---
title: "1989 Upper Deck Baseball Ken Griffey Jr. #1 price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1989-upper-deck-baseball-ken-griffey-jr-1/
category: Sports cards
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Ken Griffey Jr. #1: price, verified sales and population

> The 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie is a modern baseball rookie card from Upper Deck's debut baseball set. Collectors search for it because it is tied to Griffey's rookie year, Upper Deck's launch-era identity, and large grade-separated trading volume.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 26 verified sales of the 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Ken Griffey Jr. #1 as of September 27, 2026.
- The Base Star Rookie PSA 9 market price is $493.50, the median of 6 verified sales between August 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026.
- The highest verified sale on record is $15,500 for a Base Star Rookie BGS 10 on February 26, 2026 at eBay.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | — | 4 | $5,600 (2026-09-07) | $6,500 (2026-09-06) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $493.50 | 6 | $450.00 (2026-09-24) | $2,244 (2026-08-10) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 8 | — | 3 | $201.50 (2026-09-25) | $201.50 (2026-09-25) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 7 | — | 2 | $125.00 (2026-09-25) | $125.00 (2026-09-25) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 6 | — | 1 | $118.00 (2026-08-03) | $118.00 (2026-08-03) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 5 | — | 0 | $72.00 (2026-05-03) | $72.00 (2026-05-03) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | PSA 1 | — | 0 | $171.00 (2026-04-08) | $171.00 (2026-04-08) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | CGC 9.5 | — | 1 | $899.99 (2026-07-28) | $899.99 (2026-07-28) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | BGS 10 | — | 1 | $10,675 (2026-07-23) | $15,500 (2026-02-26) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | BGS 9.5 | — | 2 | $2,700 (2026-08-07) | $2,700 (2026-08-07) | — |
| Base Star Rookie | SGC 10 | — | 0 | $2,850 (2026-03-29) | $3,195 (2026-03-18) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-25 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 7 | $111.37 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/115431041/psa) |
| 2026-09-25 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 7 | $125.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/115431041/psa) |
| 2026-09-25 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 8 | $185.50 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/07039969/psa) |
| 2026-09-25 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 8 | $201.50 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/07039969/psa) |
| 2026-09-24 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $450.00 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/140480709/psa) |
| 2026-09-23 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $475.00 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/140480709/psa) |
| 2026-09-07 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | $5,600 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/41112540/psa) |
| 2026-09-06 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | $6,250 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/41112540/psa) |
| 2026-09-06 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | $6,500 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/41112540/psa) |
| 2026-08-16 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $501.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-08-11 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $487.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/140480709/psa) |
| 2026-08-11 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $500.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/140480709/psa) |
| 2026-08-10 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 9 | $2,244 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-08-07 | Base Star Rookie | BGS 9.5 | $2,700 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-1) |
| 2026-08-07 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 8 | $171.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-08-03 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 6 | $118.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-07-31 | Base Star Rookie | BGS 9.5 | $1,590 | included | Goldin | [link](https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1) |
| 2026-07-28 | Base Star Rookie | CGC 9.5 | $899.99 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1) |
| 2026-07-23 | Base Star Rookie | BGS 10 | $10,675 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1) |
| 2026-06-29 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | $5,300 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-05-03 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 5 | $72.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-04-27 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 10 | $5,000 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-04-08 | Base Star Rookie | PSA 1 | $171.00 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1/39836) |
| 2026-03-29 | Base Star Rookie | SGC 10 | $2,850 | excluded | Collectibles.com | [link](https://www.collectibles.com/baseball-cards/ci-1989-upper-deck-sr-1-rc-ken-griffey-jr?catalog_item_variation_id=100370) |
| 2026-03-18 | Base Star Rookie | SGC 10 | $3,195 | excluded | Collectibles.com | [link](https://www.collectibles.com/baseball-cards/ci-1989-upper-deck-sr-1-rc-ken-griffey-jr?catalog_item_variation_id=100370) |
| 2026-02-26 | Base Star Rookie | BGS 10 | $15,500 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.sportscardspro.com/game/baseball-cards-1989-upper-deck/ken-griffey-jr-star-rookie-1) |

## How to identify each version

- **Base Star Rookie**: 1989 Upper Deck Baseball #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie; compare only the base Upper Deck rookie card, not later reprints, autographs, buybacks, or other 1989 Griffey rookies.

**Identity note:** Seed identity verified as the 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie base card.

## Why this card matters

PSA cert pages identify the card as 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie in the baseball card category. The card is commonly researched because it is a widely recognized Griffey rookie and because graded copies trade frequently across PSA 7, 8, 9, and 10. The evidence here supports its identity and recent PSA-comparable activity, not any claim about total print run or every copy in existence.

## Identifying the exact version

Use sport, year, manufacturer, set, card number, player, and variant: baseball, 1989, Upper Deck, #1, Ken Griffey Jr., Star Rookie base card. Do not merge it with Donruss, Fleer, Topps Traded, Score, Bowman, autograph, PSA/DNA signed, or later tribute cards. For slabs, the cert page should match year 1989, brand/title Upper Deck, subject Ken Griffey Jr., card number 1, and variety Star Rookie.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The opened PSA cert pages show sharply different recent sale bands by grade: PSA 10 sales were in the thousands of dollars, while PSA 9, 8, and 7 examples in the sampled pages were much lower. That spread makes grade, centering, and visible card quality central to any comp. Best Offer, auction, and fixed-price records should remain separate when estimating a current exit value.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; multiple checks; no destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. Check the Upper Deck hologram-era card stock, front image, back text, #1 numbering, Star Rookie label, edges, corners, and surface against a known authentic copy. For slabs, verify the PSA cert but also compare the seller's holder, label, barcode, card image, and defects, because a real cert number can be copied into a fraudulent listing.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** All 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. rookies are comparable. **What the evidence says:** The evidence here is for 1989 Upper Deck #1 only; ch09 requires manufacturer, set, number, variant, condition, and grade before comparison.
- **Myth:** The PSA population number is the print run. **What the evidence says:** PSA population is a graded-copy count, not total copies produced or surviving; no population figure is recorded here without a source-stated as-of date.
- **Myth:** A PSA 9 sale can be used to value a PSA 10 copy by a simple multiplier. **What the evidence says:** The opened comps show different grade markets; ch03 requires exact grader and grade separation rather than broad multipliers.

## FAQ

### How much is a PSA 10 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1 worth?

The opened PSA cert page showed PSA 10 comparable sales of $5,600 on 2026-09-07, $6,250 on 2026-09-06, $6,500 on 2026-09-06, $5,900 on 2026-09-01, and $5,851 on 2026-09-01.

### How much is a PSA 9 worth?

The opened PSA 9 page showed sales of $437.50, $487, $475, and $500 on 2026-08-11, plus $445 on 2026-08-10.

### How much is a PSA 8 worth?

The opened PSA 8 page showed sales of $185.50, $201.50, $175, $168, and $175 on 2026-09-25.

### How do I identify the exact Griffey rookie?

Identify it as 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. Star Rookie and do not merge it with other 1989 Griffey rookie cards or signed variants.

### How many PSA 10 copies exist?

Not recorded as a population field because the opened PSA page displayed a count but did not provide a source-stated as-of date required by CardVolume.

### Does buyer's premium apply to the listed eBay comps?

No buyer's premium was stated on the opened PSA eBay sale records, so the sale records below mark buyer premium as false.

## Sources

1. [PSA Cert Verification 41112540](https://www.psacard.com/cert/41112540/psa) (Professional Sports Authenticator)
2. [PSA Cert Verification 140480709](https://www.psacard.com/cert/140480709/psa) (Professional Sports Authenticator)
3. [PSA Cert Verification 07039969](https://www.psacard.com/cert/07039969/psa) (Professional Sports Authenticator)
4. [PSA Cert Verification 115431041](https://www.psacard.com/cert/115431041/psa) (Professional Sports Authenticator)

## How to cite

> 1989 Upper Deck Baseball Ken Griffey Jr. #1. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/baseball/1989-upper-deck-baseball-ken-griffey-jr-1/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--baseball--1989-upper-deck-baseball-ken-griffey-jr-1.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/