Don Russ Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Fleer is yet another set printed in the junk wax era and tainted by a large print run. It was part of a 4-card subset featuring father and son duos. Over the course of his career, he hit 630 home runs, 1,836 RBIs, and a career batting average of .284. Cards measure 2.5 x 3.75, a quarter-inch length than the post-1957 standard-size trading card. The first series containing 100 cards with pink and blue gradient borders, does not include one. He spent two years in the minors before the Mariners called him up to the majors on April 3, 1989. But is that the case for this Griffey card? 1 in June 87 out of Cincinnatis famed Moeller HS, and 17-year-old Ken broke in with .320 and 14 HR at Bellingham that season.. Please comment below if you have any recommendations on which cards should make this list. Furthermore, they were never considered his most valuable upon their release. As you can see, rarity also plays a major role in determining the value of the card. As of May 2021, I classify Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards as Low Risk with Low-Moderate Upside potential. Making Griffey Jr. the first card in the set took foresight (and a little luck). The Mariners defeated the Orioles 10-4. 1989 Score Traded #100T Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100 Like Donruss "The Rookies" and Topps Traded, Score also released this smaller box set outside of their main release. As of May 2021, there are ~3,900 PSA 10 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Star rookie cards and the card value is ~$2,200. . The 1988 Cal Cards Ken Griffey Jr. card is a prospect card from his 1988 season, one year after he was drafted and one year before his rookie year in 1989. Get exclusive tips and news in the Sports Card Research Newsletter, Jalen Green Rookie Card: 7 Best Cards You Need To Know About (2022), The Ultimate List of 27 Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 27 Stephen Curry Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 24 Jayson Tatum Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 40 Luka Doncic Rookie Cards (2022), Prices are based on PSA 10 auction prices (when available), Price estimates are based on transactions that occurred in May 2021 or earlier, Base: 5 PSA 10 Base rookie cards and the card value is ~$4,500+ (last sale from 2019), Platinum: 17 PSA 10 Platinum rookie cards and the card value is ~$2,000+ (last sale from 2019), Platinum-White Spirit: Only 3 PSA graded cards exist and none better than PSA 8. Father and son played in a total of 51 games for the Mariners from 1990 to 1991. If you want a rare Ken Griffey Jr. minor league (RC) card, look no further than his 1988 California All-star card. C $4.99 shipping. Still, Upper Deck wisely made Griffey Jr. its #1 over Gary Sheffield, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Gregg Jefferies. That said, the exact worth of any Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is tough to determine and can vary greatly, but we have attempted to put together a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card price guide below. With that in mind, this card isnt exactly the rarest Ken Griffey, Jr. card on the market. Proving just how rare they are. 10 Rookie Cards That Could Double Your Money, 10 Brilliant Joe Burrow Rookie Card Investments, The Best Time to Buy & Sell Sports Cards (Ultimate Guide), The 20 Best Basketball Cards Of All-Time (Best Investments), 3 Best 2015 Topps Update Rookie Cards To Consider, 10 Best 2023 Topps Series 1 Variations Baseball Cards To Buy, 10 Best 1989 Topps Baseball Cards To Buy Plus Error List, 2022 Topps Heritage Baseball Most Valuable Cards and Checklist, These 10 GOATS Rookie Cards Will Outperform Stocks Over Next 10 Years, Gold Card Auctions | Sports Card Investing, 1989 SCD Baseball Pocket Price Guide Ken Griffey Jr. RC #3, 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. RC #220, 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. RC #100T, 1989 Classic Travel Orange Ken Griffey Jr. RC #131, 1989 Classic Travel Purple Ken Griffey Jr. RC #193, 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. RC #41T, 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. RC #3, 1989 Topps Heads Up Test Ken Griffey Jr. RC #5, 1989 Mariners Mothers Ken Griffey Jr. RC #3, 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr./Ken Griffey Sr. #259, 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr./Ken Griffey Sr. RC #259, 1989 Star Baseball Ken Griffey Jr. RC (11-card set), 1989 Pacific Griffey Candy Bar Ken Griffey Jr. (blue, yellow, and white backgrounds), 1989 Score Young Superstars II Ken Griffey Jr. RC #18, 1989 Donruss Diamond Kings Ken Griffey Jr. RC #4, Only purchase high grades such as PSA 10 and BGS 9.5. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Topps Traded Tiffany RC #41T. The front of the card shows a young Junior getting ready to swing for the fences. Source. I couldnt find the price, but I expect it would be very high, Career Stats (#118): 5 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Career Info (#119): 7 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, 1988 Season 1 (#120): 9 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, 1988 Season 2 (#121): 9 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, #1 Prospect (#122): 11 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Father / Son (#123): 15 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Personal Data (#124): 14 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, The Future (#125): 18 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Seattle Mariners (#126): 10 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Promo: 3 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists. The card features the classic Donruss Rated Rookie logo which increases the appeal for many collectors and investors. The PSA populations are surprisingly low, considering how popular this Griffey rookie card has become. He is the son of former major league outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. Junior (the moniker of the younger Griffey) was a fixture in the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse during the teams consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. In 1989 Fleer produced a Glossy Tin set for the third and final year. His 1988 Best (Platinum) San Bernardino Spirit card is the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card. The final price for this card, #790, was $13,200. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card values range from $10 to $20,000+. Once again, the mass production of this base set keeps the value down. Nonetheless, the reason for its value comes down to supply and demand. The back shows his stats during his minor league days. I like to reserve medium or high risk designations for players who have yet to prove themselves, are unlikely to be collectible long-term, and / or are struggling severely. Whether you are buying your first or adding to your collection, understanding your options, prices, trends, and population count are crucial to significantly improve your chance of making a positive return on your investment. You can find factory-sealed packs on eBay for less than $20. He was also won the American League MVP in 1997. 10. As of May 2021, there are ~1,100 PSA 10 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. Scoremasters rookie cards and the card value is ~$133. The 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. 780 are graded gem mint 10, a meager 23% of the population. That was a typo! Of those sent in, 118 graded gem mint 10 and 637 mint 9. He was a two-way player in every sense of the word. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white Mariners jersey with his bat over his left shoulder. The card is not rare, there are close to 4,000 PSA 10 graded cards, but commands high prices due to the cards popularity with collectors and investors. The 89 UD KG Jr. rookie card seems to do very well in times of distress as it rose in value while the S&P 500 tanked via the COVID-19 outbreak. Griffey Jr. is a baseball icon and will be remembered and collected for years to come. Because this set was unpopular upon release, many dealers did not order the product. Of those submitted, 264 graded gem mint 10. Ms drafted him No. That title went to the 1989 Upper Deck star rookie, further down the list. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Make sure you see 41T in the upper right-hand corner. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon. PSA graded 1,778 of the Update II Griffey cards. There were reportedly only 6,000 sets printed. 1988 Star (Nova Edition) cards have 500 sets and 40 promo cards for each player. Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $400 Check Prices On: Amazon The hype surrounding Griffey in 1989 was incredible and everyone was after this and his other rookie cards of the day. The next most expensive rookie is another Tiffany, this time part of the 132-card Topps Traded set issued after each base set released during the 1980s and early 1990s. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. So, if you can get over the (OC) on most cards, this is a great Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card to buy now. When holding these in hand, you can quickly tell which is a Bowman Tiffany and which is a regular Bowman issue. Furthermore, the Update II appears rarer than the first series card. His 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Card is one of the most famous cards in the hobby, ranking right up there with Jordan, Jeter, and Brady regarding popularity search on Google. Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. If you want to add the number one Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card to your collection, be sure and buy a card that is graded and authenticated by PSA. These numbers are much lower than most of his other rookies, which is why they sell for so much. As a result, the cards do not fit into standard-sized 9-pocket sheets, top-loaders, or cardboard set boxes, and it briefly caused a run on 8-pocket sheets. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. However, they would fail to realize the significance behind the card. Available at almost anytime on eBay auctions in a variety of grades. Moreover, PSA graded 840 blue versions with five grading gem mint 10 and 161 mint 9. While it isnt as rare as the 1989 Star Ken Griffey, Jr. Post contains affiliate links. The popularity of the card has kept prices high despite the fact that there are more than 12,000 PSA 10 graded cards. Blue versions are said to have at most 5,000. The answer is yes. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white San Bernardino Spirit jersey catching a baseball in the outfield. Score printed way too many of their 89 Traded set, and this is evident in how many Ken Griffey Jr. cards are in the population. Making a rare card even rarer being in perfect condition. Theyre also much more common. Rated Ken Griffey, Jr. bat. Some complain the photo and color on this are dull, but you can find worse designs among 80s and 90s cards than this with the purple and black frame. However, due to poor centering and gray borders leaving evidence of whitening on most cards, the PSA 10 population is relatively lower than the other cards on the list. The card was produced by Topps as part of their Project 70 series. Remember to always keep a lookout for fakes and reprints. The price has fluctuated quite a bit lately with a PSA 10 selling for ~$700 in March and then the price dropping to ~$185 in April. Ken Griffey, Jr. (November 21, 1969-) and Ken Griffey, Sr. became the first father/son duo to play in the Major Leagues at the same time, the same lineup at the same time and are the first to hit home runs in the same game when playing for Seattle in September of 1990. This card isnt on the radar of most collectors but is a true beauty and is very underrated. On the other hand, the former commands a heftier price on the market. We suggest purchasing PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades. Secondly, this is the only baseball card of Griffey Jr. posing in a Vermont Mariners uniform. If you want a much rarer version, continue reading to find the Fleer Glossy rookie card. Aside from most cards being cut off-center, the design is excellent. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. The card features Griffey Jr. holding a baseball bat over his left shoulder, eye-black beneath his eyes, while wearing a blue Seattle Mariners jersey. If youre looking to buy an affordable yet, iconic Ken Griffey Jr rookie card, look no further than his Topps Traded rookie. You cant go wrong with a Hall of Famer who, More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. The 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the second of two 1989 Score cards on this list. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card #1 RC HOF Mariners. 26 Jul 1998: Outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. #24 of the Seattle Mariners in action during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at the Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. 1989 Donruss #33 Ken Griffey Jr. With such low PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards, it is evident just how challenging they are to find in perfect conditions. Complete factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. In the same month, a PSA 10 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card sold for $2,225, 20x the price! While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. Here are a few Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards we love regarding return on investment (ROI) that are not rookie. The front of the 1989 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey, Jr. His 1989 Upper Deck rookie is the crown jewel of Upper Decks groundbreaking inaugural baseball set. However, due to the unusual way Donruss distributed this product, none of these are considered true rookie cards. Read the full disclosure here. The 1988 Star Nova Edition Griffey Jr. prospect cards include 10 variations of the card. The 1989 Classic Travel Update I is among the more common Griffey Jr. rookie cards and as a result, is also relatively affordable. The value of an ungraded 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card eventually climbed over $100. With 13,198 of the Griffeys 89 Topps Traded rookies grading gem mint conditions, they are by no means rare. Coming from a massively overprinted set, every kid had access to these cards at an affordable price. Ken Griffey Jr Card Prices Your search for Ken Griffey Jr returned too many results. You cant go wrong with a Hall of Famer who played his heart out every night. The glossy sheen on the front and blue ink on the back. Check out as guest. Beckett has graded this card a 10 more than 100 times and PSA has awarded more than 4,000 top grades. 2d 17h. A downfall to the set is that 1989 Bowman lacks resemblance to the prospect and rookie-laden brand it would eventually become and appears as a second Topps flagship set. 1989 Score Young Superstars Series Two is a 42-card boxed set with five trivia cards. The front of the 1989 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey, Jr. Like the base set rookie, it can be found in both the standard set and the more valuable Tiffany version (running in the low-$200 range lately.). With that in mind, this card isnt exactly the rarest Ken Griffey, Jr. card on the market. Griffey Jr. batted left-handed in addition to throwing left-handed. The regular Bowman set is worth very little because of its high print run. PSA 10 graded versions of this card are very rare and limited historical sales data exists. Were not saying sell all your stock and buy Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards, but we are saying this card (and other high-end sports card investments: read our best sports cards to buy now write-up) makes for an excellent hedge against the stock market losses. Ken Griffey Jr RCs came off the presses in 1989 with a crazy amount of cards to choose from as they were released during the 'junk wax era'. The value for a mint example is $30, while a gem mint example exceeds upwards of $250. Part of a smaller 42-card set, this Griffey Jr. card shows him getting ready to come out of the batter box after a base hit. Anyone that views the numbers of his Upper Deck rookie card against his other cards, with a fraction of the supply, would say the Upper Deck has far too many and is overvalued. Sports Card in Search (200) || Avg Price: $5312.02 All Auctions (108) || Avg Price: $309.3 The card is extremely rare and iconic which both contribute to driving up the price. Rated Rookie card is among the most common Griffey Jr. rookie cards. Before the advent of Photoshop, the set captures any player traded to a new team or called up from the minors after the initial Topps press run. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer Glossy RC #548. The good news is that you can add this Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card to your collection at a low cost. It reads, No. A sure way to know if the set has one is if they contain 50 cards. A search on PSAs website returned the result no longer grading and there are only a handful of auction transactions over the past several years. With such a massive supply, the price stays suppressed. Bear in mind it still garnered the highest possible PSA grade. 1) 1989 Upper Deck Rookie RC #1. Moreover, the image and design make this an iconic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, which helps add value and longevity to its collectibility. The 1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. non-rc is #336 and catches Griffey Jr. with the bat over his left shoulder. We do not factor unsold items into our prices. We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. Price Range / Sale. is one of the most famous baseball card brands during Griffeys era. In addition, please keep the following in mind: The 1987 Bellingnham Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. card is the only card on this list from 1987. As mentioned above on the #18 card, the Classic Travel trivia game came in three series. Because of this, a PSA 10 will set you back more than Griffey's other non-UD rookie cards. He was injured the year before and hadnt played above Double-A yet. ken griffey jr rookie card Lot. There are three series to look for, with only two containing Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie card. He played at San Bernardino and Vermont in 1988.. Donruss 1989 Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card. In terms of price, it wont create a severe dent in your wallet. Coming in as the number one most valuable rookie card of The kid is the 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Make sure you see 41T in the upper right-hand corner. 1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. #5. So, this is Ken Griffey Jr.s only Topps rookie card from a flagship Topps set. Hobby dealers received one regular (non-Tiffany) Topps Traded set for each Tiffany set ordered. Additionally, early cards of Randy Johnson Ken Griffey, Jr. highlight this set. 1 draft pick, its rare that a players on-field accomplishments live up to the hype. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. As of May 2021, there are ~1,800 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss Rated Rookie cards and the card value is ~$400. The value between the two is substantial. This Ken Griffey Jr. Tiffany card from 1989 Topps Traded, which has been obtained by hobbyists have been submitted to PSA for grading 1,898 times, where 17% of cards have earned a PSA 10. Griffey holds the spots for card numbers 118-126 and has different photos and titles for each. The reason is that a considerable majority of the 1,397 copies of PSA received for grading have a centering issue. All Topps Tiffany sets were printed in Topps Irish printing facility and have different print runs. The 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. Scoremasters rookie card is one of two cards from Score on this list. Most graded cards receive either an NM-MT 8 or a Mint 9 grade. One of Ken Griffey Jr.s minor league cards with the highest demand is his 1988 San Bernardino minor league card by Best Cards. baseball card you wont find any flashy graphics or other eye candy. As you can see, condition plays a huge role in determining the value of the card. Griffeys minor league stats and some trivia. Having 19 PSA 10s makes this one of Griffeys rarest rookie cards and most valuable. PSA graded 294 of the Platinum, with 17 grading gem mint 10 and 91 grading mint 9. However, lets not forget he was also a 10-time American League Gold Glove Award winner. The card features Griffey Jr. in a Seattle Mariners jersey with his baseball bat over his left shoulder. Ken Griffey Jr. Fun Fact: He attended Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati. A tasteless technique we continue to see in the hobby today. The PWCC Market Price Research tool provides historical price data as far back as 2004 and is a great resource for looking up how much your Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards are worth. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. by Tyson Beck Topps Project 2020, 1989 Donruss Baseballs Best Ken Griffey Jr. RC #192, However, lets not forget he was also a 10-time. We strive to provide simple, straightforward advice that is objective, independent, and honest, helping you get the most for your money in the sports card investment world. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards are one of the top investments in the hobby from an ROI perspective. This is update II also known as Travel Purple. Rookie Cards (2021). 1. Dont take a chance buying a raw Ken Griffey Jr. RC, as the odds of it grading high are not great, The 1989 Upper Deck RC #1 and the 1989 Bowman Tiffany RC are tops regarding return on investment (ROI), If you can find an SGC Gold 100 or Black Label Ken Griffey Jr. RC, BUY IT!