Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card: 1989 Upper Deck #1
Card #1 in Upper Deck’s first set, and the most famous rookie of its era. What PSA 10s sell for, what a raw one is worth, and how to spot a good copy.
By Card Shows & Shops · October 22, 2026 · Prices checked October 22, 2026
In 1989 a new company, Upper Deck, printed its cards on brighter white stock with a hologram on the back, and chose a 19-year-old Mariners prospect for card #1. It became the defining rookie card of the late-1980s boom.
Upper Deck printed a lot of them, so a raw copy is common. What matters is condition: white borders show every speck, and the corners wear fast. Gem mint copies are where the money is.
1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie #1
| Grade | Recent sale | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $5,043 USD (Collectrea, March 2026 auction) | — |
| PSA 10 | $3,050 USD (eBay, 2025) | — |
| PSA 10 (signed) | $20,130 USD (Heritage, Feb. 2025) | — |
Sports Collectors Digest reported several unsigned PSA 10s selling around $2,950 to $3,050 USD on eBay in 2025, with a March 2026 auction copy at $5,043. Signed PSA 10s bring several times more.
Watch for reprints and fakes: a genuine 1989 Upper Deck has a hologram on the back. If yours has none, it is not the real card.
Questions collectors ask
- How much is a 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. worth?
- Raw copies are common and modest. PSA 10s sold for about $3,000 to $5,000 USD in 2025 and early 2026; signed PSA 10s for $18,000 to $20,000.
Sources
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