1989 Score Traded #100T Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

This card received a 74 overall Hobby Score.

The 1989 Score Traded Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is often overlooked compared to its better-known counterparts. It arrived later in the year as part of Score’s Traded boxed set and was never as heavily chased during the initial rookie card craze. Its clean layout and full-bleed photo make it visually solid, but it lacks the flair or prestige of the Upper Deck, Donruss, or even Fleer rookies.

With over 28,000 copies graded by PSA and a relatively flat demand curve, it simply never reached the collector buzz levels of the other '89 rookies. It remains the least in-demand major Griffey rookie from that year, which is reflected in its modest Hobby Score.

Still, for collectors looking to round out a complete Griffey rookie run, this card is an inexpensive piece of the puzzle—and a reminder of how Score struggled to compete with flashier brands during one of the hobby’s most important rookie classes.