The 1988 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable vintage issues from the late 1980s. While it does not contain any true superstar rookies like some previous years, there are still several cards that can fetch big money in top condition from serious collectors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1988 Topps cards to find in a pack or collection.
One of the clear standouts from the 1988 set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey would go on to have an incredible Hall of Fame career and is still considered one of the greatest players of all time. His rookie card from this set, while not his official rookie since he had played in 1987, is still highly sought after by collectors. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples of this card have sold for over $10,000. Even lower graded copies in the PSA 8-9 range can bring $500-2000 depending on the market. Griffey’s popularity and skill make this one of the most iconic rookie cards from the late 80s.
Another star player whose rookie card appears in the 1988 Topps set is Tom Glavine. The lefty hurler would go on to win 305 career games and two Cy Young awards over a storied career mostly with the Atlanta Braves. High grade copies of his rookie in a PSA 10 can sell for $3000-5000. Most PSA 9s will go for $1000-2000. Even in lower grades of PSA 8 or so, this recognizable rookie still carries value of a few hundred dollars due to Glavine’s accomplishments. He’s not in the same stratosphere of popularity as Griffey but is still a highly regarded pitcher from the late 80s/90s era.
Two other star players who debuted in the 1988 Topps set with valuable rookie cards include Mark McGwire and Barry Larkin. McGwire’s monster home run prowess in the late 90s steroid era has made his rookie a popular one to collect. PSA 10s can reach $1000-1500 while most PSA 9s sell in the $300-700 range. Barry Larkin was a phenomenal shortstop who starred for the Cincinnati Reds and won an MVP award in 1995. His rookie in a PSA 10 grade recently sold for $800. Most PSA 9 copies trade hands in the $300-500 range. Both McGwire and Larkin had great careers and their rookie cards remain notable pieces for collectors.
In addition to star player rookies, there are also several key short print and parallel card variations that boost the value of 1988 Topps. One of the most valuable is the Frank Viola short print card #650. This card is estimated to have been printed about 1 per case of Topps packs. High grade PSA 10 copies have sold for over $3000. Most PSA 9s will still fetch $1000-2000. Another short print variation is the Ozzie Smith card #640. PSA 10 examples have reached $2000-3000. Most PSA 9 copies sell in the $800-1500 range.
The 1988 Topps Traded set also contains several key parallel variations that carry premium value. The Mike Schmidt traded parallel #T79 gold foil stamp card in a PSA 10 has sold for $1500 before. Most PSA 9 copies trade in the $500-800 range. The Nolan Ryan traded parallel #T51 with gold foil stamp, which is also quite scarce, has reached $1000-1500 in top PSA 10 condition. Lower grades still hold value of a few hundred dollars. There are also several other 1988 Topps Traded parallels like the Ozzie Smith and Don Mattingly gold foil variants that can reach $500-1000 in PSA 10 condition due to their rarity and appeal to advanced collectors.
While the 1988 Topps regular set may not have true superstar level rookies, there are still many valuable cards to be found. Key rookie cards like Ken Griffey Jr, Tom Glavine, Mark McGwire and Barry Larkin maintain strong collector demand. Short prints of Frank Viola and Ozzie Smith also have great value potential. The 1988 Topps Traded parallel gold foil stamps of stars like Mike Schmidt and Nolan Ryan are true keys for advanced collectors. With cards like these available, the 1988 Topps issue definitely deserves attention from vintage baseball card enthusiasts and investors. Top grades will always be the most valuable, but there is opportunity even in lower graded copies of these notable cardboard pieces from the 1980s.
