Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most exciting and talented players in Major League Baseball during his prime in the late 1980s through the late 1990s. With his sweet left-handed swing and elite defense in center field, Griffey was one of the first true five-tool superstars of his generation. His play made him a fan favorite and one of the most popular players in baseball during the height of his career.
Unsurprisingly, Griffey’s popularity translated into huge demand for his baseball cards from collectors. Several of his rookie cards from 1989 and 1990 are among the most coveted and valuable pieces of cardboard from that era. While some Griffey rookie cards may fetch six figures at auction in pristine condition, there are plenty of his early-career issues that can still hold value in the collector market if graded and preserved well.
One of the holy grails of Griffey card collecting is obviously his 1989 Upper Deck rookie card. This iconic cardboard debuted The Kid on the national scene and was the industry’s first high-end baseball issue after the junk wax era of the late 1980s. In a PSA 10 gem mint condition, Griffey’s Upper Deck rookie has sold for over $300,000 at action in recent years. Even in lower PSA 8-9 Excellent-Mint grades, examples can sell for $10,000+ depending on demand.
Another hugely valuable rookie from 1989 is Griffey’s Fleer card. While not quite as iconic as the Upper Deck RC, Griffey’s Fleer debut is still highly coveted by collectors. A PSA 10 Fleer Griffey rookie has reached prices upwards of $100,000 at auction. In lower PSA 8-9 grades, examples often sell in the $3,000-$10,000 range. Condition is ultra critical, as even slight flaws can diminish the Fleer rookie’s price sharply.
From 1990, Griffey collectors seek out his rookie issues from Score, Studio and Bowman. The Score RC has taken the mantle as one of the more affordable Griffey rookie options for most collectors. In a PSA 10 gem mint state, a 1990 Score Griffey RC has sold for around $7,500. Most graded PSA 8-9 examples trade hands between $500-$2,000 depending on the market.
From the same 1990 season, Griffey’s rookie cards in Studio and Bowman are also quite valuable contenders. A PSA 10 1990 Studio Griffey RC sold in early 2022 for $10,200. Meanwhile, a 1991 Bowman Griffey RC gem mint PSA 10 has reached auction prices of over $12,000 online. Most PSA 8-9 sampled of these niche 1990s rookies change hands for $2,000-$5,000 when available.
Moving beyond his earliest cardboard, 1991 Topps Griffey rookie star cards from Griffey’s true rookie season are very collectible as well. Topps was the most visible and popular brand at the card shop in the early 1990s. The 1991 Topps Traded Set featured Griffey’s true RC since he debuted in August 1989. A PSA 10 gem mint of the Traded RC sold for $5,400 in summer 2021. Most PSA 8-9 editions trade in the $500-$1,500 range.
Base rookie cards from 1991 Topps are nearly as coveted. A PSA 10 mint condition 1991 Topps base RC of Griffey last changed hands for $3,240 in late 2021. Meanwhile, PSA 8-9 graded copies are valued between $300-$800 depending on look and demand. This set really encapsulates Griffey’s breakout rookie campaign and remains affordable for many collectors.
Jumping to 1992, Griffey collectors prize several of his sophomore season issues. The ‘#1’ designated rookie card from 1992 Studio stands out. A PSA 10 gem mint 1992 Studio Griffey ‘#1’ RC sold for $9,200 in spring 2022. Copies at PSA 8-9 grade levels are valued between $1,200-$3,000 currently. Scarcity and strong rookie season stats make this an elite Griffey chasing card.
Another prized sophomore card from 1992 is Griffey’s Topps Traded RC. Topps continued featuring Griffey as the cover boy of its spring Trade Set update. In a PSA 10 mint condition, a 1992 Topps Traded RC has sold at auction for $6,960 in the past year. PSA 8-9 copies usually move in the $800-$2,000 range depending on their look and centering quality control.
Moving into Griffey’s early star years, select 1993-1995 issues maintain significant collector demand as well. His 1993 Topps base cards from his breakout age 23 season are definitely in the spotlight. A PSA 10 gem mint 1993 Topps Griffey sold for $3,840 in August 2022 as a recent notable auction price. Most PSA 8-9 copies regularly change hands between $200-$700 levels dependant on centering and corners.
From 1994-1995, select Griffey rookie star refractor parallel inserts are hot commodities graded well by third party authenticators like PSA/BGS. 1994 Upper Deck SP Authentic #151 Refractor Parallel insert cards carrying a PSA 10 grade have sold for over $4,000 online. Likewise, a 1995 Upper Deck E-X2001 Refractor Parallel graded BGS 9.5 has topped $1,500 at auction. These short printed parallels really exhibit the shine of Griffey’s superstar era.
Two of the more affordable Griffey insert cards coveted by collectors are 1997 Topps Chrome Refractor Parallel #97R and 1998 Topps Chrome Turkey Red #91 Refractor Parallel. The 1997 Topps Chrome Refractor in a PSA 10 condition fetched $2,100 in a recent auction. While most PSA 8-9 copies are valued at $200-$500 levels. As for the scarce 1998 Topps Turkey Red Refractor, a PSA 10 brought in $1,440 this summer. PSA 8-9 specimens usually sell between $200-$600 each based on demand.
To summarize – while some of Ken Griffey Jr’s rarest rookie cards might be out of reach price-wise except for the deepest of pockets, there are still many affordable Griffey cardboard options that could appreciate well long term if preserved in respectable certified grades. Examples from 1989-1995 in PSA/BGS 8-9 condition levels often represent attainable collecting goals for most hobbyists. And Griffey’s continued popularity as one of baseball’s all-time greats ensures an ample collector demand base going forward as well. For fans and investors alike, select Griffey cards from his early career remain a relatively low risk collectible to hold long term.
