The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. 2000 ULTRA PLATINUM MEDALLION KEN GRIFFEY JR #100P #'d/50 PSA 6 EX-MT POP-2 RARE. Ken Griffey, Jr. made headlines in the major leagues for 22 seasons. $12.95. With an action shot, but lackluster design, $85-95 is a good average for Score Rookie & Traded #100T. The back shows his stats during his minor league days. Ross Uitts PSA 9s sells for $20, while PSA 10s fetch upwards of $200. Good catch, thanks. - 1991 Post Collector Card 134458195204 There are tens of thousands of 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards, so you must be ultra-picky when investing. During that time, Griffey Jr. was a 13x All-Star, 10x Gold Glove, and 7x Silver Slugger. However, prepare to shell out at least three digits for this one. Before the advent of Photoshop, the set captures any player traded to a new team or called up from the minors after the initial Topps press run. Lets look at how the market values Ken Griffey Jr rookie cards and which ones collectors favor the most. 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. According to PSAs population report, there are 15 copies of the 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. at a PSA 10 grade. 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. The 1989 Classic Travel II is less common than the Update I and as a result, also more expensive. For example, PSA has graded over 80,000 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards; 13,198 are in gem mint ten conditions. As of May 2021, there are ~450 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss Baseballs Best rookie cards and the card value is ~$680. In addition to his silky smooth and powerful swing, Griffey Jr. played a transcendent CF making dives and climbing the wall look routine. 1990 Topps #336 Ken Griffey Jr. 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. Note:All listed money values from PSA Gem Mint 10 Average Auction Price. Score Traded RC is ideal for moderate bankrolls at high grades (PSA 10 or BGS 9.5). However, they failed to realize how many cards Upper Deck printed. You can pick one up for around $135. is one of the most famous baseball card brands during Griffeys era. More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. This is a typical Donruss baseball card you wont find any flashy graphics or other eye candy. 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. This was Bowmans first year of production since 1955, the year Topps bought it to eliminate competition. PSA 10 graded versions of this card are very rare and limited historical sales data exists. Along with the Griffeys, the Ripkens, Alomars, and Stottlemyres were featured. On the other hand, the former commands a heftier price on the market. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. Home The Ultimate List of 24 Ken Griffey Jr. For example, a PSA 10 recently sold at auction for a meager $72, which is nothing compared to the other rookie cards on this list. Years later, the rest of the set became almost irrelevant. The card features one of my favorite images. Remember to always keep a lookout for fakes and reprints. 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. The card features Griffey Jr in a white jersey and blue hat framed by white boarder. This is due to many factors, including poor cutting techniques, whitening on the dark borders, cheap cardstock, and overall cheap manufacturing techniques. The 1988 Star Ad Cards are relatively rare, but less expensive than many 1988 Griffey Jr. prospect cards on this list. Cards measure 2.5 x 3.75, a quarter-inch length than the post-1957 standard-size trading card. And who could forget the 1990 Topps All-Star Rookie Trophy that sits proudly in the bottom left corner? 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. While not considered a rookie card, it was Griffey Jr.s rookie year, adding a little to its value. 1. Making Griffey Jr. the first card in the set took foresight (and a little luck). Due to the rarity, its safe to say these are some of Ken Griffey Jr.s rarest and most valuable rookie cards. It was during this time that this photo was taken for the team set. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. 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). PSA 10 values have steadily increased over the years because these cards bring so much nostalgia to collectors and are so difficult to grade. The design is identical to the base 1989 Donruss set, except for green and yellow fronts and career highlights on the back. PSA, only 410 copies of this card with the highest possible grade exist. Youll see a photo of Junior holding a bat on the front of the card. In fact, there are more than twice as many 89 Fleer cards graded in a PSA 10 as there are Donruss. No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+* Buy It Now. The card does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. 1989 TOPPS TRADED #41T KEN GRIFFEY JR. Beckett hasnt given any grades of 10 for this card, but there are 86 cards that have received a 9.5. Griffey poses in the standard baseball card stance with the bat over his shoulder and smiling for the camera. Browse our section of Ken Griffey Jr. signed and unsigned Trading Cards at www.sportsmemorabilia.com. Hobbyists we spoke with differ on the exact reason. Most graded cards receive either an NM-MT 8 or a Mint 9 grade. C $41.00. Sealed sets were distributed as factory sets through various retail chains. 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. 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. Rookie Card 1989 Bowman #220 . Just because an auction says, Tiffany in the title does not mean the card came from a Tiffany set. According to PSA, only 410 copies of this card with the highest possible grade exist. Griffey Jr. does not meet those criteria. He ended the year playing for the Vermont Mariners, a Class AA Eastern League. He was a two-way player in every sense of the word. With only 500 printed, these are challenging to find on the secondary market. The card is a throwback to the classic 1989 Topps Traded Baseball RC #41T and shows Griffey Jr. with the bat hung over his left shoulder while mean-mugging for the camera. The title alone says it all. Making a rare card even rarer being in perfect condition. 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: Griffey Jr. played 22 seasons primarily with the Mariners and Reds. Ms drafted him No. Here are a few Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards we love regarding return on investment (ROI) that are not rookie. 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 Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. Griffey was 19 years old. Rookie Cards (2021). Price Range / Sale. SHOP KEN GRIFFEY JR ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY And it was an exceptionally limited run. This is the iconic hobby game-changer. However, it is challenging to tell them apart when viewing them online. Griffey was 19 years old. Rookie Card Estimated PSA 10 Value: $400 Check Prices On: Amazon The hype surrounding Griffey in 1989 was incredible and everyone was after this and his other rookie cards of the day. Rookie Cards (2021). Once again, the mass production of this base set keeps the value down. The collection features a Warren Spahn puzzle and the outstanding rookies of the 1989 season, including Griffey, Sheffield, Johnson, and Deion Sanders. Griffey was also a 10-time American League Gold Glove Award winner, a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and the 1992 All-Star Game MVP during his tenure in Seattle. You cant go wrong with a Hall of Famer who, More impressively, Griffey played the game correctly with dignity and honor. Like the Fleer rookie (and so many cards from the 80s) the trick is finding one that is centered. 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. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card #1 RC HOF Mariners. Price: US $100.00. This is the best Bowman Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie card on the market. Were not saying sell all your stock and buy Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards, but we are saying this card (and other high-end sports card investments: read our best sports cards to buy now write-up) makes for an excellent hedge against the stock market losses. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. His 1988 Best (Platinum) San Bernardino Spirit card is the most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card. The 1989 Griffey Jr. 14. 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). He was injured the year before and hadnt played above Double-A yet. - $88.42. The PSA populations are surprisingly low, considering how popular this Griffey rookie card has become. Your email address will not be published. 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 ~750 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr Bellingham prospect cards and the card value is ~$1,000. 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'. Due to the cheap cardstock, many cards have uneven borders, soft corners, or chipping ink on the edges. 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. 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.