News

Ken Griffey Jr. — a name that resonates with baseball purists, 90s kids, and modern collectors alike — just made hobby history. A PSA 9 copy of his ultra-rare 1998 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now card sold for a staggering $280,600 at Heritage Auctions, becoming the most expensive Ken Griffey Jr. card ever sold.

Numbered 4 out of 10, this elusive parallel hadn’t surfaced at auction in two decades. Fewer than half of the ten total copies have been publicly graded, and only two have achieved the lofty PSA Mint 9 mark — making this specific card a unicorn in the Griffey market.

The Hobby’s Sweetheart Breaks Through

Griffey has long been one of the most beloved figures in sports collecting. His swing was poetry, his persona electric, and his cards — especially rare parallels and on-card autos — have always carried strong demand. But this sale isn’t just about a number. It’s a recognition of The Kid's lasting legacy.

Before this, Griffey’s highest-priced card was his 1998 Upper Deck A Piece of the Action Patch Autograph (BGS 8.5), which sold for $84,000. That card, one of his first-ever signed patch inserts, featured just 24 hand-signed copies.

Now, that record has been more than tripled.

The Ripple Effect

High-profile sales like this often ripple across the hobby — and that’s exactly what’s happening. One card that’s already seeing movement is Griffey’s iconic 1989 Upper Deck Star Rookie, long considered a must-have in any vintage-modern collection.

• PSA 10: Up 8.7% over the past 30 days

  • Latest sale (May 28): $2,880

• Raw: Up 26% over the same period

And it’s not just Griffey who’s getting a boost. Other players featured in the Skybox Essential Credentials Now series are seeing renewed interest.

• Manny Ramirez (/75):

  • PSA 8: $720

  • BGS 8.5: $593

  • A higher-grade Ramirez could easily test new highs — especially among Red Sox collectors.
    

• Derek Jeter (/94):

  • PSA 9: Sold for $7,030 (Nov 2024)

  • BGS 9.5: Sold for $7,800 (Nov 2024)
    

More Than a Sale — A Tribute

The $280K result isn’t just about value — it’s a tribute to Griffey’s place in sports history. For a generation that grew up idolizing #24, this is a moment of validation. And for collectors watching from the sidelines? It might be time to revisit those Griffey boxes tucked away in the closet.

As prices continue to climb and rare parallels find their way into the spotlight, one thing’s for sure — The Kid is still delivering fireworks, long after stepping off the field.

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