Ken Griffey Jr. Signed 1989 Upper Deck #1 Rookie Card PSA 9 / Auto 10 - PSA/DNA

Add the most iconic baseball card of its generation, signed and graded at the gem-tier autograph configuration, to your collection with this Ken Griffey Jr. Autographed 1989 Upper Deck #1 Rookie Card — PSA 9 (Card) / PSA/DNA Auto Gem Mint 10. This is the legendary 1989 Upper Deck #1 — the inaugural card of Upper Deck's first-ever set, featuring Griffey as card #1 and widely regarded as the most important and recognizable baseball card of the modern era. The card carries a PSA 9 (Mint) grade on the card itself and a perfect PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10 grade on the autograph — the highest possible autograph grade, indicating a flawless signature. Both grades are encapsulated together in a single PSA holder and verifiable at PSA's official website.

Product Highlights

• Hand-signed by Ken Griffey Jr. — Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 (first ballot, 99.32%); 13x All-Star; 1997 AL MVP; 10x Gold Glove; 630 career home runs; first #1 overall MLB Draft pick ever inducted into the Hall of Fame
• 1989 Upper Deck #1 Rookie Card — the inaugural card of Upper Deck's first-ever set; widely regarded as the most iconic and important baseball card of the modern era
• PSA 9 (Card) / PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10 (Autograph) — Mint card grade with a PERFECT autograph grade; the gem-tier autograph configuration; both grades encapsulated together in a single PSA holder, verifiable at PSA's official website
• The card that launched Upper Deck: Griffey as card #1 of the 1989 Upper Deck set became the symbol of the premium-card era and the most recognizable rookie card of its generation
• Backed by our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee

The Most Iconic Card of Its Generation

The 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is widely regarded as the single most important and recognizable baseball card of the modern era. When Upper Deck launched its first-ever set in 1989, the company positioned Griffey — then the game's most hyped young prospect — as card #1, an unprecedented decision to lead a debut set with a player who had not yet played a major league game. The card became the defining symbol of the premium-card era that Upper Deck pioneered, and the #1 Griffey rookie has remained the most sought-after and recognizable card of the entire late-1980s/early-1990s production period. For collectors, the card transcends Griffey himself — it represents a pivotal moment in the hobby's history when premium production, anti-counterfeiting holograms, and high-grade photography redefined the trading card industry.

The Gem-Tier Autograph Configuration

This card carries a dual-grade configuration that places it at the gem tier for signed examples. The card itself is graded PSA 9 (Mint), and the autograph is graded PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10 — the highest possible autograph grade, indicating a flawless, perfectly-applied signature. The Gem Mint 10 autograph grade is the key differentiator: it certifies that the signature placement, ink quality, and overall execution meet PSA's most stringent autograph standard. Both grades are encapsulated together in a single PSA holder with a certification number verifiable at PSA's official website — providing a complete, tamper-evident authentication chain for both the card's condition and the autograph's authenticity and quality.

The Hall of Fame Career

Ken Griffey Jr. delivered on every expectation the 1989 Upper Deck #1 card implied. Across 22 MLB seasons (1989-2010), he hit 630 home runs (currently 7th all-time), made 13 All-Star teams, won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves (1990-1999), captured the 1997 AL MVP, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 with 99.32% of the vote — at the time the highest percentage in HOF history. He spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Mariners (1989-1999, 2009-2010), hitting 417 of his 630 home runs in Mariners uniforms (a franchise record), and became the first #1 overall MLB Draft pick ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Mariners retired his #24 jersey in 2016.

PSA / PSA/DNA Authentication

This card and autograph have been graded and certified by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and PSA/DNA. The card grade (PSA 9) and autograph grade (PSA/DNA Gem Mint 10) are encapsulated together in a single tamper-evident PSA holder with a certification number verifiable at PSA's official website. PSA is one of the most widely recognized third-party grading and authentication services in the trading card and memorabilia industry.

Specifications

Authenticity Guarantee

Every signed piece at GameDay Sports Memorabilia is backed by our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee. If your item is ever determined to be inauthentic, we will replace or refund it — no questions asked.