If you grew up ripping wax packs in the late eighties, you probably have a box in the attic filled with colorful cardboard. Most of it is worthless. We call it the "Junk Wax Era" for a reason—the printing presses never stopped. But tucked between the endless common cards and the overproduced busts, there are a few icons that still command respect. The Randy Johnson 1989 Score rookie card is exactly that. It isn't the most expensive card in the world, and it won't buy you a private island, but honestly, it’s one of the most quintessential pieces of hobby history for any serious baseball fan.
He was 6'10" and terrifying. They called him "The Big Unit," and in 1989, he was still a wild, lanky kid pitching for the Montreal Expos. Looking at this card now, it’s a time capsule of a legend before he became the guy who famously vaporized a bird with a fastball.
What Makes the Randy Johnson 1989 Score Rookie Card Different?
When you talk about 1989 rookies, everyone immediately thinks of Ken Griffey Jr. and his Upper Deck debut. That card changed everything. However, the Randy Johnson 1989 Score rookie card (Card #645) has its own charm. While Upper Deck was going for the "premium" look, Score was the newcomer trying to be bold and colorful.
The design is loud. It features bright orange and purple borders that feel very "1989." On the front, you see a young Randy Johnson in that classic powder-blue Montreal Expos jersey. He’s looking away from the camera, looking every bit the intimidating presence he’d eventually become.
The Card Variations and Subsets
Most people are looking for the base card, but Score actually snuck Randy into a few different spots that year. If you're hunting for everything, you've gotta keep an eye out for these:
👉 See also: Tom Brady Throwing Motion: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Base Card (#645): This is the one everyone knows. It’s part of the standard 660-card set.
- The Rising Stars (#63): Score released a "Hottest 100 Rising Stars" set. Randy is in there, and for some reason, the PSA 10s of this card can actually be harder to find than the base rookie.
- The Traded Set (#77T): Later in 1989, Randy was traded to the Seattle Mariners. Score released a "Rookie & Traded" set to reflect the move. This card shows him in a Mariners uniform, which is kinda weird since it's still technically his rookie year.
Is the Randy Johnson 1989 Score Rookie Card Actually Worth Anything?
Let’s be real. If you find a beat-up version of this card in a shoebox, it’s worth about fifty cents. Maybe a dollar if the person buying it really likes the Expos. Because Score printed millions of these things, "raw" or ungraded copies are incredibly common.
The real value lies in the grade. Because the 1989 Score set was known for having "chippy" edges and centering issues, finding a perfect copy is tougher than it looks.
Current Market Values (Approximate)
| Grade | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| Ungraded / Raw | $1.00 - $3.00 |
| PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint) | $8.00 - $12.00 |
| PSA 9 (Mint) | $15.00 - $25.00 |
| PSA 10 (Gem Mint) | $40.00 - $60.00 |
You might see some crazy listings on eBay for thousands of dollars. Ignore them. Those are usually people hoping to find someone who doesn't know better, or they're "error" hunters claiming a tiny ink dot makes the card a 1-of-1. Stick to the actual sold listings. A PSA 10 Randy Johnson 1989 Score rookie card usually moves for under fifty bucks, which makes it a great "affordable" Hall of Fame rookie to own.
Why Collectors Still Care About the Big Unit
Randy Johnson wasn't just good; he was a force of nature. 303 wins. 4,875 strikeouts. Five Cy Young Awards. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer for a reason.
✨ Don't miss: The Philadelphia Phillies Boston Red Sox Rivalry: Why This Interleague Matchup Always Feels Personal
When you buy a Randy Johnson 1989 Score rookie card, you aren't just buying a piece of paper. You're buying the "before" picture. In 1989, Randy was actually struggling. He was wild. He walked everyone. The Expos actually gave up on him! They traded him to Seattle for Mark Langston because they didn't think he'd ever figure it out.
Looking at that #645 card reminds you that even the greatest of all time had a "rough draft" phase. That’s the soul of card collecting. It’s about the narrative.
The Competition: 1989 Fleer and Upper Deck
If you’re comparing the Score card to his other rookies, it’s definitely the "budget" option. The 1989 Fleer card has the famous "Marlboro" error (where a cigarette ad is visible on the scoreboard), and that card in high grade can go for over $1,000. Then you have the 1989 Upper Deck, which is generally considered his "true" premier rookie card.
But there’s something about the Score card. It feels more "authentic" to the era. It’s not trying to be a luxury item. It’s just a baseball card from a time when we collected for fun, not just for "investment returns."
🔗 Read more: The Eagles and Chiefs Score That Changed Everything for Philadelphia and Kansas City
What to Look for When Buying
If you're hunting for a copy of the Randy Johnson 1989 Score rookie card to get graded, or you just want a clean one for your desk, you need to be picky.
- Centering: Score cards from 1989 are notorious for being shifted to one side. Look at the "Score" logo and the player name at the bottom. If the borders aren't even, don't bother.
- The Corners: The purple and orange borders show white "touches" very easily. Even a tiny bit of white on the corner will drop a grade from a 10 to a 9 instantly.
- Surface Bubbles: Check the card under a bright light. Sometimes these cards have tiny "dimples" or bubbles in the gloss that occurred during the printing process.
Final Verdict: Is It a Good Investment?
If you’re looking to get rich, probably not. There are simply too many of these in existence for the price to ever skyrocket. However, if you want a foundational piece of a Hall of Fame collection, it’s a total win. It’s a cheap, iconic, and visually striking card of a guy who dominated the mound for two decades.
Basically, it’s a "low-risk, high-nostalgia" buy.
Next Steps for Your Collection:
- Check Your Bulk: Go through your old 1989 Score sets and pull out any Randy Johnson #645 copies.
- Inspect for Grading: Look for "perfect" centering. If you find one that looks flawless, it might be worth the $20-25 to send it to PSA. A PSA 10 is always easier to sell than a stack of raw cards.
- Diversify: If you like this one, look for the 1989 Score "Rising Stars" #63 variant. It’s a cool companion piece that many collectors overlook.