For some reason, I feel like I shouldn't like 1988 Donruss baseball cards...
Their design wasn't the greatest.
The rookie cards weren't as great as other sets from the 1980's.
But I just can't help it...
I loved this set as a kid and it still brings many fond memories to me to this day.
The set contained 660 cards in total, offered several subsets and even a 63-piece Stan Musial puzzle that kept you busy trying to assemble with pieces of it randomly inserted into packs.
While it may not be the best set of the 1980's, there's no question it has its place in the history of the "junk era".
And in this guide, I will cover the 10 most valuable 1988 Donruss cards that some collectors still enjoy pursuing in high grade today.
Let's jump right in...
1988 Donruss #220 Bo Jackson
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $90
Bo Jackson was all over the place during the late 1980’s: Nike campaigns, dominating home games of Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo, and many other outlets.
What do you expect when you’re both an NFL Pro Bowler and MBL All-Star?
We’ll forever remember Bo Jackson for his two-sport stardom but will also be left wondering what might have been had he not suffered that hip injury on the football field.
His popularity in the baseball card hobby is as strong as ever as many of those kids who collected his cards back in the 1980’s have now re-entered the hobby as adults desiring to relive fond childhood memories.
1988 Donruss #657 Gregg Jefferies Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $90
Picked 20th overall by the New York Mets in the 1985 Draft, Gregg Jefferies slugged his way up through the Mets' Minor League system, earning a call-up in late 1987.
He was the youngest player in the Majors at 19 years old.
New York manager Davey Johnson had a problem on his hands to start the 1988 season.
One year off a second-place NL East finish and primed to contend, the Mets' starting lineup was too deep to take a chance on a rookie.
At least initially.
Jefferies started in Triple-A for more seasoning, where he was sometimes inconsistent, hitting .282 with a modest .717 OPS.
Regardless, the California native was called up in late August, this time to stay.
The kid asserted his worth in 29 late-season games, slashing .321/.364/.596 with six homers, eight doubles, two triples, and 17 RBIs.
New York went 24-7 with him on the roster, clearing the rest of the NL East by fifteen games.
Jefferies started all seven games at third in the NLCS, going 9-for 27 (.333) with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI, and four walks.
His rookie card was extremely popular when 1988 Donruss first hit hobby shop and store shelves.
One thing I've always thought was funny was how this card was labeled a "short print," a term used in the hobby when relatively fewer copies of a card are produced than others in a given set.
In an era of excessive printing and market saturation, the term "short print" just sounds funny as there were likely still a bazillion of them in circulation.
1988 Donruss #61 Nolan Ryan
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $65
Nolan Ryan needs no introduction and his popularity in the hobby remains as strong as ever.
Whether you’re talking vintage or modern baseball cards, Ryan is always a key to any set in which he appears.
There are just so many Nolan Ryan collectors out there and they’re always looking for any of his cards in top grade.
One of the more visually-appealing cards on this list, Ryan is pictured in his retro Astros uniform midway through his delivery working to blow yet another fastball past an opposing hitter.
1988 Donruss #1 Mark McGwire Diamond Kings
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #26 Cal Ripken Jr. Diamond Kings
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #102 George Brett
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #164 Tony Gwynn
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #171 Cal Ripken Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #277 Rickey Henderson
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #368 Kirby Puckett
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $50
1988 Donruss #78 Dale Murphy
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45
1988 Donruss #217 Don Mattingly
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45
It was hard to find any hotter baseball cards than those of Don Mattingly during the late 1980’s.
He seemed to be on a surefire trajectory to one day join countless other Yankees in the Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, he was routinely bitten by the injury bug and his production dropped off substantially during the 1990’s.
Today, his cards can still be found listed among the most valuable in many of those 1980’s sets and this one is no exception.
1988 Donruss #263 Ozzie Smith
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $45
1988 Donruss #7 Paul Molitor Diamond Kings
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
1988 Donruss #34 Roberto Alomar Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
Pictured as a member of the San Diego Padres on his rookie card, Roberto Alomar would lend his talents to seven different ball clubs over his Hall of Fame career.
His time with Toronto, Baltimore and Cleveland was when he truly cemented his legacy as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play.
Alomar had many tools in his arsenal as he consistently hit, defended and ran the bases at a high level.
The 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover (the most of any second baseman in history) earned a much-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
1988 Donruss #40 Mark Grace Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
This card was one of the hottest in my circle of collecting friends when this card was first released.
I grew up in Indiana so many in the area were Chicago Cubs fans.
And the hype surrounding Mark Grace could not have been bigger so everyone had to have this card.
Grace never did quite reach superstar status or develop into a Hall of Fame-caliber player but he was extremely consistent and effective at the plate and on the base paths.
1988 Donruss #204 Will Clark
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
1988 Donruss #295 Robin Yount
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
1988 Donruss #539 Greg Maddux
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
1988 Donruss #625 The Ripken Family
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $40
1988 Donruss #153 Wade Boggs
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35
1988 Donruss #242 Ryne Sandberg
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35
1988 Donruss #326 Barry Bonds
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35
As a kid, I used to love those old Pirates teams that featured Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Andy Van Slyke.
Those three made for a hell of an outfield and they were also exciting at the plate, especially Bonds and Bonilla.
We all know the controversy that hangs over Barry Bonds due to the PED scandal but you can’t deny that he possessed an incredible skill set, likely one of the best the game has ever seen.
The guy was an unbelievable five-tool talent and we’ll see if he ever cracks the Hall of Fame.
For now, this second year Bonds card remains one of the most desirable in the set and features a great image of the young slugger in his Pirates uniform.
1988 Donruss #369 Eric Davis
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35
One year before Jose Canseco became the first player to cross the 40/40 barrier, Cincinnati Reds center fielder Eric Davis almost opened the 40/50 club.
Despite a rib injury that cost him 17 of Cincy's final 27 games, Davis ended the campaign with 37 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
Everything seemed to align for Eric the Red to make history in 1988.
But an injury-riddled start nixed that right away.
Both fans and people in the organization began to openly question Davis, wondering aloud if he was milking his injuries.
Davis floundered over the season's first two months, and the chatter got louder.
Reds general manager Murray Cook cut trade rumors off at the knees, stating that he wouldn't "grace it with a reply."
Instead of brooding, Davis kicked into gear.
Sidestepping a laundry list of injuries, he ended the year slashing .273/.363/.489 for the second-place Reds with 26 homers, 35 stolen bases, 18 doubles, three triples, 81 runs scored, and 93 RBIs.
Under the microscope and angry, Davis seemed tired of the Cincinnati grind.
However, things would cool down in the offseason, and he'd return in 1989 on a one-year, incentive-laden deal.
1988 Donruss #644 Tom Glavine Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Value: $35
Remember how dominant those Braves teams of the 1990’s were?
Well, you’re looking at one of the reasons why they had so much success.
Glavine wasn’t overpowering but he was extremely crafty and knew how to break down opposing hitters with methodical precision.
His smarts, determination and longevity helped him to rack up 305 career wins, one of the highest totals of any lefty who ever stepped on the mound.
Much like his pitching style, his rookie card may not be flashy but it sits consistently at the top of key cards in this set.
1988 Donruss Baseball Cards In Review
So there you have it, the ten most valuable 1988 Donruss cards.
As you can see, it will take them being professionally graded in gem mint condition to be worth much and that's not easy considering how easily those colored borders will show wear and tear.
Either way you can't argue there were a few good rookie cards and many great stars of the day in the 660-card checklist.
And along with that Stan Musial puzzle we mentioned earlier, the set also contained multiple different subsets and inserts, including:
- Diamond Kings
- Rated Rookies
- MVPs
To those who love this set, it can really bring some huge nostalgic value and to those who despise it, well, to each his own.