1989 Topps Traded #41T Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 77.5 overall Hobby Score.

The 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is often seen as the more traditional counterpart to the Upper Deck version. Printed on classic Topps stock and released in boxed set form, it lacks the flash of the UD rookie but remains a staple in Griffey collections. The card features a clean design with Griffey in his Mariners uniform, offering a timeless, no-frills visual that appeals to traditionalists.

Over 88,000 copies of this card have been graded by PSA, which significantly lowers its scarcity score and thus its overall Hobby Score. While it’s not rare, its status as an official Topps rookie still gives it a place in hobby history.

A fun piece of trivia: Ken Griffey Jr. was once ejected from a game **after hitting a home run**—for laughing in the dugout. In a 1990 game, he was tossed by the umpire for what was interpreted as mocking. The irony? Griffey wasn’t even laughing at the umpire. His fun-loving nature occasionally got misunderstood, but it’s part of what made him such a relatable and memorable star.