The 1988 OPC baseball card set was unique in the history of sports card collecting for several reasons. It marked a transitional time period for the industry as things were shifting away from the junk wax era of the late 1980s towards the more collector friendly models of the 1990s.
Produced by the Montreal, Canada based Original Panthers Card company (OPC), the 1988 set totaled 792 cards and featured every MLB player as well as rookie cards for future stars like Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and David Wells. What made this set stand out was OPC’s photography and focus on capturing action shots rather than posed portraits. They worked to show each player in game situations which collectors found refreshing amidst all the smugly smiling mugshots of the times.
Distribution of the 1988 OPC set was also unique. Rather than being sold primarily in packs at retail like Topps and Donruss products, OPC targeted the hobby shop market exclusively. Their cards were packaged in wax boxes containing 36 factory sets which helped foster the premier and higher end image the company sought. With a smaller print run compared to the sports card juggernauts, OPC cards have maintained a stronger collector following and higher values decades later.
Perhaps the most notable attribute of the 1988 set was the photography which took card design and presentation to another level. OPC hired acclaimed sports photographer Walter Iooss Jr. who was known for capturing iconic sports images. His camera work moved beyond basic posed shots and emphasized action with many cards showing players mid-swing, mid-throw, or fielding. This gave collectors a true glimpse of these athletes in game situations. The photography quality was a step above what was considered standard during the junk wax era.
The variety of photographic concepts used in 1988 OPC helped collectors relate to and remember specific cards decades later. For example, the Nolan Ryan card depicted him winding up for a pitch with the ball already leaving his hand in a blur adding to the dynamism. The Ozzie Smith backflip card after a putout brought fans right into the highlight. And the Willie Stargell picture with baby powder flying showed personality. Little details like that elevated the cards and photography above repetitive mugshot norms.
Beyond just the 792 base cards, OPC also included varied inserts like Traded sets showing players on their new teams, Team Leader cards looking back at franchise greats, and Record Breaker cards honoring notable career accomplishments. Short prints and error or variations added levels of rarity hunting for collectors as well. Checklists and player biographies on the backs provided interesting facts. Overall set design from colors to layout felt more imaginative than competitors.
While 1988 OPC was a visual masterpiece that advanced the hobby, it still came with some of the downsides of being a product of the junk wax era. Mass production led to fairly low values for most base cards through the 1990s as the market was saturated. High print runs, while enabling wider distribution compared to later years, minimized rarity. Wax boxes and factory sets also spawned countless counterfeits down the line confusing collectors.
Regardless of its production flaws, 1988 OPC set the standard for sports card photography and overall creative design that reshaped the industry moving forward. Its flashy and imaginative style was a refreshing divert from the dull mugshot norms that preceded it. While heavy printing hurt short term value, the vintage factor and creative concepts have seen OPC cards gain collector following and price increases in recent decades. For fans and students of card history, 1988 remains a landmark year that pushed boundaries and showcased athletes in a new light. Though not quite as iconic as the 1951 Bowman set, 1988 OPC was undoubtedly a pivotal year that left an indelible mark on the collecting world.
