Baseball cards from the late 1980s represent a sweet spot for collectors, as cards from that era still hold significant nostalgic value while also being relatively accessible compared to older era cards. 1988 Score baseball cards in particular are a favorite of collectors both due to the designs and players featured from that season. Finding an unopened wax box of 1988 Score cards in good condition today would be a real treasure, so let’s take an in-depth look at what such a find might contain.
Score was the flagship brand of baseball cards produced by Topps during the late 1980s. Known for vivid photographers and innovative card designs, Score set the standard that other contemporary brands like Fleer and Donruss aimed to match. The 1988 Score set is considered one of the strongest and most visually appealing designs of the entire decade. The cards featured photo portraits of players on a light blue background with their team logo and colors prominently displayed. Text was kept to a minimum to let the large photos take center stage.
An unopened wax box of 1988 Score baseball cards would contain 84 wax packs with 11 cards per pack, meaning 924 total cards. Within those nearly 1000 cards collectors could hope to find several exciting rookie cards and stars of the era. Perhaps most notably would be the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, and Edgar Martinez. Glavine in particular was just starting to emerge as a future ace for the Atlanta Braves and his rookie is among the most iconic from the late 80s. Other potential big hits from that year include rookie cards for Bobby Witt, Bret Saberhagen, and Scott Radinsky.
In addition to those rookies, collectors could find starring cards of the games biggest names like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson, and Roger Clemens. 1988 was the height of the “Bash Brother” era in Oakland with Canseco and Mark McGwire dominating headlines. Finding their starring cards in a wax pack thrill any fan of that Athletics dynasty. Condition would be key for any big autographed or serially numbered “refractor” style parallel cards, which were just starting to be introduced in the late 80s sets.
Beyond star players and rookie cards, an unopened wax box would hold the intrigue of randomness that keeps the card collecting hobby exciting even decades later. There is no way to know exactly which cards might be in each of the 84 wax packs waiting to be opened. This mystery is a big part of the appeal of holding an unsearched vintage wax box after all these years. With each new pack break, a collector could potentially uncover a great card that surpassed even their most optimistic expectations.
Logistically, an original unopened wax box of 1988 Score cards from Topps would need to be in excellent condition to hold significant value today. Over 30 years later, the cardboard would show signs of aging even if properly stored. Warping, discoloration or damages could drastically reduce the value to collectors. Ideal condition would mean sharp, undamaged corners with no dents to the wax paper. The original graphics and wrapping should also be intact without tears, stains or other flaws. Proving a box has remained completely sealed over 3 decades could be difficult, potentially lowering prices as well for skeptical buyers.
Only a small percentage of the original production run of 1988 Score wax boxes from Topps would still exist today in pristine condition. Finding one would be like discovering a time capsule transporting collectors back to that pivotal year. At today’s strong vintage baseball card market prices, a complete sealed wax box in perfect condition could conceivably be worth thousands based on recent sales comps of unopened 1980s wax from other flagship brands. The historic allure and collector momentum of the late 80s boom years make this specific Score issue exceptionally desirable. With its superior photography, robust rookie class, and sealed randomness – an intact 1988 Score wax box would rank among the most prized cardboard discoveries of the era.
In summary, 1988 Score baseball cards represented the pinnacle of 80s card design with innovative photography capturing the brightest stars and top rookies of that year. An unopened wax box sealed for over 3 decades would be an astounding vintage find deserving of the highest prices collectors may be willing to pay to relive the rush of searching through cards packs from sports card fever’s peak era. After remaining a mystery for so long, the contents inside 924 cards potentially including Hall of Famers, MVPs, and unknown future stars waiting to be revealed would hold incalculable excitement and nostalgia for card collectors of the 1980s generation.
