1989 Mother's Cookies Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards Valuation: $152 - $850 Highest sale price: $1100 in March 2021 Supply: 6,490 (PSA-graded) Dimensions: 2.5 by 3.5 inches All four Mother's Cookies collectible Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards. 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. 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. So, this is Ken Griffey Jr.s only Topps rookie card from a flagship Topps set. 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. Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card 1989 Bowman (Tiffany) #220 1989 Topps Traded (Tiffany) #41T 1989 Fleer Glossy #548 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie #1 1989 Donruss Rated Rookie. Read the full disclosure here. There was a time when the Griffey. Ken Griffey Jr. was the home-run leader in the American League in 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999. 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. shows a head and shoulders drawing of Ken Griffey Jr by DJ Skee. A great-looking card with a high-end price guide at high grades but worth it for the return on investment. This card isnt on the radar of most collectors but is a true beauty and is very underrated. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. PSA 10 graded versions of this card are very rare and limited historical sales data exists. The Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card is a true classic that belongs in EVERY baseball card collection. You have less than a .09% chance of landing a gem mint 10 grade if submitting one yourself. Each card features a facsimile of the players autograph. PSA 9s sells for $20, while PSA 10s fetch upwards of $200. Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. 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. Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10. However, they failed to realize how many cards Upper Deck printed. And who could forget the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Trophy that sits proudly in the bottom left corner? 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. Having 19 PSA 10s makes this one of Griffeys rarest rookie cards and most valuable. The Tiffany version of the 1989 Topps Traded is believed to have a print run of 15,000. The cards feature the exact same image, but the Bowman Tiffany card was last valued at ~40x the price! If youre in the market for a PSA 10, plan on spending over $700; however, a PSA 9 will cost you less than $100. The 1988 San Bernardino Spirit Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card has one of the smaller PSA population numbers of all his rookie cards. We suggest purchasing PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades. Due to popularity and enduring demand for Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and the fact that Griffey Jr. rookie card values have already risen sharply, I believe his cards only have low-moderate upside moving forward. 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. Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. The PSA populations are surprisingly low, considering how popular this Griffey rookie card has become. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. 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. Despite hundreds of Juniors rookie cards on the market, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey, Jr. #1 Rookie Card emerged on top this not only is our favorite Griffey Jr. rookie card and is also on our shortlist for our best long-term baseball card investment you cant get much better than this card, especially for collectors/investors in their 30s and 40s. He spent two years in the minors before the Mariners called him up to the majors on April 3, 1989. Bowman Tiffany rookie cards and the card value is ~$20,000 based on the last card sold at auction in March 2021. 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. Notables include Ken Griffey, Jr., Gary Sheffield, Tino Martinez, and John Smoltz. 1989 Bowman KEN GRIFFEY JR Seattle Mariners Baseball HOF Rookie Card #259 NM-MT. The following list highlights the most valuable 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. cards. This is due to the much lower population count: ~150 for the Bowman Tiffany compared to ~2,000 for the Bowman, and the glossy finish of the Bowman Tiffany card. Just because an auction says, Tiffany in the title does not mean the card came from a Tiffany set. Wrappers & Empty Card Boxes; Price Guides & Publications; Storage & Display Supplies; . 1989 boxes are emerald green, similar to 1990. Surprisingly, this masterpiece isnt even his most valuable rookie card. The design is a close copy from the 1986 Topps set and features a Photo of Griffey in a catchers stance. Rookie Card PSA 10 Gem Mint $21,000 (PWCC) Price: $21,000 This is the signature Bowman rookie card for any 1989 rookie. 1997 KEN GRIFFEY JR FLEER 23K GOLD SCULPTURED ROOKIE CARD - Graded GEM MINT 10. However, lets not forget he was also a 10-time American League Gold Glove Award winner. Seattle eventually traded him to the Reds for pitcher Brett. Aside from most cards being cut off-center, the design is excellent. As of May 2021, there are ~1,800 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss Rated Rookie cards and the card value is ~$400. How Much Should You Invest Annually In Sports Card. 1 in June 87 out of Cincinnatis famed Moeller HS, and 17-year-old Ken broke in with. He was the 1987 U.S. High School Baseball Player of the Year. This is the last year Griffey played in the minors but not the last team. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onFanSided.com and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. 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. C $41.00. Here are a few Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards we love regarding return on investment (ROI) that are not rookie. Aside from the supreme quality and beauty of Tiffany cards, there is another attractive selling point, the low supply. Ken Griffey, Jr. made headlines in the major leagues for 22 seasons. Of those submitted, 156 graded gem mint 10 and 460 graded mint 9. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. The grade with the most supply is PSA 9s with 1,807. A tasteless technique we continue to see in the hobby today. The only notable card in the set is the #26 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. As one of the most significant drafts of all time, Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie cards carry some value. RARE Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Donruss ERROR Rookie Card #33 $52.00 Ken Griffey Jr Signed Slabbed Seattle Mariners 1989 Donruss #33 Rookie Card BAS $359.99 Ken Griffey Jr Signed Slabbed Seattle Mariners 1989 Bowman #220 Rookie Card BAS $359.99 More Info Browse more collecting info for Ken Griffey Jr. in our detailed guides and articles: As of May 2021, there are ~4,600 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Fleer rookie cards and the card value is ~$175. I like the card and it is a relatively safe buy given the popularity among collectors and investors. Very interesting and informative! Consider buying a PSA 10 example on eBay to save time and money. The PSA population report currently has 1,625 copies of this card with a Gem Mint rating. Rare Ken Griffey Jr. Cards including rookies!. One of the most popular, if not the most, is Ken Griffey Jr.s non-rookie card. On that note, investing in a player of Griffeys credentials and caliber is wise. The card features Griffey Jr. in a Seattle Mariners jersey with his baseball bat over his left shoulder. - 1991 Post Collector Card 134458195204 In addition, the back of the card is blue instead of white and says Collectors Edition inside a baseball graphic. Similar to several other 1988 Griffey Jr. cards, the card features Griffey Jr. in a San Bernardino Spirit uniform. More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. How popular is the card with collectors and investors. Even the PSA 9 population is low, with 639; however, the value is not there. 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). Game Time inc. created 1989 Classic Travel baseball cards as a baseball trivia game. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. 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. The card features the classic Donruss Rated Rookie logo which increases the appeal for many collectors and investors. 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. GoldCardAuctions is a high-end investment-caliber trading card company and is the definitive source of sports card investing news and analysis. (see chart below). This Ken Griffey Jr. However, the other two travel sets do have a Griffey rookie card. PSA 9s sell for $40, while PSA 10s sell for over $300. As mentioned above, be cautious when buying raw cards on eBay because sellers will sell regular Bowman cards and label them Tiffany. Bear in mind it still garnered the highest possible PSA grade. And the red borders allow this card to pop out at you. Low Risk/High Return in the long term | Moderate Risk/Moderate Return in the short term (prices have fallen from all-time highs over the last few months, and now would be a good time to buy back in for short term flippers (but use caution and exercise bankroll management). Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. As of May 2021, there are 18 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Green) and 11 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Purple). You will not regret purchasing this bad boy with high grades. This is the best Bowman Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie card on the market. Today, demand remains high and the value of this card has steadily risen in recent years. 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.. 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 cardstock is premium white, and the fronts have a glossy coat. Of those sent in, 118 graded gem mint 10 and 637 mint 9. 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 cards are rare with no single variation having more than 20 PSA 10 cards as of May 2021. Little wonder Junior was a 13-time All-Star, the 1997 American League MVP, and a National Baseball Hall of Fame member. The card is one of two Classic Travel cards on this list with this one, the Update I being the more common and less expensive of the two. The Bowman cards were more significant than usual, measuring 2 1/2 x 3 3/4, and featured a full-color photo of Ken on one knee (see below for a rarer version). The 1988 Star Nova Edition Griffey Jr. prospect cards include 10 variations of the card. Moreover, the image and design make this an iconic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, which helps add value and longevity to its collectibility. Due to the cheap cardstock, many cards have uneven borders, soft corners, or chipping ink on the edges. Each card includes a descriptor (e.g., Career Stats) which appears at the bottom of the card, as well as a unique image. Similar to the other sets, Topps printed Bowman cards in mass quantities. Are you wondering which Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to buy? 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)