The 1988 Donruss baseball card set was released at the height of the baseball card boom of the late 1980s. Produced by the Donruss company, the 1988 set is considered a classic among collectors and remains highly sought after to this day. The set contains 264 total cards and features rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas.

Donruss had been producing baseball cards since 1981 but really started to gain popularity in the mid-1980s as the baseball card market exploded. Their innovative designs and photography helped make Donruss one of the premier brands alongside Topps. The 1988 set took things to another level with its sharp, colorful design and memorable rookie cards. This was also the first Donruss set to include an entire parallel subset, known as “Diamond Kings”, which added to the excitement for collectors.

Some key aspects that made the 1988 Donruss set so iconic and collectible included:

Photography and design: The cards featured bright, vivid colors and large action photos that really popped. The border design incorporated baseball stitching that gave the cards a classic, retro feel. Many consider it one of Donruss’s best designs aesthetically.

Rookie cards: Future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas were just starting their careers in 1988 and their iconic rookie cards from this set are highly valued today. Other notable rookies included Randy Johnson, Jeff Bagwell, and Barry Larkin.

Star players: The set was loaded with superstar players from the late 1980s like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens. Collectors enjoyed chasing these big name cards.

Parallel subset: The inclusion of the 60-card Diamond Kings parallel subset added a new layer of rarity and excitement for collectors. These featured photo variations of the base cards.

Production: Donruss printed the 1988 set in high numbers to meet demand during the boom. While abundant now, this ensured the set had widespread distribution and awareness among collectors at the time.

When first released in 1988, the Donruss baseball cards retailed for about $1 per pack with 15 cards inside. This was standard for the time. Hobby shops, convenience stores, and supermarkets stocked the product heavily to meet collector demand. The rookie cards of future stars like Maddux and Glavine started gaining value right away as their potential was recognized. By the early 1990s, as the baseball card market crashed, these rookies maintained and even increased in price relative to other cards from the late 80s boom era sets.

Two factors have really driven the long term collectibility and secondary market prices for key 1988 Donruss cards. First, the players featured went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers that captured the attention of collectors for decades. Second, despite the large production numbers, the set has retained widespread popularity among both vintage collectors and those who grew up with the players in the late 80s/early 90s. This continued interest has supported strong demand and pricing.

In modern times, a near mint condition Greg Maddux rookie card can fetch over $1,000. The Frank Thomas rookie regularly sells for $500-800 depending on condition. Other notable rookies like Glavine, Johnson, and Bagwell command $100-300. Superstar cards from the era like Kirby Puckett and Ozzie Smith in high grade can reach $50-150 as well. Even common cards maintain value at $1-5 due to the set’s popularity. The parallel Diamond Kings subset adds premiums with the most valuable nearing $500 for a quality Maddux.

In the over 30 years since its release, the 1988 Donruss baseball card set has cemented its status as one of the definitive vintage issues. Loaded with future Hall of Famers and featuring an iconic design, it attracts collectors of players from the late 1980s as well as vintage enthusiasts. Prices have remained strong due to the sustained interest. For these reasons, the 1988 Donruss baseball cards will surely continue to be a prized part of the collection of any vintage or general sports card collector.