The 1989 Topps baseball card set is highly sought after by collectors due to its inclusion of several young star rookies who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. While most cards in the set trade for relatively low prices, there are a handful that have sold at auction for astronomical sums. Let’s take a closer look at the most valuable 1989 Topps cards and what factors have contributed to their stratospheric prices.
Perhaps the most well-known expensive card from the ’89 Topps set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie. Widely considered one of the best players of his generation, Griffey was already showing superstar potential as a nineteen year old with the Seattle Mariners. His graceful left-handed swing and effortless athleticism capturing the hearts of fans nationwide. With “The Kid” living up to expectations and cementing his place among the game’s greats, his first Topps card has followed suit in terms of desirability and value.
A PSA 10 Griffey rookie in pristine mint condition has sold for as much as $494,000 at public auction. Even well-centered near-mint copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition can fetch five figures. Griffey’s rookie appeals to baseball purists and investors alike due to his iconic status and the card’s suitability for long-term preservation. The 1989 Topps design has also aged very well compared to some of the more gaudy early ’90s sets. Condition sensitive collectors are willing to pay top-dollar for Griffey’s perfect rookie to add to their collections.
While Griffey may be the undisputed heavyweight champion of ’89 Topps, there are a few other cards that can challenge for the title of most expensive from the set. Arguably the second most coveted rookie is that of Twins’ sensation Chuck Knoblauch at second base. Like Griffey, Knoblauch was an exceptionally talented young player who piqued collector interest right out of the gate. He made the AL All-Star team in his first two seasons and won the ’91 AL Rookie of the Year award.
Though Knoblauch’s career was somewhat shorter than expected, his debut cardboard remains a key component of any serious vintage collection. The highest sale on record for a PSA 10 Knoblauch rookie was $107,850 in January 2018. As with Griffey, strong condition and eye appeal are required to achieve top dollar. There is an implicit understanding among collectors that the cards of future Hall of Famers will retain value through endless waves of speculation and market fluctuations.
Rounding out the top three most expensive from the ’89 set is the rookie card of Dodgers’ sensation Mike Piazza at catcher. Like Griffey and Knoblauch before him, Piazza wasted no time in making his introduction to the majors a memorable one. His prodigious power from the left side of the plate immediately turned heads, and he would go on to reinvent the role of the slugging catcher. Piazza’s rookie, despite some thicker borders and less visual pop than Griffey, still commands top prices reflective of “The Mighty Mets” monster career.
The highest sale on record for a PSA 10 Piazza rookie is $93,000, achieved in January 2018 as well. For collectors, this card represents one of the greatest hitting catchers in baseball history and a true one-of-a-kind talent. It’s difficult to find another player who so completely shifted the paradigm at their position through brute hitting prowess alone. As a result, the Piazza rookie retains tremendous significance and value, cementing its place as the third most expensive ’89 issue after Griffey and Knoblauch.
Beyond the superstar rookie trio of Griffey, Knoblauch, and Piazza, there are a few other notables that have cracked five-figure prices for mint specimens. Kirby Puckett serialized #91 and having made his first All-Star team the previous year, his fun swing and outstanding defense for the Twins have kept his rookie among the most sought-after. A PSA 10 Puckett sold for $21,000 back in 2020.
Also finding enthusiasm from collectors is the rookie of then-Expo Delino Deshields at #222. A speedy and athletic outfielder, Deshields had collectors intrigued by his potential before injuries hampered his career. Even so, PSA 10 examples can fetch around $15,000. The rookie of another fan favorite, high-energy Yankees third baseman Mike Blowers at #223, has also attracted bids up to $12,000 in pristine condition.
While the threshold is higher, seven-figure territory is not necessarily off limits for the crown jewels of ’89 Topps. The Griffey in particular, driven by a self-perpetuating mania surrounding his unmatched greatness and public adoration, could realistically enter the $1 million echelon at some point in the future if the right mint specimen becomes available. With the exponentially growing financial resources available at the sport’s highest levels, even the most costly vintage cards may not be fully priced to reflect their rarity and cultural heritage.
The 1989 Topps baseball card release has evolved into one of the true heavyweight sets of the hobby due to its crop of future Hall of Fame stars like Griffey, Piazza, and Knoblauch. The cards of these titans have cemented their status as the most valuable and recognizable from the entire set based on sustained long-term performance and appreciation. While still relatively niche compared to other collectibles, vintage sports memorabilia including the elite rookie cards from ’89 Topps continue gaining notoriety among a new generation of aficionados.
