Buzz 24 for 24: Chasing Ken Griffey Jr.’s Rookie Cards in a 1989 Upper Deck box & and a 1989 Fleer cello box (Hour 7)

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 7.

HOUR 7

FLEER
Top: Al Newman
Bottom: Roger Clemens
Stickers: Indians, Yankees, Mets
Other notables: Randy Johnson Rookie Card, Cecil Fielder, Jose Canseco All-Star insert

UPPER DECK PACK 1
Sticker(s): Pirates
Notables: Nolan Ryan, Ozzie Smith (CL), Andy Van Slyke, Barry Larkin, Goose Gossage
Star Rookies: Nope, nada.
High-numbers: Charlie Hayes and Julio Franco

UPPER DECK PACK 2
Sticker(s): Mets, White Sox
Notables: Paul Molitor (CL), Chris Sabo
Star Rookies: Seriously … none.
High-numbers: Charlie Hayes and Julio Franco … any superfans out there need some bulk?

Final thoughts for Hour 7: Which version of the Randy Johnson Rookie Card error is this? It’s not the factory set pitch-black version but it’s close. A second pack in a row with the Canseco insert would have been big back in 1989. The UD packs included some good name power but again are painful on the RC and the high-numbers. For the record, that’s 11 Charlie Hayes cards in as many packs … no Jim Abbott, Todd Zeile, Jerome Walton, Dwight Smith or Omar Vizquel. I’d settle for a freaking Junior Felix at this point. (I had one of those back in 1989, I could afford him back then.)

What's next? Be back in an hour ...

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

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