1988 Donruss Baseball Card Price Guide
The 1988 Donruss baseball card set was the 13th release from the popular sport card manufacturer. Coming off the 1987 set that featured the iconic Ken Griffey Jr rookie card, expectations were high for another memorable year of cards. While it didn’t produce any true legend rookie cards, the 1988 Donruss set offered baseball fans of the time exciting veteran stars and emerging young talents to collect. Over 30 years later, this vintage 80s release remains a stapular among collectors and provides a fascinating look at the players and teams from that era. Here is an in-depth price guide to help you value your 1988 Donruss baseball cards.
Base Set:
The 1988 Donruss base set contains 792 total cards issued in wax packs. The design features a player photo on the front with team logo and yellow bar at the top with stats on the back. Common base cards in near mint condition typically sell for $1-3. More sought after stars can fetch $5-10. Hall of Famers range from $10-25 with the very best editions of Mike Schmidt, Reggie Jackson, and Wade Boggs selling closer to $50-75. Rougher conditioned or less notable players usually trade for under $1.
Rookies:
While Ken Griffey Jr was the only true “rookie” star of the 1987 set, 1988 Donruss featured several solid young talents just starting out. The most valuable would be Mark McGwire’s rookie card, which in a PSA 10 Gem Mint can bring over $500. Other top rookies include Jim Abbott ($20-50), Gregg Jefferies ($10-25) and Jose Canseco ($15-30). Most other rookie cards fall in the $3-8 range depending on player and condition.
Top Prospects:
Donruss usually included a “Top Prospects” subset highlighting some of the best up and coming minor leaguers. In 1988 they featured a 17-card checklist. The most desirable card is doubtless Frank Thomas from his pre-White Sox days as a prospect. A PSA 10 copy sells for $150-250 today. Other notable prospects are Dwight Gooden ($20-40), Milt Thompson ($5-12) and Eric Davis ($10-20). Most others trade between $2-8.
Team Leaders:
This 19-card subset displays stats for top hitters and pitchers from 1987 for each franchise. The most notable include Joe Carter ($5-15), Rickey Henderson ($8-18) and Orel Hershiser ($7-15). There is demand for all so even no-names can sell in the $2-5 range depending on team popularity and condition.
Team Checks:
A simple but attractive 19-card design feature the team logo on a yellow Background. Top teams like the Dodgers, Mets and Yankees in gem condition can reach $8-12. Others sell around $3-6.
Team Logo Stickers:
Finding one of these elusive 9-card sticker subsets is a tough pull. Featuring colorful 3D team emblems on a diamond-patterned background, they are highly collected. The Yankees and Dodgers again lead the way value-wise at $15-25. Most others slot around $7-12.
Traded Sets:
Donruss issued updated players cards mid-season for those involved in trades. The most notable traded cards are Kirk Gibson ($10-18), Frank Viola ($5-12) and Tracy Jones ($3-7). These are scarcer than base cards and hold greater appeal to team collectors.
High Numbers:
Like most vintage sets, Donruss had additional player cards beyond the base 792. These “high numbers” run from #793-800 and include the likes of Lenny Dykstra and Wally Backman. Condition is key as always but expect $3-8 each on average.
Variation Cards:
A few oddball errors and variations popped up in 1988 Donruss. The scarcest include a “Tony Cowan” card accidently labeled as “Tony Gwynn” on the front. Others twist player names, photos or stats. High grades of these quirks can bring $25-125+.
Top Stars:
The most valuable individual star cards outside of rookies include Nolan Ryan ($15-35), Ozzie Smith ($12-28), Wade Boggs ($15-35) and Rickey Henderson (20-50). Hall of Famers and all-time greats tend to rise from there depending on player, team, and condition factors. A PSA 10 copy of a superstar could potentially sell for $100+.
Insets:
Donruss also offered mini diamond-sized players insets on the wrapper fronts. Despite being tiny at 1″ square, they are popular to complete. Commons fall under $1 but stars can hit $3-8. Full Wrappers with over 70 insets intact sell upwards of $100-200.
Overall Set Value:
A complete 1988 Donruss set in average near mint condition with all major subsets would conservatively hold a current value between $300-500. Higher grades pushing gem mint could potentially double that figure. Of course, individual star cards or key rookie editions may exceed the set total on their own. For collectors, having this full 80s release is a solid long term investment in baseball card history.
As with any vintage sports cards, it’s important to note values are guideline estimates only and real selling prices may vary based on exact condition, deals, market forces and demand for certain players. The late 80s Donruss designs remain fan favorites that transport collectors back to that era. With future Hall of Famers like Thomas, McGwire and more, the 1988 set has proven to stand the test of time for card collecting enthusiasts.
