The grade with the most supply is PSA 9s with 1,807. It is also home to many cards having misspelled words, different poses, wrong statistics, and wrong information. Cardboard Connection calls this on-deck pose one of the best pictures of his rookie cards. As of May 2021, there are ~1,700 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss The Rookies cards and the card value is ~$225. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck PSA 10 vs S&P 500. We recommend investing as much as 15% of your investment into high-end sports cards. Over his 22 year career, Griffey Jr. hit .284 with 680 home runs and 1,836 RBI. Resulting in most cards getting that dreaded (OC) off-center qualifier. PSA, only 410 copies of this card with the highest possible grade exist. He was also won the American League MVP in 1997. PSA graded 1,644 of the Bowman Tiffany Griffey rookie cards. This Ken Griffey Jr. As of May 2021, there are ~20 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Cal League prospect cards and the card value is ~$2,500. And I am sharing my work with you. Ken Griffey Jr. 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.. There are two versions of this card, one with grey borders (Platinum) and one with blue borders. However, the other two travel sets do have a Griffey rookie card. Rookie Card #41T shows a boyish-looking Junior holding a bat. 6. As of May 2021, there are ~1,800 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss Rated Rookie cards and the card value is ~$400. 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. Rookie Card #41T shows a boyish-looking Junior holding a bat. 1. An off-center PSA 9 recently sold for ~$80. Remember to always keep a lookout for fakes and reprints. center fielders in the history of professional baseball. Unfortunately, there is no set formula for calculating card values, but historical prices typically give you a good indicator of future price in the short-term. The card features Griffey Jr. in a Seattle Mariners jersey with his baseball bat over his left shoulder. We typically only invest in PSA 10, PSA 9, BGS 9.5, and SGC Gold 100. During that time, Griffey Jr. was a 13x All-Star, 10x Gold Glove, and 7x Silver Slugger. His image is framed by a black and grey boarder. It was during this time that this photo was taken for the team set. Because they are wrapped in cellophane and sit loosely inside a thin cardboard box, many examples have soft corners. With only 500 printed, these are challenging to find on the secondary market. It is unclear how many sets were printed; however, they are known to be relatively rare and challenging to grade. The 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck RC #1 is one of the top cards regarding long-term value/ROI and a cultural icon. He played at San Bernardino and Vermont in 1988.. 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. When holding these in hand, you can quickly tell which is a Bowman Tiffany and which is a regular Bowman issue. As of May 2021, there are 18 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Green) and 11 PSA 10 Star Ad Cards (Purple). 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). Moreover, the image and design make this an iconic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, which helps add value and longevity to its collectibility. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white San Bernardino Spirit jersey catching a baseball in the outfield. . baseball card you wont find any flashy graphics or other eye candy. The card features Griffey Jr. in a blue Mariners batting helmet superimposed on a red, white, and blue background. However, they are considered more rare in gem mint conditions than any of his other rookie cards. He was injured the year before and hadnt played above Double-A yet. 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). 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. Mass printing was enough for many collectors to get out of sports cards forever, but some stayed, and a lot returned. Along with the Griffeys, the Ripkens, Alomars, and Stottlemyres were featured. But is that the case for this Griffey card? The eBay advanced search is our preferred option, or you can also drop us an email, and we will do the work for you (which is the easiest way, in our opinion). 1989 Bowman KEN GRIFFEY JR Seattle Mariners Baseball HOF Rookie Card #259 NM-MT. . Unlike the previous two seasons, the update set was not issued in Glossy form. This card is no exception. move back to his hometown of Cincinnati in the fall of 1999. It gives Fleer, Topps, and Upper Deck a severe run for their money. shows a head and shoulders drawing of Ken Griffey Jr by DJ Skee. Read the full disclosure here. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. Surprisingly, this masterpiece isnt even his most valuable rookie card. clubhouse during the teams consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. Don Russ Ken Griffey Jr. SHOP KEN GRIFFEY JR ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY He ended the year playing for the Vermont Mariners, a Class AA Eastern League. And the red borders allow this card to pop out at you. Because this set was unpopular upon release, many dealers did not order the product. This is the iconic hobby game-changer. Are you wondering which Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to buy? Having 19 PSA 10s makes this one of Griffeys rarest rookie cards and most valuable. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onFanSided.com and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. The popularity of the card has kept prices high despite the fact that there are more than 12,000 PSA 10 graded cards. Griffey was 19 years old. The 1988 Star Nova Edition Griffey Jr. prospect cards include 10 variations of the card. The paper card is cheap and can be obtained for about $5. This set came as factory-sealed sets. 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. 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.. In the number one spot for the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr Rookie card is the 1989 Upper Deck RC, from probably the most well-known Griffey card set. 1989 was the first year Topps revived the Bowman brand, They originally purchased it in the 1950s and never used the intellectual property. Of those cards in the set, his #1 Prospect card sells for the most, and for a good reason. The card is relatively expensive, but given it is one of the earliest Griffey cards, it is among my favorites on this list. A No. If you collected baseball cards in the 90s, you had this Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card in your collection. calendar_month 01/06/2023. Rated Ken Griffey, Jr. Rankings are based on the Beckett Baseball online price guide. Tiffany Factory Sets (15,000 sets produced). Notables include Ken Griffey, Jr., Gary Sheffield, Tino Martinez, and John Smoltz. Grown men and kids were paying big money collecting these with the expectation that in 30 years, they would get an excellent return. For around $100, you can add this to your collection today. The sealed pack containing this version has Griffey on the front as the first card. When you get the Gem Mint version, you have one of the best Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie sleeper cards. The prices shown are the lowest prices available for Ken Griffey Jr. the last time we updated. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white Mariners jersey with his bat over his left shoulder. The reason is that a considerable majority of the 1,397 copies of PSA received for grading have a centering issue. You must be careful when purchasing Tiffany cards because they are identical to the standard issued sets. Your email address will not be published. RARE KEN Griffey Jr. Cards including rookies! 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. . Complete factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. The regular Bowman set is worth very little because of its high print run. The shop transformed into a company that produced its first set in 1989 with backers that included the California Angels Wally Joyner. As of May 2021, there are 28 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. It is also the only 1989 Donruss Griffey Jr. card that features an action shot. He played high school baseball for two years, hitting .478 and 17 home runs during that span. 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. It was part of a 4-card subset featuring father and son duos. Compare prices below or click on the card you want for more values, historic prices, and card details. PSA 10 graded versions of this card are very rare and limited historical sales data exists. Each card features a blue boarder with the Star brand in the top-right, but the image on each card varies. The color scheme makes the card pop, as does the great shot of Griffey taking a massive cut. 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. 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. The cardstock is premium white, and the fronts have a glossy coat. The value of Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie cards, particularly the 1989 Upper Deck rookie card, has exploded within the last few months. 2000 ULTRA PLATINUM MEDALLION KEN GRIFFEY JR #100P #'d/50 PSA 6 EX-MT POP-2 RARE. Debut card #46 (PSA 9 Mint). Bear in mind it still garnered the highest possible PSA grade. To top it off, finding one that is centered is a big challenge. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Etsy Search for items or shops Close search Skip to Content Sign in 0 Cart Halloween Hub Jewelry & Accessories However, it is challenging to tell them apart when viewing them online. Rookie Card #11, its still valuable. 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'. With such low PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards, it is evident just how challenging they are to find in perfect conditions. 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. The card isnt from a major brand like Topps, but it is a Griffey card to add to the collection. 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. A PSA 9 is $30, while a PSA 10 sells for $175. The 1988 Cal League set features 50 of the top players in the California League 1988. Source. Little wonder Junior was a 13-time All-Star, the 1997 American League MVP, and a National Baseball Hall of Fame member. With that in mind, this card isnt exactly the rarest Ken Griffey, Jr. card on the market. PSAs official website, only 156 copies of the Ge Mint version exist. As of May 2021, I classify Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards as Low Risk with Low-Moderate Upside potential. The design is basic, so the action photo is what sets this card apart and gives it a slight value boost. 1989 Bowman is a 484-card set released by Topps on July 6th, 1989. 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. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. You can check out the most watched Ken Griffey Jr. cards at auction on eBay right now via the live list below. PSA graded 294 of the Platinum, with 17 grading gem mint 10 and 91 grading mint 9. 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. 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. Beckett has graded this card a 10 more than 100 times and PSA has awarded more than 4,000 top grades. He spent two years in the minors before the Mariners called him up to the majors on April 3, 1989. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. 1989 Bowman. Griffey is shown following through on a swing in a great action shot. The 1988 PROCARDS Ken Griffey Jr. prospect card is the only card on this list with Griffey Jr. in a Vermont Mariners uniform and is extremely rare. According to PSA, only 410 copies of this card with the highest possible grade exist. Factory-sealed sets sell on eBay between $20 and $40. Note:All listed money values from PSA Gem Mint 10 Average Auction Price. Show details Just because an auction says, Tiffany in the title does not mean the card came from a Tiffany set. Aside from the supreme quality and beauty of Tiffany cards, there is another attractive selling point, the low supply. 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. The Mariners defeated the Orioles 10-4. The value of an ungraded 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card eventually climbed over $100. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. June 21 st 2020: $1,177. That was a typo! Keep reading to find everything you need to know, and my investment advice. The 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the highest priced rookie card on this list. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. However, they failed to realize how many cards Upper Deck printed. 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. Similar to several other 1988 Griffey Jr. cards, the card features Griffey Jr. in a San Bernardino Spirit uniform. With such a massive supply, the price stays suppressed. The set is known for printing the only licensed Major League card of Sammy Sosa, issued in 1989. The reason is that a considerable majority of the 1,397 copies of PSA received for grading have a centering issue. Grade: PSA Gem Mint 10. Its downright simple. As of May 2021, there are 876 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Classic Travel Update I rookie cards and the card value is ~$70. It shows him kneeling with a business-like look on his face. SHOP PSA 10 GRADED 1989 KEN GRIFFEY JR. UPPER DECK RC #1 ON EBAY. You can pick one up for around $135. 11. Ms drafted him No. On the other hand, the former commands a heftier price on the market. 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. A blue version PSA 10 sold for $4,494 in 2019, and a PSA 9 blue recently sold for $222. There was a time when the Griffey. 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. 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 The front of the card shows a young Junior getting ready to swing for the fences. Griffey poses in the standard baseball card stance with the bat over his shoulder and smiling for the camera. Shop for 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards on eBay 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. Still, Upper Deck wisely made Griffey Jr. its #1 over Gary Sheffield, Sandy Alomar Jr. and Gregg Jefferies. Required fields are marked *. Baseball Cards Magazine rookie cards and the card value is $800+ (last auction sale was October 2020). As of May 2021, there are ~4,400 PSA 10 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and the card value is ~$136. If you want a rare Ken Griffey Jr. minor league (RC) card, look no further than his 1988 California All-star card. PSA graded Less than 3,000 of the Griffey Score Superstars with 822 grading gem mint 10. 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. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Topps Traded Tiffany RC #41T. Making Griffey Jr. the first card in the set took foresight (and a little luck). The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Due to the rarity, its safe to say these are some of Ken Griffey Jr.s rarest and most valuable rookie cards. Tallying 1,000 X your investment just rolls off the tongue nicely. PSA 9s sells for $20, while PSA 10s fetch upwards of $200. Showing only 100 cards. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. Ken Griffey Jr. has already been elected to the Hall of Fame after a 22 year storied MLB career. However, there is no base set Topps Griffey rookie card. The 1989 Upper Deck or Donruss Rated Rookie cards are some of the most iconic Griffey cards, but are they the most valuable? Glossy cards are exactly like regular Fleer cards, with two exceptions. This is due to many factors, including poor cutting techniques, whitening on the dark borders, cheap cardstock, and overall cheap manufacturing techniques. Like the Tiffany editions, this premium version of its standard card has a glossy finish and higher quality card stock. 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. The value for a mint example is $30, while a gem mint example exceeds upwards of $250. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. Be sure and look for BGS and SGC graded cards on eBay at a fraction of the price of PSA. As of May 2021, there are ~12,250 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Topps Traded rookie cards and the card value is ~$230, but price has been fluctuating a lot recently. Pro Tips When Buying a Ken Griffey Jr. Autograph Rookie Card Buy PSA/BGS/SGC graded cards. And who could forget the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Trophy that sits proudly in the bottom left corner? Griffey Jr. batted left-handed in addition to throwing left-handed. With an action shot, but lackluster design, $85-95 is a good average for Score Rookie & Traded #100T. Ken Griffey Jr.'s baseball cards are available in at least 43 sets. The 1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr. non-rc is #336 and catches Griffey Jr. with the bat over his left shoulder. Even Griffey Jr. himself reportedly owns more than 100 of this iconic card, which helps define the modern era of collecting. Rookie Card #33 should give you an excellent return after a few years. The card is common with a PSA 10 count similar to the 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. As mentioned above, be cautious when buying raw cards on eBay because sellers will sell regular Bowman cards and label them Tiffany. Over the course of his career, he hit 630 home runs, 1,836 RBIs, and a career batting average of .284. Of those submitted, 264 graded gem mint 10. 1989 Donruss Baseballs Best consists of 336 of baseballs best players. Advertised as the Comeback Edition! This marks the day of the Bowman brand officially returning to the hobby. There are three series to look for, with only two containing Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie card. Even the PSA 9 population is low, with 639; however, the value is not there.