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MLB1989RC
24jersey
ROOKIE CARD

KEN GRIFFEY JR.

1989 UPPER DECK

UPPER DECK·#1

Stylized illustration — actual card image varies by edition

View sold images on eBay
⚾ baseballRookie Card

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1

The card #1 of Upper Deck's inaugural set features The Kid in his Mariners cap. One of the most iconic rookie cards of the modern era.

Player

Ken Griffey Jr.

Year

1989

Set

1989 Upper Deck

Card #

1

Sport

Baseball

Type

Rookie Card

Market Value (Based on Sold Data)

Based on public auction records

Source: eBay sold comps, Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC — April 2026

Recent Sales (Mid Grade)PSA 7–8 · Based on eBay sold listings
$50–$300 (PSA 8)Verify on eBay ↗
Recent Sales (Gem Mint)PSA 9–10 · Based on eBay sold listings
$3,000+ (PSA 10)Verify on eBay ↗

Values compiled from public eBay sold listings, Heritage Auctions, and Goldin results. For real-time pricing, click “Verify on eBay” above.

Search on eBayGrade Value Calculator

Grade-by-Grade Pricing

Values based on recent eBay sold listings and auction results

Verify on eBay ↗
PSA GradeLabelMarket ValuePop.Trend
PSA 4
VG-EX$5–$15—→
PSA 5
Excellent$15–$30—→
PSA 6
EX-MT$30–$60—→
PSA 7
Near Mint$60–$12035,000→
PSA 8
NM-MT$120–$30022,000→
PSA 9
Mint$300–$80022,000→
PSA 10Best Value
Gem Mint$3,000–$8,0004,200↑

Source: eBay Sold Comps / PWCC · Griffey Upper Deck #1 — massive production but surprisingly low gem rate for a non-foil card.

PSA Population Report

Total Graded

98,000

PSA 10 Count

4,200

PSA 9 Count

22,000

Gem Rate

4.3%

Grade Distribution

PSA 10
4,200 (4%)
PSA 9
22,000 (22%)
PSA 8
35,000 (36%)
PSA 1–7
36,800 (38%)

Gem Rate (% achieving PSA 10): 4.3% — Challenging to gem.

Notable Sales

PriceGradeDateVenueNotes
$22,500RecordPSA 10Aug 2022eBayPop 4,200 in PSA 10 — one of the most graded PSA 10 cards ever
$6,800PSA 10Feb 2024PWCCMarket correction from 2021 peak
$3,200PSA 9Mar 2025eBaySteady PSA 9 benchmark

Figures sourced from publicly reported auction results. Private sales may exceed.

Card Variations

1989 Upper Deck had no parallel program — the card #1 is the only Griffey in the set. Variations are purely about condition and error copies.

Standard Base

common

The standard issue — what 98% of collectors target.

Market price

Error "Ken Griffey Jr." back

common

Some copies have a slightly different name placement on the reverse. Collectors debate if this is a true error.

Negligible premium

Not an officially recognized error — PSA grades both identically

✓

Collector Tip

With 98,000+ graded, PSA 10 is the only grade that matters for investment. PSA 9 has 22,000 examples and trades at a fraction of PSA 10. For raw cards: check for print lines on the white border and corner dings under magnification.

PSA vs BGS vs SGC

PSA

Professional Sports Authenticators

  • +Most liquid — highest resale demand
  • +Largest population database
  • +Vintage specialists
  • +Most recognized globally
  • −Slowest turnaround at economy tier
  • −No subgrades on base service

Best for: Vintage, high-value singles, resale liquidity

BGS

Beckett Grading Services

  • +Subgrades reveal exact condition
  • +BGS 9.5 Black Label = highest premium
  • +Preferred for modern parallels
  • +Slab design seen as premium
  • −Less liquid than PSA for vintage
  • −Stricter centering = harder to get 10

Best for: Modern parallels, autographs, centering-first cards

SGC

Sportscard Guaranty Corporation

  • +Faster turnaround than PSA/BGS
  • +Lower cost at economy tier
  • +Growing collector base
  • +Good for tobacco/pre-war
  • −Lower premium than PSA on most cards
  • −Smaller population database

Best for: Pre-war, tobacco cards, budget-conscious grading

Full grading guide with cost comparison →

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