1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card #1 RC HOF Mariners. 11. Griffey was 19 years old. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck PSA 10 vs S&P 500. (Sold by PWCC Marketplace in March 2021) Price: $55,201. Shop COMC's extensive selection of ken griffey jr. rookie related baseball cards from 1989. Griffey Jr. is a baseball icon and will be remembered and collected for years to come. Look several recent eBay sales of a gem-mint, PSA 10 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr: June 23 rd 2020: $1,225. With such low PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards, it is evident just how challenging they are to find in perfect conditions. Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. You have less than a .09% chance of landing a gem mint 10 grade if submitting one yourself. Another example is the difference in price between the 1989 Bowman and 1989 Bowman Tiffany cards. The Tiffany version of the 1989 Topps Traded is believed to have a print run of 15,000. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. It shows him kneeling with a business-like look on his face. On the other hand, the former commands a heftier price on the market. 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. This is the best Bowman Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie card on the market. Like the Fleer rookie (and so many cards from the 80s) the trick is finding one that is centered. PSA graded 1,778 of the Update II Griffey cards. Card prices vary, but a PSA 10 Personal Data card sold for ~$600 in October 2020. The reason is that a considerable majority of the 1,397 copies of PSA received for grading have a centering issue. This card is unique for a few reasons. This is the last year Griffey played in the minors but not the last team. An off-center PSA 9 recently sold for ~$80. Any experienced baseball card collector should know just how . They sell for so much because they have the least supply and are from a licensed distributor, Topps. Ken Griffey Jr.'s biggest 7-day price movers are 2020 Topps Project by Keith Shore, 2020 Topps Project by Jacob Rochester and 1989 Donruss Baseball's Best. The total amount is unknown, but some speculate that due to the simple design and thin card stock, some dealers printed these in batches creating fakes and selling them to capitalize on the hype. Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie cards are by FAR one of the best investments in the sports card hobby, and he is one of the best center fielders in the history of professional baseball. 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. Even Griffey Jr. himself reportedly owns more than 100 of this iconic card, which helps define the modern era of collecting. 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. Rated Rookie Baseball Card Year: 1988 Price: $7,200.00 This Baseball Trading Card with the card number #340 is a 1977 classic limited edition of Ken Griffey, it features the 1977 Topps Season in the Major League Baseball (MLB) set where Ken played for the Kansas City Royals team. PSA 10 values have steadily increased over the years because these cards bring so much nostalgia to collectors and are so difficult to grade. 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. . When we talk about Griffey, were talking about a multi-dimensional player. Fun Fact: Junior expressed a desire to move back to his hometown of Cincinnati in the fall of 1999. Available at almost anytime on eBay auctions in a variety of grades. Griffey is a lefty, so youll notice his glove is on his right hand. This is the iconic hobby game-changer. The legend of Junior can be traced all the way back to when he started roaming the field in the 1970s before Cincinnati Reds games, getting tips from his father Ken Griffey Sr. and other stars. Everything comes together. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card values range from $10 to $20,000+. Years later, the rest of the set became almost irrelevant. However, it still commands a reasonable price in the three-digit range. You can find factory-sealed packs on eBay for less than $20. I was confused about your comment regarding the PSA rated 8 and a rated 10 card. Show details Each card features a blue boarder with the Star brand in the top-right, but the image on each card varies. Price: US $100.00. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. You cant go wrong with a Hall of Famer who played his heart out every night. C $41.00. PSA graded 46 of the Griffey #1 Prospect cards. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. Griffeys minor league stats and some trivia. As one of the most significant drafts of all time, Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie cards carry some value. As you can see, the card has gained roughly 45% since 1/1/2017, while the S&P 500 is at 9.39%. A PSA 10 version of this card sold back in 2015 for only ~$50, but in todays market it is hard to guess what the card value would be now. The Bowman Tiffany set is a limited print run and its cards are worth at least 10x the regular Bowman set. factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. It was during this time that this photo was taken for the team set. The card does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. Rookie Card #33 should give you an excellent return after a few years. Required fields are marked *. The 1989 Classic Travel II is less common than the Update I and as a result, also more expensive. We suggest purchasing PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades. Furthermore, they were never considered his most valuable upon their release. However, they would fail to realize the significance behind the card. However, due to the unusual way Donruss distributed this product, none of these are considered true rookie cards. Because this set was unpopular upon release, many dealers did not order the product. Just because an auction says, Tiffany in the title does not mean the card came from a Tiffany set. 1) 1989 Upper Deck Rookie RC #1. One of Ken Griffey Jr.s early baseball cards can be found in the Vermont Mariners minor league set. The back shows his stats during his. This throwback design came in Bowmans first season back in the hobby. Although the cards feature the same picture as the standard set, the front and back are both glossy, giving the card an ultra-smooth polish and feel. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white Mariners jersey with his bat over his left shoulder. We recommend investing as much as 15% of your investment into high-end sports cards. Auction Prices Realized Baseball Cards 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. STAR ROOKIE Sponsored Ads Auction Prices Baseball Cards 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Jr. #1 (STAR ROOKIE) 13,151 Sales $4,114,924 Value Auction Price Totals Summary prices by grade PRICES POP APR FACTS REGISTRY SHOP WITH AFFILIATES Grades (Click to filter results) Notables include Ken Griffey, Jr., Gary Sheffield, Tino Martinez, and John Smoltz. This is update II also known as Travel Purple. PSA graded Less than 3,000 of the Griffey Score Superstars with 822 grading gem mint 10. , outfielder Mike Cameron, and minor league players Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer on February 10, 2000. Rookie cards, autographs and more. And if you have a couple grand laying around, a top-graded version of this one is a little easier to come by. The value of Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie cards, particularly the 1989 Upper Deck rookie card, has exploded within the last few months. Of those submitted, 12 graded gem mint 10 and 20 graded mint 9. 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. As of May 2021, there are less than 5 PSA 10 cards per card variation and a PSA 10 Silver Edition #4 sold for ~$620 in October 2020. 1989 Donruss #33 Ken Griffey Jr. 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. Ken Griffey Jr. was the home-run leader in the American League in 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999. The card features the classic Donruss Rated Rookie logo which increases the appeal for many collectors and investors. This is one of the most readily available first-year cards for the Mariners legend. 1989 Fleer is yet another set printed in the junk wax era and tainted by a large print run. The Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie card in this set is particularly popular with collectors because it is one of the only 1989 Griffey rookies with a relatively low print run. Moreover, this is one of Griffeys few rookie cards that has the word rookie on the card. Although his rise in baseball and hobby accompanied the era of mass production, Griffey Jr. is still an important piece in the mind of so many collectors. Beckett hasnt given any grades of 10 for this card, but there are 86 cards that have received a 9.5. As a result, I believe he is a low risk investment. Seattle eventually traded him to the Reds for pitcher Brett Tomko, outfielder Mike Cameron, and minor league players Antonio Perez and Jake Meyer on February 10, 2000. His 1988 Best (Platinum) San Bernardino Spirit card is the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card. Even better, Panini uses the Rated Rookie logo in their modern and popular Donruss Optic sets. 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. While it isnt as rare as the 1989 Star Ken Griffey, Jr. The 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is among the most common Griffey Jr. rookie cards. When you get the Gem Mint version, you have one of the best Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie sleeper cards. The graded cards are as follows: (2)1990 Topps Traded #41T Rookie (PSA 8 and 9),1989 Fleer #548 Rookie (10 Gem Mint/WCG) and 1989 Topps M.L. PSA has graded just 2,166 of the 6,000, with 333 grading gem mint 10. The back shows his stats during his minor league days. However, they failed to realize how many cards Upper Deck printed. The front of the card shows a young Junior getting ready to swing for the fences. Topps Desert Shield Ken Griffey Jr. Price: $13,200 Year: 1991 Set#: 790 photo source: Goldin The Topps Desert Shield Ken Griffey Jr. card from 1991 was rated Gem Mint or 10 by the PSA, which made its value soar at its Goldin auction. It is also the only 1989 Donruss Griffey Jr. card that features an action shot. Topps Project 70 Companion Chase Card By DJ Skee #931C $4,500 This striking design (pardon the pun!) Of those sent in, 118 graded gem mint 10 and 637 mint 9. If youre looking for a card that costs less than a used car, this is your ride. The collection features a Warren Spahn puzzle and the outstanding rookies of the 1989 season, including Griffey, Sheffield, Johnson, and Deion Sanders. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. The cards are rare with no single variation having more than 20 PSA 10 cards as of May 2021. On that note, investing in a player of Griffeys credentials and caliber is wise. The 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the second of two 1989 Score cards on this list. Remember, this is a Tiffany card, so make sure the number on the back has a capital letter T after 41. This card can be a cornerstone of any Ken Griffey Jr. card collection, but it will cost your more than $2,000 for a PSA 10 card. June 21 st 2020: $1,177. We credit that partly to the white borders and glossy finish. Along with the Griffeys, the Ripkens, Alomars, and Stottlemyres were featured. Over his 22 year career, Griffey Jr. hit .284 with 680 home runs and 1,836 RBI. Ken Griffey Jr. (RC) #100T PSA 10 sold for $72 Shop the 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card on eBay 1989 Score Traded baseball card set One of Griffey's rookie cards that fly off the radar of most collectors is his 1989 Scored Traded rookie. Baseball Cards Listings 1 - 100 of 8,670 1998 Bowman Chrome - [Base] - Golden Anniversary #33 Ken Griffey Jr. [PSA 10 GEM MT] #/50 $6,631.10 1988 Cal League California League All-Stars - [Base] #26 Ken Griffey Jr. [PSA 10 GEM MT] $6,075.60 1988 Cal League California League - [Base] #34.1 While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. Rookie Card 1989 Bowman #220 . 1 draft pick, its rare that a players on-field accomplishments live up to the hype. PSA 9s sells for $20, while PSA 10s fetch upwards of $200. Additionally, early cards of Randy Johnson Ken Griffey, Jr. highlight this set. The 1989 Score, Masters Griffey Jr. RC artwork, is impressive and captures his trademark swing in a unique format. The value for a mint example is $30, while a gem mint example exceeds upwards of $250. As mentioned previously, I believe Ken Griffey Jr. will remain one of the most collectible baseball players for years to come. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. One of Ken Griffey Jr.s minor league cards with the highest demand is his 1988 San Bernardino minor league card by Best Cards. Griffey was also a 10-time American League Gold Glov, made MLB history by becoming the first father and son t. andem to play in the same game in 1990. (see chart below). Making a rare card even rarer being in perfect condition. Glossy cards are exactly like regular Fleer cards, with two exceptions. Chris Paul Hit Patrick Beverley With a Cheap Shot That Looked A Lot Like the Julius Hodge Nut Punch, UFC 285 pre-event facts, storylines ahead of Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, UFC 285: Amanda Ribas is the fighter to watch, UFC 285 full betting odds: Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane, Highest vote rate for HOF induction (437/440 voters), 1989 Bowman Tiffany #259 Griffey Jr. and Dad on TV, 1994 Upper Deck Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. autograph. The card does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. Seattle eventually traded him to the Reds for pitcher Brett. I have a Ken Griffey Junior rookie card in a clear plastic case I was just wondering what it is worth its an upper deck can you get me any numbers on what it might be worth, Your email address will not be published. This set came as factory-sealed sets. Technically this is not a Ken Griffey Jr. RC as it was printed in 2020 under the Topps Project 2020 set BUT we love it too much to keep it off the list. SHOP PSA 10 GRADED 1989 KEN GRIFFEY JR. UPPER DECK RC #1 ON EBAY. 1989 Bowman KEN GRIFFEY JR Seattle Mariners Baseball HOF Rookie Card #259 NM-MT. If youre looking for a low-supply Ken Griffey Jr. rookie at a cheaper price, this is your card. . move back to his hometown of Cincinnati in the fall of 1999. He was a two-way player in every sense of the word. 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. Bowman rookie cards and the card value is ~$470. Sealed sets were distributed as factory sets through various retail chains. Youll see a photo of Junior holding a bat on the front of the card. 1989 Donruss Baseballs Best consists of 336 of baseballs best players. The card was produced by Topps as part of their Project 70 series. As mentioned above on the #18 card, the Classic Travel trivia game came in three series. 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. Only three have earned a top grade from Beckett. Only 1,898 have been graded a PSA 10 while 16 have received a 10 from Beckett. These conditions make it difficult to find gem mint examples from factory-sealed sets. That was a typo! 1989 boxes are emerald green, similar to 1990. 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. One of the most popular, if not the most, is Ken Griffey Jr.s non-rookie card. 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. He spent two years in the minors before the Mariners called him up to the majors on April 3, 1989. 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.. Ken Griffey Jr. HOF Signed Autograph Auto 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Card # 1 PSA $499.99 Buy It Now for only: $499.99 Buy It Now Everyone figured that since Upper Deck looked expensive and cost more, it had a lower print run than the Topps junk.right? When holding these in hand, you can quickly tell which is a Bowman Tiffany and which is a regular Bowman issue. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer Glossy RC #548. A great purchase if you are looking for a solid, long-term return on investment. Your email address will not be published. Make sure you see 41T in the upper right-hand corner. Overall the Update I version has decent eye appeal with thick orange and pink gradient borders. 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. Pro Tips When Buying a Ken Griffey Jr. Autograph Rookie Card Buy PSA/BGS/SGC graded cards. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards are one of the top investments in the hobby from an ROI perspective. 1989 TOPPS TRADED #41T KEN GRIFFEY JR. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. 2d 17h. The 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the highest priced rookie card on this list. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. 1989 Donruss The Rookies is a 56-card set distributed exclusively through hobby dealers. Another rookie card features a photo of Junior without his most fearsome asset his bat. The value of a PSA 10 is between $8,000 $10,000. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Ken Griffey Jr.'s baseball cards are available in at least 43 sets. 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. PSA graded 294 of the Platinum, with 17 grading gem mint 10 and 91 grading mint 9. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card values range from $10 to $20,000+. It's one of a very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature artwork of the rising start. Of those cards in the set, his #1 Prospect card sells for the most, and for a good reason. 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. The back of the card reads, The son of major league veteran Ken Griffey, who is still active with the Reds, Ken, Jr. is a rising star on the Seattle horizon, possibly the finest young talent the Mariners have ever produced. Bear in mind it still garnered the highest possible PSA grade. There are, more than likely, over 500,000 of these Griffey rookie cards printed. The 1989 Upper Deck or Donruss Rated Rookie cards are some of the most iconic Griffey cards, but are they the most valuable? The answer is yes. As of May 2021, there are ~365 PSA 10 1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. Gold Cup cards and PSA 9 versions of this card have recently sold for less than $100. 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. 1997 KEN GRIFFEY JR FLEER 23K GOLD SCULPTURED ROOKIE CARD - Graded GEM MINT 10. 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. Complete factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. Rare Ken Griffey Jr. Cards including rookies!. This article covered the top 20 most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie and minor league cards. More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. clubhouse during the teams consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. It gives Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck a severe run for their money. With only 500 printed, these are challenging to find on the secondary market. Griffey Jr. played 22 seasons primarily with the Mariners and Reds. Ken Griffey Jr. has already been elected to the Hall of Fame after a 22 year storied MLB career. PSA 9s sell for $40, while PSA 10s sell for over $300. Making it highly unique to the true fan. 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball's Best #192 ( Buy on eBay) The Donruss Baseball's Best Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the highest priced 1989 Donruss card on this list and also the most rare. PSA 9 mint examples sell between $800 $1,000. 1 in June 87 out of Cincinnatis famed Moeller HS, and 17-year-old Ken broke in with. Part of the sets Star Rookie subset, Griffey Jr. flashing that signature smile as a teenager is a jewel in anyones collection. There are two versions of this card, one with grey borders (Platinum) and one with blue borders. The good news is that you won't have trouble finding one. The 1988 Star Ad Cards are relatively rare, but less expensive than many 1988 Griffey Jr. prospect cards on this list. Despite this cards Gem Mint version having more copies than the 1989 Star Ken Griffey, Jr. #1 Checklist White Back Rookie Card, it commands almost twice the market value on average. Father and son played in a total of 51 games for the Mariners from 1990 to 1991. 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. While not considered a rookie card, it was Griffey Jr.s rookie year, adding a little to its value. Consider buying a PSA 10 example on eBay to save time and money. In addition to his silky smooth and powerful swing, Griffey Jr. played a transcendent CF making dives and climbing the wall look routine. The card features Griffey Jr. in a blue Mariners batting helmet superimposed on a red, white, and blue background. The Donruss Baseballs Best Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the highest priced 1989 Donruss card on this list and also the most rare. Only 118 have been graded a PSA 10. However, it is challenging to tell them apart when viewing them online. The paper card is cheap and can be obtained for about $5. 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. The 1988 Star Silver Edition Ken Griffey Jr. prospect cards feature a set of 9 different cards. Ken Griffey Jr. was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 with an amazing 99.3% of the vote. Sports Card Investing: Maximize Portfolio Returns (Ultimate Guide), 10 Best Football Card Packs to Buy in 2023, In-Depth Sports Card Market Trends and Statistics (2023). Moreover, there are 14,482 graded PSA 9. The features Griffey Jr. at bat with a grey and pink boarder. Here's a list of his true rookie options; 1) 1989 Bowman #220 2) 1989 Bowman #259 3) 1989 Bowman Tiffany #220 4) 1989 Bowman Tiffany #229 5) 1989 Classic Travel Orange #131 6) 1989 Classic Travel Purple #193 Lets look at how the market values Ken Griffey Jr rookie cards and which ones collectors favor the most. 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card RC #1 PSA 3 . Once again, the mass production of this base set keeps the value down. For these reasons, I really like this card, but so do many others which is why prices are currently near $500 for a PSA 10 graded card. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website.