The 1988 Donruss baseball set is considered one of the most iconic and collector friendly issues from the late 1980s. While it may not contain any true gem mint rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, there are several stars featured that make certain cards hold value even today. To determine if 1988 Donruss cards are worth keeping, selling, or investing in, we need to look at a few key factors:
Population and Condition: Donruss printed extremely high numbers of cards in the late 80s, so almost any regular base card from 1988 can be found in circulation. This keeps prices relatively low compared to rarer sets from the same time period. Condition is critical – even heavily played or worn copies of common players have very little worth. To have any sale value, 1988 Donruss cards need to grade at least Near Mint or higher. Get them professionally graded by PSA or BGS if possible.
Star Players and Rookies: While they may lack true rookie debuts of future icons, 1988 Donruss does feature several established stars who drove interest in the set at the time of release and maintain appeal as vintage collector pieces today. Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas cards from the set remain popular even in lower grades. Mark Grace, Will Clark, and Ozzie Smith are other position players whose high finish cards still trade hands. On the pitching side, Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, and Orel Hershiser see steady demand. rookie cards for Jeff Bagwell and John Smoltz also hold value despite not being true rookie seasons.
Parallels and Inserts: Beyond the 888 card base set, 1988 Donruss featured several parallel and specialty subsets that created opportunities for rarer, more valuable cardboard. The gold #/250 parallel cards offer a premium option. Additional insert sets like Roll of Honor, Diamond Kings, and Leaders see collector interest too in high grades. Factors that raise the bar include serial numbering, autographs, or refractors. These specialty pieces have the most upside for appreciation over time.
Modern Interest and Nostalgia: While not nearing the prices commanded by flagship 1980s sets like 86 Fleer or 87 Topps, 1988 Donruss does benefit from growing collector popularity for late 80s/early 90s cardboard in recent years. Modern fans appreciate the classic design elements and enjoy pursuing stars from their childhoods. This baseline nostalgia ensures the set remains relatively desirable and liquid compared to many issues from other sport or time periods of equal production size. Values are stable and some star cards see appreciation over long time horizons.
While 1988 Donruss is certainly not a mint condition investment like ultra-rare vintage offerings, there are cards from the set today that hold value away from casual collectors just looking to complete a set. Base cards need to grade wonderfully to have selling potential above a few dollars. But parallels and stars like Griffey Jr., Thomas, Bagwell present worthwhile long term pieces too. With increasing retro sports card popularity, 1988 Donruss remains one of the more accessible yet enjoyable 80s basketball sets to collect from both an enjoyment and potential profit standpoint. In the right grades, yes several cards from this release can be considered worth holding onto or selling today for a strong bidder.
To recap the key points in even more detail – while scale of original printing limits prices on common base cards to just a dollar or two in anything less than gem grade:
Star cards like Frank Thomas, Ken Griffey Jr. will appeal to team collectors and hold $5-15+ value in NM-MT condition
Rookie cards for future stars Jeff Bagwell and John Smoltz have a $10-25 range depending on player pictured and condition
Key veterans from the late 80s like Ozzie Smith, Will Clark, Roger Clemens maintain $3-8 interest
Specialty parallels like the gold #/250s and autographed/refractor inserts surpass $50 readily in top condition
As nostalgia grows, appreciation over decades makes even commons from sets like ’88 Donruss stable investments
Professionally graded gems of the above stars could command $100-400+ based on modern comps
Set completion remains viable goal due budget nature of most cards’ prices today
So in summary – while perhaps no modern financial home runs, 1988 Donruss does offer numerous collectibles and investments above junk wax status when obtained and preserved pristinely. Growing retro culture keeps this set relevant for both casual fans and savvy vintage speculators alike. Condition, as always, remains key to any card having lasting monetary worth or appeal down the road. But for accessibility and fun at reasonable cost, 1988 Donruss endures as one of the most recommended 80s issues to focus a collection around.
