1989 Fleer #548 Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 77.5 overall Hobby Score.

The 1989 Fleer Ken Griffey Jr. rookie sits behind Upper Deck in terms of prestige, but has always held a strong collector following. The Fleer design is clean and uncluttered, and the close-up portrait shot of Griffey offers a different feel compared to the action-focused layouts of the era. However, the hobby impact is dampened by a very high print run—over 80,000 total PSA-graded copies exist, limiting scarcity.

Despite that, this card remains an essential piece in any Griffey RC run. Fleer was one of the big three brands during the late '80s, and having a Griffey rookie in each was a collector rite of passage. The simplicity of the card's layout is what makes it memorable today.

One fun fact: Fleer’s production in 1989 was so fast and chaotic that multiple printing runs featured inconsistent back centering and blurry fonts—adding an odd layer of difficulty for collectors seeking PSA 10s. That quirk has helped give this card a bit more character than it might seem at first glance.