The 1988 Bowman baseball card set was one of the most iconic and valuable sets ever produced. Issued by Topps in 1988, the 1988 Bowman set introduced baseball card collectors to future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux in their rookie cards. The 1988 Bowman set marked the return of Bowman brand baseball cards after a 20-year hiatus. Bowman had previously issued baseball cards from 1948 to 1962 before Topps acquired the brand and retired it. In the late 1980s, Topps decided to revive the Bowman brand and launched the 1988 Bowman set as a competitor to their main Topps flagship set.
The 1988 Bowman set consisted of 396 total cards and had an entirely different aesthetic design compared to contemporary Topps issues. The cards featured a green border along the bottom and sides with a white background. Player photos were larger than standard Topps cards of the era. Rated rookie cards were clearly designated with “ROOKIE” stamped below the player’s name. Some of the top rookies in the 1988 Bowman set included Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Glavine, Gregg Olson, Mark Grace, and Eric Davis. All of these players went on to have outstanding MLB careers. Griffey Jr. and Glavine in particular are considered two of the greatest players of their generation. Their 1988 Bowman rookie cards are among the most valuable baseball cards ever printed due to their HOF careers.
While stars like Griffey Jr. and Glavine garner most of the attention from the 1988 Bowman set today, there were several other notable young players featured as well. Players like Barry Larkin, David Justice, and Randy Johnson all had their rookie cards in the 1988 Bowman set. Larkin and Justice both enjoyed long, productive MLB careers while Randy Johnson became one of the most dominant pitchers ever with his late career resurgence in the 1990s. The 1988 Bowman set did an excellent job highlighting many future MLB stars very early in their careers. Scouts and collectors alike took notice of the talent featured in the set.
In addition to rookie card stars, the 1988 Bowman set also included veteran players still active in the late 1980s. Future Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, George Brett, and Ozzie Smith had base cards in the set. Ryan’s card featured him pitching for the Texas Rangers while Brett and Smith were still contributing to the Kansas City Royals. Stars of the day like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Dwight Gooden also had standard issue cards. The mix of established veterans with rising young talent gave the 1988 Bowman set a well-rounded player selection that has aged very well.
When the 1988 Bowman set was released, the individual cards sold for average retail prices similar to Topps Flagship issues of the time. It didn’t take long for collectors to realize this set featured some of the most valuable rookie cards ever. As Griffey Jr., Glavine, and others emerged as superstars, their 1988 Bowman rookie cards skyrocketed in secondary market value. Today, high grade Griffey Jr. and Glavine rookies can fetch tens of thousands of dollars. Even more common rookie cards like Barry Larkin maintain substantial value due to the player’s quality career. For collectors who purchased 1988 Bowman packs as kids or in the late 1980s, this set has provided tremendous long term returns.
Beyond just the star rookies, the entire 1988 Bowman set has developed a strong cult following among collectors. The distinctive green border design stands out from other late 1980s/early 1990s issues. While production numbers were high for the time, the 1988 Bowman set is not as readily available today in compared to similar era releases. This has kept individual card prices relatively strong across the entire set roster. The mix of young talent, veteran stars, and memorable rookie cards also gives the 1988 Bowman issue universal appeal among both vintage and modern collectors. The 1988 Bowman baseball card set was a landmark release that introduced several all-time great players to the hobby. It remains one of the most iconic and valuable sets ever produced.
