1998 Baseball Card Price Guide
The late 1990s were a time of transition for the baseball card industry. While interest was still high, collectors were becoming more selective in their purchases as the sheer volume of cards produced each year was overwhelming. The 1998 season saw the rise of emerging young stars like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. who would help usher in a home run revival. Their accomplishments that year are still remembered today. Let’s take a look back at the 1998 baseball card price guide and analyze the values of some of the top rookie and star player cards from that set.
Upper Deck SP Authentic (#1 – #99) – This high end set from Upper Deck featured autographed cards of the game’s biggest stars. Rosters included names like Griffey, McGwire, Sosa, Cal Ripken Jr., Greg Maddux, and Tony Gwynn. Autographed rookie cards of players like Nomar Garciaparra, Scott Rolen, and Jason Varitek could be found in this set as well. Complete factory set values have held up well over time, currently in the $300-400 range. Individual star autographed cards from this set can fetch thousands depending on the player. A Griffey or McGwire autograph would be among the most valuable from 1998.
Topps Chrome (#1 – #399) – As one of the first “chrome” or refractor parallel sets released, Topps Chrome became a highly collected modern subset. Rosters included current stars and prospects. The parallels added to the excitement of the base cards. A Ken Griffey Jr. refractor from this set would be one of the most valuable 1998 cards, grading a PSA 10 could reach $1,000-2,000. Other star refractors like McGwire, Sosa, Chipper Jones, and Derek Jeter also command strong prices. Complete factory sets sell for $100-150.
Fleer Ultra (#1 – #399) – Fleer’s flagship set offered up-and-coming stars and prospects alongside established veterans. Rookie cards of Kerry Wood, Nomar Garciaparra, and Scott Rolen could be found. A PSA 10 graded rookie of Wood is among the more valuable 1998 rookie cards, reaching $500-800. Complete factory sets sell in the $50-75 range today. Star cards of McGwire, Griffey, and Sosa also carry value.
Bowman’s Best (#1 – #100) – This high-end Bowman set showcased top prospects and future stars. The short printed parallels added to the excitement. A Derek Jeter refractor parallel from this set would be one of the toughest 1998 cards to acquire in a PSA 10, valued around $1,000-1,500. Other top rookies included Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, and Kerry Wood. Complete factory sets sell in the $150-200 range.
Donruss Studio (#1 – #150) – Donruss offered up close-up headshots of players in this insert set. Rookies of Nomar Garciaparra, Kerry Wood, and others could be pulled. A PSA 10 graded rookie Wood is valued around $300-500. Star cards of McGwire, Griffey, and Sosa also carry value proportionate to the player. Complete factory sets sell for $50-75.
Upper Deck (#1 – #656) – As the flagship set, Upper Deck included all the top stars and prospects. Rookie cards of Kerry Wood, Nomar Garciaparra, and Scott Rolen could be found here. A PSA 10 graded rookie of Wood is among the most valuable 1998 rookie cards at $500-800. Star cards of McGwire, Griffey, Sosa, and others also hold value relative to the player. Complete factory sets sell in the $75-100 range today.
Finest (#1 – #399) – This high-end parallel set from Upper Deck featured current stars and prospects. Short printed parallels added to the excitement. A Derek Jeter refractor parallel would be one of the toughest 1998 cards to acquire in a PSA 10 grade, valued around $1,000-1,500. Rookies of Nomar Garciaparra, Kerry Wood, and others can also carry value. Complete factory sets sell in the $150-200 range.
Bowman’s Best (#1 – #100) – This exclusive Bowman set showcased the top prospects in baseball. Short printed parallels added to the excitement. A Derek Jeter refractor parallel from this set would be one of the most valuable 1998 cards, a PSA 10 could reach $1,000-1,500. Other top rookies included Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek, and Kerry Wood. Complete factory sets sell in the $150-200 range.
Donruss Studio (#1 – #150) – Donruss offered up close-up headshots of players in this insert set. Rookies of Nomar Garciaparra, Kerry Wood, and others could be pulled. A PSA 10 graded rookie Wood is valued around $300-500. Star cards of McGwire, Griffey, and Sosa also carry value proportionate to the player. Complete factory sets sell for $50-75.
The 1998 season saw the emergence of young superstars like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr. and rookies like Nomar Garciaparra and Kerry Wood. Their cards from flagship sets like Upper Deck, Finest and Bowman’s Best remain some of the most collectible from the 1990s. While interest in the baseball card market has cooled since the peak of the late 80s and early 90s, high-grade rookie cards and autographed cards from stars of that era continue to hold significant collector value today. The 1998 season was truly one of the most memorable in baseball history.
