Ken Griffey Jr. has not played in a game since May 2010.
It has been nearly a decade since he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Outside of a recent appearance as a photographer working at the Masters, “The Kid” has not exactly been at the forefront of the zeitgeist.
Yet, in 2025, decades since he made his major-league debut and the world was first introduced to his now-iconic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card, Griffey’s card market is surging — and it is not clear why.
The rise of Michael Jordan cards during the pandemic could be chalked up to a number of factors, not the least of which was the release of the wildly popular documentary series “The Last Dance.”
Shohei Ohtani’s headline-grabbing sales in cards and memorabilia have coincided with his record-setting 50-50 season.
Victor Wembanyama’s market was fueled by unprecedented hype.
But for “The Kid,” there is simply no easy explanation as to why his market has experienced such a massive uptick.
Over the past year, Griffey Jr.’s Card Ladder index, comprised of 119 cards considered indicative of his market, is up 32.08%.
Over the same period, sales of Griffey’s famous Upper Deck rookie card in a PSA 9 are up 32.62%. PSA 10 copies are up a shocking 63.83%. Griffey’s 1989 Topps Traded card is up 18.6%.
According to Market Movers, which has tracked more than 40,000 sales of 898 different Griffey cards in the past year, his price has risen 30.2% while his volume has surged 17.3%.
Griffey’s most expensive card sale to date came in May 2025: $280,600 for a 1998 SkyBox E-X 2001 Essential Credentials Now /10. That was more than triple the previous record.
Market Movers has recorded $3.9 million in sales volume for Griffey cards in the past year, more than 2025 Hall of Fame inductee and former teammate Ichiro Suzuki, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Derek Jeter.
While the overall card market is in an upswing, Griffey’s Card Ladder index is easily besting those of Baseball (+11.60%), High-Pop (+22.57%) and the Card Ladder50 (+22.36%).
One theory driving the market could be Griffey’s unique position among superstars in the hobby, who are both in the top tier of collectibility but whose most famous card is affordable.
Jordan’s equivalent card to Griffey’s 1989 Upper Deck would be his 1986 Fleer rookie — worth thousands even in the worst condition. Same goes for Mickey Mantle, whose 1952 Topps is hardly for casuals.
But Griffey’s key rookie is not only his most important, but one of the most significant in the history of the hobby — yet its price is within reach for most collectors (in large part thanks to its massive quantity).
Another reason could be the age of the fans who grew up watching Griffey, who are now in their prime earning and wealthiest eras of their lives.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.