Honestly, if you grew up in the late eighties, you remember the smell of that cheap bubble gum and the thrill of tearing into a fresh pack of cards. It was a different era. Back then, Ken Griffey Jr. wasn't just a player; he was the future of baseball. While everyone talks about the Upper Deck #1—the "holy grail" with that iconic smile and the San Bernardino Spirits jersey—the 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is the one that actually feels like the hobby’s blue-collar hero.
It’s bold. It’s orange. It’s undeniably 1989.
But here is the thing: collecting this card in 2026 isn't just about nostalgia. It's about knowing what you're actually looking at. Because if you just grab the first #100T you see on eBay, you might be missing the weird, grainy details that separate a genuine piece of history from a late-night counterfeit.
The Two Faces of the #100T Rookie
Most people don't realize there are actually two versions of the 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. card floating around. This isn't like a "Topps Tiffany" where one is just shinier. It's a "buyer beware" situation.
The standard version—the one you actually want—was issued in the 1989 Score Rookie & Traded factory set. You couldn't find these in wax packs at the corner store. You had to buy the whole boxed set.
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Then, there’s the "variation."
I use that term loosely. For years, collectors have argued over the "Bat" vs. "Bats" distinction. If you flip the card over and look at the stat line, the standard set-issued card says "Bats" (plural). The variation says "Bat" (singular).
But here is the kicker: the "Bat" version is almost certainly a counterfeit from the era. It’s grainier. The logos on the back—the MLB and MLBPA symbols—look like low-res JPGs compared to the crisp PNG-style look of the original. The colors are off, moving from a nice teal to a weird, sickly seafoam green. If you’re buying, stick to the "Bats."
Why This Card Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why a card from the "Junk Wax" era still commands respect. Basically, it’s about the player. Junior was the "The Kid." He hit 630 home runs and made the backwards cap a cultural movement.
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Unlike the 1989 Donruss #33 (which had some pretty rough photography) or the Fleer #548 (which looks a bit dated), the Score card has a clean, portrait-style shot of Griffey in his Mariners gear. It captures that exact moment he went from a prospect to a legend.
Current Market Reality
Let's talk money, because that's usually why people dig through their attics.
- PSA 10 (Gem Mint): You're looking at roughly $120 to $160. It’s a solid, accessible "prestige" card.
- PSA 9 (Mint): These are a steal, often landing between $20 and $30.
- Raw/Ungraded: You can find these for $5 to $10 all day long, but condition is everything with Score’s colored borders.
The orange and blue borders on this card are notorious. They chip if you even look at them wrong. Finding a copy with perfectly clean, sharp corners is surprisingly difficult, which is why the price gap between a 9 and a 10 is so wide.
Don't Forget the "Young Superstars" Edition
While the #100T is the main event, Score actually gave us a second Griffey in '89. It’s the 1989 Score Young Superstars #18.
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This card was part of a 42-card set. It's often overlooked, but it features a great action shot of Junior in the field. If you’re a completionist, this is the "hidden" Griffey that most casual collectors forget. It’s relatively cheap—you can usually snag a PSA 9 for under $40—but it's a great piece of the 1989 narrative.
Spotting the Fakes
Since the "Bat" variation is likely a bootleg, how do you protect yourself?
- Check the Font: On the authentic card, the player's name on the back is bold. On the fakes, it’s thin and regular.
- The Logo Test: Look at the MLBPA logo. The counterfeit often has extra, blurry text inside the logo that shouldn't be there.
- Feel the Card: Old fakes often feel "waxy" or significantly thinner than the standard 1989 Score stock.
What You Should Do Now
If you’ve got one of these sitting in a shoebox, or you're thinking about adding one to your PC (Personal Collection), here’s the game plan.
First, flip it over. Look at that stat line. If it says "Bat," keep it as a curiosity, but don't expect it to hold value or get a high grade from PSA. If it says "Bats" and the corners look like they could cut paper, it’s worth sending in for grading.
In a world where 1/1 "Logoman" cards sell for millions, there’s something grounded and real about the 1989 Score Ken Griffey Jr. It represents the peak of the hobby before things got too complicated. It’s a piece of 1989 you can actually hold in your hand.
Next Steps for Collectors:
- Check your local card shop’s "junk bins" for the Young Superstars #18; it’s a high-upside find for a few dollars.
- Verify the "Bats" pluralization before bidding on any raw #100T listings online.
- If buying graded, prioritize the clarity of the orange borders over the centering, as edge wear is the primary "grade killer" for this specific set.