Hey guys, Matt from Graded Card Investor Today, we’re diving into the highest-selling Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards that were sold recently. As you go through the list, make sure to take note of the population numbers (which indicate supply) alongside the prices. You’ll notice a significant correlation between these two factors.
Griffey Jr.’s exceptional performance made him a favorite among collectors and investors, but his cards were released during the “junk wax era,” a period marked by massive overproduction by card companies. For those looking at long-term investments, it’s wise to focus on cards with lower supply, even if they’re in lower grades.
Without any further ado, let’s jump into this list!
1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. RC #100T
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $80
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Market Analysis: 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #100T
- Supply: PSA has graded 28,815 of the 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 4,957 grading gem mint 10, 14,745 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 10 sold on eBay in December 2023 for $80
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in November 2023 for $18
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1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. RC #41T
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $98
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Market Analysis: 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #41T
- Supply: PSA has graded 84,005 of the 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 13,486 grading gem mint 10, 47,418 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 10 sold on eBay in December 2023 for $98
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in December 2023 for $27
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1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. RC #548
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $152
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Market Analysis: 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #548
- Supply: PSA has graded 62,172 of the 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 5,307 grading gem mint 10, 32,015 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. RC #3
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: November 2023
- Sale Price: $187
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Market Analysis: 1989 Donruss The Rookies Ken Griffey Jr. RC #3
- Supply: PSA has graded 14,779 of the 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. rookies card with 3,258 grading gem mint 10, 10,075 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. RC #220
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $217
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Market Analysis: 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #220
- Supply: PSA has graded 28,437 of the 1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 2,373 grading gem mint 10, 13,420 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in November 2023 for $25
1987 Bellingham Mariners Team Issue Ken Griffey Jr. RC #15
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: October 2023
- Sale Price: $525
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Market Analysis: 1987 Bellingham Mariners Team Issue Ken Griffey Jr. RC #15
- Supply: PSA has graded 3,370 of the 1987 Bellingham Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 834 grading gem mint 10, 1,885 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in November 2023 for $128
1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. RC #33
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: December 2023
- Sale Price: $257
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Market Analysis: 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #33
- Supply: PSA has graded 44,888 of the 1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 1,977 grading gem mint 10, 13,247 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold on eBay in November 2023 for $32
Overview: In the 1990s, the Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card was a common and affordable item for collectors, due to its overprinted set. This card is unique for having the word “Rated Rookie” on it, a feature echoed in Panini’s modern Donruss Optic sets with the Rated Rookie logo.
Despite its initial abundance, the value of these cards, especially in top-grade condition like PSA 10, has increased over time, driven by nostalgia and grading challenges.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. RC #1
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: December 2023
- Sale Price: $1,825
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Market Analysis: 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #1
- Supply: PSA has graded 102,944 of the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 4,122 grading gem mint 10, 66,811 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
Overview: The 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie #1, showcasing Ken Griffey Jr., significantly boosted the sports card collecting hobby. Enthusiasts, both young and old, invested in these cards expecting a good return over time. However, they didn’t anticipate the high number of cards Upper Deck produced, which diluted their rarity and value.
Adding to this, the simple design and thin cardstock of these cards led to the production of fakes, as some dealers exploited the collecting frenzy. This issue of counterfeits is a continuing problem in the hobby. The overproduction and authenticity concerns caused disillusionment among many collectors, with some leaving the hobby while others remained or returned later.
For collectors interested in this iconic Griffey rookie card, opting for a PSA-graded 9 or 8 is a wise choice. These grades offer a balance between quality and affordability, given the large number of these cards in circulation.
1988 Cal League All-Stars Ken Griffey Jr. RC #26
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: June 2023
- Sale Price: $2,550
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Market Analysis: 1988 Cal League All-Stars Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #26
- Supply: PSA has graded 687 of the 1988 Cal League Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 19 grading gem mint 10, 115 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
Overview: The 1988 California League set includes cards of 50 top players from the 1988 California League season. The standout card in this collection is the #26 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. The exact number of these sets produced is unknown, but they are considered to be relatively rare.
1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. RC #41T
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: June 2023
- Sale Price: $3,200
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Market Analysis: 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. RC #41T
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,281 of the 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 339 grading gem mint 10, 1,421 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
Overview: In 1989, Topps released a special “Tiffany” edition of their Topps Traded series, which was considered a high-end collectors’ version. These Tiffany cards are distinct with their glossy fronts and clear, easy-to-read backs. They were distributed as factory-sealed sets, all printed in Topps’ facility in Ireland, and had limited print runs. Specifically, around 15,000 sets of the ’89 Topps Traded Tiffany were produced.
1988 Best San Bernardino Spirit Platinum Ken Griffey Jr. RC #1
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: PWCC Auctions
- Sale Date: June 2023
- Sale Price: $4,400
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Market Analysis: 1988 Best San Bernardino Spirit Ken Griffey Jr. RC #1
- Supply: PSA has graded 311 of the 1988 San Bernardino Spirit Ken Griffey Jr. cards with 17 grading gem mint 10, 92 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
- PSA 9 sold by PWCC Auctions in April 2023 for $810
Overview: The 1988 San Bernardino minor league card of Ken Griffey Jr., produced by Best Cards, is highly sought after by collectors. There are two versions of this card: the Platinum edition with grey borders and a standard edition with blue borders.
The Platinum version is particularly rare, with only about 1,300 printed, compared to the blue version, which has a higher print run of around 5,000.
1989 Fleer Glossy Ken Griffey Jr. RC #548
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: Heritage Auctions
- Sale Date: September 2023
- Sale Price: $4,920
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Market Analysis: 1989 Fleer Glossy Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #548
- Supply: PSA has graded 2,030 of the 1989 Fleer Glossy Ken Griffey Jr. cards with 120 grading gem mint 10, 658 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
Overview: In 1989, Fleer released a Glossy “Tin” set for the last time, with around 30,000 sets produced. This set is much rarer than the regular 1989 Fleer set and the Glossy parallels from previous years.
The cards in this set are similar to regular Fleer cards but have two key differences: a glossy finish on the front and blue ink on the back. The set wasn’t popular when it was released, leading many dealers to not stock it.
1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. RC #220
- Grade: PSA 10
- Auction House: eBay
- Sale Date: November 2023
- Sale Price: $7,900
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Market Analysis: 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card #220
- Supply: PSA has graded 1,709 of the 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookies with 157 grading gem mint 10, 473 mint 9, and the remaining near-mint-to-mint 8.
- PSA 10 Value:
- PSA 9 Value:
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Overview: The 1989 Bowman Tiffany Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is considered the most valuable of his rookie cards. This special Tiffany edition, printed by Topps alongside their first Bowman series, features premium white cardstock and a glossy front, making it easy to distinguish from the regular Bowman cards when held in hand, though it’s harder to tell the difference online.
The design of the Tiffany cards is identical to the standard set, but they are much rarer and thus more valuable. Topps produced only about 6,000 of these Tiffany sets, a significantly lower number compared to the regular Bowman sets.
Their rarity, coupled with being issued by a licensed distributor like Topps, drives their high market value. Buyers should be cautious when purchasing these cards due to their similarity to the standard issues.
Conclusion
There you have it, the highest-selling recently sold Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards. Make sure to check back for updates and comment below which card you think should be on this list. Thanks for stopping by and happy collecting!
From a young age, Matt dove deep into sports card valuation, turning to esteemed price guides like Beckett and Tuff Stuff. Eventually he extended to Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. With a vision to sustain and nurture the hobby he loved, Matt established the ‘Graded Card Investor’ YouTube channel and website. He aims to foster a healthy community and offer invaluable insights to those entering the world of sports cards and TCGs. His depth of understanding, from the card market’s 2020 pinnacle to its 1990s valleys, is consistently fortified by meticulous research.
