1989 Swell Baseball Greats Warren Spahn #138
Warren Spahn · Swell (Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp.) · Base / Legend Insert (Non-Licensed Portfolio Set)
Player
Warren Spahn
Set
1989 Swell Baseball Greats
Year
1989
Card #
138
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint). Reasons: Centering is heavily shifted towards the top (roughly 20/80), minor edge chipping visible on the left side, and soft corners typical of late 80s gloss-less cardstock.
Category
Base / Legend Insert (Non-Licensed Portfolio Set)
Manufacturer
Swell (Philadelphia Chewing Gum Corp.)
Demand Level
Low/Niche. This set is considered a 'junk wax' era secondary set. Demand is limited to Warren Spahn player collectors or set builders of the 1989 Swell series.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 7: $10-15, PSA 8: $20-25, PSA 9: $45-55. Note: Grading costs significantly exceed current market value for this specific card.
Comparable Sales
Recent raw sales for common stars in this set range from $0.99 to $2.50. PSA 9 examples of similar cards in the set have recently sold for under $40, often struggling to find buyers due to the high supply and low prestige of the Swell brand compared to Topps or Upper Deck.
Description
This 1989 Swell Baseball Greats card features Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn in his Milwaukee Braves uniform. The card features a classic yellow border with a sepia-toned action photo. The 'Baseball Greats' branding and 'Swell' logo are prominent at the top. The reverse provides career statistics and highlights for Spahn, including his 363 wins.
Key Features
Features a legendary Hall of Famer; iconic Milwaukee Braves uniform; part of a nostalgic 'all-time greats' themed set from the peak of the junk wax era.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity Confidence: High. This card is not commonly counterfeited due to low market value. Authentic indicators include the specific off-white/greyish cardboard stock and the grainy print resolution of the sepia image.
Flaws to Note
Significant top-to-bottom centering issues; minor rough-cut edges on the left border; surface likely has typical matte-finish scuffing common to the Philadelphia Chewing Gum stock.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as a low-cost 'buy it now') or COMC (Check Out My Cards) where set builders look for specific numbers to complete their collections.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card, as the grading fee is much higher than the potential return. Sell it as part of a lot of Milwaukee Braves or Warren Spahn cards to maximize shipping efficiency. Use 'Warren Spahn 1989 Swell Baseball Greats #138 Braves HOF' as the title.