Introduction to Donruss Baseball Puzzle and Unopened Cards
Donruss was a sports card company that was founded in 1980 and produced baseball, football, and basketball cards until the company’s bankruptcy in 1996. One of their most unique and collectible sets was the Donruss Baseball Puzzle from 1988. This set featured unopened puzzle cards that contained baseball trading cards inside that had to be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. Finding unopened Donruss Baseball Puzzle packs and boxes from 1988 in pristine condition today has become a holy grail for some serious sports card collectors. Let’s take a deeper look at the history and collecting aspects of these unopened Donruss puzzle cards.
The 1988 Donruss Baseball Puzzle Set
In 1988, Donruss decided to try something completely new and innovative with their flagship baseball card set – they made it in puzzle form. Each pack contained 6 unopened puzzle cards that had to be assembled like a jigsaw puzzle to reveal the enclosed baseball trading card inside. The puzzles pieces were die-cut into unusual shapes so they interlocked together. On the front of each puzzle card was an image from that year’s Donruss design and on the back was a blank white space to assemble the puzzle.
Each puzzle card contained one classic size 2.5×3.5 inch 1988 Donruss baseball card. The set featured cards of every major league player as well as manager, rookie, and star player inserts. The puzzle cards were packaged in wax packs with 8 packs per box. The boxes had colorful graphics showing examples of completed puzzle cards.
When first released in 1988, the Donruss Baseball Puzzle set was initially seen as a fun gimmick but collectors quickly realized it had strong long term collectibility. Finding unopened packs and boxes today has become extremely difficult and they command high prices when they surface on the secondary market. Let’s explore more on the collecting aspect of these unopened puzzle cards.
Collecting Unopened Donruss Puzzle Cards Today
Due to the novel puzzle packaging concept, many 1988 Donruss Baseball Puzzle packs and boxes were opened and assembled by collectors and young fans over 30 years ago. But a segment of collectors realized the set would appreciate greatly in value if left unopened. These forward-thinking collectors carefully stored away unopened boxes and packs in mint condition.
Flash forward to today and finding pristine unopened Donruss Baseball Puzzle product is very difficult. Anything still sealed in the original shrinkwrap and overpacks is considered in near-gem mint condition. Loose packs that show no signs of tampering can also be highly valuable to the right collectors.
Graded gem mint boxes in the original outer shipping box have sold for over $2,000. Individual graded mint puzzle packs have exceeded $100 at auction. Even partial loose boxes still sealed can approach $1,000 depending on the number of unopened packs remaining. These prices continue climbing as fewer examples make their way to the marketplace.
Serious Donruss and 1980s baseball card collectors are always on the hunt for these unopened puzzle packs and boxes to add to their collections. They are a true rarity over 30 years after the set’s initial release. Finding a full sealed case in perfect condition today would easily bring a five figure price tag.
Authenticity is Paramount for Unopened Puzzle Cards
With the high prices unopened Donruss Baseball Puzzles can demand, there is also risk of forgery or resealed product being passed off as original. Any collector considering a purchase of unopened packs or boxes would be wise to have the product graded and authenticated by one of the major third party grading services like PSA or BGS.
This grading process will catch any tampering and ensure the collector receives a genuine unopened product. The slabs and holder provide tamper-evident seals protecting against resealing down the road. A signature series label or hologram further increases confidence in authenticity.
Top indicators that unopened puzzle packs have likely been resealed include glue or tape residue, non-original overwraps or shrinkwrap, inconsistent pack coloring or graphics, and puzzle cards that do not fit tightly together as designed. An experienced grader can identify most red flags.
In Summary
The 1988 Donruss Baseball Puzzle set was a truly unique and innovative concept when released over 30 years ago. Leaving these puzzle packs and boxes completely sealed and unopened in pristine condition has created a holy grail level collectible for serious vintage sports card collectors today. With so few examples surviving all these years later still factory sealed, unopened Donruss Baseball Puzzles command extraordinary prices when they surface. Authenticating purchases with a reputable third party is essential given the rarity and values involved. This set remains one of the most coveted unopened products from the 1980s sports card boom era.
