The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm (2024)

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The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm (1)

Jason Koeppel // ONE37PM

Updated Feb 7, 2023

5:49pm

What are most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. cards of all-time? Let's dive in to it!

If we asked you to picture the smoothest baseball swing ever, you probably would think of Ken Griffey Jr. A 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, “The Kid” put his immaculate play style on display for 22 MLB seasons. In turn, he became one of the most beloved and iconic players in the history of the game.

Related: Most Valuable Bo Jackson Cards of All-Time

When it comes to the hobby, few cards have reached the craze of Griffey’s 1989 Upper Deck rookie. It has been slabbed over 96,000 times by PSA, making it one of the most graded trading cards ever. Despite the lack of rarity, this highly recognizable piece of cardboard is still sought after to this day.

Griffey’s prime coincided with the launch of many popular card sets, such as Skybox PMGs and Topps Finest Refractors. Nearly three decades later, these cards have retained their value and serve as cornerstones for many Ken Griffey collectors.

Today, we are highlighting the 10 biggest Ken Griffey Jr. card sales of all time. To keep the list fresh, we are only allowing an individual card to appear once. Let’s jump right in and show off the most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. cards of all-time!

1. Ken Griffey Jr. 1998 Upper Deck A Piece Of Action Patch Auto /24 BGS 8.5 - $84,000

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To get this list started off, we have one of The Kid’s first-ever patch autograph. Pack-issued inserts were not commonplace in the late 90s, and pulling one was no easy feat. Seeing this card maintained well with a BGS 8.5 grade and a perfect autograph grade is impressive in its own right. But this is a Griffey card that rarely appears at a Goldin or PWCC auction, so it’s no surprise that it stands atop our list with a final sale price of $84,000 in October 2022.

2. Ken Griffey Jr. / Mickey Mantle 1994 Upper Deck Dual Signed Card BGS 9.5/AUTO 10 - $57,600

The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm (4)

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For us, this is one of the coolest baseball cards to ever exist. Two titans of America’s pastime. Two of the hobby’s most heralded players. Two on-card signatures. This is the highest-graded copy to ever sell at auction, reaching a sale price of $57,600. We will never see a card like this produced again, so this remained a grail for many Mickey Mantle or Ken Griffey Jr. collectors.

3. Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Autograph PSA 10/AUTO 10 - $55,201

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We referenced Jr.’s Star Rookie earlier; however, it’s not often that this card receives both a PSA 10 card and autograph grade. As we mentioned earlier, pack-issued autographs did not really exist in 1989. There is an intrinsic value to junk wax era cards that have been autographed and slabbed, which is evident in this stunner. Griffey’s Upper Deck ‘89 Auto has sold for as high as $55,000, and this is still a big chase for any high-end collector.

4. Ken Griffey Jr. 1998 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems (PMG) /50 BGS 8 - $46,800

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We’ve talked extensively about how influential Precious Metal Gems (PMGs) are in the hobby. Pair that with one of the most influential players in sports cards and you have an iconic card on your hands. Given their design, PMGs are susceptible to wear and tear over time. Nevertheless, this 1998 copy still managed a BGS 8 grade, making it the biggest Griffey PMG sale of all time.

5. Ken Griffey Jr. 1999 Upper Deck Game Jersey Patch Auto /24 BGS 8.5 - $42,000

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Much like the ‘98 patch auto from earlier, this set features a clean game-worn patch and signature of the Swingman. A card like this reminds collectors of Griffey’s flawless penmanship, which may contribute to his consistent autographed market. This BGS 8.5 copy last sold for $42,000, so it will be intriguing to see if any higher-graded versions appear at auction anytime soon.

6. Ken Griffey Jr. 1997 Donruss Crusade Red Refractor Sample #XX/25 - $33,100

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At #6, we have the one and only ungraded card on the list. The Crusade insert has become very popular across all major sports. This sample red refractor is from the first year of the medieval-inspired Crusade set, and it is limited to just 25 copies. If a graded version were to surface, we could see this one jumping a few spots on our list in the years to come.

7. Ken Griffey Jr. 1998 Skybox E-X2001 Essential Credentials Future /91 BGS 9.5 - $27,300

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Next up, we have another fabled set from the late 90s, the EX-2001 Credentials. The acetate finish and bright neon colors were unheard of for cards when this set came out. It was fresh and innovative, becoming an immediate hit for sports card collectors. This Griffey received an astonishing 9.5 grade, which is nearly unheard of for an older acetate card. It last sold for $27,300 in November 2022.

T-8. Ken Griffey Jr. 1999 Fleer Brilliants 24KT Gold /24 PSA 5 - $26,400

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This card checks all the boxes. It’s gold, it’s numbered and it features an action shot of one of the best to ever do it. When you have a rarer insert like this one, the grade of the card really does not matter. While Fleer has since discontinued their trading card production, we still see many modern sets utilize gold finishes on their cards to make them pop like this one.

T-8. Ken Griffey Jr. 1993 Topps Finest Refractor MBA PSA 10 - $26,400

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1993 was the first year of Topps Finest, a revolutionary optichrome trading card. Early Finest designs have held up very well throughout the hobby’s history, and many modern sets draw inspiration from them. This ‘93 Griffey refractor is visually striking and a must-have for any high-end 90s baseball collector. You can also notice the MBA sticker on the label, which distinguishes the stunner as one of the best-looking PSA 10s you will find. It sold for as high as $26,400 in May 2022.

10. Ken Griffey Jr. 1989 Donruss Rated Rookie Autograph PSA 10/AUTO 10 - $25,101

The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm (12)

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To round the list off, we have another iconic card in the hobby’s lore. This is The Kid’s first Donruss Rated Rookie, and it received a perfect 10 grade on the card and the autograph. While Griffey still signs in many modern high-end releases like Topps Dynasty and Panini Flawless, there is something special about getting ink on his iconic rookies.

Which of the most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. cards of all-time was your favorite? Let us know @CardTalkPod on Instagram and Twitter

The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm (2024)

FAQs

The Most Expensive Ken Griffey Jr. Cards of All-Time // ONE37pm? ›

All 1989 Topps Baseball Cards

The most valuable card of 1989 Topps is currently 1989 Topps Tiffany #647 Randy Johnson PSA 10 with a worth of approx. $1,525.00. The most traded card of 1989 Topps in the past 30 days on eBay was for 1989 Topps #647 Randy Johnson with 32 trades and an average price of $1.28.

What is the most valuable baseball card from 1989? ›

All 1989 Topps Baseball Cards

The most valuable card of 1989 Topps is currently 1989 Topps Tiffany #647 Randy Johnson PSA 10 with a worth of approx. $1,525.00. The most traded card of 1989 Topps in the past 30 days on eBay was for 1989 Topps #647 Randy Johnson with 32 trades and an average price of $1.28.

How much money is a Ken Griffey Jr card worth? ›

The average value of "Ken Griffey Jr." is $10.77. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $1.29 to a high of $439.99.

Are any Ken Griffey rookie cards worth money? ›

The average value of "ken griffey rookie card" is $26.07. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $1.99 to a high of $399.95.

What is the most expensive Topps card ever? ›

The Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps rookie card is the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia in the world, with an estimated value of up to $4.2 million.

What is the most valuable Ken Griffey card? ›

Ken Griffey Jr. / Mickey Mantle 1994 Upper Deck Dual Signed Card BGS 9.5/AUTO 10 - $57,600. For us, this is one of the coolest baseball cards to ever exist. Two titans of America's pastime. Two of the hobby's most heralded players.

What is the rarest baseball card to find? ›

1909-1911 Honus Wagner T206

Considered the rarest and most valuable baseball card in existence, there are only about 50 copies of this full-color card from 1909 to 1911, known as the T206 Wagner. In 2016, one sold at auction for $3.12 million.

What are rare Ken Griffey cards? ›

  • 1989 Bowman (Tiffany) #220. Credit: eBay. Value: $13,756. By far, the most valuable of Griffey Jr. ...
  • 1989 Topps Traded (Tiffany) #41T. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,668. ...
  • 1989 Fleer Glossy #548. Credit: eBay. Value: $3,606. ...
  • 1989 Upper Deck #1. Credit: eBay. Value: $1,763. ...
  • 1989 Donruss Rated Rookie. Credit: eBay. Value: $320.

What are the rare Griffey cards? ›

25 Most Valuable Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards
  • 1989 Bowman Tiffany #220. ...
  • 1989 Topps Heads Up Test. ...
  • 1989 Fleer Glossy #548. ...
  • 1989 Topps Traded Tiffany #41T. ...
  • 1989 SCD Baseball Pocket Price Guides #3. ...
  • 1989 Upper Deck #1. ...
  • 1989 Phoenix Collect The Stars Magnetables. ...
  • 1989 Baseball Card Magazine Repli-Cards #63.

Are any Mark McGwire cards worth anything? ›

Overall about 1053 Cards of Mark McGwire have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $23.76. The price range was from $0.1 for 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Banner Seasons #BS-50 Mark McGwire by Topps Allen & Ginter from 2022 to $2751.0 for 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire PSA 10 by Topps from 1985.

What is the most valuable Bo Jackson Card? ›

The most valuable Card of Bo Jackson is currently 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany #50T Bo Jackson PSA 10 by Topps Traded from 1986 with a worth of approx. $7501.0. Other Cards of Bo Jackson to watch are: 1987 Topps #170 Bo Jackson by Topps from 1987 with a value of approx.

Are Nolan Ryan cards worth anything? ›

The most valuable Card of Nolan Ryan is currently 1972 Topps #595 Nolan Ryan PSA 10 by Topps from 1972 with a worth of approx. $45600.0.

What is the most expensive rookie card ever? ›

While Honus Wagner's card is generally seen as the holy grail for baseball card fans, it's Mantle's rookie that takes the top spot. On August 28 of 2022, a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps Card sold for $12.6 million to an anonymous buyer.

What baseball card is worth $1000000? ›

These cards, like the T206 Honus Wagner and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, are incredibly rare and sought after by collectors. In conclusion, the T206 Honus Wagner and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle are two of the most valuable baseball cards in the world, with both cards selling for over $1 million.

What is the rarest rookie card? ›

1. 1948 George Mikan. The 1948 Bowman George Mikan rookie card is one of the rarest and most valuable basketball cards of all time.

What is the rarest PSA 10 baseball card? ›

The highest priced PSA 10 condition card from the 1970 Topps baseball set is currently the Thurman Munson. The rookie card last sold for over $33,200 and remains the highest valued and most sought after card from the set to date.

How many Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr cards were made? ›

Over 96,000 Upper Deck Griffey RCs have been graded by PSA

1 most graded card in 2023! According to GemRate.com , over 96,000 graded copies have gone through PSA's building.

How many Ken Griffey Jr rookie cards were printed? ›

That means a glossy front and a back that's a little more crisp. As far as print runs go, it's believed about 15,000 sets were produced. While that's more than double that of the Bowman Tiffany set, it's still a fraction of what most of Griffey's other cards are.

What was Ken Griffey Jr best year? ›

In 1997, Griffey led the Mariners to the AL West crown and captured the American League Most Valuable Player Award, hitting .304 with 56 home runs and 147 runs batted in during 157 games.

What is the holy grail of baseball cards? ›

The "Holy Grail" of baseball cards is the T-206 Honus Wagner issued in 1909. Reportedly, approximately 50 were ever made. Today, very few exist, making it the most sought-after sports card in history. It was created and distributed by the American Tobacco Company and came in a pack of cigarettes.

How can you tell if a baseball card is rare? ›

If a player's card was part of the last series to be printed in a given set, it's usually considered more rare since fewer of them were printed.

What is the rarest card sold? ›

The current record price is the US$12.6 million paid for a 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card (Topps; #311) on August 28, 2022, breaking all previous records.

What is the rarest American football card? ›

A 1935 National Chicle #34 Bronko Nagurski sold for a whopping $350,000 in January 2011. The card features a portrait of Nagurski in his Bears uniform running straight toward the viewer, with a blue and yellow background. It's one of the rarest and most expensive football cards in existence.

What are the rarest types of cards? ›

The title of 'world's rarest trading card' is split between two quite distinct cards: the 1996 World Champion and the Shichif*ckujin Dragon. Only one specimen of each card exists anywhere in the world.

How do I know if my baseball cards are worth a lot of money? ›

Specialists appraise baseball cards based on numerous factors, including overall condition, rarity, scarcity, grading, print variation, print quality, and, of course, the person featured on the card. Combined, these characteristics can determine the price and worth of a baseball card.

How do I know if my cards are worth money? ›

Head to PSAcard.com/auctionprices and search for your card. The more refined the query, the more accurate the results. It is best to include the year, manufacturer and subject of your card in your search. If you include the card number, expect All-Star results.

What Cal Ripken cards are worth money? ›

The 1982 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer rookie cards are among the most valuable and iconic Ripken cards. Other valuable Ripken cards include 1983 Topps, 1984 Fleer, 1984 Topps, and 1985 Donruss Diamond Kings.

What is the Bo Jackson error card? ›

1990 Donruss Bo Jackson #650 Double Error Card (NO “TM” and no Dot after INC) One of the most popular players in the world in the 90s, Jackson's error card still retains some value today. Individually, these errors aren't worth much and would fetch $5 at most.

What Tom Brady cards are worth the most? ›

The most valuable Card of Tom Brady is currently 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144 Tom Brady /100 BGS 10 by Playoff Contenders from 2000 with a worth of approx. $360000.0. Other Cards of Tom Brady to watch are: 2000 Bowman Chrome #236 Tom Brady PSA 10 by Bowman Chrome from 2000 with a value of approx.

What is Barry Bonds rookie card worth? ›

The 1987 Leaf Barry Bonds rookie card #219 is one of the most iconic cards from the '87 Leaf set and the entire decade. This card is arguably one of the most significant cards in modern baseball-card history, with only 86 cards graded PSA 10 and an estimated $1,500, making it one of the rarest cards.

What are the most valuable Michael Jordan cards? ›

The most valuable Card of Michael Jordan is currently 1997 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems #23PMG Michael Jordan /100 BGS 8.5 by Metal Universe from 1997 with a worth of approx. $420000.0.

What is the most valuable baseball card from the 1980's? ›

#1 Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps #482

And there are no other notable rookie cards of this legend. So, it makes sense the Hall-of-Famer would have a highly sought-after rookie card. But the Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps #482 card is helped along by the serious centering issues of the 1980 Topps Baseball set release.

What year baseball cards are worth the most money? ›

10 Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards
Most Valuable Topps Baseball CardsRecord Sales Price
1969 Reggie Jackson #260$1.005 million
1952 Jackie Robinson #312$960,000
1963 Pete Rose #537$717,000
1954 Hank Aaron #128$645,000
6 more rows
Apr 21, 2023

What is the most valuable Topps baseball card from 1987? ›

All 1987 Topps Baseball Cards

The most valuable card of 1987 Topps is currently 1987 Topps #320 Barry Bonds BGS 10 with a worth of approx. $3,720.00. The most traded card of 1987 Topps in the past 30 days on eBay was for 1987 Topps #170 Bo Jackson with 151 trades and an average price of $2.35.

What baseball cards sell for 7.25 million? ›

One of the world's rarest baseball cards was sold for an extraordinary price last week. The famous T206 Honus Wagner sold for a record $7.25 million in a private sale facilitated by Goldin Auctions, the company said Thursday.

What baseball card sells for $10 million? ›

A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card became the most valuable piece of sports memorabilia to be sold at auction, notching $12.6 million early Sunday morning.

What baseball card sold for $6 million? ›

The auction, organized by Robert Edward Auctions, opened on July 23 with the starting bid at $1 million. Bidding closed just after 12:30 a.m. ET on Monday at the price of $5.5 million. REA adds a 20 percent buyer's premium, which inflated the official sale price to $6.6 million.

What are the most valuable junk era baseball cards? ›

The six most valuable cards from this era include the 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card, 1990 Reggie Jackson Autograph, 1991 Michael Jordan baseball card, 1993 Derek Jeter rookie card, 1994 Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. Dual Auto, and 1995 Electric Diamond Gold Derek Jeter.

What is the oldest baseball card? ›

Having won several city championships, the Brooklyn Atlantics dominated New York baseball in the early 1860s. The team's carte de visite (a visiting card), produced in 1865, is considered the earliest extant dated “baseball card,” a souvenir handed out to fans and even to opposing teams.

How much is a Michael Jordan rookie card worth? ›

It's a cornerstone of any Michael Jordan collection, and can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. In the current market, and at grade 9, this rookie card ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan graded CSG 1.

Is there an app to scan baseball cards for value? ›

CollX uses millions of historical auction prices to calculate a card's average value. As you add cards to your collection, you'll see your overall portfolio value grow. Set conditions or grades on your cards and get more accurate prices.

How many PSA 10 exist? ›

The 1957 Topps Baseball set has 308,933 total cards graded and a gem rate of 0.1%. That leaves just 308 total PSA 10s available in the market. The highest graded card in the set is the #95 Mickey Mantle, and only 1 PSA 10 exists out of 6,874 submitted copies of the card.

How do I sell my baseball cards? ›

Read on to learn where you can sell baseball cards near you.
  1. eBay, Mercari and Offer Up Let You List Online and Deliver in Person. ...
  2. Online Classifieds Provide a Free Opportunity to Sell Baseball Cards Near You. ...
  3. Local Card and Hobby Shops Will Appraise and Buy Your Cards.
Mar 18, 2022

How much are 1989 Topps error cards worth? ›

Value review of 1989 Topps Error cards

It is, therefore, no surprise that most error cards from this set sell for $30 or less. However, this is a classic set with a nostalgic appeal to many collectors. Collectors love to collect this set for “the love of collecting,” and it's a great addition to any collection.

Are any 1980s baseball cards worth money? ›

Easily one of the most iconic baseball cards of the 1980s, the Don Mattingly rookie card is the clear headliner of the 1984 Topps set. The same design of this card also appeared in the Nestle and O-Pee-Chee sets that year and all three cards are worth around $250-300 in top grade.

Who was a rookie in 1989 baseball? ›

Gregg Olson

Why are 1952 Topps cards so rare? ›

Per Larry Canale, author of Mickey Mantle—Memories and Memorabilia, “Topps issued its high series so late in the summer of 1952 that sales were a dismal disappointment.” This was mostly due to kids turning their already short attention spans from baseball to football season.

What is the most valuable rookie card from the 80s? ›

#1 Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps #482

And there are no other notable rookie cards of this legend. So, it makes sense the Hall-of-Famer would have a highly sought-after rookie card. But the Rickey Henderson 1980 Topps #482 card is helped along by the serious centering issues of the 1980 Topps Baseball set release.

Are Mark McGwire cards worth anything? ›

Overall about 1053 Cards of Mark McGwire have been traded in the last 30 days on ebay. The average price was $23.76. The price range was from $0.1 for 2022 Topps Allen & Ginter Banner Seasons #BS-50 Mark McGwire by Topps Allen & Ginter from 2022 to $2751.0 for 1985 Topps #401 Mark McGwire PSA 10 by Topps from 1985.

What is the most sought after sports card? ›

While Honus Wagner's card is generally seen as the holy grail for baseball card fans, it's Mantle's rookie that takes the top spot. On August 28 of 2022, a Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps Card sold for $12.6 million to an anonymous buyer.

How many Ken Griffey Jr rookie cards are there? ›

Along with the flagship Donruss set, Griffey also appeared in the smaller (336 cards in total) "Baseball's Best" box set that Donruss released through retail stores that year.

Who is the oldest Rookie in baseball history? ›

Chuck Hostetler: The oldest position player to debut, Hostetler's first game came at 40 years, 210 days -- and as you might suspect, it came during the 1944 season, when many major leaguers were off fighting in World War II (or playing for military baseball teams).

What baseball card is worth $1 million? ›

The T206 Honus Wagner was produced in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company. The card features Honus Wagner, a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and one of the greatest players in baseball history. The card's value comes from its rarity, as it is estimated that only around 60 to 200 copies were ever produced.

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