The 1988 Donruss baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and coveted releases in the history of the hobby. While it did not have the mammoth rookie class of other years, the ’88 Donruss set did feature several young stars who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers as well as some highly sought after rookie cards. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable and desirable cards from the 1988 Donruss set.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (#1) – Widely considered the crown jewel of the 1988 Donruss set, the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card is one of the most iconic cards in baseball history. Griffey would go on to have a legendary career that saw him elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2016. His rookie card from the ’88 Donruss set is perhaps the most sought after and valuable modern-era card on the hobby. In gem mint 10 condition, Griffey Jr.’s rookie currently fetches well over $10,000 and some have even sold for upwards of $25,000. Even low-grade copies in rough shape still sell for several hundred dollars due to the card’s tremendous popularity and significance. Griffey’s on-card rookie from ’88 Donruss is truly the king of the set.
Tom Glavine Rookie Card (#109) – While not the most valuable rookie in the set, Glavine certainly had one of the best careers of any player featured as a rookie in 1988 Donruss. Glavine went on to win 305 games and capture two Cy Young Awards over a stellar 22-year MLB career that saw him inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. His rookie card is among the key cards from the set for collectors. High-grade examples can sell for $500-1000, making it a fairly expensive card relative to other rookies from 1988 Donruss. It captures one of the games’ great pitchers and is an important part of any vintage collection.
Greg Maddux Rookie Card (#141) – Another dominant pitcher who had a Hall of Fame career, Maddux’s rookie card from ’88 Donruss is nearly as coveted as Glavine’s. Like Glavine, Maddux went on to rack up over 300 career wins and capture multiple Cy Young awards. In pristine mint condition, Maddux’s rookie has sold for over $2000. More typical PSA/BGS 9s can be acquired for $300-500. An impressive card that locked in one of the best pitchers of all-time early in his career.
Roberto Alomar Rookie Card (#216) – Alomar broke into the big leagues in 1988 and immediately established himself as a impactful all-around player. He’d go on to collect over 3,000 hits and win a Rookie of the Year award and 10 Gold Gloves over his HOF career. His on-card rookie from the ’88 Donruss set is one of the true stars of the release. High-ends grades have sold for over $1000 with most 9s and 10s fetching $300-500. A true star player rookie to chase.
Andres Gallaraga Rookie Card (#260) – “The Big Cat” had several big seasons in Colorado in the late 80s/early 90s and his rookie card has remained a popular and valuable subset of the 1988 Donruss set. Pristine 10s have changed hands for over $500 in recent years while most 9s hold value around $150-300. Not necessarily as iconic as some others, but Gallaraga’s rookie captures an impactful player from this era.
Barry Larkin Rookie Card (#337) – Larkin burst onto the scene in 1988 as a speedy shortstop for the Reds and won the Rookie of the Year award. His stellar all-around play would eventually earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame. As such, his ’88 Donruss rookie is highly sought after, especially in the most pristine grades. Near-mint 9s can often be found in the $150-300 range while perfect 10s have reached well over $1000 at auction. Capturing a future HOFer, the Larkin rookie remains an important card.
Other Notable Rookies – In addition to the superstar rookies above, 1988 Donruss featured several other notable young players who broke into the majors that year including Fred McGriff (#59), Larry Walker (#139), Craig Biggio (#226), Jeff Bagwell (#289) and David Wells (#339). While none possess the true iconic status or value of the top rookies, cards of these players are still highly collected and hold value reflective of their strong MLB careers that would follow.
Design/Production – The 1988 Donruss set featured dramatic action photography and thick card stock that gave the cards a premium feel. While the design was not as flashy or revolutionary as in later years, collectors appreciated the traditional baseball card aesthetic. The set is also notable for being one of the last true “wax packs” of the junk wax era before the explosion of insert sets and oddball parallels took over. Add in the star quality of the rookie class and 1988 Donruss has achieved true icon status.
The 1988 Donruss baseball card set stands out as perhaps the single most valuable and recognized vintage release from the junk wax era. Anchored by the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Glavine, and Roberto Alomar, the set features several true blue-chip cards that are icons in their own right. Strong production values and a quality rookie class have helped 1988 Donruss achieve lasting popularity and appreciation among collectors even decades after its original printing. Whether seeking iconic stars or building a complete set, the ’88 Donruss release should not be overlooked by vintage baseball card collectors.
