Ken Griffey Jr.’s ascent to the big leagues not only took MLB by storm, but also brought with it a surge in the card collecting community. The ensuing rookie card chase didn’t wrap with the end of the ’89 season, but instead is still seeing new peaks today.
No matter where your rooting and collecting interests lie, there always seems to be a soft spot for a Griffey Jr. rookie card in any collection. We look at some of the best featuring The Kid that are still highly sought after today.
Top Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards
Check out our favorite Junior must-have rookie cards:
- 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1
- 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. #220
- 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. #548
- 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #41T
- 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. #33
- 1989 Donruss Baseball’s Best Ken Griffey Jr. #192
- 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3
- 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #100T
- 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. #220
- 1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. #5
1. 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1
PSA 10 Value: $1,900
The crown jewel of Upper Deck’s 1989 debut baseball set is also the most recognizable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card in the hobby today. Known as one of the most well known and most graded cards in history, Griffey’s 1989 rookie is a must-own.
And while the graded population is massive, snagging a PSA 10 will still cost you. The card that started the Griffey craze rightfully starts our list of the best Junior rookie cards to own.
2. 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. #220
PSA 10 Value: $250
Upon Topps’ return to printing Bowman cards, they went with slightly oversized dimensions. While odd in the card collecting world, the addition of a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card has helped the popularity of the 1989 set.
Not as expensive due to it’s mass availability, the ’89 Bowman does have mass appeal as a collector’s item. Griffey’s facsimile signature on the bottom of the card makes it a cornerstone of any rookie card collection.
3. 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. #548
PSA 10 Value: $140
Because of a vulgar bat knob, this might be the second most popular card in Fleer’s 1989 set. But it’s still a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card worth owning due to it’s inexpensive price tag and relative ease to find.
Heavy on the gray striping and showing a glistening Griffey, this card might not have aged as well as others. It’s certainly a staple for any serious baseball collector, especially when paired with its “glossy” version.
4. 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #41T
PSA 10 Value: $100
One of the cheaper Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards on the market is his 1989 Topps Traded card. Due in large part to its massive print run, this card is still one of the more attractive options out there.
Purchasing one on the secondhand market is the route most will take, but don’t knock the excitement collectors still get when ripping one of these from a sealed set.
5. 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. #33
PSA 10 Value: $340
Many can agree that few things in the hobby are cooler than the “Rated Rookie” emblem. Ken Griffey Jr.’s is no less cool despite the general feeling of disappointment with the card. Between the concentrating Griffey and odd use of purple and black bars, this card isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as others from 1989.
With a huge print run, this is yet another Griffey Jr. rookie card easy to find by many collectors.
6. 1989 Donruss Baseball’s Best Ken Griffey Jr. #192
PSA 10 Value: $380
Not much different than its Donruss predecessors other than a color palette switch, we finally have a photo of Ken Griffey Jr. in action. And though it lacks the patented “Rated Rookie” mark, it does come with a scarcer print run.
Printed only in the full Donruss set, meaning collectors can’t pull this card from a pack. Baseball’s Best is as premium as it gets for their 1989 line of printing.
7. 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. #3
PSA 10 Value: $175
Add another similar design to Donruss’ list of 1989 releases. This time trading in “Rated Rookie” for “The Rookies,” Ken Griffey Jr. shows up in this separate set created as a competitor to Topps Traded.
Another rookie card that is not out of reach for most collectors, The Rookies is one to add to any Junior collection.
8. 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #100T
PSA 10 Value: $70
A design that lets the action photo do the heavy lifting, 1989 Score Traded features Ken Griffey Jr. post-swing, presumably after a base knock. And after they failed to include Junior in their base set, he was added to their Traded check list which is similar to Topps Traded and Donruss The Rookies.
Another card that can be readily found on the secondhand market, this clean design is worthy of an add to any growing Junior RC collection.
9. 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. #220
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $8,500
A thicker card stock, shinier finish, and cleaner, brighter colors is what makes Topps Tiffany as revered as it’s become today. None might be more sought after than Ken Griffey Jr.’s 1989 Bowman Tiffany with a print run of only 6,000.
While that number seems like a lot by today’s printing standards, in that era of card collecting it’d be considered a short print. Arguably the most popular Junior rookie card even today, its PSA 10 price also backs up that claim.
10. 1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. #5
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $100
Ending things with a bit of a fun one. The 1989 Topps Heads Up is an early die-cut card meant to be hung with a suction cup, explaining the small hole in Griffey’s cap. And while it’s not actually a “baseball card” in the traditional sense, it was manufactured by Upper Deck alongside their other rectangular cardboard.
Printed in very small numbers as only test production, when an ’89 Heads Up comes up for sale expect a heated bidding war to begin.
