1998 Skybox Ken Griffey Jr. Parallel Resurfaces After Two Decades

An extremely rare Ken Griffey Jr. card has suddenly reappeared on the market: a 1998 Skybox E-X Essential Credentials Now parallel, serial-numbered 4/10, is currently commanding attention at Heritage Auctions. Graded Mint 9 by PSA, this is one of only two examples to achieve that top grade—and it hasn’t been publicly offered since an ungraded copy sold on eBay back in 2006.

Already bidding north of $120,000 (including buyer’s premium), the card’s value has climbed steadily: after peaking at $58,800 in 2022, it dipped to $26,400 in August 2023 and $36,600 last December before its latest surge. Heritage pegs its fair market value above $200,000, with the auction set to close on May 16.

For collectors wondering why Griffey commands such low serial numbers in this parallel set, Essential Credentials Now mirrored the base set’s numbering—so Griffey, who appeared as card #10 in the main 2001 release, was naturally slotted as /10 here. The design itself is unmistakable: neon yellow-green acetate layers, holographic “shading” foil turned vivid neon, and the “Essential Credentials Now” logo stamped in black on the front.

“This is the first time this card has crossed a public auction block in almost 20 years,” says Chris Ivy, Heritage’s Director of Sports Collectibles. “Our research shows an ungraded example sold for just $516 back in 2006—so this Mint 9 version represents a truly historic moment for Griffey collectors.”