Ken Griffey Jr: All Things Jr

[todeen]

Ken Griffey Jr is the most collected modern player post 1980. I figured there needs to be some collectors in here, he started his career 35 years ago. So show off anything you have.



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[OhioLawyerF5]

Part of my Reds collection is to do a complete Topps base card run along with an autograph of each Hall of Famer who played for or managed the Reds. Griffey was a native of Cincinnati, having grown up there during the years his father was with the Reds. He graduated from Moeller High School. He has a special connection to the Reds, and came home to play for his hometown team in 2000. I remember the fanfare quite well. It was a major day for Reds fans. And while injuries put a damper on his Reds years, people often forget that he did have some good years with the Reds. He was an All Star 3 times with the Reds, and in that first magical season back home, he compiled 5.5 WAR, a .942 OPS, 40 Home Runs, and 118 RBI.

With all the specialness Griffey brings to a Reds collector, my collection has made a couple exceptions. In addition to the base Topps run, I also pick up some other Griffeys if I come accross something that catches my eye. Unlike most people, I prefer Griffey in a Reds uniform, but am willing to snag a nice Mariners card if the mood strikes me.

Here is the Topps run. It showcases his whole career from his legendary decade with the Mariners in the 90s, to his time with the Reds, then his brief stint with the White Sox, before heading back to Seattle to ceremoniously retire.

The Mariners Years:

1989 Topps Traded


1989 Topps Debut


1990 Topps


1991 Topps


1992 Topps


1993 Topps


1994 Topps


1995 Topps


1996 Topps


1997 Topps


1998 Topps


1999 Topps

[OhioLawyerF5]

Post #2 (apparently there is a limit of number of pictures per post)

Topps Run Continued: The Reds Years and Beyond

2000 Topps (First Reds card)


2001 Topps


2002 Topps


2003 Topps


2004 Topps


2005 Topps


2006 Topps


2007 Topps


2008 Topps


2008 Topps Traded (Off to the White Sox)


2009 Topps (A sendoff back to Seattle)


2010 Topps (A fitting end to an epic run)


As I mentioned, I also get an autograph of each Reds Hall of Famer. For Griffey, I absolutely had to have one in a Reds uniform. And since 2001 was such a special year in the hobby for me personally, this 2001 Upper Deck Legends Jersey Auto fits the bill quite nicely.



No Griffey collection is complete without the 89 Upper Deck. This card speaks for itself and the history of baseball cards can't be told without it.



The Father/Son combo that started it all



To finish this post, I'll throw in a few other random Griffeys from my collection that I like because they are neat cards.

First is a very unique card. In the 90s, innovation was the name of the game as card companies competed to capture the attention of collectors. Score decided to go full 90s and create a glow in the dark card in 1997. The insert set was 1997 Score "The Franchise." There is a base version of this insert set, inserted one in every 72 retail packs (1:17 Premium Stock packs). But the real treasure is that they made a glow in the dark version of this insert set, and they were much more rare. Seeded at 1 in every 240 retail packs (1:79 Premium Stock packs), these babies were hard to find. To make it more intersting, the glowing version was very hard to distinguish from the non-glowing version. I found mine at a mall card show in a commons box with a bunch of non-glowing versions. If you don't know what you are looking for, you could easily skip right over it. Here is a picture where I tried to capture the true essence of this card by photographing it in various stages of glow.



Finally, I'll close with a modern card. I don't typically collect non-playing days cards. But when Topps made a Legendary Home Field Advantage card of Griffey in a Reds uniform, celebrating the city of Cincinnati, I just couldn't resist. The card's beauty and subject matter made this a must-have for my collection.

[bnorth]

I have some oddball Griffery Jr stuff. The Star is one of the oddest with multiple overstrikes including Jose Canseco on the front. The UD Don Baylor has the Griffey Jr Rookie overprint on the back.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have some oddball Griffery Jr stuff. The Star is one of the oddest with multiple overstrikes including Jose Canseco on the front. The UD Don Baylor has the Griffey Jr Rookie overprint on the back.

those are oddball! but I like the look of the Star card!

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[bnorth]

Originally Posted by todeen

those are oddball! but I like the look of the Star card!

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I wish I would have bought a lot more of them back in the day. When they first hit the market most were still full sheets.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Part of my Reds collection is to do a complete Topps base card run along with an autograph of each Hall of Famer who played for or managed the Reds. Griffey was a native of Cincinnati, having grown up there during the years his father was with the Reds. He graduated from Moeller High School. He has a special connection to the Reds, and came home to play for his hometown team in 2000. I remember the fanfare quite well. It was a major day for Reds fans. And while injuries put a damper on his Reds years, people often forget that he did have some good years with the Reds. He was an All Star 3 times with the Reds, and in that first magical season back home, he compiled 5.5 WAR, a .942 OPS, 40 Home Runs, and 118 RBI.

With all the specialness Griffey brings to a Reds collector, my collection has made a couple exceptions. In addition to the base Topps run, I also pick up some other Griffeys if I come accross something that catches my eye. Unlike most people, I prefer Griffey in a Reds uniform, but am willing to snag a nice Mariners card if the mood strikes me.

Here is the Topps run. It showcases his whole career from his legendary decade with the Mariners in the 90s, to his time with the Reds, then his brief stint with the White Sox, before heading back to Seattle to ceremoniously retire.

The Mariners Years:

1989 Topps Traded


1989 Topps Debut


1990 Topps


1991 Topps


1992 Topps


1993 Topps


1994 Topps


1995 Topps


1996 Topps


1997 Topps


1998 Topps


1999 Topps

97, 98, 99 are perhaps the greatest Griffey base cards. Chrome refractors of those 3 are bonkers, especially in higher grades. Just beautiful images.

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[bnorth]

Here are some Alrak cards. Like many I bought 50 sets of the gold border cards hoping to cash in. I am still waiting. The others are also Alrak but are pretty thick plastic cards.

[todeen]

Great items, I haven't seen the Jersey Topps or bat before.

Adding 89 Tiffany.



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[REG1976]

Originally Posted by todeen

Great items, I haven't seen the Jersey Topps or bat before.

Adding 89 Tiffany.



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topps Jersey was found at Toys R Us just like this 15" X 20" card

[todeen]

Originally Posted by REG1976

topps Jersey was found at Toys R Us just like this 15" X 20" card

I have seen the 15x20 before. Not sure how I'd display that!

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[bigfanNY]

Not that old but one of my favorite LS ads. Glad I was able to pick one up.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Here is a fun one. I pulled a redemption for this back in 2002 from a box of UD Authentix.

[REG1976]

A couple of Griffey Jr Oddball item the Wind Walker bought in a New Jersey Department Store. Griffey is somewhere in the sealed package. The Jumbo California Sunflower seeds with the 1991 Griffey Jr card had no advertisement for baseball cards, which I bought in a California grocery store. I found a picture on the internet for comparison, looks like someone forgot to put the sticker on this package.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

Not that old but one of my favorite LS ads. Glad I was able to pick one up.

I have a Rawlings Gold Glove poster as a Mariner. Beautiful poster with many of my childhood heroes. Thanks for showing!

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Here is a fun one. I pulled a redemption for this back in 2002 from a box of UD Authentix.

Super cool! I miss Upper Deck.

Originally Posted by REG1976

A couple of Griffey Jr Oddball item the Wind Walker bought in a New Jersey Department Store. Griffey is somewhere in the sealed package. The Jumbo California Sunflower seeds with the 1991 Griffey Jr card had no advertisement for baseball cards, which I bought in a California grocery store. I found a picture on the internet for comparison, looks like someone forgot to put the sticker on this package.

That windwalker is one of the most random items! I wish I had one to put over my son's crib.

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[todeen]

1990 Topps Tiffany

If you don't follow Griffey cards, this one is known for fraudsters on ebay trying to sell error cards. It's the bloody elbow card. The one with all the circles is available for $670k on ebay.





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[todeen]

Wheaties individual size



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[REG1976]

Originally Posted by todeen

Wheaties individual size



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Nice I also like the back of the box

[DeanH3]

I love mid 90's inserts. A guilty pleasure of mine. Haven't picked any up in a while. Maybe it's time to go on the hunt again.

[REG1976]

.

[OhioLawyerF5]

[REG1976]

1996

[Bigdaddy]

Was very happy with how this turned out. Sent it into a signing with Jr back in 2022.

[todeen]

1991 Desert Shield





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[MVSNYC]

Fun thread! Some really great stuff posted already.

I just acquired this via Probstein...it originates from the Patrick Ryan Collection. Really excited about this one, as the light blue marker/paint pen jumps off the card!

[todeen]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Fun thread! Some really great stuff posted already.



I just acquired this via Probstein...it originates from the Patrick Ryan Collection. Really excited about this one, as the light blue marker/paint pen jumps off the card!

it's a beauty!

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[REG1976]

Ken Griffey Jr in an unused bread wrapper from the Junk Wax era

[MVSNYC]

Thanks Tim! Really happy with the card.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by REG1976

Ken Griffey Jr in an unused bread wrapper from the Junk Wax era

Super interesting! thanks for sharing. I've never seen that before.

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[Brent G.]

Originally Posted by MVSNYC

Fun thread! Some really great stuff posted already.

I just acquired this via Probstein...it originates from the Patrick Ryan Collection. Really excited about this one, as the light blue marker/paint pen jumps off the card!

I went the same route -- always wanted an auto'd '89 UD, but never liked how blue Sharpie blended into the turtleneck. I've been requesting pain pens with a lot of signings ever since.

[MVSNYC]

Brent, sweet!

[todeen]

Love Gallery of Heroes! Wish Larkin had made it into the set one year.



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[todeen]

These are both highly coveted, but I don't have either. I had the SNES card, but I believe I lost it.

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[todeen]

Early logoman card, but this set actually has multiple, so it's not a 1/1. still! it's likely the only logoman KGJ I can afford.

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[todeen]

boyhood poster



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[todeen]

Bought this one in the past 10 years I think.



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[todeen]

Another more recent purchase.



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[todeen]

This was my last Griffey poster purchase.



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[todeen]

Bought this one 5 years ago.



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[REG1976]

A few more

[REG1976]

A couple of my favorites of Ken Griffey Jr, 1990 Heads Up & the 1991 Topps Stand Ups I got these complete boxes when they first came out at a local convenience store, the 1990 Heads Up has 2 Griffey Jr's

[todeen]

Originally Posted by REG1976

A couple of my favorites of Ken Griffey Jr, 1990 Heads Up & the 1991 Topps Stand Ups I got these complete boxes when they first came out at a local convenience store, the 1990 Heads Up has 2 Griffey Jr's

The Stand Ups are new to me, I've never seen them.

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[REG1976]

Originally Posted by todeen

The Stand Ups are new to me, I've never seen them.

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I only seen the Stand Ups in two convenience stores in NJ, here is another different issue featuring Griffey Jr from 1998

[OhioLawyerF5]

Picked this up at a card show today:

[tkd7]

I just acquired these signed UD rookies.

[MVSNYC]

Hell yeah! Tom, exquisite! Love the light blue ink, jumps off the cards!