The late 1980s were a booming time for baseball card collecting. Many of the stars of the era had rookie cards in the mid to late 80s that have increased exponentially in value in recent years. While the junk wax era of the early 90s flooded the market and drove down card prices for a long time, savvy collectors saw the potential in cards from 85-89 and purchased the top rookies. Now, 30+ years later, those cards can fetch thousands at auction if graded and preserved well. Here are some of the most valuable late 80s baseball cards worth paying attention to today:

Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck (#1) – Widely considered the most iconic and valuable baseball card of all time, Griffey’s rookie is still in high demand. PSA 10 gems have sold for over $100,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can reach $10,000+. Junior’s dominance and popularity as arguably the best player of the 90s make this the pinnacle rookie to acquire.

Roberto Alomar 1988 Donruss (#84) – Alomar debuted in 1988 and quickly established himself as a star second baseman. His slick fielding and hitting prowess helped him rack up 10 All-Star appearances and win a pair of Gold Gloves. PSA 10 copies of his rookie have sold for around $15,000 in recent years.

Frank Thomas 1989 Bowman (#619) – “The Big Hurt” absolutely mashed from day one after debuting in 1990. He won back-to-back MVPs in 1993-1994 and powered the White Sox offense for much of the 90s. Pristine PSA 10 examples of his rookie card usually sell in the $6,000-$8,000 range.

Chipper Jones 1991 Stadium Club Chrome (#36) – Hailed as one of the greatest third basemen ever, Jones played his whole Hall of Fame career with the Braves from 1993-2012. His extremely rare chromium rookie card in a PSA 10 condition recently sold for over $30,000. Even PSA 9 versions fetch $5,000+.

Darryl Strawberry 1983 Topps Traded (#T-78) – Although not technically a rookie since he debuted in 1983, Strawberry’s flagship Topps Traded card from his breakout season is highly sought after. When pristine in a PSA 10 gem mint grade, examples can sell well over $10,000.

Dwight Gooden 1984 Donruss (#142) – “Dr. K” exploded onto the scene in 1984, going 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 276 strikeouts. He became just the fifth rookie ever to win the Cy Young Award. Pristine PSA 10 copies have sold for over $7,000. Even well-centered PSA 9s go for $3,000+.

Barry Bonds 1985 Topps (#634) – While Bonds gained more notoriety for steroid use later in his career, collectors still hold the MLB home run king in high regard. His rookie card is extremely rare to find pristine in a PSA 10. When they surface, they often sell for north of $6,000.

Javy Lopez 1992 Leaf (#117) – The powerful catcher only played 11 years but was an All-Star five times with the Braves. His extremely tough-to-grade Leaf rookie has shifted hands for well over $5,000 in PSA 10 condition in recent memory.

Mark McGwire 1987 Topps Traded (#T-103) – With 70 home runs in 1987 alone, McGwire was already on his way to greatness even early in his career. This coveted rookie variant from his breakout year reaches $4,000+ in PSA 10 condition.

Don Mattingly 1985 Donruss (#204) – A true Yankees icon, Mattingly’s smooth lefty swing and leadership endeared him to fans in the Bronx. As one of the best hitters of the 80s, his pristine rookie brings over $3,000 on the secondary market when graded a PSA 10 gem.

Late 80s baseball cards of emerging stars and future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Alomar, Thomas, Jones, and McGwire have proven to hold tremendous long-term value if preserved well. With the population of high-grade specimens still relatively low, the right PSA 10 examples from 1985-1989 can deliver life-changing returns for patient collectors today. It pays to hold onto your sharpest vintage cardboard.