During that time, Griffey Jr. was a 13x All-Star, 10x Gold Glove, and 7x Silver Slugger. Similar to the last card, the 1989 Pacific Cards & Comics Ken Griffey Jr. rookie superstars card is also extremely rare and hard to find. I updated it. The 1989 Classic Travel II is less common than the Update I and as a result, also more expensive. It gives Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck a severe run for their money. Like their flagship set, Topps decided to print a Tiffany set for their first print of Bowman. The set consists of 28 cards and features players on the San Bernardino Spirit team in 88. However, they failed to realize how many cards Upper Deck printed. Its downright simple. The prices shown are the lowest prices available for Ken Griffey Jr. the last time we updated. Proving just how rare they are. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. 1997 KEN GRIFFEY JR FLEER 23K GOLD SCULPTURED ROOKIE CARD - Graded GEM MINT 10. Only three have earned a top grade from Beckett. The 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is among the most common Griffey Jr. rookie cards. This card was produced at the height of the junk wax era (1987 1994) which drives the high population count. Aside from the supreme quality and beauty of Tiffany cards, there is another attractive selling point, the low supply. Topps printed roughly 6,000 of these sets, which is tremendously lower than the standard Bowman sets. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onFanSided.com and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The 1993 Ken Griffey Jr., Finest Refractor card, is among the most valuable of all the Ken Griffey Jr. non-rookie cards. Your email address will not be published. The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card was once regarded as his holy grail rookie card. The 89 Upper Deck Star rookie #1 is the card that started the hobby hype. The card features Griffey Jr. in a blue Mariners batting helmet superimposed on a red, white, and blue background. sharp corners and edges, and a stain-free surface. Its downright simple. 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. On that note, investing in a player of Griffeys credentials and caliber is wise. A sure way to know if the set has one is if they contain 50 cards. 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. There were reportedly only 6,000 sets printed. I believe his card prices will go as the sports card market goes: if new collectors and investors continue to enter the hobby, you will likely continue to see a steady increase in Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card values. For around $100, you can add this to your collection today. This is the iconic hobby game-changer. SHOP KEN GRIFFEY JR ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY Find Guaranteed Authentic Ken Griffey Jr. Trading Cards at SportsMemorabilia.com Online Store. The following list highlights the most valuable 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. cards. Hobbyists we spoke with differ on the exact reason. Ken Griffey, Jr. made headlines in the major leagues for 22 seasons. However, lets not forget he was also a 10-time American League Gold Glove Award winner. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white San Bernardino Spirit jersey catching a baseball in the outfield. The first series containing 100 cards with pink and blue gradient borders, does not include one. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards are one of the top investments in the hobby from an ROI perspective. As of May 2021, there are 250 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Classic Travel Update II rookie cards and the card value is ~$185. 1989 Fleer is yet another set printed in the junk wax era and tainted by a large print run. In fact, there are more than twice as many 89 Fleer cards graded in a PSA 10 as there are Donruss. Topps Project 70 Companion Chase Card By DJ Skee #931C $4,500 This striking design (pardon the pun!) PSA 10 examples of the Platinum have sold for as much as $13,000, while PSA 9s have soared over $1,000. Each card includes a descriptor (e.g., Career Stats) which appears at the bottom of the card, as well as a unique image. It shows him kneeling with a business-like look on his face. Rookie Cards (2021). The PSA pop count and card price varies. factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. Ken Griffey Jr., also known as Junior or The Kid or The Natural, was a game-changer on the diamond and the card collecting hobby. 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. With only 500 printed, these are challenging to find on the secondary market. Overall the Update I version has decent eye appeal with thick orange and pink gradient borders. Furthermore, they were never considered his most valuable upon their release. That title went to the 1989 Upper Deck star rookie, further down the list. Coming in as the number one most valuable rookie card of The kid is the 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. That is a difference of 6.84% in sports card value versus the list's overall average auction price of $309.3. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport, Ken Griffey Jr. 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. SGC vs. BGS vs. PSA Grading: Who Is Best in 2023? PSA graded 647 of them, with 19 grading gem mint 10 and 111 grading mint 9. His 1989 Upper Deck rookie is the crown jewel of Upper Decks groundbreaking inaugural baseball set. 1989 Bowman. Of those graded, 5,115 are in gem mint condition, which is relatively small considering how many are graded. He was named Northwest League Player of the Week, June 16-22, with 3 HR and 8 RBI.. As of May 2021, there are 18 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Green) and 11 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Purple). Etsy Search for items or shops Close search Skip to Content Sign in 0 Cart Halloween Hub Jewelry & Accessories Griffey poses in the standard baseball card stance with the bat over his shoulder and smiling for the camera. However, prepare to shell out at least three digits for this one. 1989 boxes are emerald green, similar to 1990. There are tens of thousands of 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards, so you must be ultra-picky when investing. This is one of Ken Griffey Jr.s most valuable and collectible rookie cards, so consider picking one up regardless of the condition. This is update II also known as Travel Purple. Showing only 100 cards. He was a two-way player in every sense of the word. The value for a mint example is $30, while a gem mint example exceeds upwards of $250. PSA graded over 58,000 of Griffeys 89 Fleer rookie cards. 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. The 1988 Cal League set features 50 of the top players in the California League 1988. Griffey Jr. does not meet those criteria. Rookie Card #41T shows a boyish-looking Junior holding a bat. 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. Another rookie card features a photo of Junior without his most fearsome asset his bat. 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. The front of the 1989 Topps Tiffany Ken Griffey, Jr. The back shows his stats during his minor league days. That was a typo! This article covered the top 20 most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie and minor league cards. While over 40,000 copies of the Ken Griffey Jr. rated rookie card have been graded by PSA, fewer than 2,000 have been graded PSA 10. 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. 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. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. Each card features a facsimile of the players autograph. The glossy sheen on the front and blue ink on the back. The 1989 Score, Masters Griffey Jr. RC artwork, is impressive and captures his trademark swing in a unique format. Card Number: #1. Shop COMC's extensive selection of ken griffey jr. rookie related baseball cards from 1989. A Green PSA 10 recently sold for $270 and a Purple PSA 10 sold for ~$255 in December 2020. However, with the introduction of third-party grading and population reports, collectors can see just how many of these cards were printed. Father and son played in a total of 51 games for the Mariners from 1990 to 1991. The 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC #1 is one of the top cards regarding long-term value/ROI and a cultural icon. Surprisingly, this masterpiece isnt even his most valuable rookie card. Bear in mind it still garnered the highest possible PSA grade. 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. If you have any questions or need help buying a Griffey Jr. RC, please email us at info@goldcardauctions.com and title the email Griffey RC Advice, and we will expedite the response if you cite this write-up. The 1989 Classic Travel Update I is among the more common Griffey Jr. rookie cards and as a result, is also relatively affordable. PSA 9 mint examples sell between $800 $1,000. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. This leaves the supply low and forces the price up. 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. Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. For those who do not know, Score is known to print massive amounts of their sets and has little value because of the high supply. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. The front of the card shows a young Junior getting ready to swing for the fences. Check out as guest. Mass printing was enough for many collectors to get out of sports cards forever, but some stayed, and a lot returned. But is that the case for this Griffey card? Due to the rarity, its safe to say these are some of Ken Griffey Jr.s rarest and most valuable rookie cards. $10 to $20; $20 to $40; $40 to $60; over $60; Advertisement. by FAR one of the best investments in the sports card hobby. On that note, investing in a player of Griffeys credentials and caliber is wise. 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. Complete factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. 1) 1989 Upper Deck Rookie RC #1. . By far one of the most iconic cards in modern sports card times and is a childhood memory for many in the hobby. The card is extremely rare and iconic which both contribute to driving up the price. The card was produced by Topps as part of their Project 70 series. There are three variations of this card and the PSA pop count and card price varies, as of April 2021. Because Topps made limited print runs, collectors will pay big money to own them. The Bowman Tiffany set is a limited print run and its cards are worth at least 10x the regular Bowman set. PSA 9s sells for $20, while PSA 10s fetch upwards of $200. Subscribe to get exclusive tips and news in the Sports Card Research Newsletter. Required fields are marked *. Please comment below if you have any recommendations on which cards should make this list. 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. The PSA 9 population is not much higher, with 1,294. Everything comes together. Remember, this is a Tiffany card, so make sure the number on the back has a capital letter T after 41. Ken Griffey Jr. PSA graded over 26,000 Griffey rookies, with 2,268 gem mint 10. Moreover, the population report is not growing by much, which means many cards may not have made it through the junk wax era times. Especially considering how low the prices are. In addition, the back of the card is blue instead of white and says Collectors Edition inside a baseball graphic. He was one of the rare players who excelled in both offense and defense. The two Griffeys made MLB history by becoming the first father and son tandem to play in the same game in 1990. 6. 2d 17h. Very interesting and informative! He played at San Bernardino and Vermont in 1988.. Ross Uitts 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. The Seattle Mariners drafted Ken Griffey Jr. (11/21/1969) with the 1st pick in the 1987 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Archbishop Moeller HS (Cincinnati, OH). Donruss is one of the most famous baseball card brands during Griffeys era. Rookie Card #11, its still valuable. Only 118 have been graded a PSA 10. This throwback design came in Bowmans first season back in the hobby. (or at minimum, put a bid on it as these cards will have a higher ROI vs. the standard PSA 10, BGS 9.5. 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. 1 draft pick, its rare that a players on-field accomplishments live up to the hype. Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards Worth Money 1. How popular is the card with collectors and investors. bat. . As of May 2021, there are ~1,700 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss The Rookies cards and the card value is ~$225. Like Bowmans cards from the 1950s, these are taller than standard cards 2 x 3 inches (standard 2 x 3 ). The 1989 Upper Deck or Donruss Rated Rookie cards are some of the most iconic Griffey cards, but are they the most valuable? Thank you! When we talk about Griffey, were talking about a multi-dimensional player. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. The Ultimate List of 24 Ken Griffey Jr. 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'. Sorry about that. Be sure and look for BGS and SGC graded cards on eBay at a fraction of the price of PSA. Nonetheless, the reason for its value comes down to supply and demand. PSA graded 3,520 of the Update I, also known as Travel Orange, Ken Griffy Jr. rookies. 1989 Donruss The Rookies is a 56-card set distributed exclusively through hobby dealers. On the other hand, the former commands a heftier price on the market. Get the best deals on Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Trading Cards when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. In 1988, Griffey joined the San Bernardino Spirit Class A California League (now called the Inland Empire 66ers). 780 are graded gem mint 10, a meager 23% of the population. Despite its simplicity, the 1989 Donruss Rated Ken Griffey, Jr. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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. 1989 Bowman KEN GRIFFEY JR Seattle Mariners Baseball HOF Rookie Card #259 NM-MT. Again, Beckett has awarded no 10s. 1989 Donruss Baseballs Best consists of 336 of baseballs best players. Moreover, the centering is an issue as well. The Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card is a true classic that belongs in EVERY baseball card collection. The features Griffey Jr. at bat with a grey and pink boarder. 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. PSA alone has graded 93,063, with 4,054 grading gem mint 10. Score Traded RC is ideal for moderate bankrolls at high grades (PSA 10 or BGS 9.5). C $9.56. Shop for 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards on eBay 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. Ms drafted him No. This is the best Bowman Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie card on the market. I like the card and it is a relatively safe buy given the popularity among collectors and investors. The 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. The latters Gem Mint versions sell for roughly $25. The title alone says it all. Even better, Panini uses the Rated Rookie logo in their modern and popular Donruss Optic sets. 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. The design is identical to the base 1989 Donruss set, except for green and yellow fronts and career highlights on the back. Over his 22 year career, Griffey Jr. hit .284 with 680 home runs and 1,836 RBI. 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) Buy from many sellers and get your cards all in one shipment! And who could forget the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Trophy that sits proudly in the bottom left corner? PSA graded 46 of the Griffey #1 Prospect cards. Furthermore, the Update II appears rarer than the first series card. This card isnt on the radar of most collectors but is a true beauty and is very underrated. One of Griffeys rookie cards that fly off the radar of most collectors is his 1989 Scored Traded rookie. 1 in June 87 out of Cincinnatis famed Moeller HS, and 17-year-old Ken broke in with. 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. Only 1,898 have been graded a PSA 10 while 16 have received a 10 from Beckett. According to PSAs official website, only 156 copies of the Ge Mint version exist. By far, the most valuable of Griffey Jr. rookies, this card comes from a premium set dubbed Tiffany by collectors in homage to the luxury jewelry store. Like most cards on this list, be mindful of fakes because these are easy to reprint. Look several recent eBay sales of a gem-mint, PSA 10 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr: June 23 rd 2020: $1,225. Due to the cheap cardstock, many cards have uneven borders, soft corners, or chipping ink on the edges. However, it is challenging to tell them apart when viewing them online. However, due to the unusual way Donruss distributed this product, none of these are considered true rookie cards. Despite the high population count, the card remains popular with collectors and investors and is one that you can easily find and add to your collection. GET FREE SPORTS CARD INVESTING TIPS BY EMAIL. Cards measure 2.5 x 3.75, a quarter-inch length than the post-1957 standard-size trading card. Rookie Card #33 should give you an excellent return after a few years. PSA 10 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie cards are a top-rated investment as they destroyed the S&P 500 in a head-to-head match-up over the last three years!