The 1988 Score baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s and early 1990s. While the massive printing led to many cards having little intrinsic value for decades, certain cards from the ’88 Score set have seen their values increase substantially in recent years. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key details and valuations surrounding this 700+ card release from over 30 years ago.
The 1988 Score set marked the company’s return to the baseball card market after a five year hiatus. Score had previously produced sets in the early-to-mid 1980s before suspending operations, so collectors were eager to see their fresh take on the traditional card design. The set featured over 700 total cards including base rookie and star cards, squad cards, manager/coach cards, league leader cards, checklist cards and more. Ranging in number from 1 to 719, each card featured an action photo of the player on a colorful illustrated background.
While deemed a “junk wax” set due to the enormous numbers printed, 1988 Score cards maintained some appeal due to the stellar photography and visual style that had become synonymous with Score over the years. Some key photo subjects like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Mark McGwire definitely popped from the card fronts. The backs provided stats and details on each player beneath a colorful banner along the bottom edge. The designs held up better than many other late ’80s/early ’90s releases that seemed more plain and generic by comparison.
In terms of rarity and scarcity, the 1988 Score set generally had pretty high print runs across the board for flagship rookies and stars of the time. The manufacturers of the junk wax era tended to greatly overproduce to meet voracious but short-lived collector demand. Some estimates place the total print run for 1988 Score at an astronomical 1.5 billion cards when including inserts, parallels and factory sets. While cards like the #1 Ken Griffey Jr. remained obtainable and affordable for years, certain scarce variations have since emerged that command considerable premiums.
One of the biggest risers in value from the 1988 Score set has been the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (#1). For decades, this mass-produced card could easily be acquired in raw near-mint condition for around $5-10. With Griffey’s election to the Hall of Fame and stature as one of the game’s greats, interest and prices have dramatically increased in recent times. High-grade PSA/BGS Gem Mint examples now sell consistently for $500-1,000, with the record at $25,716 set in 2021. Even a PSA 8 copy can bring $100-200.
The ’88 Score Frank Thomas rookie (card #373) has followed a similar skyward trajectory. A true novice to the hobby could still find this card for just a few dollars in the 2010s, but now mint 9’s go over $100 and Gem Mint 10’s have cracked $500 in on-card auctions on eBay. Other notable bats like Will Clark (#44), Mark McGwire (#90), Barry Bonds (#95), and Randy Johnson (#117) have gained significantly as well over the past 5-10 years, with respective high-grade copies now worth $50-200 each.
While position players drive the market, a few hurlers have seen demand increase. Orel Hershiser’s 1988 championship season helped raise interest in his #195 card beyond the casual collector threshold. Clean examples with solid centering now sell in the $30-75 range. Pitchers like Fernando Valenzuela (#223), Dwight Gooden (#225), and Roger Clemens (#236) have also appreciated from their near worthless junk wax days to $15-50 contemporary valuations.
On the rookie card front beyond Griffey and Thomas, Matt Williams’#308 has proven to be one of the more popular and valuable from the set. High grades of his first card have reached $150-200. Other notable rookies like Gary Sheffield (#385), Randy Velarde (#404), and Mark Grace (#507) can each bring $20-75 in top condition as well. For die-hard Griffey collectors, his minor league card from 1988 Score (#652) has risen above $75-150 for pristine copies too.
While the vast majority of 1988 Score base cards remain quite affordable, there are a few scarce parallel and insert versions that have emerged as true keys. The Griffey gold parallel (#1/1989) has topped $5,000 at auction. His red parallel is worth $1,000+. The Mark McGwire red parallel (#90/1989) is another $500+ card currently. The Derek Jeter red rookie parallel (#674/1989) can reach $600 in raw form today. The Star Rookie Replica parallel subset featuring Jeter, Darren Daulton and Manny Ramirez have seen individual cards rise up near the $200-300 level as well.
While 1988 Score remains an iconic yet exceedingly common “junk wax” release known more for nostalgia than values, certain popular rookie cards, stars, and scarce parallels have indeed become much more valuable in modern times. Cards like the Griffey and Frank Thomas rookies top $500-1000 graded, with other big bats and certain pitchers emerging in the $50-200 range based on condition as well. Die-hard collectors continue discovering key chase cards within the various lower-print parallel subsets too. Overall, 1988 Score cards make for an affordable entry point to baseball memorabilia for most, with key singles offering opportunities for appreciation over time.
