The Kid is back! Ken Griffey Jr. cards attracting big dollars on eBay

We recently highlighted the trading cards of rookie Elly De La Cruz, one of the league's most electrifying young players. 

Speaking of electrifying, The Kid is back! 

Ken Griffey Jr. shows up in our most recent Top 10 Chart: An eBay bidder spent a lofty total ($33,433) on a 1998 Ken Griffey Jr. Skybox “Essential Credentials” card.

Also See: Elly De La Cruz rookie cards already soaring on eBay

As you’ll see below, two other Griffey issues appear in our “next 10.” One is an Essential Credentials card from the previous year (1997). The other is a 1998 Topps Finest Refractor.

Griffey’s highly desirable rookie card came almost a decade earlier — in various 1989 sets. 

Also See: Sandy Koufax glove sells for $180K at TMN 

So what’s the rush on his late-1990s cards?

Well, in 1997 and 1998, Griffey was at the peak of his powers. He hit 56 homers in each of those seasons and drove in 147 and 146 runs. An added appeal: All three Griffey cards on our charts are Gem-Mint examples, each grading out at 10. Furthermore, all three cards were limited inserts, appearing in runs of 91, 99 and 75. Marking cards with individual numbers was fairly new at the time, but in all three cases here, there’s a production number stamped on the back.

On a purely human level, perhaps there’s some nostalgic love being shown toward Griffey, who turns 54 later this year. The Hall of Famer truly was an electrifying player during his career, and there’s no telling how many collectors got into the hobby because of him.

1. $38,100 on 52 bids: 1996 Sports Illustrated SI for Kids Tiger Woods (PSA 10)

2. $37,600 on 100 bids: 2017 Panini Contenders Patrick Mahomes II Rookie Ticket, auto (PSA 10)

3. $34,600 on 28 bids: 1986-87 Fleer Basketball complete set, 132 cards (all cards PSA 9)

4. $33,433 on 44 bids: 1998 Skybox E-X2001 Ken Griffey Jr. Essential Credentials, #89/91 (PSA 10)

5. $28,600 on 100 bids: 2009 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout Blue Refractor, #102/150, auto (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

6. $28,500 on 69 bids: 2018-19 Panini Prizm Luka Doncic Blue Ice, #8/99 (PSA 10)

7. $26,100 on 82 bids: 2017 Panini Flawless Patrick Mahomes II, #20/25, auto (PSA 9)

8. $24,100 on 93 bids: autographed 1988 Fleer All-Star Michael Jordan (PSA 9, PSA/DNA 10)

9. $22,322 on 78 bids: 1969-70 Topps Lew Alcindor (PSA 8)

10. $22,301 on 67 bids: 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (PSA 1)

Here’s our full “next 10” list:

• $19,300 on 43 bids: 2000 Bowman Chrome Tom Brady Refractor (PSA 8)

• $19,130 on 61 bids: 1997 Skybox E-X2000 Ken Griffey Jr. Essential Credentials, #31/99 (PSA 10)

• $18,300 on 86 bids: 2019-20 Panini National Treasures Ja Morant, #69/99, auto (ungraded, PSA/DNA 10)

• $18,100 on 30 bids: 1997-98 Fleer Metal Universe Scottie Pippen Precious Gems Ruby Red, #47/100 (BGS 7.5)

• $18,001 on 56 bids: 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson (PSA 5)

• $15,655 on 55 bids: 1998 Topps Finest Ken Griffey “The Man” Refractor (#20/75 (PSA 10)

• $15,099 on 82 bids: 2018-19 Panini National Treasures Luka Doncic Black Box, #1/1, auto (BGS 9.5, auto 10)

• $15,095 on 3 bids: 2021 Panini National Treasures Trevor Lawrence, #68//99, auto patch (BGS 9)

• $15,015 on 66 bids: 2015-16 Panini National Treasures Nikola Jokic Rookie Autographs, #9/25, auto (PSA 9)

• $14,950 on 49 bids: 2018-19 Panini Immaculate Stephen Curry, #7/10, auto patch (PSA 9, auto 10)

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