The 1988 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. Produced by the Donruss company, the 1988 edition contained 792 total cards and featured many of the game’s biggest stars from that era. While not quite as renowned as the flagship Topps sets from the same year, 1988 Donruss cards hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors due to the memorable photography and designs used. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout rookie and star player cards from this classic set.
One of the most notable rookies featured in 1988 Donruss was Chicago Cubs phenom Mark Grace. Grace had an outstanding rookie campaign in 1988, batting .296 with 13 home runs and 76 RBI. His impressive debut season made his rookie card a highly sought after item. The Grace rookie depicts him in a headshot wearing his Cubs cap and uniform. Despite being printed in high numbers, pristine copies of the Grace rookie in gem mint condition can fetch hundreds of dollars today given his Hall of Fame caliber career.
Another rookie who had collectors excited was Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jimmy Key. Key went 18-6 as a rookie in 1988 and finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting, establishing himself as a future ace. His Donruss rookie card shows Key mid-windup on the mound. Strong conditioned copies in the 8.5-9 range can sell for over $100. Key went on to win 143 games over his 15 year career and 3 World Series titles, making his rookie an integral part of Blue Jays team sets.
Two other noteworthy rookies from the 1988 Donruss set were Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. and Cincinnati Reds slugger Chris Sabo. Ripken was already emerging as a star but his iconic mustachioed rookie remains a fan favorite to this day. Meanwhile, Sabo’s card depicts him crouched at the plate during his ROY award winning season. Both Ripken and Sabo rookies in high grade still trade hands regularly for $50-100 each.
In terms of star veterans, one of the most visually striking 1988 Donruss cards was that of New York Mets ace Dwight Gooden. Known simply as “Doc,” Gooden’s action shot shows him mid-windup, jersey untucked with hair flowing. It’s considered one of the best posed pitcher cards ever released. High grade Gooden rookies can reach $1000+ in price. Another standout veteran subject was Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco, famous for his muscular physique and prodigious power. His card portrays Canseco crouched in the batter’s box, capturing his intimidating presence. Both players were iconic stars of the late 80s.
Two other highly coveted veteran cards were those of Boston Red Sox legend Wade Boggs and Cincinnati Reds powerhouse Eric Davis. Boggs was a perennial batting champion and his card depicted him in the left handed batter’s box. Meanwhile, Davis was one of the game’s premier five-tool talents, and his card showed him tracking a deep fly ball in center field. Both Boggs and Davis rookies have maintained strong collector demand and six figure prices for pristine specimens are not unheard of.
In terms of chase cards and inserts, the 1988 Donruss set featured several popular short prints and oddball parallel variations that created buzz among traders. One such card was the elusive Nolan Ryan photo variation, which featured an alternate action shot compared to the standard issue version. Other coveted short prints included those of Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens, and Darryl Strawberry. The set also had “Traded” parallel versions of stars like Rickey Henderson, Kirby Puckett, and Dave Stewart that carried premiums.
While not the biggest selling set of 1988, Donruss managed to capture many of baseball’s brightest young and established talents on memorable cards that have become classics. Strong conditioned copies of stars like Gooden, Canseco, Ripken, Boggs and the top rookies continue to hold stable secondary market prices decades later. For aficionados of 80s cardboard and specific teams, the 1988 Donruss baseball set endures as an indispensable part of the hobby.
