The 1983 Donruss baseball card set was the third issued by the Donruss company. It marked a transition period for Donruss as they continued to grow their baseball card brand and build upon the success of their initial 1981 and 1982 sets. The 1983 set featured 660 total cards and included rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, and Tony Gwynn. It also showcased stars like Ryne Sandberg, Dave Winfield, and Nolan Ryan on the sunset of their careers.

Some key things to know about the 1983 Donruss baseball card set include:

Design & Photography: The design took on a cleaner, simpler look compared to prior years. Photos were brighter with less cluttered backgrounds. Player names were now in block letters above the image rather than a banner across the top. Team logos were incorporated on the bottom border.

Rookies: In addition to Ripken, Boggs, and Gwynn, the set included rookie cards of future stars like Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Kirby Puckett. These rookies would go on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers and their rookie cards are now highly valuable.

Short Prints: For the first time, Donruss included short printed cards in the base set. These were substantially fewer in number and therefore rarer, including cards like Nolan Ryan and Dave Winfield.

Checklists: The set featured checklists on the front for each league as well as an overall checklist card towards the end of the set. These help collectors ensure they obtained all cards in the set.

Star Players: In addition to the young rookie stars, the set showcased established greats like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Robin Yount who were entering their primes. It also included legends like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays who were in their final seasons.

Variations: There were several notable variations in the 1983 Donruss set. The Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card came with two different photo variations. The Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry rookies also had minor photo differences across print runs.

Design Flaws: Some errors occurred as well, including misspellings on a handful of cards. The Dave Winfield short print card is missing the team logo on the bottom border, making it a notable error card.

In terms of production, the 1983 Donruss set had a standard paper stock size of 2.5 x 3.5 inches, on par with other brands at the time. Card quality was an improvement over the prior year but some issues remained with centering, cutting, and surface flaws due to mass production techniques. The set had a retail price of $0.75 per pack with 12 cards inside wax paper wrappers. Hobby boxes contained 60 packs while jumbo boxes held 120 packs.

When it comes to value today, several key 1983 Donruss rookie cards stand out:

Cal Ripken Jr: His rookie card in a PSA 10 gem mint grade recently sold for over $100,000, reflecting his Hall of Fame career and status as one of the most iconic players of the 1980s and 90s. Even well-centered examples in PSA 8 or 9 condition can fetch thousands.

Wade Boggs: As a 5-time batting champion and 3,000 hit club member, Boggs had a superb career. His rookie card has gained value in recent years with PSA 10s selling for $5,000-$10,000.

Tony Gwynn: Like Ripken and Boggs, Gwynn put together a Hall of Fame resume hitting over .300 fifteen times. High grade versions of his rookie card change hands for $3,000-$5,000.

Dwight Gooden: As the 1984 NL Rookie of the Year and 1985 Cy Young winner, Gooden burst onto the scene with amazing potential. His rookie card remains popular with PSA 10s at $1,000-$2,000.

Darryl Strawberry: An eight-time All-Star with 275 career home runs, Strawberry’s potential was never fully realized but his rookie card still holds value at $500-$1,000 PSA 10.

Kirby Puckett: A beloved Twins star who led them to two World Series titles in the 1980s, Puckett’s rookie card has risen above $1,000 in top condition as his legacy has grown since passing away in 2006.

Beyond the rookies, other notable and valuable 1983 Donruss cards include the Nolan Ryan short print (>$2,000 PSA 10), Dave Winfield error card (>$1,000 PSA 10), and stars like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Robin Yount who were entering their primes. Well-centered examples of these star players can reach several hundred dollars.

The 1983 Donruss set marked an evolution for the brand and featured rookie cards of players who became integral to baseball in the 1980s and beyond. While production issues affected card quality slightly, values have increased significantly for sought-after rookie cards and short prints from the set. The 1983 Donruss baseball cards remain a highly collectible release today due to the all-time great talent featured from that era of Major League Baseball.