The 1989 baseball card season marked the peak of the junk wax era, a period from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s when overproduction led to greatly decreased values on modern cards. Even within the junk wax era, certain rare and prestigious rookie cards from 1989 have stood the test of time and increased greatly in value. For collectors looking to invest in vintage cardboard, here are some of the most valuable 1989 baseball cards that can still fetch high prices on the modern market.
Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer #1 Rookie Card – Without question, the most coveted and legendary card from 1989 is the Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the best baseball card of the modern era, Griffey’s smooth left-handed swing and effortless fielding made him an instant fan favorite. His rookie card captured him at the beginning of what became a surefire Hall of Fame career. In near-mint condition, examples easily sell for over $1,000 today. Graded mint copies in the PSA 9-10 range have sold for astronomical prices upwards of $10,000. The Griffey Fleer rookie established him as the poster boy of the junk wax era and maintains a place as one of the most iconic cards in the hobby.
Greg Maddux Sportflix #2 Rookie Card – While not quite as heralded as Griffey, Greg Maddux went on to have a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. His scarcest rookie card comes from the Sportflix subset released that year. Only 18 copies are believed to exist in mint condition today, making each one exponentially valuable. Recently a PSA 9 sold for over $5,000, showing robust demand for one of the best pitchers of his generation’s earliest card appearances. The Sportflix brand was short lived and produced tiny print runs, fueling the rarity and high prices achieved by Maddux’s rookie issue from the set.
Frank Thomas Bowman Glossy #3 Rookie Card – “The Big Hurt” wasted no time making his mark in the majors, winning Rookie of the Year honors in 1991 after posting a 1.000 OPS in his first partial season. His rookie cards remain some of the most desired from the late 80s/early 90s. The Bowman Glossy variant boasts impressive photography catch Frank Thomas in stadium lights. Just a few hundred are believed to have been printed. Near-mint examples in the PSA 8-9 range will set collectors back $1,000-2,000 due to the photography, rarity, and attached memorable performance of the future five-time All-Star.
Fred McGriff Score #2 Rookie Card – One of the purest hitters of his generation, Fred McGriff slammed 493 career home runs and made five All-Star teams. His second year rookie card comes from the Score brand, which had a short print run. High grade copies have sold in auction for over $1,000, with the most pristine specimens grading PSA 10 regularly making over $2,000. McGriff’s tireless consistency at the plate and overall likable persona helped his early cardboard maintain strong collectibility. With competition from pricier young star rookies, “Crime Dog’s” Score rookie endures as one of the more affordable yet impressive vintage pickups for TOR fans and collectors.
Tom Glavine Score #1 Rookie Card – As a two-time Cy Young Award winner and 300-game winner, Tom Glavine cemented himself among the best left-handed pitchers ever. His first Bowman issues are too prevalent to carry huge prices today. Collectors still chase his Score brand rookie for its snapshot of the Mets/Braves hurler at the dawn of his storied career. PSA 9 copies routinely cross $500-1000, with true gem specimens in PSA 10 condition achieving prices up to $2000 when they surface. Glavine’s Hall of Fame career and place among the games legendary southpaws makes any of his early cards prized possessions for advanced collectors.
Donruss Starter Set Chipper Jones Rookie Card – The Donruss Starter Set parallel provides one of the more budget-friendly entry points for owning a piece of Chipper Jones’ rookie card portfolio. Still, high grade examples command four-figure values due to Jones’ first-ballot credentials in Cooperstown and all-around fan favorite status. While not his true “rookie card” per se, the photo and design are identical to the retail Donruss issue from that year. Grading a PSA/BGS 9, they typically reach $1500-2000 among avid Jones collectors chasing condition. For beginners, it offers an affordable way to add a future Hall of Famer’s startup cardboard to their collection.
Ken Griffey Jr. Preview Rookie Card – The short prints just keep coming for the Kid in 1989. The Northwest League Preview subset featured sharply-focused action photography of Griffey at bat. Just 100 copies are believed to exist in pristine condition today. A recent PSA 10 gem mint sold for a staggering $46,000, showing the premium placed on any scarce Griffey rookie variant in the finest possible state of preservation. Even PSA 9s fetch four-figure sums. For advanced collectors willing to invest serious money, high grade specimens provide a coveted holy grail piece and window into one of the game’s most gifted outfielders in his breakout minor league campaign.
Nolan Ryan 1987 Donruss #1 Most Valuable Card – While not technically a 1989 issue, Nolan Ryan’s last solo card from Donruss made in 1987 remains one of the most significant vintage pieces in the hobby. The “Express” was on the tail end of his storied career but remained one of baseball’s most followed attractions. PSA 10 examples are the stuff of legend, changing hands for well over $100,000. Even PSA 9s can bring in $25,000 due to Ryan’s status as a living legend, infamous for his 100 MPH heat and lifetime strikeout record. For serious vintage card connoisseurs, it represents capturing “The Ryan Express” at full speed during the twilight of his peak.
While prices on the bulk of 1989-1990 offerings may remain depressed, savvy collectors know where to look within the junk wax era for appreciating gems. Capturing future Hall of Famers like Griffey, McGriff, Glavine, and Chipper Jones before they reached Cooperstown continues to prove a sound long term investment strategy. Pairing legendary performances with short print scarcity factors forever burnishes the value of their early defining cardboard. For informed players in the vintage marketplace, choice specimens from the above 1989 standouts can deliver strong returns and enjoyment for decades to come.
