Upper Deck disrupted the baseball card collecting industry when it1 released its 1989 baseball card set. After Topps's longstanding monopoly on the industry ended in the early 1980s, Upper Deck released a new type of baseball card that collectors had never seen before. Using a minimalist design, high-quality, glossy paper stock, and flattering photography (on both sides of the card) that captured a viewer's interest, Upper Deck helped to introduce the hobby to thousands of new collectors, including me. They set a new standard for baseball cards.
I'll discuss a few personal favorites (I deliberately didn't choose Ken Griffey Jr.'s rookie card). Due to overproduction, many of these cards aren't worth much today, but they're still worth a lot to me personally.
1989 Upper Deck #300 Mark McGwire
I won't get into Big Mac's role as one of the central figures in baseball's steroids scandal. This is still a beautiful baseball card regardless of what you think of McGwire. Standing six feet five inches, the primary photograph makes McGwire look like Paul Bunyan holding a baseball bat like Bunyan's axe.
One of the very best photographs ever on a baseball card in my opinion. The secondary photograph (a feature that Topps did not have up to this point) displayed McGwire admiring what was likely a home run he had hit. Posed and candid photographs like these placed Upper Deck immediately at the forefront.
On March 17th, a PSA 10 copy of this card sold for only $36 during an auction hosted by eBay.
1989 Upper Deck #774 Nolan Ryan
I was never a big Nolan Ryan fan, but this card exemplifies Upper Deck's unconventional approach to its photography. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first baseball card that featured a baseball player throwing a football as its primary photograph. Candid and unusual photographs in the Upper Deck set like these captured my attention as a new collector.
On March 25th, a PSA 10 copy of this card sold for $110 on eBay. If you're patient, you can probably buy it for around $80 though during an auction.
1989 Upper Deck #755 Jim Abbott
In my opinion, Jim Abbott cards deserve more love. Not only did he have a fairly successful career, he did so despite having been born without a right hand. He once finished third in Cy Young voting and even though he only had one hand? Come on.
This rookie card also features innovations that set Upper Deck apart from the rest of the pack. First, the primary photograph actually uses multiple photographs capturing Abbott's pitching motion nearly from start to finish. You just didn't see that in baseball cards at the time. And second, the card must be viewed horizontally instead of from top to bottom. Again, a unique and different choice for baseball cards at the time.
On March 22nd, a PSA 10 copy of this card, shown in the photograph above, sold for $31 on eBay.
What are some of your personal favorites from the 1989 Upper Deck set? Please tell us in the comments section below!
