Which is the official Ken Griffy Jr rookie card?

Answer 1

Rookie Card - A players first year of cards, whether or not it is his rookie season. Players may have one or dozens of rookie cards, depending on how highly touted he was as a youngster and in which year his rookie card was issued.

As defined above a player could have a number of rookie cards, and not just one "official rookie card" The amount of rookie cards could be multiplied by the number of companies that issue a card. Some players could have two Rookie cards from the same company such as a card issued in a Traded set (Topps) an update set (Fleer) or Rookie/Traded (Score), and then have a card issued in the regular set the following year. In most cases if not all the traded issue is recognized as the "official Rookie card"

Minor League cards might be the players "First Cards" but are not considered true rookie cards because the player is not a Rookie until he plays for the Major Leagues. These cards are typically labeled as Rookie cards as a sales pitch to sell the card, and are not the "official rookie cards." An example would be the 1988 San Bernardino Spirit Ken Griffey Jr. minor league card number 34.

The 1985 Topps card 401 is Mark McGwire's first card, and although he did not play in the Major Leagues at the time this card issued by a major company is considered to be McGwire's rookie card along with the 1987 Topps card 366. It could get confusing, but the card that is most desired by collectors could be considered as the "official rookie card" and this would be detected by the card with the highest price.

The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card #1 seems to be the collectors choice as the "official rookie card"with a book value of $40.00. Other rookie cards include 1989 Donruss Rookies card #3, 1989 Fleer card number 548, 1989 Topps traded card number 41T, 1989 Bowman card number 220, and 1989 Donruss card number 33.

see Related question below for more information on these cards.

Answer 2

Ken Griffey Jr. signed baseball card

A 1989 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie signed Baseball card is worth on average $30.-$40. Prices may vary based on condition, and the type of authenticity that accompanies the signature. Signatures that have not been authenticated could sell at half the market value or less. A Ken Griffey Jr rookie card could have a higher value without the signature.

Collectible items could add value to the price of a signature but not always. As in the case of a baseball card, generally collectors of baseball cards would rather have a baseball card without the signature. The signature would be considered as a flaw in the condition of the card and will lower the value.

A collector of signatures will not always pay extra for the "collectible" baseball card. The autograph collectors main concern is displaying the signature. This is why it is not a good idea to have an expensive baseball card signed. You could devalue the price of the card, and get less for it.