The 1988 Score baseball card set is considered by many collectors to be one of the more valuable issues from the late 1980s. While it may not contain any true “gem mint” superstar rookie cards that can sell for thousands, there are several factors that make 1988 Score cards a worthwhile set for collectors.
One reason the 1988 Score set maintains decent value is due to the overall print run and survival rate of the cards over 30+ years. Score was one of the larger and more widely distributed baseball card brands of the late 80s, however they did not achieve the ultra-high print numbers of brands like Donruss and Fleer during that era. Most estimates place the 1988 Score print run around 150-200 million cards. While a very large number by today’s standards, it was actually on the lower end compared to other 1988 sets. Decades of use and storage took their toll on many of these cards. Natural wear and tear, as well as accidents like being damaged or thrown out, reduced the total number of nice, higher-grade examples still in existence today. This combination of a large but not enormous original print run coupled with degradation of the surviving population over time, means high-quality 1988 Score rookie cards or stars can still attract interest from collectors.
Another factor is the roster of notable rookie cards and stars featured in the 1988 Score set. While it did not produce any true superstar rookies that season, it does contain the first issue cards of several solid MLB players like Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, and Terry Steinbach. McGwire went on to hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and finish his career with 583 dingers. His 1988 Score RC is among the more expensive and desirable from that year’s set. Condition-wise, a PSA/BGS Gem Mint McGwire ’88 RC could sell for $500-1000. Larkin was a future Hall of Famer at shortstop who won the 1990 MVP award. His ’88 Score RC in top-graded form might net $150-300. Steinbach was an All-Star caliber catcher and the cards of him and other notables add to the set’s collective value. The 1988 Score roster also featured superstars already well established like Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Orel Hershiser near the height of their careers. Hits of these player cards still draw buyer interest.
Beyond individual cards, the 1988 Score set also benefits collectors because it was the last year the brand used the classic design scheme they had employed since the early 80s. The set had a very uniform aesthetic with blue borders and black-and-white player photos. This nostalgia factor resonates with collectors who remember opening packs of ’80s Score as kids. The 1988 edition also included various popular insert sets beyond the base cards that add diversity and collecting opportunities. Examples include “Score Streaks”, “Team Heroes”, and “Score Leaders”. The insert sets from ’88 Score remain fairly attainable compared to the ultra-shortprinted inserts from later trading card boom years. Even common base cards hold value in higher grades if part of a completed team or year set.
The economic landscape of trading card prices over the last 15 years has been very kind to older 1980s issues like 1988 Score. As the hobby exploded in popularity amongst new generations of adult collectors, it created massive demand for the cards people remember from childhood. Sets from the pre-Boomer era through the early ’90s saw some of the strongest percentage price gains. With populations of many older commons continually dwindling through breakups and authentications, “junk wax” era cards don’t seem so junky anymore to collectors seeking affordable nostalgia pieces.
While 1988 Score cards may not contain modern-day headline prospects, several decades of collecting market shifts have bestowed value upon this classic 1980s cardboard. Rosters with stars, solid print runs, designs still admired today, and a surge of renewed interest all contribute to the 1988 Score set’s relevance and price stability compared to bulk boxes sitting in attics. Savvy collectors know nice examples from the last Score brand design year can still yield returns, especially grail rookie hits graded top-tier. For assembling full team or year sets and experiencing ’80s baseball card aesthetics, 1988 Score remains a terrific budget-minded collecting destination.
