When it comes to the most sought-after and valuable baseball cards featuring Ken Griffey Jr., there are a handful that rise above the rest. Griffey was one of baseball’s biggest stars throughout the 1990s and many of the cards from his rookie season in 1989 and early career still hold significant value today. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the Griffey cards that command the highest prices in the hobby.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (PSA 10)
As Griffey’s true rookie card, the 1989 Upper Deck release is arguably the most significant card in his entire collection. Often considered the finest rookie card produced in the modern era, Upper Deck only produced around 1.8 million copies in their inaugural year. The card captured Griffey at the very beginning of his Hall of Fame career still displaying the potential that would make him a 13-time All-Star. In gem mint PSA 10 grade, this rookie routinely sells for well over $10,000 and set a record when one crossed the auction block for $255,500 in January 2021. Even in lesser grades of PSA 8 or 9, examples can still fetch thousands due to the extreme rarity and historical importance. The ’89 Upper Deck rookie is truly the crown jewel of any Griffey collection.
1989 Fleer Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (PSA 10)
While not quite as elite as the Upper Deck issue, the 1989 Fleer Griffey rookie also holds tremendous worth. As one of the true “Big 3” rookie offerings from his debut season along with Donruss, the Fleer has an elegant design that remains a fan favorite. Nearly 30 years after it was released, a PSA 10 gem mint example can sell for $4,000-$6,000. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies with strong eyes can now trade hands for $1,000-2,000. The sheer popularity and scarcity of high-grade Fleer rookies makes this one a must-have for any Griffey investor.
1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. RC (PSA 10)
Overshadowed a bit by the mainstream Donruss, Fleer, and Upper Deck cards, the colorful 1989 Bowman Griffey rookie has emerged as a real prize piece for collectors. As the brand that originally introduced Griffey as a Mariner prospect in the minors in 1987, Bowman carried historical significance. Their 1989 issue was one of the first widely distributed Griffey cards. Extremely tough to grade a perfect 10, a flawless Bowman rookie in top-tier condition can sell between $3,000-$5,000 and surpass that mark when two or more example sell head-to-head. Even a pristine PSA 9 specimen will draw over $1,000 in today’s market. With its classic design aesthetic, the ’89 Bowman RC has developed a cult following among vintage enthusiasts.
1992 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. (PSA 10)
While not a true rookie like the previous three selections, the 1992 Topps Traded Griffey card captured the beginning of the mega-star phase of his career just entering his prime. The electric action shot image showed Griffey leaping at the wall to rob a home run, a play that exemplified his incredible athletic abilities. Like all Traded cards, the issue was scarce which adds to its cache. Earning a perfect PSA 10 gem is exceedingly tough due to the fragile edges and corners on the 1992 Topps base set. An outstanding PSA 10 Traded Griffey most recently sold for $1,875, a figure that could easily rise even higher over the next few years as his legend continues to grow.
1993 Bowman’s Best Refractor Ken Griffey Jr. (#BBR-KG)
One of the earliest “hit” cards featuring cutting edge technology, the 1993 Bowman’s Best Refractors debuted the trend of insert parallels that revolutionized the hobby. Griffey’s refractor was one of just 12 players featured at a ratio estimated around 1-per pack. The mesmerizing rainbow refractors have only increased in legend over the decades. In gem mint PSA 10 grade, a Griffey refractor now easily fetches over $5,000 at auction. Even well-centered PSA 9s are consistently selling for $2,000-plus nowadays. With its ultra-rare status as one of the first ever “shiny” cards, the ’93 Bowman’s Best Refractor has cemented itself as a true prize for aficionados.
1997 Ultra Ken Griffey Jr. National Baseball Card Day
Released as part of the 1997 National Baseball Card Day promotion, the Ultra Griffey stands out as one of the scarcest modern parallel issues ever produced. According to the manufacturer, only 5,000 copies found their way into hobby packs inserted as 1-in-6 packs. While not numbered, the serially rare black border cards created immense buzz in the collecting world upon release. Today, examples are hardly ever available and those that surface sell at enormous sums. In 2006, one PSA 10 sold for $6,410 while most recently a PSA 9 changed hands for $1,986. With virtually no population over a PSA 8 grade, and perhaps only 100-200 known to exist, the 1997 Ultra Griffey tops lists as one of the hardest Griffey cards to acquire in any condition.
2000 Upper Deck SP Authentic Ken Griffey Jr. Patch Card (#16)
Continuing to innovate memorabilia options for collectors, Upper Deck’s 2000 Sports Printing (SP) Authentic set delivered 1/1 game-used memorabilia cards that were true works of art. Griffey’s patch card featured a prized piece of fabric swatch likely worn during an actual Major League at-bat. Numbered to just 16 copies worldwide made it uniquely desirable for high-end aficionados. A perfect PSA/DNA 10 Griffey patch pulled an epic $27,420 sale in June 2014. While other similarly rare autograph/relic Griffey parallels from 2000-2010 SP, Topps, and Bowman collections could rival or exceed that figure in the right auction, the 2000 Upper Deck stands out for its exclusive 1/1 status. No other card captures Griffey’s on-field brilliance like actual game material.
While extremely challenging to acquire in pristine condition, each of these standout Ken Griffey Jr. cards represent the pinnacle achievements and technological innovations that advanced the entire vintage sports card industry. For serious investors or those simply seeking a prized piece of memorabilia from one of baseball’s most charismatic legends, any of these top Griffey issues would make a truly remarkable addition to any collection. As his rightful place in the Hall of Fame is cemented for eternity, interest and values attached to the finest examples of cards from his playing days can only continue ascending to greater heights.
