints like the Mark McGwire or Ozzie Smith cards are valued more so than common cards as well, with PSA 10’s reaching several hundred dollars each.
While the 1989 Fleer set as a whole suffers from overproduction typical of the junk wax era, there are still many valuable gems to be found. Superstar rookies like Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas hold their value strongest. Hall of Fame veterans and coveted errors/variants can also be quite pricey in pristine condition. For today’s collectors, this set remains a fun and affordable way to add iconic pieces of baseball history from the late 80s to a collection. Grading and condition are critical to realizing much value though. With some patience, there are deals to be had on even the pricier 1989 Fleer cards if a collector knows where to look.
