Buzz 24 for 24: Chasing Ken Griffey Jr.’s Rookie Cards in a 1989 Upper Deck box & and a 1989 Fleer cello box (Hour 24)

We’re coming up on the 30th anniversary of the arrival of a cardboard icon and the highest-voted Hall of Famer in history, Ken Griffey Jr., on the field as well as on his Rookie Cards. While we’re not there just yet, Buzz couldn’t wait to try a little something with box-busting … a 24-hour marathon where we chase No. 24.

Welcome to Buzz 24 for 24.

The boxes? We’ve got one safe pick — a 24-pack 1989 Fleer cello box from a sealed case — and a riskier and pricier pick — a 36-pack 1989 Upper Deck High Number Series box. The Fleer Griffey isn’t an expensive one, but it should make an appearance given the set size vs. the box size. Meanwhile, the Upper Deck card isn’t a sure thing from a high-number box but it can be done. (High boxes are also roughly half the price of standard boxes … so that’s why Buzz went this way.)

So, for the next 24 hours you’ll see a break of at least a couple packs as we chase No. 24, George Kenneth Griffey Jr., and take a quick look back at some of the cardboard that was big at the time.

This is Hour 24 ... the finale. 

HOUR 24

FLEER
Top: Pete O’Brien
Bottom: Charlie Hough
Stickers: Reds, A’s Padres
Other notables: Jose Canseco 40-40, Bo Jackson, another Billy Ripken FF error (!), Chris Sabo, Paul Molitor

UPPER DECK 
Sticker(s): White Sox
Notables: Mike Greenwell
Star Rookies: None
High-numbers: Charlie Hayes and Jamie Moyer

Final thoughts for Buzz 24 for 24: What a way to finish — another super-unlikely Billy Ripken error card atop my epic Hayes and Moyer run. (There’s some sarcasm there, though both are quite remarkable.) The Final Tally for Charlie Hayes? A powerful 36. And Jamie Moyer? A mere 21. Julio Franco checks in 12 times. The tally that matters most? Ken Griffey Jr. at one. After that? Randy Johnson and Craig Biggio. There were a ton of names that we didn’t see today, either, but landing No. 24 — the star of this 24 — happened twice with our cheaper safe box and our pricier drama box. I gotta say, though, I think the Ripkens stole the show as I should be able to pull a Griffey again. Finding error boxes of Fleer? Not quite as easy. I ordered two more boxes after seeing these results … not a single Ripken, not a single Griffey, not a single Johnson in either one All I got in those two boxes of note? A pair of Smoltz RCs. (So, no, it's not easy ... even from the same source.)

We've reached the end. Thanks for checking out today’s marathon of pack-breaking looking for Ken Griffey Jr.'s iconic Rookie Cards. Be sure to share these posts on Facebook or Twitter and let Buzz know if you want to see something similar to this one again.

Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com. 

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