The 1988 Donruss baseball set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the popular 80s and 90s Donruss brand. While the base rookie and common cards from the set do not hold huge values on their own in graded gem mint condition, there are several key storylines and rookie cards that make certain 1988 Donruss cards hugely valuable for collectors.
One of the most well-known and valuable cards from the 1988 Donruss set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the most talented and exciting players to enter the league in the late 80s era and went on to have a legendary Hall of Fame career. His iconic swing and effortless abilities in center field made him a fan favorite for decades. As one of the best rookie cards of all time, a near-mint to mint condition Griffey Jr. now sells for thousands of dollars in top grades. A PSA 10 Griffey Jr. rookie recently sold at auction for over $350,000, showing just how iconic and desirable this card has become for collectors.
Another extremely valuable rookie from the 1988 Donruss set is Tom Glavine. Glavine went on to win 305 career games and two Cy Young awards over a dominant career mostly with the Atlanta Braves. His rookie card prices have skyrocketed in recent years since entering the Hall of Fame. A PSA 9 Glavine sells for around $2,000 currently while a PSA 10 recently sold for nearly $15,000. Collectors loveHall of Fame rookie cards and have driven Glavine’s value up as he has cemented his baseball legacy.
In addition to star rookie cards, valuable variations and parallel cards from the 1988 Donruss set include the ‘Traded’ variation cards which feature players on their new teams from trades. Notable examples include the Kirk Gibson ‘Traded’ Dodgers card which shows him after being dealt from Detroit. Another is the Ozzie Smith ‘Traded’ Cardinals card honoring his trade from the Padres. These traded variations are much rarer pulls than the base cards and thus hold premium values for dedicated collectors, even in lower grades.
The 1988 Donruss brand also experimented with different photo variations and airbrushed touch-ups on some of the bigger star cards. Specifically, the Nolan Ryan card is well-known for having two distinct photo variations – one with sharper focus on his face and one with his face more blurred. Collectors love exploring variations and errors, so examples of the rarer Nolan Ryan photos can demand premium prices. The airbrushed Jose Canseco card where they attempted to remove his beard is also a highlight for variation hunters.
Beyond rookies and variations, legends of the game with huge followings also possess valuable older cards. The Reggie Jackson and Ozzie Smith rookie cards from earlier sets hold immense collector demand. While they are not technically 1988 Donruss rookies, high grade examples still pull in thousands. The same holds true for star veterans who were entering the twilight of their careers in 1988 like Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg. Collectors love completing full rainbow sets of their favorite players.
While 1988 Donruss contains mostly affordable base cards, certain rookies, stars, and variations hold immense long term value. The Ken Griffey Jr. and Tom Glavine rookies are evident keys to the set. But variation collectors also chase trades, photo changes, and errors involving icons like Nolan Ryan and Canseco. When it comes to older vintage products, condition and star power ultimately determines card prices long term. The 1988 Donruss set provides ample opportunity to profit for patient collectors and investors chasing the right coveted pieces over 30 years later.
