The 1989 baseball card season featured several rookies and players who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. While no single card from the set is as valuable as iconic cards from the late 1980s like the 1985 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie, there are a handful that regularly fetch high prices due to their subject and condition. Learning about the most valuable from the year provides insight into what traits and players carried long-term appeal for collectors.
Ken Griffey Jr. was arguably the biggest rookie star of 1989 and his Upper Deck rookie card is often cited as the most sought after from the set. Fresh off being the No. 1 pick in the 1987 draft and debuting in 1989 at just 19 years old, “Junior” was a phenom with prodigious power and skills in center field. His smile and smooth swing made him a fan favorite. In pristine Mint condition, his rookie typically sells in the range of $800-1,500 due to his iconic status in the sport and relative scarcity in top grades. Even well-worn copies still sell for $100-200 showing his lasting popularity.
At the time, he was seen as the game’s next big star and his card was one of the most pulled from packs. The Upper Deck company only produced cards that year, so supplies never reached the level of comparable Topps/Donruss issues. Plus, his rare 10 or Gem Mint presentations hold cachet as some of the finest certified Griffey cards in existence. For these reasons, his rookie maintains significance and value 30+ years later.
Another Ken Griffey Jr. card, this one from Donruss, also shines among the most valuable from 1989. Pictured tipping his cap while batting left-handed, the airbrushed design is eye-catching. In perfect condition it can demand $500-800. Although less scarce because it was issued by the major Donruss brand, its slick image and subject matter lift it above the sea of other comparable rookies from the same players that year.
Nolan Ryan, even in his age 42 season, anchored the set as one of its biggest stars. His skills were waning but popularity was still stratospheric as he embarked on what would become his record-setting seventh and final season with 300 strikeouts. His 1989 Topps Traded card showing him dealing is enormously sought-after in mint condition, where it can sell for $1,000-1,500 in auctions.
As a career achievement piece featuring baseball’s all-time strikeouts king, it holds immense appeal for both Ryan collectors and those completing a high-end vintage set. Lower grades in the $300-500 range are more commonly seen due to its scarcity in the most pristine surfaces available after three decades. The card’s iconography of Ryan glaring in on a batter as he fires a fastball further elevates its staying power.
Ripping cards in the 1980s and finding a rookie of Hall of Famer Barry Larkin was not as big a thrill compared to other debut issues like Ken Griffey Jr. Time has proven his excellence and his emergence as a star shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds led to his Topps Traded card appreciating tremendously. Graded Mint specimens have reached $700-1,000 with 7.5 or 8 condition copies still moving for $150-300. Arguably, it held value due to his contributions to a beloved Reds club and winning the 1995 NL MVP award.
Roberto Alomar was wrapping up his first full year in the league after debuting late in 1988. His offensive and defensive skills were already apparent with the San Diego Padres, making his rookie cards significant. Among the prominent issues, his 1989 Upper Deck stands out. Pristine copies in the 9-10 grade realm command $400-600 through the rarity of finding nearly flawless examples of a card printed during the company’s inaugural set. Lesser condition still carries weight at $100-200 given Alomar’s Gold Glove caliber second base work and career batting average of .300. He clearly had superstar traits evident as early as his initial campaign.
Ron Gant smashed 25 home runs and stole 30 bases for the Atlanta Braves in his breakout sophomore 1989 season at age 23. That dual threat performance is what made his Topps Traded and Tiffany cards so auspicious – they captured Gant in his sudden peak form before injuries hampered his future. Mint condition Topps Tradeds reach $750-1,000 in today’s market thanks to their novelty within the set. Even very nice copies in the 8-8.5 range still allure buyers enough to spend $250-350. Whereas a pristine Tiffany print as part of that parallel issue series demands over $1,000 due to the scarcity of the insert. Though short-lived, Gant’s 1989 success left an impact worthwhile over 25 years later.
1980s stars like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens had some handsomely valued cards too from the fun and memorable 1989 season. The Griffey Jr., Nolan Ryan, Barry Larkin, Roberto Alomar and Ron Gant standouts highlighted here proved to retain long-term relevance due to depicting either prime seasons, milestones, or rookie exposures of these players’ immense talents. Their pictures, conditions relative scarcity and significances to baseball attractively converged to consistently place them among the most valuable issues found in the expansive 1989 card set through today.
