The 1988 Score baseball card set was one of the most iconic releases of the late 80s. While not quite as valuable as some other years, the ’88 Score set featured many young stars and Hall of Famers that are still popular with collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the best and most noteworthy cards from that release.
One of the biggest rookie stars of the 1988 season was Oakland A’s slugger Mark McGwire. Still in the early days of his career, McGwire blasted 49 home runs that year and finished third in MVP voting. His rookie card from Score is one of the most iconic of the junk wax era. While not as expensive as some of his other rookie cards, McGwire’s ’88 Score RC remains highly sought after by collectors. He would go on to shatter the single season home run record just a decade later, making this an important card to hold onto.
Another rookie who had a breakout season in 1988 was Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Carter smacked 25 home runs and drove in 94 runs in his first full MLB campaign, finishing fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His Score rookie card, while not his most valuable, is still a nice piece for any Jays or Carter PC. He’d later become a postseason hero with the 1993 World Series winning home run.
One of the biggest stars of the late 80s was Oakland A’s pitcher Dennis Eckersley. Coming off back-to-back All-Star seasons and a 1987 AL Cy Young award, Eckersley’s ’88 Score card was highly sought after. As one of the premier closers of his era, Eckersley converted 45 saves that year and remained a feared 9th inning man. His card still holds value as one of the best from the set.
Another top pitcher featured was Chicago Cubs ace Greg Maddux. Already establishing himself as one of baseball’s best young hurlers, Maddux went 18-8 with a 2.08 ERA in 1988 – winning the first of his four career Cy Youngs. His Score issue from that breakout season is a nice one to have in any Maddux collection, showing him in his early Cubs days before joining the Braves dynasty.
Two of the biggest stars of the late 80s Cardinals teams were slugger Jack Clark and catcher Tony Pena. Clark blasted 35 home runs in 1988 while Pena was an elite defensive backstop. Both players’ Score cards remain popular St. Louis PC items. Clark in particular was one of the most feared middle of the order bats of that era.
A pair of future Hall of Famers getting their due in the ’88 Score set were Red Sox slugger Jim Rice and Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg. Rice was in the latter stages of his career but still mashed 29 homers that year. Sandberg continued his ascent, hitting .295 with 19 homers and 84 RBIs while capturing the NL MVP award. Both legends had iconic cards in this release.
Two of the best all-around players of the late 80s shone in the 1988 Score set as well. Toronto’s George Bell followed his 1987 MVP season by hitting .273 with 33 home runs and 111 RBIs. His card remains a nice Blue Jays piece. Meanwhile, Oakland’s Jose Canseco captured the AL MVP and ROY awards in 1988 after leading the league with 42 homers in his sophomore campaign. Both Bell and Canseco’s cards hold value for their respective teams.
A pair of future Hall of Fame managers also had prominent cards in the ’88 Score set. White Sox skipper Tony La Russa led Chicago to an AL West title that year while piloting the team to 90 wins. Meanwhile, Oakland’s Tony La Russa guided the A’s to the AL pennant. Both remain highly sought after manager cards, showing them in their primes.
While not the most expensive vintage release, the 1988 Score baseball card set featured many young stars and future Hall of Famers that had breakout seasons. Rookies like McGwire, Carter, and Canseco along with veterans like Eckersley, Rice, and Sandberg make for some highly desirable vintage cardboard. The set endures as one of the most iconic of the late 80s and offers PC building opportunities for many teams and players.
