Article · 5 min read
1989 Topps Baseball Cards Worth Money
· By the Sports Card Value Scanner team
Quick answer
Most 1989 Topps baseball cards are worth very little because Topps printed millions of them. The cards worth money are high-grade copies of rookies such as Randy Johnson #647 and John Smoltz #382, stars like Nolan Ryan #530 and Bo Jackson #540, and the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie #41T, which is in the separate 1989 Topps Traded set, not the base set. Glossy Topps Tiffany versions of the key cards are worth far more than the regular ones.
The 1989 Topps set has 792 cards, and like every flagship set of the late 1980s it was printed in enormous numbers. That's why regular copies of almost every card, including stars, sell for a few dollars or less, and why a complete raw set doesn't fetch much. Value sits in a short list. Rookie cards of Hall of Famers, led by Randy Johnson and John Smoltz, plus Craig Biggio and Gary Sheffield, matter most, along with stars such as Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson and Barry Bonds. Even those need gem mint grades: Old Sports Cards lists the Randy Johnson rookie at about $140 to $145 in PSA 10, and most others below that. The year's biggest rookie, Ken Griffey Jr., isn't in the base set at all. His Topps rookie is #41T in the 1989 Topps Traded set, sold separately as a boxed set. Topps also made a glossy, limited Tiffany version of both sets, and Tiffany copies of key rookies sell for many times the regular cards.
| Set size | 792 cards |
|---|---|
| Top base card (PSA 10) | Randy Johnson #647 rookie, about $140 to $145 |
| Griffey rookie | In 1989 Topps Traded (#41T), not the base set |
| Scarce version | Topps Tiffany, a glossy limited-run edition |
| Values as of | Old Sports Cards, updated September 1, 2026 |
Why aren't most 1989 Topps cards worth much?
Most 1989 Topps cards are worth little because Topps printed them in enormous numbers while the hobby was booming. Collectors bought cards as investments and kept them in good shape, so near-mint copies are everywhere. A common sells for cents, and the value that does exist sits in a few cards in top condition. Our article on valuable baseball cards from the 80s and 90s explains the junk wax era in more detail.
What are the most valuable 1989 Topps baseball cards?
The most valuable 1989 Topps base cards are high-grade copies of the Randy Johnson #647 rookie, Nolan Ryan #530, Bo Jackson #540 and the John Smoltz #382 rookie.
| Card | Why it matters | PSA 10 value |
|---|---|---|
| #647 Randy Johnson | Hall of Fame rookie card, pictured with the Expos | About $140 to $145 |
| #530 Nolan Ryan | Hall of Famer who reached 5,000 strikeouts in 1989 | About $120 to $125 |
| #540 Bo Jackson | Two-sport star | About $100 to $105 |
| #700 Don Mattingly | Yankees star | About $70 to $75 |
| #360 Ryne Sandberg | Hall of Famer | About $65 to $70 |
| #620 Barry Bonds | Pirates-era star | About $65 to $70 |
| #382 John Smoltz | Hall of Fame rookie card | About $65 to $70 |
| #240 Greg Maddux | Hall of Famer | About $55 to $60 |
| #49 Craig Biggio | Hall of Fame rookie card | About $45 to $50 |
| #343 Gary Sheffield | Rookie card | About $35 to $40 |
These are PSA 10 prices. In lower grades or raw, the same cards usually sell for a few dollars, because only a small share of surviving copies reach a 10. The PSA grading scale explains what separates a 10 from a 9.
Is there a Ken Griffey Jr. card in 1989 Topps?
If you're looking for Ken Griffey Jr. in a 1989 Topps set, you won't find him. He reached the majors in 1989, after the base set was put together, so his first Topps card is the 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #41T, from a separate set sold as a complete box. Old Sports Cards lists it at about $300 in PSA 10.
The 1989 Topps Traded set also has a Deion Sanders rookie, #110T, and Randy Johnson's first card as a Mariner, #57T. For the full list of Griffey's first-year cards, including the famous Upper Deck #1, see our Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card value guide.
What is 1989 Topps Tiffany?
Topps sold a glossy, limited-run version of the 1989 base and Traded sets, known as Tiffany. The cards look like the regular ones but have a shiny front and whiter card stock on the back. Tiffany key cards are worth far more: Old Sports Cards lists a Topps Traded Tiffany Griffey #41T at about $6,250 in PSA 10, and CGC puts that card's print run at about 15,000.
Are 1989 Topps cards worth grading?
Only the key cards in excellent condition, and only when they have a real shot at a 10. For most 1989 Topps cards, a PSA 9 sells for little more than the grading fee. Tiffany rookies and sharp copies of the Griffey Traded card are the clearest candidates. Our article on whether it's worth getting cards graded shows how to run the numbers.
How can you check a box of 1989 Topps quickly?
Scan the cards: Sports Card Value Scanner identifies each card from a photo and shows its year, set and card number with a reference price range and rarity score, so the rookies and stars stand out from the commons. Save the keepers to My Collection, then look closely at the gloss and card stock to spot a Tiffany version.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most valuable 1989 Topps card?
In the base set, the Randy Johnson rookie #647 in PSA 10 leads Old Sports Cards' list. Including the Traded set, the Ken Griffey Jr. #41T, especially the Tiffany version, is worth more.
Is there a Ken Griffey Jr. card in 1989 Topps?
Not in the base set. His Topps rookie is #41T in the separate 1989 Topps Traded set.
Is a complete 1989 Topps set worth anything?
Not much in raw form, because the set was printed in huge numbers. The value is in single key cards in top condition and in Tiffany versions.
Sources
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