The best Ken Griffey Jr. cards to collect: From rookie cards to a Nintendo promo

New York Times

2 days ago

Ken Griffey Jr. is among a short list of baseball players who showed signs of greatness at a young age and lived up to the expectations of card collectors. Griffey's sweet swing and enduring influence have made him one of the most celebrated players in baseball card collecting. The hall of famer's trading cards have been graded over 800,000 times by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), the most for any baseball player, and in May a record $280,600 was paid for one of his cards — a 1998 E-X 2001 Essential Credentials Now in a PSA 9 grade — showing that interest in his cards remains strong.
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So aside from that one, what are the best options when it comes to the vast selection of Ken Griffey Jr. cards? Here's what we like.
(full recommendations below)
1989 Upper Deck Star Rookies #1 rookie card
Griffey's 1989 Upper Deck #1 Star Rookie is my top pick because of its iconic status in the sports card hobby. It's one of the most recognizable and celebrated baseball cards all time. Its reasonable price and robust demand among collectors, which offsets its high population, make it the standout choice. Already have that one? Read on for more options.
The value of sports cards can fluctuate for various reasons such as condition, print runs, or graded population. Other factors that can cause prices to go up or down include player performance, market trends, and health of the wider economy. The secondary sales market for individual cards of a given sport generally hits its lowest point during the offseason (in other words, you can usually find better prices in the offseason than during the season). My recommendations are not an attempt to promote specific investment behavior or trading advice, but to guide and inform readers about popular and unique cards that are celebrated by the sports card community.
Ultimately, the best cards to collect are always the ones you will enjoy regardless of whether they go up or down in value. The recommendations below should serve as a starting point for cards to consider, but a big part of the fun in collecting is the hunt for the cards you like the most.
Cards can come out of the pack (their 'raw' state) with a wide variety of imperfections that can impact their value. Card grading is a process in a which an expert of the field determines the condition of a card based on a number of factors (including corner sharpness, image centering, print imperfections, and more) and assigns a numerical grade, usually on a scale of 1-10 (with the latter being close to perfect) and sealed in a protective case. There are a number of grading companies, each with their own unique grading scales, but PSA is by far the largest and most prominent in the industry. Cards graded a 'PSA 10' can carry a significant value multiplier compared to raw cards or those graded by other companies.
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It's fine (and often cheaper) to buy cards raw, but if you want to ensure authenticity and/or a minimum condition level and you're not experienced at determining card condition for yourself, you may want to buy a graded card instead — particularly if you're buying online and only able to see the card in photographs.
This is a category for collectors who are on a tighter budget or aren't as concerned about the long-term monetary value of the cards they buy.
1989 Topps Traded #41T rookie card
Among the dozens of rookie cards produced of the top pick in the 1987 MLB Draft, Griffey's 1989 Topps Traded #41T is one of his most recognizable and accessible to purchase, even in high grades.
According to Gemrate, his debut Topps card has produced more PSA 10 graded examples (over 14,000) than any other Griffey rookie card. As a result, the widely available 1989 Topps Traded rookie in a PSA Gem Mint 10 grade has frequent sales in the $125 range. Collectors can also purchase raw or mint graded examples on eBay for less than $25.
In 1981, Topps introduced its 'traded' sets that featured new players and rookie cards that were not included in the flagship release from the same season. In 2010, Topps renamed the release to what modern collectors know today as Topps Update Series. Some of baseball's biggest current stars have sought-after Topps Update rookie cards, including Mike Trout, Juan Soto, and Freddie Freeman.
The long-term value of this card won't do much to boost your retirement fund, but the fact that it's his first Topps rookie card makes it highly collectible.
1996 Select #6
This card can be had for only a dollar or two ungraded, but it captures one of the most memorable moments of Griffey's career — when he scored the winning run to beat the New York Yankees in the 1995 ALDS. It was a historic victory for the Seattle Mariners, and a personally meaningful one for Griffey, as he has held a grudge against the Yankees since childhood. It can be argued that no human being has ever been happier than Griffey was at the bottom of that celebratory pile in 1995, and his 1996 Select card features that wonderful image, making it a must have for any Griffey collector.
More expensive parallels or variations: Artist's Proof
This is a category for collectors looking to pay a bit more for cards that have some degree of scarcity and have a better chance at retaining or increasing in value long-term.
1989 Fleer #548 rookie card
Fleer is largely credited for reviving the basketball card industry in the 1980s, but the company also made some memorable baseball cards during that time, including Griffey's 1989 Fleer rookie card.
The front of the card features Griffey looking like a little leaguer who was just told there won't be a team trip to Pizza Hut after the game. At around 50 cents per pack upon release, collectors had a chance to pull rookie cards of Griffey, Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio — just to name a few hall of famers. But the card that made the most headlines from this set is undoubtedly Billy Ripken's 'F— Face' error card.
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The current demand for Griffey's 1989 Fleer card in a PSA 10 grade has it selling almost daily for around $150-$180. PSA 9 or mint copies can be purchased for under $20 because of how common they are.
It's an affordable option and nostalgic to collectors who grew up during the junk wax era.
1989 Upper Deck Star Rookies #1 rookie card
Upper Deck's presence in the sports card industry was felt right off the bat when they debuted their first baseball set in 1989, featuring Griffey's iconic rookie card. The high-quality photography and glossy paper stock used to create the set were considered groundbreaking at the time and it was one of the first premium baseball card sets ever released.
The legendary photo used for Griffey's Upper Deck rookie card was taken before his MLB debut, while he was playing for the San Bernardino Spirit, the Mariners' Single-A affiliate. However, Upper Deck digitally replaced the Spirit's logo on his hat with a Mariners one.
PSA has graded over 100,000 examples of this card, and around 4,300 have received a Gem Mint 10 grade. Its legacy has made it the most graded Griffey card by PSA and one of the most graded modern baseball cards ever.
Despite the card's massive print run and plentiful graded copies, PSA 10s currently command prices around $3,000, which marks a nearly 57 percent price increase over the last two years. However, PSA 9 example can be obtained at a more budget-friendly price of around $200. Yet even with a staggering PSA population of more than 33,000, PSA 9 graded examples of the card have still risen in value by about 20 percent over the last two years.
Griffey's 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie #1 is the iconic baseball card of the 1980s and is cherished by casual fans and hardcore collectors alike.
1989 Donruss Rated Rookie #33 rookie card
While Griffey has several well-known rookie cards from 1989, his Donruss one stands out with its classic 'Rated Rookie' logo. Donruss' launch of the Rated Rookie in baseball card sets in 1984 contributed to the surge in rookie card collecting during the era.
Unlike most of Griffey's rookie cards from other sets, the black and purple bordered design of his Donruss Rated Rookie card is highly susceptible to chipped edges and dinged corners. As a result, even though nearly 50,000 examples of the card have been graded by PSA, its condition-sensitive qualities have resulted in fewer than 2,300 PSA 10s.
The relative scarcity of PSA 10s, combined with Griffey's status in the hobby has recent sales in the $500 ballpark. Less than a decade ago, the same card and grade could be purchased for less than $100.
This is a category for collectors looking to acquire the most desired Griffey Jr. cards on the market.
1989 Bowman Tiffany #220 rookie card
In search of the rarest and most valuable Griffey rookie card? Look no further than his 1989 Bowman Tiffany #220.
'Tiffany' cards were limited edition box sets issued by Topps starting in 1984. They featured high-quality card stock and a glossy finish that mimicked the design of Topps and Bowman's flagship sets released earlier in the year. Tiffany was considered a premium product at the time compared to overprinted standard sets like Topps and Bowman flagship offerings, which were widely available to collectors.
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Bowman Tiffany cards were exclusively sold as factory-sealed complete sets and were not available in traditional packs or boxes. The format of its release and limited print run has caused high sales prices and demand for many Tiffany cards over time.
In 1989, Topps revived the Bowman brand and released its first baseball card set since the 1950s. The portrait-style, facsimile autograph, and white borders of Griffey's Bowman card are a tribute to the 1953 Bowman Color design. This included making the card size a quarter-inch larger than the standard size that most collectors are familiar with.
Griffey's 1989 Bowman Tiffany rookie card has less than 2,000 PSA graded copies with the less than 200 Gem Mint 10s selling for close to $10,000. (In contrast, there are around 32,000 PSA graded examples of his common 1989 Bowman and more than 2,500 PSA 10s.)
1989 Topps Traded Tiffany #41T rookie card
I've already touched on one of Griffey's Topps Traded rookie cards, but his most prized Topps Traded card from 1989 can be found in Topps Tiffany. Unlike the standard Topps Traded set, the Tiffany version has a glossy front to give the cards a premium feel.
The production of factory-sealed 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany sets was limited to 15,000 and was only available through Topps hobby dealers. (For comparison, 1989 Bowman Tiffany had an estimated 6,000 sets produced, which is why it commands higher prices than his Topps Traded Tiffany.) The exclusivity of the set's release and its relatively low print run put Griffey's Topps Tiffany rookie card near the top of the list of his most valuable.
The card's total PSA population is slightly above 2,500 graded copies and it has less than 350 PSA 10s in existence, which will cost you a few thousand dollars to own. Mint and near mint graded examples aren't cheap either, selling on eBay between $300-$500.
1994 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr and Mickey Mantle autographed portrait
Next to Griffey's Upper Deck rookie card, this might be his most celebrated card in the hobby. In Series 1 of its 1994 release, Upper Deck inserted 1,000 examples of this artistic portrait signed just by Mantle, another 1,000 just signed by Griffey, and another 1,000 signed by both. Each of the three variations sells for thousands of dollars and it's easy to see why.
1987 Bellingham Mariners Team Issue #15
The first Griffey baseball card to land in the hands of collectors was produced in 1987, when he was a Minor League player for the Bellingham Mariners. The card was included in a 33-card, team-issued set for Seattle's Single-A affiliate.
The card shows a youthful Griffey fresh out of high school, posing in a fielder's position with a modest field behind him. Raw sales span from $50 to as high as $150, depending on the condition and how centered the borders are. Unopened team sets can also be found on eBay in the $150 to $200 range.
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Although most collectors would prefer to own his rookie cards from his MLB debut year, this symbolizes the beginning of his journey to the big leagues and still commands a lot of attention from the secondary market. Not to mention, it's much rarer than his 1989 Upper Deck, Topps, Donruss, and Fleer cards.
2025 Topps Tribute #TTG-KG True To The Game Father/Son Dual Auto
I couldn't write this article without highlighting one card of baseball's favorite father-son duo, and Topps may have created their coolest card yet in the 2025 Topps Tribute release. Topps introduced the high-end baseball product in 2001, debuting the '1 Guaranteed Hit per Pack' (a 'hit' being more of a rare or valuable card, like an autograph or a relic) concept widely used for premium set releases in the hobby today.
The Griffey's 'True To The Game' dual autograph insert card has a horizontal design on thick card stock and shows a classic photo capturing the historic time when they became the first father-son duo to play together in a Major League game in 1990. The side-by-side image paired with blue ink on-card signatures creates a visually striking collectible that feels museum worthy.
The total number of Griffey Jr. and Sr. dual autographs produced for the set hasn't been confirmed by Topps, but at least two base autos (limited to 15) and one red parallel (limited to 10) have sold on eBay for over $1,500 each.
According to Topps, this marks the first dual autograph card of Griffey Sr. and Jr. depicting them as Mariners teammates.
More expensive parallels: Red (/10), Black (1/1)
1994 Super Nintendo promo card
In 1994, Nintendo released its Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball video game and packed in the box of the Super Nintendo version was a promotional Griffey trading card. Nintendo owned the Mariners at the time, so this card is a unique time capsule on several different levels. Ungraded examples of the card regularly sell for around $10 or $15, but PSA 10s can go for around $500. There are less than 100 PSA 10 examples graded to date because being packaged in a video game box didn't lend itself to preserving top condition.
Prices for a certain trading card can vary wildly and fluctuate quickly, making it important to check recent sales of a given card to make sure you're buying at a fair value. You can check recent sales of an item on eBay by selecting the 'sold items' filter on search results. You can also run a search on 130point.com, which is a free site that provides sales data from a number of online marketplaces. There are also several apps that provide more in-depth sales data, often charging subscription fees for full access.
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To account for outliers, it's important to take multiple previous sales into account, not just the single most recent. It's also important to note the recency of those sales and any real-world factors that could affect changes in value.
As a second-generation collector, Tyler Holzhammer started collecting cards and attending the National Sports Collectors Convention at 10 years old. He's continued his passion as a collector into a career, providing sports card content and market analysis for companies like Sports Card Investor and Goldin Auctions. Tyler's sports card collection is centered around players from his favorite teams, the Los Angeles Rams and the St. Louis Cardinals.
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