The 1988 Donruss baseball card set was the fifth version of Donruss’ flagship baseball card product. It marked continued success for Donruss in the late 1980s baseball card boom. The set featured 660 total cards and had designs and inclusion of popular stars that kept it among the most desirable issues of the time.

Some important details and attributes that made the 1988 Donruss set noteworthy among collectors:

Size:

The 660-card base set was fairly standard for late 80s Donruss releases. It captured all major and many minor leaguers at the time.

Design:

Cards featured individual headshots in a bold blue color scheme. Player names and positions were displayed prominently at the top with team logos on the bottom right.
Statistics from the previous season were included on the back. Overall it maintained Donruss’ clean and straightforward design language.

Rookies:

Notable rookie cards included Mark McGwire, Johnny Estrada, Scott Bankhead, and Jim Abbott. McGwire’s was particularly valuable before he emerged as a star.
Other future Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux also had their first pro cards in this set as they broke into the big leagues that year.

Short Prints:

Donruss was using short printed “SP” parallels by 1988 to add scarcity and intrigue for collectors. These featured alternative photos and were inserted much less frequently in packs.
Popular SP cards that year included Ozzie Smith, Dwight Gooden, and Wally Joyner that command premiums to this day.

Star Players:

The set well-represented the stars dominating baseball in the late 80s. Key cards included Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, Ozzie Smith, and Ryne Sandberg.
Other superstar inclusions were George Brett, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett, and Tony Gwynn that are still highly desirable for team and player collectors.

Checklist Variations:

Only small variations from the standard checklist were present, with late-joining players like Jose Uribe and Mitch Webster added to the official checklist later in the product’s run.
The inclusion of nearly all major leaguers kept sets complete and maintained Donruss’ reputation for thorough coverage of the sport.

Insert Cards:

Like many mid-80s releases, 1988 Donruss featured “Diamond Kings” parallel inserts focused on star pitchers like Gooden, Dave Stewart, and Bret Saberhagen.
Other inserts were “Coaches Corner” highlights of managers and a 50th anniversary tribute set recognizing iconic players.

Ripken’s Milestone:

One notable aspect of 1988 was that it fell during Cal Ripken Jr.’s record-setting consecutive games played streak. Ripken carded gained prominence representing this ongoing achievement.

Packaging and Distribution:

Wax packs contained about 12 cards on average and retailed for around $1, though inflated by speculation. Boxes held about 18 packs.
Wide retail availability through drug stores, supermarkets, and hobby shops allowed the release to achieve massive circulation numbers for the time.

In sets:

1988 Donruss is considered one of the most complete and well-balanced releases of the entire set run by the company. Strong designs popped on store shelves and in the hands of collectors.
Condition-sensitive surfaces held up fairly well over time compared to some other 80s cardboard. Finding high-quality examples remains very possible today.

Secondary Market:

The popularity and widespread distribution of 1988 Donruss means that common cards hold relatively little value in high grades. Star rookies and short prints still demand premium prices.
On the PSA 10POP scale, McGwire leads the way with a population around 350 copies in gem mint condition. But most stars reside in the double-digits or lower range.
Complete sets in excellent shape still trade hands frequently on eBay and major auction sites, showing the lasting appeal of this iconic vintage issue.

In conclusion, 1988 Donruss maintained the company’s standard of excellence for its baseball cards during the boom era. Strong visuals, star representation, and mainstream availability made it a hugely popular and well-balanced set for the time. While common cards hold limited long-term value, scarcer rookie and parallel cards remain highly collectible and offer compelling financial potential for condition-conscious holders. The set endures as one of the cornerstone releases from a golden age of sportscard production.