Top 5 Most Valuable Seattle Mariners Baseball Cards of All Time

As one of Major League Baseball's newer franchises, the Seattle Mariners don't have the long and storied history of teams like the Yankees or Dodgers. However, that doesn't mean Mariners cards lack value. Some rare and coveted cards of the team's biggest stars have sold for staggering amounts over the years.

Let's count down the top 5 most valuable Mariners baseball cards of all time.

1. 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card

It should come as no surprise that Ken Griffey Jr.'s iconic 1989 Upper Deck rookie card tops this list. The Kid was the face of baseball during the height of the junk wax era. While mass overproduction caused most late '80s and early '90s cards to be worthless, Griffey's popularity made his rookies an exception.

Key details for identifying the Griffey rookie:

• Card #1 in 1989 Upper Deck Baseball
• Portrait photo of Griffey sporting a toothy grin
• Back features The Kid swinging nearly parallel to the ground

This card remains Griffey's most iconic and widely collected. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies have sold for over $1,000. High-grade versions of his other '89 rookies, like Topps Tiffany and Fleer Update, also command serious cash. But the Upper Deck card stands head and shoulders above the rest.

2. 1992 Bowman Mike Mussina RC

Before becoming one of Baltimore's aces, Mike Mussina started his career as a Mariners prospect. As a result, Moose's earliest cards feature him with Seattle. His 1992 Bowman rookie is the big ticket.

The key details on this one:

• Card #535
• Pitching action photo
• Moose's name in gold foil on the front

This Mussina rookie can't match Griffey's prices, but high grades still sell for $300+. No other early Mussina cards come close. He was traded to Baltimore after the '95 season, making his Mariners rookies the only ones featuring him with Seattle.

3. 1996 Leaf Signature Extended Alex Rodriguez Autograph

A-Rod's extended rookie cards are always in high demand. But his earliest certified autograph as a Mariner is particularly popular. The 1996 Leaf Signature Extended card features Rodriguez's signature from early in his MLB career.

Here's how to spot it:

• Part of the 1996 Leaf Signature Extended set
• Features large signature across the card front
• Certified authentic by Leaf
• Mariners team name below auto
• Limited print run

Gem Mint copies have exceeded $2,500. Rodriguez's first autograph card as a Yankee sells for even more. But collectors still covet his earliest auto as a rising phenom with Seattle.

4. 1997 Bowman's Best Ichiro Suzuki RC

The Japanes sensation took MLB by storm upon arriving stateside in 2001. That created massive demand for Ichiro's Japanese rookie cards from the '90s. But his 1997 Bowman's Best card stands out as his first officially licensed MLB rookie.

What to look for with this Ichiro RC:

• 1997 Bowman's Best card #112
• Features Ichiro following through on a swing
• Blank black space where MLB logo would normally be

When grading companies began servicing Japanese cards years later, it created a frenzy for high-grade RCs of Suzuki. His 1997 Bowman's Best card was no exception. PSA 10s have commanded over $2,000.

5. 1994 SP Alex Rodriguez Rookie

Yes, A-Rod makes the list twice. While not his first card as a Mariner, Rodriguez's '94 SP rookie is one of his most recognizable early cards. The premium SP set was a landmark release of its time.

Key ID points on this rookie:

• 1994 SP card #15
• Headshot photo of young A-Rod
• Bold SP logo on front, full bleed photo
• Short printed compared to regular '94 brands

Near mint copies can top $500 today. This card may lack the obscurity of Moose's '92 Bowman rookie. But it remains one of the most iconic cards from A-Rod's early Seattle years.

That does it for our list of the top 5 most valuable Mariners baseball cards of all-time. From Griffey and A-Rod to Ichiro, the Mariners have boasted some of baseball's biggest superstars over the years. And their rookie cards remain highly coveted pieces of cardboard.