There are few names that reach the same league as Ken Griffey Jr. in terms of modern baseball cards. “The Kid” remains one of the most popular and collectable names in the hobby.
While his earliest cards came in a time of overproduction, he does still have some rare and valuable cards for collectors to chase.
Here are the 10 most expensive Griffey Jr. cards, based on record public sales.
*Only a card’s record sale has been included, so even if it has multiple sales that would make the top 10, it’ll only appear once.
The 10 Most Valuable Griffey Jr. Cards Based On Previous Sales
10. 1999 E-X Century Credentials Now Ken Griffey Jr. #17
Record Sale: BGS 9.5 – $35,130
The E-X Century Credentials parallels of the late-90s hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors. With their eye-catching acetate finish and neon colors, the cards are a visual marvel.
They also add the extreme rarity aspect. This “Now” parallel version is limited to only 17 copies for Griffey Jr. There’s also a “Future” parallel alternative, which has 104 numbered copies.
While this 1999 card makes the list based on its previous high sale, there’s an Essential Credentials Now parallel from the year before, which is even rarer with only 10 copies – If one of those were to be auctioned in a high-grade, I think it would be more valuable.
9. 1999 Fleer Ultra Platinum Medallion Masterpiece Ken Griffey Jr. #72P
Record Sale: PSA 6 – $44,612
For me personally, the 1-of-1 Fleer Ultra cards were the pinnacle of 90s sports cards. They were an elusive dream that many of us chased.
This Platinum Medallion Masterpiece Ken Griffey Jr. card is no exception. Despite its PSA 6 grade, the card’s unmatched exclusivity and striking design make it a hard-hitting treasure.
8. 1999 Upper Deck Game Jersey Patch Autograph Ken Griffey Jr. #JRS
Record Sale: BGS 9 – $48,000
A perfect card for collectors who revere Griffey’s memorabilia. Featuring a game-worn patch, on-card signature, and hand-serial numbering to only 24 copies, it ticks a lot of boxes.
Upper Deck’s Game Jersey autograph cards from the 90s have held their popularity across multiple sports, and this is definitely one of The Kid’s most coveted cards.
7. 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie Autograph Ken Griffey Jr. #1
Record Sale: PSA 10 – $55,201
Here’s a legendary baseball card from the modern era – The Kid’s rookie card.
Griffey’s 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie card is already iconic, but adding a perfect on-card autograph elevates it to legendary status.
Pack-issued autographs weren’t really a thing in 1989, which makes authenticated and graded examples like this incredibly valuable.
6. 1994 Upper Deck Dual Autograph Ken Griffey Jr. / Mickey Mantle #GM1
Record Sale: BGS 9.5 – $57,600
I love this card! Two legends. One iconic piece. This dual-signed masterpiece features the autographs of both Ken Griffey Jr. and Mickey Mantle, making it a true piece of baseball history, and one of the coolest things in the hobby.
The Mantle/Griffey inserts were randomly distributed in packs and featured either one, or both, of the players’ autographs. The dual-signature versions are unsurprisingly more in-demand, and valuable.
The record sale copy didn’t just achieve a BGS 9.5 grade, but also a 10 for the autographs, making it an incredibly coveted gem for both players.
5. 1999 Fleer Brilliants 24KT Gold Ken Griffey Jr. #24TG
Record Sale: PSA 10 – $59,000
Few cards combine rarity, beauty, and prestige like this one. This 24KT Gold parallel from the ‘99 Fleer Brilliants set is breathtaking, with a gleaming design that truly lives up to its name.
It features Griffey in an action-packed shot, and it’s hard not to love the overall design of the card.
The record sale was for an impressive copy that managed to achieve a PSA 10 grade!
4. 1998 Donruss Crusade Red Ken Griffey Jr. #39
Record Sale: PSA 10 – $63,000
The 1998 Donruss Crusade Red card is a favorite among collectors, with its appealing, shiny design and elusive rarity. Limited to just 25 copies, it’s one of the earliest examples of premium parallels.
The Donruss Crusade set featured 130 cards inserted across various Donruss and Leaf products. It included two types: the standard “Base” and the rarer “Call to Arms” version, which lacked card numbers due to a printing error. Each type came in three color-tiered parallels—Green (#/250), Purple (#/100), and Red (#/25).
This copy of the base version’s red parallel is the only example of a PSA 10 grade, so it helps add an extra premium.
3. 1998 Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Ken Griffey Jr. #161
Record Sale: BGS 9 – $66,000
Precious Metal Gems parallels from the late-90s are pretty legendary within the hobby, and this Griffey card is no exception.
The striking design and scarcity of PMGs make them highly sought after. There’s only 50 copies of this one.
They’re also prone to deterioration, given the card’s finish, so copies in good condition hold an even higher premium.
It’s undoubtedly one of Griffey Jr.’s greatest ever baseball cards.
2. 1998 Upper Deck A Piece of the Action Patch Autograph Ken Griffey Jr. #KGS
Record Sale: BGS 8.5 – $84,000
This legendary card is a cornerstone of Griffey’s hobby legacy. As one of his first-ever patch autographs, it represents a significant milestone in trading card history. Pack-issued inserts like this were rare in the late ’90s, and pulling one was almost mythical.
“The Kid” hard-signed 24 copies of the card, so it’s no surprise to see a copy as highly-graded as BGS 8.5 selling for as much as $84k, which was a record Griffey Jr. card price at the time.
1. 1998 SkyBox E-X 2001 Essential Credentials Now Ken Griffey Jr. #10
Record Sale: PSA 9 – $280,600
Here’s the ultra-rare card which is the runaway leader as the most expensive Griffey Jr. card ever sold. Only a few collectors will be lucky enough to own one of these.
The Essential Credentials Now parallel from the ‘98 Skybox E-X 2001 set is limited to only 10 numbered copies for “The Kid”, and it features a timeless design which remains popular today.
The huge record sale was for a PSA 9 graded copy, 1 of only 2 that have achieved that grade, with no PSA 10s in existence.
