The 1988 Kmart baseball card set was unique in that it was one of the only major sets not produced by the traditional card companies of Topps, Donruss or Fleer. At a time when baseball cards were immensely popular, Kmart saw an opportunity to cash in on the baseball card craze and launched its own exclusive 132 card set that was only available through their retail stores.

The design of the 1988 Kmart cards was quite basic and simplistic compared to the glossy, colorful cards from Topps and others. The photos were smaller and had plain white borders around them with blue and red coloring in the background. Player stats and career highlights were listed on the back along with fun facts. One unique aspect was that each card listed the player’s shoe size. The cardboard stock was thinner and of lower quality than standard baseball cards, which may be why few have survived in pristine condition over 30 years later.

Despite the no-frills design and lower production values, Kmart cards were highly popular among young collectors in 1988. The fact that they were exclusive to Kmart stores and not available in packs at convenience stores or card shops gave the set extra allure. At 50 cents per pack and 10 cards to a pack, they were also less expensive than the commercial brands. The store displays and packaging prominently promoted their status as an ‘All-Star Team’ of 132 big league stars.

Some notable rookies included in the set were Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, Gregg Olson and Bobby Thigpen. Superstar veterans like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson and Nolan Ryan highlighted the checklist. Popular Chicago players like Ryne Sandberg, Greg Maddux and Andre Dawson appeared as members of the world champion 1987 Cubs.

The most valuable and sought after card in the 1988 Kmart set is generally considered to be the Ken Griffey Jr rookie card. Griffey had just finished a phenomenal rookie season with the Seattle Mariners where he hit .284 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI in 113 games to finish third in Rookie of the Year voting. His exciting future potential fueled tremendous demand for his rookie card at the time. In top graded Gem Mint condition, Griffey’s Kmart rookie has sold for over $2000, an extraordinary price for a card from this humble retail set.

While the 1988 Kmart cards are not as iconic or recognized among collectors today as the flagship issues from Topps, Donruss and Fleer, they still hold a nostalgic appeal for those who ripped packs of them as kids over 30 years ago. As one of the few major baseball card sets not produced by the industry giants, it captured the excitement of the sport in a unique way. The affordable price tag and “exclusivity” of only being sold at Kmart likely led to tens of thousands being printed and scattered across the country in the hands of young fans. For many, their first exposure to collecting came from finding baseball cards while shopping with parents and begging for a pack of the new Kmart cards. Over three decades later, those remnants of once vibrant collections still surface on the resale market, a connection to the past that continues to resonate with collectors today.

The 1962 Kmart baseball card set is a legendary issue among collectors for its rarity, quirky design elements, and historical significance. Produced by Kresge-Kmart and distributed exclusively through Kmart stores, the 262-card checklist featured nearly every notable player from both the American and National Leagues at the time. Poor packaging, distribution, and lack of popularity would make intact sets nearly impossible to find over 50 years later.

When Kmart decided to enter the baseball card marketplace in 1962, they sought a unique design and presentation that could set them apart from Topps, which dominated baseball card sales. The cards featured a green border with a photograph of the player along the bottom and their statistics listed above. What made the design truly stand out though were the team logos plastered across the top of each card – from the ornate cursive “Dodgers” script to cartoonish images of Tigers, Pirates, and more.

In terms of production quality, the 1962 Kmart baseball cards were inconsistent at best. Card stock ranged from thick and rigid to almost paper-thin. Centering and cropping of photos was often off, with limbs or faces cut out of frame. The backs featured virtually no bios or stats, only advertisements for Kmart stores and departments like automotive, toys, and housewares. This lack of traditional card features like career stats turned off older collectors at the time.

Distribution of the 1962 Kmart issue was sparse and concentrated almost exclusively in the Midwest near Kmart headquarters in Michigan. While the company operated nearly 600 stores nationwide by 1962, baseball cards did not see wide release outside a handful of states. Most single packs contained around 8 cards, with no guarantee of getting star players or complete teams. Many early Kmart stores did not even carry baseball cards at all. This limited availability made finding and completing the already large 262-card set nearly impossible without assistance from trades or shows decades later.

Another distribution mishap was the inclusion of several variations and errors within the 1962 checklist. At least seven different photographic variations of players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle have been reported over the years. Mistakes like reversed negatives, misspellings, and swapped stats further muddy an already confusing set to compile. This makes each card that much more unique and coveted by today’s most serious vintage collectors.

While not highly regarded as works of artistic design or production quality even in the 1960s, the 1962 Kmart baseballs cards intrigued collectors as a novelty. Their regional scarcity in the Midwest and novelty of team logos brought enough interest that Kmart produced baseball cards again from 1963-1965. None of the subsequent issues would achieve the same cult status as the highly sought after and elusive 1962 originals.

Today, despite their flaws, the 1962 Kmart baseball cards hold a hallowed place in the history of the hobby. Finding a complete, high-grade set in modern times would be worth a small fortune according to industry experts and auction prices. Even common singles can trade hands for hundreds due to their legendary rarity. While not the most aesthetically pleasing or well-made cards of the era, their obscurity, limited availability, and quirky designs have cemented the 1962 Kmart issue as one of the true unicorns for dedicated vintage collectors. Over a half-century later, the mystique of these midwest oddities continues to intrigue and capture the imaginations of baseball card aficionados worldwide.

In 1982, Kmart began selling sets of popular Topps baseball cards in stores across America. Seeking to capitalize on the booming baseball card craze of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kmart partnered with Topps to produce exclusive card sets that could only be found on Kmart shelves. These Kmart-exclusive baseball card sets from 1982 became highly collectible and popular with young baseball fans everywhere due to their wide availability and affordability.

The 1982 Kmart/Topps card sets included a 198-card basic set as well as inserts highlighting rookie cards and stars of the league. These sets replicated the standard card designs, sizes, and statistical information found in contemporaneous Topps base sets but with Kmart logos prominently featured on the packaging and sometimes on the front or back of individual cards. The most common 1982 Kmart baseball card set contained 198 cards and retailed for around $1.49, significantly less than a wax pack of regular Topps cards.

Notably, the 1982 Kmart sets included rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ryne Sandberg. The Boggs, Ripken, and Sandberg rookie cards in the Kmart sets are not nearly as valuable today as the same rookies found in the standard 1982 Topps issue since they had a much higher print run through Kmart. Still, for die-hard collectors seeking to own cards of these stars in their earliest seasons, the Kmart versions are useful additions to any collection.

In addition to the basic 198-card set, Kmart also offered smaller “insert” type sets highlighting certain teams or positions. One popular subset contained 42 cards depicting only American League hitters. Another subset offered 35 cards featuring National League pitchers. These themed subsets followed the same visual design and production values as the main Kmart/Topps issue but focused on specialized collections within the full season’s roster of players.

The primary appeal of the 1982 Kmart baseball cards for collectors and young fans was their widespread availability compared to the normal Topps releases. While wax packs of Topps cards could usually only be found at convenience stores, drug stores, and specialty hobby shops, Kmart superstores dotted malls and communities all across America in the early 1980s. This allowed many more children easy access to collect and trade these current baseball cards compared to previous years.

The manufacturing and design partnership between Topps and Kmart continued beyond 1982 as well. In 1983 and 1984, Kmart once again sold exclusive card sets through their stores that were nearly identical to the standard Topps issues those years but carried the extra cachet of only being available at Kmart. The 1982 Kmart/Topps cards remain the most coveted and historically significant since they began the groundbreaking retail collaboration and introduced many young collectors to the hobby through Kmart’s widespread presence.

As the baseball card craze took hold in the 1970s and exploded in popularity during the early 1980s, Kmart helped fuel that fire by strategically offering affordable, attainable card sets right on store shelves. This allowed thousands more children the chance to build complete rosters and engage in the always exciting ritual of trading duplicates with friends. While the individual 1982 Kmart cards may not be worth a fortune today, they still maintain a special nostalgic significance for those who first discovered the baseball card hobby through Kmart’s innovative partnership with Topps over 35 years ago.

The 1982 Kmart baseball card set was unique for a few key reasons. It was one of the few major supermarket/retailer exclusive card sets released during the heyday of the 1980s baseball card boom. Most kids who collected cards in the early 80s remember the ubiquitous packs available at places like Kmart, Walmart, and other big box stores. The offerings were usually just the standard Topps, Donruss, or Fleer sets.

Kmart took the initiative in 1982 to produce their very own 198 card baseball card set exclusively for customers to find in their stores. The design was a basic white border with team logo in the upper left. The photography and production quality was on par with the big three trading card manufacturers of the time. Each pack contained 5 cards and retailed for just 49 cents.

While the set had no major stars on the cover, it did include rookie cards for future stars like Wade Boggs, Will Clark, and Oddibe McDowell. The CHECKLIST card was number 198 and listed all players included in the set. Ranging from superstars like Mike Schmidt and Nolan Ryan all the way down to obscure minor leaguers, the Kmart set aimed to be as inclusive as possible.

In the decades since, the 1982 Kmart issue has taken on cult status with vintage baseball card collectors. While production numbers were high considering it was sold exclusively through Kmart’s vast stores, the scrapbook nature of 80s kids means many of the cards were lost, damaged or just forgotten about over time. Grading giant PSA has certified thousands of the cards over the years in their quest to accurately document and preserve the set. Here are a few key things to know about 1982 Kmart baseball cards graded by PSA:

Rookie cards for future stars like Wade Boggs, Will Clark and Oddibe McDowell are among the most popular submissions from the set. Clark and Boggs rookies in PSA 10 gem mint can fetch $500-1000 raw.

Common stars of the era like Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, and Eddie Murray can still earn mid-double digit raw prices in PSA 10 condition due to the set’s scarcity and cult status.

Key reverse variations exist, most notably #25 Buddy Bell has a Kansas City Royals team logo variation that is much rarer. A PSA 10 of this reverse variation sold in early 2021 for $2750 raw on eBay.

Due to the pack- pulled nature of most 1982 Kmart cards, high grades above PSA 8 are difficult to obtain. The overall population report shows just 193 PSA 10s out of nearly 10,000 gradeable examples submitted over the last 20+ years.

Lower numbered cards seem to grade slightly better on average, likely because they were closer to the front of the packs. #1 Wade Boggs has 4 PSA 10s population while #176 Jerry Don Gleaton has none.

Error cards also pop up infrequently like #84 Greg Minton missing the Brewers logo box that has brought over $1000 raw in PSA 10 condition.

The shiny 1980s Topps/Donruss photography tends to show signs of wear quicker than other brands. As a result, pristine PSA/BGS/SGC gem mint 10s from Kmart are a real find due to the set’s distribution method.

The 1982 Kmart issue paved the way for future exclusive retailer/grocery store sets of the bubble era. While the mass production hurts gem mint chances, high grade examples of stars, rookies and errors continue to excite collectors three decades later. Getting cards graded at PSA helps authenticate and document this unique release for years of enjoyment and posterity. With an underrated design and plentiful rookie content, 1982 Kmart cards have gained a loyal cult following among vintage card aficionados.