Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the most exciting players in Major League Baseball during his career, which spanned from 1989 to 2010. Nicknamed “The Kid”, Griffey burst onto the scene as a rare combination of power, speed, defense and durability. He won 10 Gold Glove Awards for his defensive excellence in center field and was a 13-time All-Star. Due to his iconic status and on-field heroics, Griffey Jr. baseball cards are some of the most coveted and valuable in the hobby. Here is a comprehensive price guide to Ken Griffey Jr.’s entire baseball card collection from his rookie year up through the end of his career.

1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card

Griffey’s rookie card is arguably the most iconic and valuable modern-era card in existence. Upper Deck released this card during Griffey’s rookie season of 1989 when he was just 19 years old playing for the Seattle Mariners. The card features a bright smiling Griffey in his Mariners uniform with the text “ROOKIE CARD” boldly printed at the bottom. In pristine Near Mint-Mint (NM-MT) condition, PSA 10 Gem Mint graded copies of Griffey’s rookie regularly fetch $10,000-$15,000. Lower graded but still high quality examples in PSA 8 or 9 condition sell in the $2,000-$5,000 range on the secondary market. Needless to say, Griffey’s rookie card remains the crown jewel for any baseball card collection and sets the standard for other premier young star rookies to follow.

1990 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #T72

Released midway through Griffey’s sophomore season with Topps, this “Traded” issue card shows Griffey in an action pose in the on-deck circle. It is one of the key scarce Griffey rookie variations alongside the 1989 Fleer Update and Score Traded issues. PSA 10 examples in top condition have sold for over $2,000. Even lower grades around PSA 8 still demand $500-$1,000 due to the rookie season subject matter and Griffey’s emerging superstardom. This card remains quite tough to acquire in high grade due to the limited original print run.

1991 Kent Fluke Green Refractor #79F Ken Griffey Jr.

Released by Kent Fluke, a smaller specialty issuer during the early 90s boom, this is one of Griffey’s true “short print” rookie cards before mainstream brands caught on. The Green Refractor parallel features striking emerald coloring and shows Griffey batting. Only 101 copies are believed to exist in all conditions making it extremely rare. Two high grade PSA 9 copies sold on eBay in 2022, with the prices around $3,500 still going up after recent years of steady appreciation. For the Griffey super-collector, an elusive green refractor holds cache.

1992 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1

Similar to his rookie but from Griffey’s breakout season of 1992 when he hit 40 home runs as a 22-year old, this colorful card remains a solid mid-range Griffey option. PSA 10 Gold Label examples in absolutely pristine condition exceed $500 but more common PSA 8-9 graded copies trade hands between $100-$300. The artwork depicts Griffey swinging with fantastic action and solid colors pop. It remains one of the best selling Griffey cards on the secondary market.

1993 Finest Refractor #15F Ken Griffey Jr.

Finest debuted spectacular refractors featuring players in bright, vivid color. Griffey looks ready to uncork a monster home run in this iconic pose. Only 101 of the green refractor parallel were produced making it exceedingly rare, on par with his rookie Green Refractor. A single PSA 9 recently sold for over $4,000 showing steady gains. Even PSA 8 examples now trade between $800-1200. Finest refractors from the mid-90s remain some of the most visually striking and collectible parallels in the hobby.

1994 Upper Deck MVP #1 Ken Griffey Jr.

Released during Griffey’s first MVP season when he led the league with 40 homers and 122 RBIs, this card captures his prowess at the plate and is one of his most widely produced mainstream issues beyond the rookie cards from earlier in his career. PSA 10 examples trade in the $50-$80 range while PSA 8-9 copies are found between $10-$30 depending on conditions and marketplace demand. It remains accessible for Griffey PC builders seeking a key mid-90s issue in their collection.

1995 Fleer Ultra SP #84 Ken Griffey Jr.

As one of Griffey’s scarce “Short Prints” from the mid-90s Ultra set, only 121 copies of this dramatic action close-up were produced, adding to its cache. A PSA 9 recently sold for over $800 while lower graded 8’s command over $350 due to the ultra-limited print run. The card preserves Griffey at the height of his 1990s popularity before injuries started to hamper his numbers later in the decade. Despite the low print run, it remains attainable for Griffey collectors.

1998 Pinnacle Museum Collection #95 Ken Griffey Jr. / Cal Ripken Jr.

This fun dual relic card from upper deck features game used swatches from two of the 90’s biggest stars. Griffey’s swatch occupies the left side of the card beside Ripken. Low population PSA/SGC 10 slabs have sold over $350. Lower grades also command $100-$250 showing steady interest in pieces containing Griffey autos, relics, and cuts. The card serves as a fun 90s relic option highlighting two titans of the decade.

2000 Topps Finest Refractor #176F Ken Griffey Jr.

As Griffey approached free agency after the 1999 season, Topps released this sharp closeup action refractor as one of his final Mariners issues before joining the Cincinnati Reds. Only 99 green refractors were produced, making it quite scarce. A single PSA 9 recently sold on eBay for $600 highlighting steady interest in Griffey’s last Mariners products before switching uniforms. Even lower grades command $300-400 due to the limited print run.

2001 Topps #501 Ken Griffey Jr. (Reds)

Released during Griffey’s first season with the Cincinnati Reds after a blockbuster trade from Seattle, this sharp action image captures him mid-swing in his new Reds duds. PSA 10 pop reports only 84 graded copies. Recently a PSA 10 sold on eBay for $250 while PSA 8-9 copies sell in the $60-$110 range. It remains one of the key early Reds Griffey issues celebrating his move to the team he grew up rooting for as a child.

2009 Topps Triple Threads #64 Ken Griffey Jr. Jersey/Bat Knob Relic

Produced late in Griffey’s career when injuries limited him to just 50 games at age 38 with the Chicago White Sox, this dual-relic card contains a jersey swatch and souvenir-sized bat knob piece. Only 15 copies exist in a PSA/DNA 10 case by population reports. Remarkably, one such high-end example recently sold on eBay for over $990, highlighting Ken Griffey Jr. relics still hold premium value more than a decade after production.

While a complete Ken Griffey Jr. baseball card collection is virtually impossible to achieve even for the wealthiest collectors, focusing on acquiring his highest quality rookie issues along with iconic releases from his heyday with Seattle and early Cincinnati Reds tenure offers a comprehensive approach to owning the best Griffey cards. From revered rookies to scarce serialized inserts, Griffey cards continue appreciating as his legend grows. His unmatched blend of five-tool talent will always captivate collectors.