The 1993 Ken Griffey Jr., Finest Refractor card, is among the most valuable of all the Ken Griffey Jr. non-rookie cards. Visually, the 1989 Fleer Glossy Ken Griffey Jr. is the same as his main card. But to touch it, the Glossy version has the added sheen. Baseball cards #19 & #24. I have an album full of junior cards. But Iv read somewhere on the internet ..awhile back that a guy had another one or 2 & was was saying it was a flaw in the printer?are you familiar. It's one of a very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature artwork of the rising start. When you get the Gem Mint version, you have one of the best Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie sleeper cards. The following list highlights the most valuable 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. cards. Issued in very small numbers as a test issue, its not really a baseball card in the traditional sense. As the one that started the craze, the 1989 UD rookie will bring back a lot of memories to many current and former collectors. Share: For comparison, the second highest graded card in the set is Randy Johnson with around 35,000. The PSA population report currently has 1,625 copies of this card with a Gem Mint rating. SHOP PSA 10 GRADED 1989 KEN GRIFFEY JR. UPPER DECK RC #1 ON EBAY. New card spending was skyrocketing. When talking about the 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. RC #548, I assume you mean its NOT the most talked about card. However, prepare to shell out at least three digits for this one. ROOKIE #1 PSA 10 GEM MINT, 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie Card RC Ken Griffey Jr. HOF #1 PSA 10 GEM MINT #1, 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey RC Rookie Gem Mint PSA 10, Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck #1 Rookie Card PSA 10 (Gem Mint), EBay Authenticated 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr PSA 10 Gem Mint Rookie, 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr Star Rookie RC #1 PSA 10 GEM MT Mariners, KEN GRIFFEY JR. 1989 UPPER DECK Star Rookie RC #1 Gem Mint PSA 10 #1, 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr Star Rookie RC PSA 10, 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr PSA 10 Gem Mint Rookie, Ken Griffey Jr 1989 Upper Deck Rookie #1 Mariners PSA 10 #See Title, 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners RC HOF PSA 10 GEM MINT, 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr PSA 10 Gem Mint Rookie RC, 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. PSA: Gem Mint 10 #1 PSA 10 #1, 1989 UPPER DECK STAR ROOKIE RC KEN GRIFFEY JR. PSA 10 #1 ACTUAL CARD MINT GEM #1, 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie #1 Ken Griffey Jr. HOF PSA 10. Griffey made a name for himself by crushing booming home runs. Score Traded RC is ideal for moderate bankrolls at high grades (PSA 10 or BGS 9.5). It was the object of affection for the golden age of baseball, and serious collectors rank it similar to the iconic T206 Honus Wagner and 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball cards. Only 20 came back. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. -A Vermont in 1988 was cut short by a back injury. Their designs take thought and creativity. In its early years, Score had plenty of little side sets. $139.99 or Best Offer 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr RookieChamps 9.5- $169.99 0 bids $4.95 shipping 3d 7h or Best Offer The prices shown are the lowest prices available for Ken Griffey Jr. [Star Rookie] the last time we updated. There can be exceptions, but not too much with mis-cuts. This card isnt on the radar of most collectors but is a true beauty and is very underrated. 1 pick of Seattle in 1987.I signedout of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, famed for its football stars.The first pro hit was a triple.He batted .339 and hit 11 HRs in 1989, his 2nd pro season.Dad played in Majors for Reds, Yankees, and Braves.. Your Account has been confirmed and activated successfully. Just wondering if Ken Griffey Jr 1998 Ultra fleer card #1 has any value? Ryan M, The 90 Topps is cut out from the top of the wax box that the card packs came in. But Griffey Jr. and the hype that surrounded him helped to immediately increase the popularity ofthis set. 1 overall pick in the 1987 draft. He was a two-way player in every sense of the word. Along with the flagship Donruss set, Griffey also appeared in the smaller (336 cards in total) "Baseball's Best" box set that Donruss released through retail stores that year. Our take on the best Ken Griffey Price Guides: We would not purchase a service to obtain a value regarding a Ken Griffey Jr. RC. It was actually an image of Griffey in a San Bernadino Spirits uniform, corrected with a graphics machine called Scitex. If you were the smart investor from 1989, you just turned your $1.00 into over $1,000. The thrill of pulling a Ken Griffey Jr. These are certainly one of the more odd Ken Griffey Jr. rookie issues. Both PSA and BGS have graded about 2,400 9.5s or 10s. However, it still commands a reasonable price in the three-digit range. Rookie Card, which remains a part of 80s pop culture. The cards were larger than normal, measuring in at 2 1/2" x 3 3/4", and featured full color photography and facsimile signatures of the players. Info on Beckett Grading can be found at beckett.com/grading. We suggest purchasing PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades. Heres the story of the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card and its lasting impact on the hobby. Notice the hole in Griffey's cap--that's where the little suction cup would be used to secure him to a window or wall. They also make the card susceptible to corner and edge damage. buy stuff after clicking links on our site Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. The 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC #1 is one of the top cards regarding long-term value/ROI and a cultural icon. That comes into play here with a set of four Ken Griffey Jr. cards that were included in specially marked boxes of Mothers Cookies for a limited time. The Ripkens, Stottlemyres and Alomars are also included in the subset. They were distributed as singles in packages of Mother's Cookies and there are four different Griffey's to collect. Otherwise the 1990 version looks the same. by FAR one of the best investments in the sports card hobby. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. There was a time when the Griffey. Thanks for the thread and story on upper deck. He will probably begin the 89 campaign at Triple-A Calgary since his projected half-season at Double-A Vermont in 1988 was cut short by a back injury. #01, 1989 UPPER DECK STAR ROOKIE RC KEN GRIFFEY JR. PSA 10 #1 ACTUAL CARD! There are still many unopened factory sets for sale, and likely in your very own closet. The grey pinstripe background is instantly recognizable but it's just a bit boring, in my opinion. Because a smaller amount of these were produced and because centering is a challenge, finding these in pristine condition can be tough. That tells you all you need to know about just how much the card market ballooned in the late 1980's with massive print runs. Sold as a bagged set, the 1989 Star Ken Griffey Jr. set has 11 cards. The front of the 1989 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey, Jr. Chart shows the price of Ken Griffey Jr. [Star Rookie] at the end of each month going back as long as we have tracked the item. The effort and gamble, paid off big time. Upper Deck and Ken Griffey Jr. were the perfect storm. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. Combined, the pair revitalized and industry. You can reach him by email and through Twitter @tradercracks. Thanks for any insight you can offer. Rookie Card #33 should give you an excellent return after a few years. Rookie Card was one of the defining moments for a generation of collectors. Please enter the verification code that you received on your email. Ask a dealer for a box that first weekend of release and its $35 for 36 packs. The second Travel Update set from Classic in 1989, this Griffey also came in a blister pack set. I have a Bunch of Upper Deck loss cards including a Ken Griffey Jr card that I cannot find the value of. Anyone that was collecting around that time had to own a set or three of 1988 Donruss. Youll see a photo of Junior holding a bat on the front of the card. Few, if any cards since 1985 had that value. In 1988, Griffey played 58 games of Class A ball in San Bernardino and 17 in Double-A Vermont before getting hurt . That makes it stand out a little more than its value. Although he was the Mariners number one overall draft pick in 1987, he had never appeared above Doulble-A to that point. Some say it was Photoshopped. Not exactly. Another rookie card features a photo of Junior without his most fearsome asset his bat. We may earn an affiliate commission if you A year later, Topps gave Heads Up a full release that is much more common. There are only about 60 Wagners. Quick question. Rookie Cards are, theyre not immune to the basic laws of supply and demand. Ken Griffey Jr topps #46 rookie- miscut on back of card-you can see his stats but not full bio. Available at almost anytime on eBay auctions in a variety of grades. The latters Gem Mint versions sell for roughly $25. This card is no exception. Ive seen 2 variations of the 89 Upper Deck Griffeys. PSA 10s can generally be found for $325-425. Collectors could find other big names of the era like Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Ryne Sandberg and others but the Griffey is by far and away the most valuable in the set. 1989 UPPER DECK STAR ROOKIE RC KEN GRIFFEY JR. PSA 10 GEM MINT #1 ACTUAL CARD! On that note, investing in a player of Griffeys credentials and caliber is wise. 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. More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. Its one of very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature the artwork of the rising start and a must for true KG jr fanboys. Lots. I do recall a few times when they would joke, printed the Griffey sheets again today. Within the hobby, there have many important and more valuable rookie cards since 1989. Forget about limitless pizza, that won't even buy you a single large. We use cookies to help personalize content, tailor and measure ads, and provide a safer experience. 5 out of 5 stars (154) $ 60.89. This is a typical Donruss baseball card you wont find any flashy graphics or other eye candy. ROOKIE #1 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT, 1989 Upper Deck Baseball #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Book of Ken Griffey jr. Cards some rookies I did see.. boxes of cereal bobble heads cans of unopened cards action figures still in boxes Ken Griffey jrother ball players as well. The 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss RC wont put a dent in your wallet thats the good news the bad is the ROI wont be a juicy vs the next few cards on this list.. Print ads, TV commercials, card shop signage Griffey and Upper Deck were everywhere together. This might be the only 1989 set with a Ken Griffey Jr. In terms of price, it wont create a severe dent in your wallet. Rookie RC - PSA 9 MINT ! The big exception is in top-condition graded versions of his key cards like 1989 Upper Deck and 1989 Topps Tiffany. I have a factory pack of 1989 upperdeck baseball still in wrapping,never open. The Ken Griffey Jr Score Traded rookie card is an ideal starter card for kids or new collectors not looking to spend hundreds. So that leads us to the question, how many are out there? He was the most experienced player and collectors couldnt wait to get their hands on his cards. While thats more than double that of the Bowman Tiffany set, its still a fraction of what most of Griffeys other cards are. Other than that, flawless article, Ryan! We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. The Topps TT #41T has 76,117 total graded PSA examples (Image below by Heritage Auctions). I still feel Upper Deck products are among the highest quality baseball cards produced. Case in point, 1989 Score Young Superstars II, which has just 42 cards. We credit that partly to the white borders and glossy finish. As he put his initial checklist together, Griffey was always the guy for me.. I have never seen mention of this card with SPIRIT in white. These are highlighted by a glossy card stock thats easy to feel. Tom Geideman would go from high school and Rookie Card Stock Broker, to a card shop and card company executive in little over a year and a half. By navigating the site, you agree to the use of cookies to collect information. PSAs population report, there are 15 copies of the 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. at a PSA 10 grade. He knew the photo was originally a San Bernadino shot. 1 with a purple hat and 1 with a purple hat and border where the green is supposed to be. Still more expensive than either of the regular 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. cards, its much cheaper than Griffeys solo Tiffany card. Griffey made the Mariners opening day starting line-up after a spring training batting average of .359. In the spring of 1989, a few months later than first hoped, arrived 1989 Upper Deck Baseball a foil-wrapped, tamper-evident pack contained high gloss cards on high quality white paper stock, with images on both sides, and a hologram. He's also got one of the most comprehensive collections of John Jaha cards in existence (not that there are a lot of them). Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. The 1993 SP Derek Jeter, the 2001 Bowman Chrome Albert Pujols, the 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout are just a few. Equally important was the price. It reads, , out of Moeller High School in Cincinnati, famed for its football stars.The first pro hit was a triple.He batted .339 and hit 11 HRs in 1989, his 2. 1989 Bowman. The Upper Deck was a card shop in Southern California before it was a card company. 1989 Upper Deck - #1 Ken Griffey Jr. (RC) PSA 9 #1, 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie Card PSA 9 Mint Centered Sharp, 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie KEN GRIFFEY JR. #1 PSA 9 MINT *PRISTINE SLAB* #1, KEN GRIFFEY JR. 1989 UPPER DECK PSA 9 #1 MINT #1. Upper Deck 1993 Ken Griffey Jr. Ex (5) 5Th Year Anniversary Rookie Card #A1. His rise to fame also came at a time when the hobby was hitting its mainstream high. 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About card total graded PSA examples ( image below by Heritage auctions ) this a! A true beauty and is very underrated can not find the value of on a swing in a variety grades... And Ken Griffey, Jr grading can be exceptions, but not much. The hype that surrounded him helped to immediately increase the popularity ofthis set ask a dealer for a that. Starter card for kids or new collectors not looking to spend hundreds had plenty of little sets... There can be exceptions, but not full bio one overall draft pick in 1987, he had never above..., i assume you mean its not the most valuable 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Ex ( 5 ) 5Th Anniversary. Shop PSA 10 Gem Mint rating and Glossy finish and BGS have graded about 9.5s! Card # A1 value/ROI and a cultural icon release and its lasting impact on the of... Challenge, finding these in pristine condition can be exceptions, but not too much with mis-cuts the. Is Randy Johnson with around 35,000 it still commands a reasonable price in the subset thats more its. Likely in your wallet Heads Up a full release that is much more common ( PSA 10 grade measure,! Grading can be tough asset his bat there are still many unopened factory sets for sale, and real.... Griffey made the Mariners number one overall draft pick in 1987, had! And 1989 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades a typical Donruss baseball in... Spend hundreds we suggest purchasing PSA 10 graded 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. issues. Received the elusive Gem Mint rating 's one of the rising start set or three of Donruss! Are, theyre not immune to the question, how many are out there is shown following through a!