The 1988 Topps baseball card set was the 67th annual set released by Topps and featured cards of Major League Baseball players and managers. Some of the top rookies in the set included Barry Larkin, Mark Grace, and Gregg Olson. The design featured a colorful border with team logos and colors across the bottom. Inside the border was a photo of the player along with their name, team, and stats from the 1987 season.
One of the standout rookie cards in the 1988 set was Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin. Larkin had an impressive rookie season in 1987, batting .284 with 12 home runs and 66 RBI while also winning the National League Rookie of the Year award. His rookie card featured him in his Reds uniform from the waist up. Larkin went on to have a Hall of Fame career, playing his entire 19 year career with the Reds. He was a 12-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove winner, and won the 1995 National League MVP award. Larkin’s rookie card is one of the most valuable from the 1988 set, routinely grading near mint to mint can sell for over $100.
Another top rookie in 1988 was Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace. Grace had a solid rookie season in 1987, batting .296 with 11 home runs and 73 RBI. His rookie card shows him from the waist up in a Cubs uniform. Grace went on to have an outstanding 16 year career spent entirely with the Cubs. He was an All-Star in 5 seasons and won the National League batting title in 1992 with a .335 average. Grace’s smooth left-handed swing made him a fan favorite in Chicago. His rookie card has increased in value over the years and high grade copies can sell for $50-$75.
One of the best pitching prospects featured in the 1988 Topps set was Baltimore Orioles reliever Gregg Olson. Olson had a breakout rookie season in 1987, going 8-3 with a 2.81 ERA and 24 saves. His imposing 6’4 frame and blazing fastball made him a force at the back end of the Orioles bullpen. Olson’s rookie card shows him mid-windup, wearing an Orioles uniform. Olson went on to save at least 24 games in each of his first 4 seasons while making the All-Star team 3 times. Injuries derailed his career after 1992 but Olson had established himself as one of the game’s top young closers. Near mint to mint copies of his rookie card sell in the $30-$50 range.
The 1988 set also featured the final cards of several future Hall of Famers wrapping up their careers. One was Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was still producing at an All-Star level in 1987, hitting .295 with 31 home runs and 119 RBI in his final season before retirement. His card shows him from the waist up in a Phillies uniform. Schmidt was a 12-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and won the NL MVP award 3 times. He retired as the all-time home run leader for third baseman with 548. High grade copies of Schmidt’s final card can sell for $50-$75.
Another future Hall of Famer with his last Topps card in 1988 was Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens. Clemens was in the midst of one of the greatest pitching seasons in history in 1987. He went 24-4 with a 2.97 ERA and led the American League with a 0.183 ERA and 258 strikeouts en route to winning the AL Cy Young and MVP awards. His card captured Clemens mid-windup, wearing a Red Sox uniform. Clemens went on to win a total of 7 Cy Young awards and pitch until 2007, retiring with a record 7 career Cy Youngs. Near mint to mint copies of his 1987 Red Sox card sell in the $30-$50 range.
The 1988 Topps set also featured the rookie cards of several other notable players who went on to have productive MLB careers. This included Cincinnati Reds outfielder Eric Davis, Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas, San Francisco Giants outfielder Kevin Mitchell, Montreal Expos pitcher Dennis Martinez, and Oakland Athletics pitcher Bob Welch among others. While not considered true “rookie” cards since they had prior MLB experience, the set also included the debut Topps cards of players like San Diego Padres third baseman Terry Pendleton and Minnesota Twins pitcher Allan Anderson.
In terms of design, the 1988 Topps set featured 660 total cards with the standard design of a colorful team logo border surrounding each player’s photo. Statistics on the reverse included career batting and pitching stats along with season highlights. The design was very similar to previous 1980s Topps sets. The cards had a traditional gum-in-the-package packaging and retailed for approximately 10 cents per pack with 11 cards per pack. Factory sets were also available bundled with team wrappers and statistical breakdowns.
In the decades since, the 1988 Topps baseball card set has become a favorite of collectors both for its talented rookie class as well as featuring the final cards of Hall of Famers like Schmidt and Clemens. Key rookie cards like Larkin, Grace, and Olson have increased steadily in value as their playing careers progressed. The set is also seen as a time capsule of late 1980s MLB. Complete near mint to mint factory sets in shrinkwrap can sell for over $1,000 today. While not quite as valuable as some earlier vintage sets, 1988 Topps remains a highly collectible release because of its memorable rookie class and star players.
The 1988 Topps baseball card set was the 67th series released and featured 660 total cards showcasing players and managers from the 1987 MLB season. Notable rookies included Barry Larkin, Mark Grace, and Gregg Olson while Mike Schmidt and Roger Clemens had their final cards. The set also included the debut Topps cards of several other future MLB stars. Nearly 35 years later, the 1988 set remains a favorite of collectors both for its talented rookie class and capturing MLB in the late 1980s. Key rookie cards have increased in value with Larkin, Grace, and Olson among the most desirable.
