1989 Score #257 Barry Sanders rookie, TAG 9
- Player
- Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
- Set
- 1989 Score
- Card #
- 257 (Rookie Card)
- Grader
- TAG
- Grade
- 9 Mint
- Cert #
- V8672664
- TAG pop
- 16 Mint 9s out of 49 graded
- Est. value (Oct 2026)
- ~$150–$190 (PSA 9s selling $170–$200)
- Status
- Personal collection, not for sale
Number eight in my personal collection, and the oldest card I own now: Barry Sanders, card #257 from 1989 Score, his rookie card, graded a 9 Mint by TAG.
The card
1989 Score is the classic Sanders rookie, the one most collectors think of first. It has the green borders Score used for that year's rookies, the 1989 ★ Rookie banner across the top, a portrait of Sanders in his blue Lions jersey, and the Lions helmet in the bottom corner with RUNNING BACK under his name.
Why it matters
Sanders won the Heisman at Oklahoma State in 1988 and the Lions took him third overall in 1989. In ten seasons he never had fewer than 1,100 rushing yards, ran for 2,053 in 1997 to share the MVP, and walked away in 1999 with 15,269 yards, second all-time at the time. He went into the Hall of Fame in 2004. For a lot of people he's the most exciting runner ever, and this is where his cards start.
The grade
TAG grades with computer imaging and posts a full report for every card, with close-ups of the corners, edges and surface. This one came back a 9 Mint, with zero flaws flagged on the corners, edges or surface; the points came off for centering. As of October 2026 TAG has graded 49 of this card and 16 of them got a 9, and mine is tied for 6th highest among those Mints. You can see the whole report at my.taggrading.com.
Photos are from TAG's grading report.
