The 1988 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the 1980s. Produced during the height of the original baseball card boom, the 1988 Donruss set featured iconic players and rookie cards that have stood the test of time in terms of desirability and value. While not quite as expensive as sets like the 1952 Topps or rookie card benchmarks like the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, several 1988 Donruss cards command five and even six figure prices today for high grade examples.
Perhaps the most notable and sought after card from the 1988 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of, if not the single most iconic rookie card of all-time, the Griffey Jr. rookie skyrocketed in value during the early 1990s boom and has retained its status as a blue chip baseball card investment ever since. PSA 10 examples of the Griffey Jr. rookie today sell for well over $10,000, with some bringing in upwards of $25,000 or more in recent years. The Griffey Jr. is simply a benchmark rookie card that set the standard for desirable young player cards of subsequent eras.
Another tremendous rookie card from the 1988 Donruss set belongs to “The Natural” Barry Bonds. While Bonds would go on to set numerous career records and become perhaps the greatest player of all-time statistically, his rookie card value has always lagged behind Griffey’s due to his later controversial steroid association. Even so, a PSA 10 1988 Donruss Bonds rookie in today’s market would command $3,000-$5,000. For an elite Hall of Fame player rookie, the Bonds remains a strong investment even if it hasn’t achieved Griffey levels of demand.
In addition to rookie star power, the 1988 Donruss set also boasted iconic veterans and arguably the greatest player of all-time in Mike Trout. A PSA 10 1988 Donruss Mike Trout stands out as the most expensive Trout card available. With his ongoing amazing career production raising excitement, PSA 10 1988 Trouts today sell for around $15,000 on the high end. That total could grow even more before Trout’s playing days conclude should he continue shattering records as expected.
The 1988 Donruss set also featured big name veterans that remain highly sought after collectibles. A PSA 10 1988 Donruss Ozzie Smith “The Wizard” card can sell for $2,000-3,000. “Pudge” Ivan Rodriguez, whose incredible defensive skills won several Gold Gloves and made him a 13x All-Star, has a PSA 10 1988 Donruss valued around $1,500-2,000 as well. Arguably the most imposing power hitter of the 1980s,slugger Mike Schmidt boasted a career .267 batting average with 548 home runs. His PSA 10 1988 Donruss fetches about $900 today.
While the headliners garner much of the attention, several other noteworthy 1988 Donruss veteran and star player cards maintain strong valuations as well. Darryl Strawberry, Cesar Cedeno, Bo Jackson, Dwight Gooden, Darren Daulton, and Ozzie Canseco range from roughly $200-800 per PSA 10. There are also often comparably priced gems to be found of talented but less heralded players that remain fan and researcher favorites like Lenny Dykstra, Willie Upshaw, and Terry Pendleton among others.
In terms of set and population statistics, the 1988 Donruss baseball release included 792 total cards and featured mini size player photos with no borders. The set is considered reasonably obtainable, with PSA 10 population reports listing over 100 examples for stars like Bonds, Smith, and Strawberry. Meanwhile, ultra elite attainment levels remain rarefied air for the series defining rookie cards of Griffey Jr (46 PSA 10s) and Trout (12 PSA 10s).
The 1988 Donruss baseball card set endures as one of the most collectible and important releases from the peak era of the original baseball card boom. Anchored by two of the single most valuable rookie cards ever in Griffey Jr. and Trout, with other stars like Bonds, Smith, and Rodrigues, the 1988 Donruss maintained its luster even after the bust. Today it serves as a fascinating time capsule to a pivotal time for the hobby, with cards from the set still widely recognized as a Sound long term basketball card investment option for savvy collectors.
