The 1988 Donruss baseball card set was the 6th edition of Donruss’s long running baseball card series and included several notable rookies and hall of famers. The set featured a total of 792 cards and was the largest Donruss set to date, up from 770 cards the previous year. Some key things to know about the 1988 Donruss baseball cards:
Design and Production: Continuing with their signature stylistic approach Donruss used a photo on the front and basic stats on the back of each card. The cards had a glossy finish and most featured headshots of players in uniform. As was common in the late 80s the photos lacked vivid colors due to printing limitations of the time. The set was produced using standard cardboard stock.
Rookies of Note: Some of the top rookie cards in the 1988 Donruss set included Mark McGwire, Gary Sheffield, Roberto Alomar, and Barry Larkin. McGwire would go on to hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998. Sheffield collected over 500 career home runs and Larkin was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Alomar won a Rookie of the Year award and collected over 200 stolen bases and 2,000 hits in his career. All commanded premium prices decades later.
Veteran Stars: Some established veteran stars showcased in the ’88 Donruss set included Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Schmidt, and Rickey Henderson. Schmidt was nearing the end of his Hall of Fame career but still produced at a high level. Henderson was in his prime, coming off a season with 80 stolen bases and finishing 4th in MVP voting. Boggs won his 4th batting title in 5 years in 1987.
Short Prints: As was customary, Donruss included several short printed chase cards that were notably harder to find in packs. Some examples from 1988 included#’s 1, 100, 150, 300, 450, 600, 650, 700, 750 and 790. These carried premium value for collectors seeking to complete the full rainbow spectrum of the set.
Design Variations: There were very subtle differences between some cards that are mainly detectable to experienced collectors. For example, a subset of Gary Carter cards had enlarged photo crops compared to the standard issue version. Minor font and wording tweaks also occurred on occasion across the different print runs.
High Grade Popularity: Given the heavy cardboard stock and glossy protective coating, many 1988 Donruss cards survived in pristine mint condition, especially those carefully stored and protected over the decades. As a result, high-grade examples command strong prices today when graded and preserved well. Popularity remains high among both vintage and modern collectors.
Hobby Pioneer: The 1988 set helped further cement Donruss’s reputation as a pioneering force in the sports card industry during its formative boom years of the mid 1980s through early 1990s. Donruss established itself alongside Topps as a leader through innovations, massive distribution deals, and popular licensed properties beyond just baseball like football and basketball.
Secondary Market Today: Despite the large production size at nearly 800 cards, complete sets still sell for $1,000+ in rawNear Mintto Mint condition due to strong lingering collector demand. Key individual rookie and star player cards can easily top $100 or more when graded highly. While not quite reaching the stratospheric prices commanded by vintage icons like Mickey Mantle and Honus Wagner, 1988 Donruss remains a favorite set of collectors both old and new.
The 1988 Donruss baseball card set was another landmark release that solidified the company as a marquee name in the industry. Featuring legendary players both starting and ending their careers, notable rookies, and distinctive artistic design, it retains a loyal following decades later. As one of the most widely produced vintage sets still available in high grades, 1988 Donruss can satisfy collectors looking for accessible affordability paired with nostalgic 80s charm.
