A Guide to Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards
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Add These Griffey Rookies to Your Baseball Card Collection
Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the coolest players of his generation. Not only does he have a sweet swing, but he also has one of the most iconic rookie cards of all time. Here are the best Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards to add to your collection!
The Classic Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards
When you think of iconic Griffey rookie cards, there’s one that stands above the rest. Along with that card, here are other classic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards.
1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie Ken Griffey Jr. #1
When you think of iconic rookie cards from any sport, Griffey’s Star Rookie should be at the top of your list. He’s seen smiling with a bat on his shoulder, showing off a necklace and his blue Mariners hat. Ungraded copies are available for less than $100, but the prices are heavily influenced by the condition. A PSA 9 is worth about $350, but the value for a PSA 10 shoots up to more than $4,000.
1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. #220
This card is unique for its slightly oversized design. Griffey is captured posing on one knee, and a facsimile signature is printed at the bottom of the card. Most ungraded copies will cost between $5 and $10. There’s also a father-son duo card from 1989 Bowman.
1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. #41T
This card was a part of the 1989 Topps “Traded” Series box set. The card features a clean design and shows Griffey staring off-camera, a bat on his shoulder. Ungraded copies of the card run between $5 and $10, and PSA 10 copies cost about $200.
Affordable Rookie Cards of Ken Griffey Jr.
Because Griffey debuted during the junk wax era, most of his cards are very affordable. Here are a few more Griffey rookies that won’t break the bank.
1989 Donruss Ken Griffey Jr. #33
Griffey’s Rated Rookie card isn’t the best-looking card out there, but it’s an affordable option if you’re looking for Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards. It has a dark black and purple border to go with a heavily shadowed photo of Griffey. You can find many ungraded copies for less than $5.
1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. #548
The 1989 Fleer design is pretty bland, putting a gray background with thin white stripes behind a young Griffey. Like the previous card, it’s not difficult to find ungraded copies for less than $5. You can even find PSA 9 copies for $25.
1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. #100T
Griffey was included in the secondary Rookie/Traded Score set. He’s captured finishing his swing, but it’s unfortunately not the classic Swingman pose we all know and love. Still, this card offers collectors another cheap opportunity for a Griffey rookie card. Ungraded copies usually cost between $5 and $10.
Unique Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Cards
There are a few nontraditional Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards that are a great addition to any collection. These include promotional cards and a Topps Heads Up.
1989 Topps Heads Up Ken Griffey Jr. #5
This card has a much smaller print run than his other rookie cards, making it one of the most expensive Griffey rookie cards. It’s a cutout of Griffey’s head with a sticker back, and extremely hard to find. As of January 2026, only 25 have been graded by PSA. The most recent sale was for $1,502 for a PSA 3.5.
1989 Mother’s Ken Griffey Jr.
Ken Griffey Jr. has four rookie cards that were included in boxes of Mother’s Cookies. Each card shows Griffey smiling in a different pose. There’s also a fifth card that was included as part of a stadium-issued Mariners team set.
1989 Pacific Griffey Candy Bar Ken Griffey Jr.
This is another food-inspired card, this time for Griffey-branded chocolate bars. There are three versions of this card, with a white, yellow, or blue background, that were included in Pacific packs. They were a marketing tool for actual Griffey chocolate bars molded to look like baseball cards. Besides these unique cards, you can also find unopened chocolate bars on the resale market.
Add Ken Griffey Jr. to Your Collection
Ready to add the iconic Hall of Famer to your collection? For Ken Griffey Jr. rookie cards and more, check out the AA Mint Cards online store!