The 1998 Donruss baseball set was released at the height of the 1990s baseball card boom. Like most sets from that era, it featured hundreds of base cards along with special parallel and insert sets with varying levels of scarcity. While the vast majority of base cards from the 1998 Donruss set hold little value today outside of a player’s rookie card, some stand out as highly valuable modern gems.
Leading the way is the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. At the time of the 1998 season, Griffey was arguably the most popular player in baseball and had already cemented himself as a future Hall of Famer. His base card from the 1998 Donruss set still retains a premium due to his iconic status. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples in perfect condition have sold for over $500 in recent years, showing it remains one of the most sought-after non-rookie cards for “The Kid.”
Also holding huge value is Griffey’s Ultra parallel card from 1998 Donruss. This was an ultra-short print parallel numbering around 1 per case. Griffey’s electric smile and smooth left-handed swing made this parallel iconic for collectors at the time. In a PSA 10 gem grade, examples can fetch $2,000 or more due to their extreme scarcity. It’s an astronomical price for a non-rookie parallel from the late 90s boom era.
Two other legends that command big money from the 1998 Donruss set are Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. Both were embroiled in the steroid controversy that has dated much of their statistical records, yet they remain two of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history. Bonds’ base card still sells for $100-200 in top condition since he broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in 2007. McGwire’s PSA 10 holds similar value despite his admission of steroid use tainting his 70 home run season in 1998.
Perhaps the most valuable 1998 Donruss card overall belongs to Sammy Sosa. Sosa captivated the nation in 1998 by battling McGwire for the single-season home run record, which McGwire would break with 70 that year. Sosa’s powerful right-handed swing resulted in 66 home runs of his own. His sharp-shooting baserunning skills made him a favorite of collectors too. Sosa’s 1998 Donruss base card in a PSA 10 condition has sold for as much as $2,500 in recent years. No other 1998 Donruss base card commands that kind of premium.
While marquee stars yield the highest prices, prospects and future Hall of Famers from the 1998 Donruss set hold value as well. Rafael Palmeiro had just blasted his way to his first All-Star season in 1997 and possessed huge pull for collectors. His 1998 Donruss rookie/star rookie parallel graded PSA 10 has sold for over $1,000. Pitchers Pedro Martinez and Greg Maddux, already established aces, see their 1998 Donruss cards trade in the $75-150 range in top grades. And a Jason Giambi star rookie from 1998 in PSA 10 condition can reach $400 given his monster career.
Notable rookies debuting in 1998 Donruss that hold nostalgic value include Nomar Garciaparra ($100 PSA 10), Todd Helton ($75 PSA 10), and Paul Konerko ($50 PSA 10). But among the class, a Scott Rolen star rookie PSA 10 stands out with a $300 price tag. Rolen would go on to make nine All-Star teams and win eight Gold Gloves at third base from 1998-2010 during a stellar 17-year career.
Outside of stars, key parallels from the 1998 Donruss set fetch high premiums as well. The Sepia parallel cards were printed one per pack at a rarity of around 1:600. Even lesser known players have seen their Sepia parallels sell for $50-100 in top condition. But superstars spike exponentially higher, such as a McGwire Sepia PSA 10 selling for over $600. The Dynamic Duo subset pairing players together is another highly sought insert. Pairs featuring Griffey or McGwire routinely sell for over $100 in top grades due to their flashy design contributing to nostalgia from the steroid era.
While steroid scandals have soured perceptions of stars from the 1990s, the 1998 Donruss release perfectly captured the height of baseball’s power surge. Key rookie and star cards featuring future Hall of Famers like Rolen, Garciaparra and Giambi still hold value today as their talents transcended any controversy. Iconic sluggers from the single season home run race like Sosa, Bonds and McGwire equally command premium prices regardless of personal reputation given the historical significance of their chasing the Babe in 1998. Overall it’s proven to be one of the most valuable modern baseball card sets from the junk wax era despite its industrial sized production numbers. The intense collector interest in stars from that era far outpaces any backlash two decades later.
