10 Best Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards To Buy Now - Gold Card Auctions Score Traded RC is ideal for moderate bankrolls at high grades (PSA 10 or BGS 9.5). And it was an exceptionally limited run. If you want a much rarer version, continue reading to find the Fleer Glossy rookie card. As of May 2021, there are ~750 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr Bellingham prospect cards and the card value is ~$1,000. The 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is both popular with collectors and investors and more rare than the 1989 Fleer and 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards. SHOP KEN GRIFFEY JR ROOKIE CARDS ON EBAY Rookie Cards (2021). Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr Baseball Cards Worth Money 1. Another rookie card features a photo of Junior without his most fearsome asset his bat. sharp corners and edges, and a stain-free surface. SGC vs. BGS vs. PSA Grading: Who Is Best in 2023? 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. One of Ken Griffey Jr.s minor league cards with the highest demand is his 1988 San Bernardino minor league card by Best Cards. No Interest if paid in full in 6 mo on $99+* Buy It Now. 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 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card was once regarded as his holy grail rookie card. A No. Advertised as the Comeback Edition! This marks the day of the Bowman brand officially returning to the hobby. The PSA population report currently has 1,625 copies of this card with a Gem Mint rating. Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card (Best 6 Investments, Most Valuable) One of the most popular, if not the most, is Ken Griffey Jr.s non-rookie card. Like the Tiffany editions, this premium version of its standard card has a glossy finish and higher quality card stock. With that in mind, this card isnt exactly the rarest Ken Griffey, Jr. card on the market. When we talk about Griffey, were talking about a multi-dimensional player. 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. 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) In fact, there are more than twice as many 89 Fleer cards graded in a PSA 10 as there are Donruss. The primary drivers of value for Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards are the following: Rarity: the more rare the card, the higher the value Condition: the better the condition of the card, the higher the value Collectability: the higher the interest , the higher the card value A blue version PSA 10 sold for $4,494 in 2019, and a PSA 9 blue recently sold for $222. It shows him kneeling with a business-like look on his face. Our Pick For Best Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card May Surprise You Similar to the Topps Traded sets, these are in small, palm-sized boxes. It is also one of the most affordable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and is a good option around the $120 price point. $12.95. So, if you can get over the (OC) on most cards, this is a great Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card to buy now. Moreover, there are 14,482 graded PSA 9. As of May 2021, there are ~1,700 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss The Rookies cards and the card value is ~$225. 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). There are three series to look for, with only two containing Ken Griffey Jr.s rookie card. You must be careful when purchasing Tiffany cards because they are identical to the standard issued sets. A PSA 9 sells for $200, while a PSA 10 will set you back at least $2,000. The Mariners defeated the Orioles 10-4. Rookie card has two versions: a paper card and a glossy Tiffany card. The card is relatively expensive, but given it is one of the earliest Griffey cards, it is among my favorites on this list. Even the PSA 9 population is low, with 639; however, the value is not there. The card design varies, but the Platinum rookie card features Griffey Jr. in a white San Bernardino Spirit jersey and black hat. 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. It starts by reviewing Griffeys profile and stats, then examining cards available, prices, and pop count. Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards are one of the top investments in the hobby from an ROI perspective. Beckett has graded this card a 10 more than 100 times and PSA has awarded more than 4,000 top grades. Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card Guide: Values and Checklist | CSG The cardstock is premium white, and the fronts have a glossy coat. The 1988 Star Nova Edition Griffey Jr. prospect cards include 10 variations of the card. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Griffey holds the spots for card numbers 118-126 and has different photos and titles for each. The 1988 Star Silver Edition Ken Griffey Jr. prospect cards feature a set of 9 different cards. 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.. Youll see a photo of Junior holding a bat on the front of the card. Source. PSA 10 graded versions of this card are very rare and limited historical sales data exists. Auction Prices Realized Baseball Cards 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr However, due to the unusual way Donruss distributed this product, none of these are considered true rookie cards. As of May 2021, there are 156 PSA 10 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. The only way to get a rare example is by having a gem mint 10. Fun Fact: Junior expressed a desire to move back to his hometown of Cincinnati in the fall of 1999. For example, Topps made approximately 15,000 of the 89 Topps Trade sets. This is one of Ken Griffey Jr.s most valuable and collectible rookie cards, so consider picking one up regardless of the condition. Each card features a blue boarder with the Star brand in the top-right, but the image on each card varies. 9 Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards - Rarest.org As you can see, condition plays a huge role in determining the value of the card. The back of the card reads, Ken made his professional baseball debut at Bellingham in 1987. Many young sports fans growing up in the 90s idolized Ken Griffey Jr. and his legacy endures today. The popularity of the card has kept prices high despite the fact that there are more than 12,000 PSA 10 graded cards. bat. Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Fleer Base #548 Price Guide - Sports Card Investor 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. Ken Griffey Jr Card Prices | Ken Griffey Jr Card List - SportsCardsPro clubhouse during the teams consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. Tallying 1,000 X your investment just rolls off the tongue nicely. If youre looking for a card that costs less than a used car, this is your ride. The prices shown are the lowest prices available for Ken Griffey Jr. the last time we updated. I updated it. It is always best to buy cards graded and authenticated by a third-party grading company such as PSA, BGS, or SGC. PSA graded 46 of the Griffey #1 Prospect cards. Cardboard Connection calls this on-deck pose one of the best pictures of his rookie cards. 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card RC #1 PSA 3 . Showing only 100 cards. Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card guide: Most expensive and valuable cards Note:All listed money values from PSA Gem Mint 10 Average Auction Price. Over his 22 year career, Griffey Jr. hit .284 with 680 home runs and 1,836 RBI. This leaves the supply low and forces the price up. 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. factory-sealed packs sell on eBay for $20. He was the 1987 U.S. High School Baseball Player of the Year. Like most baseball cards from the junk wax era, the Topps Traded set was mass printed. However, they are considered more rare in gem mint conditions than any of his other rookie cards. Find Guaranteed Authentic Ken Griffey Jr. Trading Cards at SportsMemorabilia.com Online Store. Trending: 10 Rookie Cards That Could Double Your Money | 10 Best Prizm Hobby Boxes To Buy Now | 10 Brilliant Joe Burrow Rookie Card Investments. Griffey Jr. is about to make contact (or just made contact) with the baseball and is framed by a brightly lit background of pinks, reds, yellows, and oranges. Available in a few of the cards artists was Tyson Beck (Considered an industry leader in the world of sports design, Tyson Beck counts major American leagues such as the NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL clients of his, alongside global brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour). Topps printed roughly 6,000 of these sets, which is tremendously lower than the standard Bowman sets. ROOKIE CARD USA 10 GEM MT. Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Cards For Sale - BaseballCardStars.com PSA graded 1,644 of the Bowman Tiffany Griffey rookie cards. His popularity isn't all that surprising considering his exceptional career, which spanned 22 seasons, from 1989 to 2010. It's one of a very few Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to feature artwork of the rising start. This is the last year Griffey played in the minors but not the last team. All Topps Tiffany sets were printed in Topps Irish printing facility and have different print runs. So, these arent the most challenging cards to find in near-perfect conditions; however, the value between a mint and gem mint example is substantial. The Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie Card is a true classic that belongs in EVERY baseball card collection. 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. I couldnt find the price, but I expect it would be very high, Career Stats (#118): 5 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Career Info (#119): 7 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, 1988 Season 1 (#120): 9 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, 1988 Season 2 (#121): 9 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, #1 Prospect (#122): 11 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Father / Son (#123): 15 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Personal Data (#124): 14 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, The Future (#125): 18 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Seattle Mariners (#126): 10 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists, Promo: 3 PSA 10 cards and limited historical sales data exists. PSA graded 3,867 of Griffeys Baseball Best cards with 477 grading gem mint 10. The 1989 Score, Masters Griffey Jr. RC artwork, is impressive and captures his trademark swing in a unique format. The Ken Griffey Jr Score Traded rookie card is an ideal starter card for kids or new collectors not looking to spend hundreds. One of Griffeys rookie cards that fly off the radar of most collectors is his 1989 Scored Traded rookie. 1990 Topps #336 Ken Griffey Jr. We typically only invest in PSA 10, PSA 9, BGS 9.5, and SGC Gold 100. Get exclusive tips and news in the Sports Card Research Newsletter, Jalen Green Rookie Card: 7 Best Cards You Need To Know About (2022), The Ultimate List of 27 Giannis Antetokounmpo Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 27 Stephen Curry Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 24 Jayson Tatum Rookie Cards (2022), The Ultimate List of 40 Luka Doncic Rookie Cards (2022), Prices are based on PSA 10 auction prices (when available), Price estimates are based on transactions that occurred in May 2021 or earlier, Base: 5 PSA 10 Base rookie cards and the card value is ~$4,500+ (last sale from 2019), Platinum: 17 PSA 10 Platinum rookie cards and the card value is ~$2,000+ (last sale from 2019), Platinum-White Spirit: Only 3 PSA graded cards exist and none better than PSA 8. 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. The 1988 San Bernardino Spirit Griffey Jr. prospect cards are extremely rare and as a result, very expensive. Ken Griffey Jr. HOF Signed Autograph Auto 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Card # 1 PSA $499.99 Buy It Now for only: $499.99 Buy It Now Everyone figured that since Upper Deck looked expensive and cost more, it had a lower print run than the Topps junk.right? Learn how to search faster and find your cards. Limited information is available for population count and price, but a PSA 10 card like the one pictured below sold for ~$900 in April 2021. Similar to other years, sets are wrapped in cellophane and inserted in small, palm-sized boxes with the year on the front. Griffey was 19 years old. Which is why the PSA 10 population is so low on these. 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. Please comment below if you have any recommendations on which cards should make this list. A total of 15,000 team sets were made. As mentioned above on the #18 card, the Classic Travel trivia game came in three series. Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Jr. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. The cards are rare with no single variation having more than 20 PSA 10 cards as of May 2021. So, how many are graded? Hobby dealers received one regular (non-Tiffany) Topps Traded set for each Tiffany set ordered. Post contains affiliate links. The 1988 Star Ad Cards are relatively rare, but less expensive than many 1988 Griffey Jr. prospect cards on this list. Moreover, the centering is an issue as well. The 89 Upper Deck Star rookie #1 is the card that started the hobby hype. 1990 Topps #336 Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Card - Topps All-Star Rookie Most graded cards receive either an NM-MT 8 or a Mint 9 grade. Baseball Card - Topps All-Star Rookie Brand: Topps 102 ratings $999 See more Near Mint or better condition Comes in a protective top loader for its protection and to display Frequently bought together + Total price: Add both to Cart One of these items ships sooner than the other. Due to the rarity, its safe to say these are some of Ken Griffey Jr.s rarest and most valuable rookie cards. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. He was also won the American League MVP in 1997. The Tiffany version of the 1989 Topps Traded is believed to have a print run of 15,000. This card is going for a little less than $600 at PSA 10. PSA graded over 26,000 Griffey rookies, with 2,268 gem mint 10. These facets highlight The Kids radiant smile in the photo. FOR SALE! Resulting in most cards getting that dreaded (OC) off-center qualifier. The color scheme makes the card pop, as does the great shot of Griffey taking a massive cut. If youre in the market for a PSA 10, plan on spending over $700; however, a PSA 9 will cost you less than $100. Home The Ultimate List of 24 Ken Griffey Jr. The classic Bowman Logo is plastered in the top left-hand corner, while his autograph is PRINTED at the center bottom (i.e., this is not an actual Ken Groffey Jr. Autograph as it is printed). We purchase sports cards as an alternative investment to stocks, bonds, and real estate. 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. He is the son of former major league outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. Junior (the moniker of the younger Griffey) was a fixture in the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse during the teams consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. Plus, the Topps Traded version has a glossier surface. To top it off, finding one that is centered is a big challenge. Read the full disclosure here. Its not super hard to find and is on eBay often. They sell for so much because they have the least supply and are from a licensed distributor, Topps. Each card features a facsimile of the players autograph. 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.. I would love to own this card, but with a $20,000 price tag, I may need to hold off on buying it! Hobbyists we spoke with differ on the exact reason. The card features Griffey Jr in a white jersey and blue hat framed by white boarder. The good news is that you can add this Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card to your collection at a low cost. This can be due to the dark blue background getting chipped and most cards having lousy centering. The card does land a higher value than his other Score issues on this list. He is one of baseballs all-time greats who profoundly impacts fans years after retirement. 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. . He is one of, Five (5) 1989 Upper Deck PSA 10, One (1) 1989 Upper Deck SGC Pristine, Two (2) 1989 Bowman Tiffany, Two (2) Donruss Rated Rookie, One (1) Topps Traded Tiffany Rookie Card, One (1) 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Autograph Upper Deck RC #1. Ken Griffey Jr Card Prices Your search for Ken Griffey Jr returned too many results. In terms of price, it wont create a severe dent in your wallet. On September 14 that year, they hit consecutive home runs in the first inning against the California Angels. Firstly, most of the cards are miscut from top to bottom. The most valuable Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is his 198 Bowman Tiffany #220. Nonetheless, the reason for its value comes down to supply and demand. Donruss is one of the most famous baseball card brands during Griffeys era. A great purchase if you are looking for a solid, long-term return on investment. This is update II also known as Travel Purple. While PSA received around 1,800 copies of this card for grading, only over 300 copies received the elusive Gem Mint rating. The 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. Scoremasters rookie card is one of two cards from Score on this list. The design is basic, so the action photo is what sets this card apart and gives it a slight value boost. 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. June 20 th 2020: $1,125. The card is not rare, there are close to 4,000 PSA 10 graded cards, but commands high prices due to the cards popularity with collectors and investors. The answer is yes. Because Topps made limited print runs, collectors will pay big money to own them. Featuring Griffey in action after a hit, this is one of best action shots of any Griffey rookie card. 2000 ULTRA PLATINUM MEDALLION KEN GRIFFEY JR #100P #'d/50 PSA 6 EX-MT POP-2 RARE. As of May 2021, there are ~1,800 PSA 10 Ken Griffey Jr. Donruss Rated Rookie cards and the card value is ~$400. In the same month, a PSA 10 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card sold for $2,225, 20x the price! 8 bids. We suggest purchasing PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grades. Remember, this set is from the junk wax era and has a massive supply. PSA graded 3,520 of the Update I, also known as Travel Orange, Ken Griffy Jr. rookies. Mass printing was enough for many collectors to get out of sports cards forever, but some stayed, and a lot returned. Try not to confuse the 1989 Topps Traded rookie cards with the Topps Tiffany version. Of the 15,000 sets made, 3,441 have made their way into PSA for grading. 1989 Bowman KEN GRIFFEY JR Seattle Mariners Baseball HOF Rookie Card #259 NM-MT. I like the card and it is a relatively safe buy given the popularity among collectors and investors. Only three have earned a top grade from Beckett. When you get the Gem Mint version, you have one of the best Ken Griffey, Jr. rookie sleeper cards. He was arguably the most exciting player of his generation and earned the nickname The Natural. Additional details: The following article lists 24 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards in order from earliest released (1987) to latest released (1990). Unlike the first series, which was available both as a boxed set and insert, Series Two was only available as a factory-sealed set. Coming in as the number one most valuable rookie card of The kid is the 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. A Green PSA 10 recently sold for $270 and a Purple PSA 10 sold for ~$255 in December 2020. Moreover, PSA graded 840 blue versions with five grading gem mint 10 and 161 mint 9. 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. Rookie cards, autographs and more. Any experienced baseball card collector should know just how . Advertisement. Furthermore, they were never considered his most valuable upon their release. Don Russ Ken Griffey Jr. Rated Rookie Baseball Card Year: 1988 Price: $7,200.00 This Baseball Trading Card with the card number #340 is a 1977 classic limited edition of Ken Griffey, it features the 1977 Topps Season in the Major League Baseball (MLB) set where Ken played for the Kansas City Royals team. Donruss 1989 Ken Griffey Jr Rookie Card. With an initial print run was more than one million and subsequent print runs followed, the mass production is what prevents this card from being the most valuable rookie. calendar_month 01/06/2023. Ms drafted him No. The regular Bowman set is worth very little because of its high print run. 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck PSA 10 vs S&P 500. Rated Ken Griffey, Jr. Rookie Card #41T shows a boyish-looking Junior holding a bat. The card features Griffey Jr. in a white San Bernardino Spirit jersey catching a baseball in the outfield. Here are a few Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards we love regarding return on investment (ROI) that are not rookie. Griffey signed a nine-year, $112.5 million deal with the Reds. . And the red borders allow this card to pop out at you.