The year 1989 saw legendary players like Rickey Henderson, Nolan Ryan, and Kirby Puckett continue to dominate Major League Baseball, while young stars like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens began making their mark. The baseball card industry was also booming during this time, with the Golden Era of the 1980s producing some of the most iconic and valuable cards in the hobby’s history. When looking back at the most sought-after and valuable baseball cards from 1989, several stand out as truly coveted pieces for collectors.
Perhaps the single most valuable and iconic baseball card from 1989 is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card produced by Upper Deck. Griffey was already showing signs of greatness in his first full season with the Seattle Mariners in 1989, batting .264 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI in only 109 games at age 19. No one could have predicted just how historic of a career Griffey would have, cementing himself as one of the true greats of the game. His 1989 Upper Deck rookie card became one of the crown jewels of the collector community thanks to Griffey’s superstar status. High grade versions of this cardboard masterpiece in a PSA 10 Gem Mint condition have sold for over $100,000, setting the record for highest price paid for a modern-era baseball card. Even well-centered copies in PSA 9 Excellent condition command prices well into the thousands.
Another towering rookie card from 1989 was that of slugging first baseman Mark McGwire, who launched 49 home runs in his first full season with the A’s that year. McGwire’s explosive power display immediately put him on the map as a budding superstar, and his rookie is one of the most historic cards from the Junk Wax Era. Higher graded PSA 10 copies have sold for over $10,000, making it one of the more valuable McGwire cards available. Additional highly sought rookie cards from ’89 include Ken Griffey Jr’s Fleer and Score issues along with McGwire’s Fleer, Score, and Donruss debuts as well. Collectors love obtaining true rookie cards from future Hall of Famers.
Pitching greats Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens were both still in their prime during the 1989 season. Ryan put together yet another dominant season for the Texas Rangers at age 42, tallying 14 wins and 304 strikeouts while lowering his ERA to 2.76. Clemens broke out as the ace of the Red Sox staff, going 20-9 with a 2.99 ERA and 198 K’s en route to his first Cy Young Award. Their ’89 Fleer and Upper Deck cards remain must-haves for vintage card collectors, especially higher graded versions. Other all-time great pitchers like Orel Hershiser and Mitch Williams also have desirable ’89 issues.
Arguably the biggest star in baseball during the late 1980s was Rickey Henderson. By 1989, Henderson had established himself as the game’s premier leadoff man and baserunner after several monster offensive seasons with the A’s. That year, he batted .276 with 33 steals for Oakland. Rickey’s ’89 Fleer, Score, and Upper Deck cards are always in high demand from collectors looking to land a card of one of the most exciting players in MLB history during his playing prime. Keys to value include strong centering and sharp corners.
Kirby Puckett also broke out as a true superstar for the Twins in 1989, batting .329 with 27 home runs and 94 RBI on his way to an AL batting title. Puckett is beloved in Minnesota for helping lead the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. His ’89 Fleer and Donruss rookies, as well as his main issue cards from that season, remain in the crosshairs of both Twins collectors and vintage card investors. Puckett tragically passed away in 2006, adding significance to his cards from the peak of his Hall of Fame career.
While star rookie cards like Griffey and McGwire topped want lists in 1989, vintage collectors also coveted high-grade copies of legendary players from the past. Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron all had iconic cardboard from the 1950s-60s that collectors eagerly pursued additions to their collections of in the late 80s Junk Wax boom. Regional stars like Dave Winfield, Ron Guidry, and Andre Dawson saw strong collector demand for their best vintage issues during this time period.
Rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire led the way, along with flagship cards showing superstars of the day like Rickey Henderson, Kirby Puckett, Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens in their primes. While the late 1980s created a valuableintage for collectors today, it also cemented these players’ legacies as some of the true greats to ever play the game.
