The 1989 Fleer baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the late 1980s. Fleer enjoyed great success with their licensed baseball cards throughout the 1980s and fans looked forward to seeing what rookies and stars would be featured each new year. While not the most valuable set from that decade, several key cards from the 1989 Fleer release have stood the test of time and emerged as highly valuable pieces for collectors today. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most expensive and desirable 1989 Fleer baseball cards that still demand top dollar over 30 years later.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (Card #221) – Widely considered one of the finest rookie cards ever produced, Griffey’s debut Fleer issue remains the crown jewel of the 1989 set. Often featured on “Top 10 Rookie Card” lists, the Jr. Fleer enjoys such fame and reverence due to Griffey’s otherworldly talent and career longevity. Near mint, graded copies routinely sell for $500-1000+. In pristine Mint 9 or Mint 10 condition, ungraded Griffey rookies can demand $2000-4000+. The card has also seen record sale prices beyond $10,000 for perfect, professionally graded specimens. No other 1989 Fleer stands above Junior in terms of both popularity and value.
Greg Morris Rookie Card (Card #198) – While not a true rookie in the traditional statiscal sense, Morris’ lone Fleer card from 1989 is considered his official rookie by collectors. A solid but unspectacular player over 11 seasons, Morris’ scarce Fleer rookie has become a coveted card due to extremely low print run and surviving population estimates. Only a couple hundred are believed to still exist in high grade. As a key card for Cleveland Indians team collectors too, Morris rookies have sold for over $600 in top condition. It’s one of the 1989 set’s most condition sensitive and hard-to-find pulls.
Tom Glavine Rookie Card (Card #242) – One of three future Hall of Famers debuted on the 1989 Fleer checklist (along with Griffey and Frank Thomas), Glavine’s is the second most valuable behind Junior. A star pitcher who would win 305 games and 2 Cy Young awards, the Glavine rookie appreciates due to his outstanding 22-year career. Near mint copies in the $150-300 range are common, but graded Mint 9s have reached $600-700 and pristine Gem Mint 10 examples above $1000. As a key Braves and Boston Red Sox player card, the Glavine rookie will remain a blue chip item for MLB collectors.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card (Card #242) – Like Griffey and Glavine, Thomas enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and his rookie is as desirable as they come from 1989 Fleer. Arguably the top slugger of the 1990s, “The Big Hurt’s” accomplsihments at the plate are legendary. While not quite at Griffey’s level, the Frank Thomas rookie moves with an average market value of $200-350 in top condition. Graded 9s are hitting $400-600 and perfect 10s pushing $1000 with strong long term potential as an all-time great player card.
Sandy Alomar Jr. Rookie Card (Card #78) – An unsung hero of the late 80s/early 90s Cleveland Indians clubs, Alomar Jr. had a fine 12-year MLB career primarily as a catcher. His lone rookie card from 1989 Fleer is one of the toughest to obtain in high grade. Only a scarce handful are believed to exist in pristine condition. Low print runs and fragile surfaces make this one of the rarest and most Condition Sensitive cards from the set. Graded mint specimens in the 9-10 range have sold for $300-500 as a true condition rarity.
Bobby Thigpen Rookie Card (Card #115) – The 1989 Fleer set will forever be known as the original rookie card issue for Thigpen, who went on to author one of the most incredible single-season pitching performances in baseball history. In 1990, Thiggy recorded an astounding 57 saves to obliterate the previous record. As the sole RC for a historic one-year wonder, this card garners attention. Ungraded copies sell in the $50-100 range often, while mint specimens upward of $150 due to Thigpen’s unique claim to fame performance the following season.
Roberto Alomar Rookie Card (Card #166) – One of the game’s great all-around talents, Alomar enjoyed a Hall of Fame career and his 1989 Fleer RC continues to be a fixtures in team and star player collections. Strong near mint copies remain affordable at $25-50, as it was a highly printed card. Graded 9s approach $75-100 and select pristine 10s have climbed above $150 due to Robbie’s sustained success over 17 big league campaigns. A key Blue Jays and Orioles card that will hold steady value long term.
Other Notable Cards: Ken Griffey Sr. (Card #215), Bret Saberhagen (Card #81), Kevin Maas (Card #116), Brian Harper (Card #200), Jim Abbott (Card #203), John Smiley (Card #245) and Scott Scudder (Card #251). Each rookies, prospects or stars from 1989 that inhabit various rungs of the desirability and value ladder for avid collectors. The 1989 Fleer baseball set introduced several legends and featured numerous collectibles that remain must-haves for the period. Nearly every highlygraded card holds appeal depending on player, condition and completeness of the collection sought.
While not the most packed with stars overall, the 1989 Fleer baseball card set endures due to its introduction of future greats like Griffey Jr., Glavine, Thomas and others. Key rookies from that year continue to drive prices for the set at the high end. Condition remains everything for rarities like the Greg Morris and Sandy Alomar rookie cards. And superstar cards like Griffey will likely never lose their luster as long as the hobby remains active. There are plenty of affordable embedded gems still to be unearthed too. The 1989 Fleer release was a solid mid-1980s offering that established the foundations for collector interest today.
