1994 Mantle/Griffey Dual Auto BGS 8.5 Sells for $41K

1994 Upper Deck’s dual-signed Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. card has long been one of the hobby’s most discussed modern autographs. On January 16, 2026, a strong example crossed the auction block at Goldin: a 1994 Upper Deck Autograph #GM1 Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. dual-signed card, graded BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 with a Beckett 10 autograph grade, selling for $41,785.

For collectors, this card sits at the crossroads of eras. Mantle represents the golden age of post‑war baseball; Griffey Jr. was the defining superstar of the 1990s. Having both on the same licensed, pack-issued Upper Deck autograph has made this card one of the true “bridge pieces” between vintage and modern.

Card overview

Let’s break down the key details of this specific copy:

Year / Set: 1994 Upper Deck
Card: Autograph #GM1
Players: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees) / Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners)
Type: Dual on‑card autograph (both signatures are directly on the card)
Grading company: Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
Card grade: NM-MT+ 8.5
Autograph grade: 10 (Beckett)

This is not a rookie card for either player, but it is widely treated as a key issue for 1990s baseball inserts. The Mantle/Griffey pairing, official Upper Deck branding, and on-card dual signatures give it a status that goes beyond a typical insert autograph.

Why this card matters to collectors

A centerpiece of the 1990s insert era

The mid-1990s were the heart of the insert and autograph boom. Card companies began experimenting with pack‑inserted autographs of legends and active stars, and Upper Deck was at the front of that movement.

The Mantle/Griffey #GM1 card checks several important boxes:

Icon vs. icon: Mantle as a Yankee legend and Griffey as the modern superstar created a genuine “dream pairing” at the time.
Cross‑generation appeal: Vintage-focused collectors care about Mantle; 90s and early‑2000s collectors grew up on Griffey. This card speaks to both groups.
On‑card dual auto: Both players signed the card surface itself, which many collectors prefer over sticker autographs.
Cultural recognition: Even among people who don’t collect 90s inserts heavily, this is one of the first dual autos they can usually name.

Because of that, the card has become a touchstone for anyone building a serious 1990s autograph, Mantle, or Griffey collection.

Era and perceived scarcity

While 1994 falls in the broader “junk wax” era—when a lot of base cards were overproduced—pack‑inserted, certified autographs like this one were a different story. They were produced in far smaller quantities than standard base cards.

Grading company population reports (often called pop reports, which are simply counts of how many copies have received each grade) show that the card exists, but it is not especially common in high grade with a strong autograph grade. Many copies have:

edge or corner wear from 1990s production and handling
autograph issues (fading, streaking, or weaker placement)

That combination makes a BGS 8.5 with a 10 autograph an appealing balance between condition and budget compared to the very top of the grading scale.

Market context and recent sales

When collectors talk about comps (short for “comparables”), they mean recent sale prices for the same card or very similar versions—usually matching player, set, and grade range. For this Mantle/Griffey card, the tightest comps are other BGS or PSA graded copies with strong autograph grades.

Based on recent public auction and marketplace data going into early 2026:

High‑grade examples (BGS 9/9.5 or PSA 9/10) with strong autos typically command a premium over BGS 8.5 copies.
Mid‑grade copies with eye‑appeal and a 10 auto, like this one, have tended to sit in a tier below the top‑graded population but notably above raw (ungraded) or lower‑grade copies.

The $41,785 result at Goldin on January 16, 2026, places this sale in the upper bracket for mid‑ to high‑grade Mantle/Griffey dual autos with a 10 autograph grade. It does not appear out of line with the broader trend for premium 1990s Mantle and Griffey pieces, but it is a meaningful number for this card and grade combination.

For context:

The very best graded copies (especially with pristine or gem‑mint card grades and 10 autos) have historically set the top of the market for this issue.
Lower‑grade or visually weaker copies have sold for less, underscoring how much condition and autograph strength matter here.

Because the market has gone through multiple cycles over the last few years, it is more helpful to view this sale as one data point inside a band of recent results rather than as a permanent benchmark.

Grading details: BGS 8.5 / 10 auto

A BGS 8.5 (Near Mint‑Mint+) indicates a card that looks sharp in hand but may show minor flaws under closer inspection—often a small edge nick, a light corner touch, or slight surface issues. For 1990s autographs, many collectors are willing to trade a half‑grade of card condition for a superior autograph grade.

The Beckett 10 autograph grade is particularly important for this card because:

You have two signatures to evaluate.
Mantle’s autograph, especially later in life, can vary in strength.
Griffey’s signature is typically bold but can streak depending on how the card was handled.

A 10 auto grade confirms both signatures present as strong, clean, and consistent with what Beckett expects for a top‑tier autograph.

How this sale fits into broader Mantle and Griffey markets

Mantle market

Mantle’s key vintage issues—especially his 1950s Topps cards—remain blue‑chip pieces in the hobby. This dual auto sits in a different lane: it’s not a playing‑days card but a certified autograph from the 1990s, appealing to collectors who want an on‑card Mantle signature with modern presentation.

Prices for Mantle autographs and premium cards have generally held up better than many modern players, reflecting his status as a long‑established hobby cornerstone.

Griffey Jr. market

Ken Griffey Jr. remains one of the most collected modern stars, with:

iconic rookies (1989 Upper Deck, 1989 Fleer, 1989 Donruss, etc.)
numerous insert and autograph sets throughout the 1990s and 2000s

Within Griffey’s broader catalog, this dual auto has a special lane because it pairs him with Mantle on an early‑era pack‑inserted autograph. That association gives it a long‑term interest profile beyond his individual rookies and modern parallels.

What collectors can take away from this sale

For newcomers, returning collectors, and small sellers, here are some practical takeaways from the Goldin sale:

Dual autos amplify demand. Putting two hobby icons together—especially across eras—creates a different level of interest than a single‑player autograph.
Autograph grade matters. With premium 1990s autos, the difference between a 9 and 10 auto grade can be meaningful. For dual autos, that effect is even stronger.
Condition vs. eye‑appeal. A BGS 8.5 with a strong auto and centered presentation can be more desirable in practice than a higher technical grade with weaker signatures or poor eye‑appeal.
Comps should be truly comparable. When you look up recent sales, try to match:
- grading company (BGS vs. PSA vs. SGC)
- card grade
- autograph grade
- visual quality (streaking, fading, or smudges)

The $41,785 sale price does not guarantee anything for future results, but it does provide a current reference point that other buyers and sellers can look back to when discussing this card.

Final thoughts

The 1994 Upper Deck Autograph #GM1 Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Jr. dual-signed card has earned its place as one of the most significant 1990s baseball autographs. This BGS NM-MT+ 8.5 with a Beckett 10 autograph selling for $41,785 at Goldin on January 16, 2026, reinforces the card’s status as a centerpiece item for both Mantle and Griffey collectors.

For anyone building a focused 1990s autograph collection, a Mantle or Griffey run, or a cross‑era “icon” showcase, this card remains one of the clearest links between vintage legends and modern stars—and this sale is another data point showing how the market continues to value that connection.