The 1989 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues from the late 1980s. While not quite as coveted as the vintage rookie cards from the 1950s and 1960s, there are still several highly sought after and extremely rare 1989 Topps cards that can fetch thousands of dollars graded and preserved in pristine condition. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the rarest finds from the 1989 Topps offering.
Perhaps the single most valuable and difficult to obtain 1989 Topps card is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best all-around rookie cards ever produced, Griffey’s explosive debut season and career trajectory immediately propelled his ’89 Topps RC into the stratosphere. In a PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, Griffey’s rookie recently sold for over $100,000, a true modern-day record price for a baseball card. Even in lower grades of PSA 8 or 9, it still demands thousands due to its incredible rarity and subject’s status as a future Hall of Famer.
Another ultra-rare and pricey 1989 Topps rookie is the Barry Bonds card. Like Griffey, Bonds was already displaying his prodigious power and on-base skills as a rookie, a prelude to his own eventual Hall of Fame enshrinement and single-season home run records. High-grade Bonds rookies can sell for $10,000+ depending on condition. Rounding out the valuable ’89 rookie club is the Frank Thomas issue, which is considerably more available than Griffey or Bonds but still pulls in the mid-four figures in top condition.
Perhaps the rarest design variation from the ’89 Topps set comes in the form of the Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke “Turned Bat” error cards. By mistake, these two cards were produced and released into packs showing the players holding their bats vertically instead of horizontally like the standard horizontal image found on all other cards in the set. Incredibly scarce, a high-grade Turned Bat Bonilla recently sold for over $20,000 and the rarer Van Slyke example could draw upwards of $30,000+ in the right auction.
There are also several extremely rare printing errors and anomalies that make certain 1989 Topps cards true one-of-a-kinds. Foremost among these is perhaps the Andy Hawkins card, which exists with an upside-down image believed to be truly unique in the world. Valued conservatively at $50,000 minimum due to its singular status. Another bizarre error is the Ken Phelps card, which has “KEN PHEL” appearing upside down below the normal header text. Only a handful are known to exist.
Beyond rookies and errors, positional scarcity also comes into play with certain 1989 Topps stars. Catchers like Gary Carter, Lance Parrish, and Bob Boone typically have far lower print runs than other players due to the inherent scarcity at their fielding spot. High-grade examples of these cornerstone backstops could garner several grand each today. The same low-print theory applies to dominant relievers of the era such as Dennis Eckersley, Jeff Reardon, and Rick Aguilera.
When assessing condition, it’s important to note that 1989 Topps had a higher-than-normal rate of print flaws occurring due to aging equipment at the Topps factory during production. Issues like silvering, black dots, off-centeredness, and gloss variations require condition assessors to be especially discerning when considering premium grades of PSA 8, 9, or MT (Gem Mint) 10. Truly flawless examples are tremendously scarce.
While the vast majority of 1989 Topps commons can be acquired for under $10 in average circulated condition, the true stars and highly scarce rookie stars, printing variations, and low-print player positions elevated to new heights due to nostalgia, performance achievements after the fact, and strict limitations in supply. For discerning vintage collectors, acquiring high-grade examples of the rarest 1989 Topps issues offers an opportunity to invest in some of the most memorable and remarkable cardboard from the modern era. Whether spent or saved long-term, these elite selections from the ’89 offering are sure to appreciate beautifully for years to come.
