The 1988 Bowman baseball card set marked a turning point in the hobby as it was the final year that Topps maintained an exclusive license with Major League Baseball for photo cards. As such, the 1988 Bowman set ushered in new competition from rival Fleer and Donruss starting the following year in 1989. While not as acclaimed as some vintage sets from the 1950s and 1960s, the 1988 Bowman issue featured the debut cards of many future Hall of Famers and all-time greats that have enabled select cards from the set to achieve enormous prices in the decades since. Let’s look at some of the most valuable and highly sought after rookie and star cards from the inaugural Bowman baseball release of 1988.
Beginning with the true holy grails and headliners of the set, the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is arguably the most iconic and valuable baseball card of the late 20th century. Griffey’s electrifying play and “The Kid” persona already made him a fan favorite in just his first few major league seasons. His dazzling 1988 Bowman rookie perfectly captures the essence of that excitement and interest that would follow Griffey throughout his incredible career. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of this card today hammer for over $100,000 at auction. Even well-centred PSA 9 Near Mint copies still command prices north of $20,000 due to the extreme rarity and demand for this legendary rookie issue.
Another generational superstar who debuted in 1988 Bowman was Frank Thomas, “The Big Hurt”. Possessing one of the most effortless and powerful left-handed swings the game has seen, Thomas dazzled MLB for nearly two decades. Like Griffey, the pride of Southern California’s Santa Fe High School garnered much hype as a can’t-miss prospect. This was exemplified in high prices for his 1988 Bowman rookie card from the very beginning. In PSA 10 condition, “Frank The Tank’s” rookie has six-figure values today while PSA 9’s still bring in the range of $15,000-$25,000.
Next up is the ever-elusive Chipper Jones rookie card. As the top overall pick of the 1990 draft by the Atlanta Braves directly out of high school, Jones sparked incredible interest right from his first minor league season in 1988. This early buzz is evident in the substantial prices that have followed for his extremely scarce 1988 Bowman rookie issue over the past 20+ years. Only believed to exist in around 50 PSA 10 Gem Mint copies, Chipper’s true rookie has sold at public auction for as much as $100,000 in pristine condition. PSA 9’s still command at least $20,000.
In addition to future Hall of Famers Griffey, Thomas, and Jones, 1988 Bowman also served as the debut for other all-time offensive standouts like Jeff Bagwell and Mark McGwire. While not quite as rare or expensive as the three headliners, Bagwell and Big Mac rookies are still elite cards that can net significant returns for savvy investors and collectors. Peak PSA 10 values for Bagwell’s rookie have trended near $20,000 in recent years. Meanwhile McGwire’s debut has seen six-figure auction prices in unworn condition despite PED controversies later dampening his legacy somewhat. Solid near-mint copies still sell for $5,000-$10,000.
Moving beyond rookies, star cards of already established superstars from the late 1980s also hold incredible value from 1988 Bowman. Perhaps chief among these is the Kirby Puckett card. At the time, Puckett was fresh off back-to-back AL batting titles and was considered one of baseball’s top all-around players in his prime. With six batting titles and two World Series MVPs to his name by 1988, Puckett’s rising stock is evident in today’s prices for his ‘88 Bowman issue. Graded PSA 10 specimens now sell for in excess of $15,000. Another dominant position player who saw his iconic status shine through in strong 1988 Bowman card prices is Tim Raines. As an elite base stealer who twice scored over 100 runs, Raines’ distinctive card featuring an acrobatic slide can sell for $8,000-$10,000 in pristine condition.
From the mound, one of the most valuable pitching cards in 1988 Bowman belongs to Dwight Gooden, nicknamed “Doc”. Gooden had just led the NL in strikeouts in back-to-back seasons while achieving the rare feat of a no-hitter and single-season strikeout record. This made his sophomore card immensely hyped and the prices for a PSA 10 have exceeded $10,000 in recent auctions. Another hard throwing ace whose ‘88 Bowman prices signify his elite standing at that point was Roger Clemens. Already a two-time Cy Young winner by age 25/26 during the 1988 season, a pristine Clemens card can command $5,000 today reflecting his status as arguably the best pitcher of the late 80s/early 90s.
While not as storied as the vintage icons of the 1950s and 1960s, the 1988 Bowman set broke new ground as the final pre-Fleer/Donruss exclusive MLB license year for Topps. This context, paired with the debuts of future Hall of Fame talents like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Chipper Jones, and Jeff Bagwell, has made select 1988 Bowman cards among the most valuable vintage modern issues. Prices today ranging from five figures into six for elite PSA 10 rookie specimens show that for savvy investors and collectors, the cards from this important set remain a very worthwhile long-term hold.
