The 1988 Donruss baseball card set is notable for featuring some of the biggest rookie cards of the late 1980s. Between the high-profile debuts of future Hall of Famers and stars who went on to have solid MLB careers, the 1988 Donruss rookie class stands out as one of the strongest in the modern era. While the designs and production quality of Donruss cards from this period were basic compared to what collectors see today, these rookies remain highly coveted by both investors and fans of ’80s baseball memorabilia.
Leading the way for the 1988 Donruss rookies are none other than “The Hit King” and the “Big Hurt.” That’s right, the premier rookies in the set are cards #246 Sandy Alomar Jr. and #308 Frank Thomas. Alomar Jr. went on to have a fine 14-year career primarily with the Cleveland Indians and spent time as one of the top catchers in baseball. It is Frank Thomas’s rookie that is the real heavyweight in the set. “The Big Hurt” established himself as arguably the most feared slugger of the 1990s in Chicago and cracked in excess of 500 home runs and 1,500 RBIs over a 19-year career. Thomas’s elite numbers, two MVP awards, and Hall of Fame induction make his rookie one of the most desirable cards from the late 80s. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies can fetch thousands of dollars today.
Another surefire future Hall of Famer and face of baseball for over a decade also had his first cardboard appearance in 1988 Donruss – Ken Griffey Jr. Widely considered one of the most talented five-tool players ever, Griffey dazzled crowds with incredible speed, defense, and prodigious power from the left side of the plate. His rookie card #305 remains a fan favorite even after all these years. Griffey spent the bulk of his career bringing fans in Seattle and Cincinnati to their feet and smashing home run records along the way. While some surface issues keep Griffey from reaching Thomas’s price point, a near-mint copy still holds excellent value.
Rounding out the true superstar rookie class of 1988 Donruss are four other future all-stars and long-time contributors:
Andres Galarraga #127 – “The Big Cat” mashed 399 homers as a premier 1B/DH for several teams including Montreal, Colorado, and Atlanta and made one All-Star team.
Barry Larkin #298 – One of the greatest shortstops ever played 19 seasons for the Reds including an MVP in 1995 while also making 12 All-Star appearances.
Tom Glavine #349 – The Hall of Fame lefty won 305 games and two Cy Young awards while leading the Braves staff for over a decade.
David Wells #407 – “Boomer” had a lengthy and effective career primarily as a starter with Toronto, Yankees, and Red Sox compiling 239 wins and making one All-Star appearance.
While the above superstar rookies lead the way, there are several other notable names from the 1988 Donruss set that, while they may not have reached the heights of Thomas or Griffey, still had respectable MLB careers:
Bret Saberhagen #60 – The 1985 Cy Young winner had a strong career with Kansas City and Mets tallying 167 wins.
Darrin Jackson #124 – Jackson was a decent bat for several teams, primarily the Cubs, over a 12-year career with a .266 average.
Aaron Sele #221 – Sele carved out a 14-year career mostly as a starter with wins for the Red Sox, Mariners and others.
Doug Drabek #253 – Drabek won the 1990 NL Cy Young with Pittsburgh going 22-6 and made one All-Star team over a solid 13-year career.
Billy Ripken #337 – Yes, the brother of Cal Ripken Jr. and infamous for his “F*** Face” inscription on his 1989 Fleer card which became a pop culture phenomenon.
Tom Pagnozzi #354 – Enjoyed a 12-year career primarily as a catcher for the Cardinals making one All-Star team.
Steve Sax #380 – Sax was a dependable 2B for the early 1980s Dodgers winning two World Series before tailing off later in his career.
While today’s collectors enjoy elaborate photo variations, autographs and more inserted in modern release sets, the 1988 Donruss rookies stand out for sheer star power and contribution to the game over the next generation. Even with relatively basic designs from that era, these cards remain iconic representations of transcendent MLB careers. For investors and fans of ’80s baseball cards alike, finding high grade copies of the likes of Thomas, Griffey Jr, Larkin and others in the 1988 Donruss set will always hold value.
