Whether you love or hate the 2008 Topps baseball card set, one thing is obvious:
the design is among the most unique baseball card sets in the company's history.
Large, block-style font within circles alternating between team-themed colors made the team names pop across the top.
The facsimile signatures of each player along the bottom were also a nice touch.
If there is one drawback to the design, the supplemental features around the borders resulted in less room for player images.
But, that's being picky.
Overall, I think the design was well done and, again, it was certainly unique.
The checklist is pretty solid, too.
And in this guide, we'll take a look at the 15 most valuable.
Let's jump right in!
2008 Topps Update & Highlights #UH240 Clayton Kershaw Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $425
Making one of the most anticipated debuts in Los Angeles Dodgers history, Clayton Kershaw couldn't live up to the hype in 2008.
At least not quite yet.
Picked seventh overall by the Dodgers in the 2006 Draft, Kershaw was lauded as the top high-school pitcher available in his class.
He shot up like a rocket through the minor-league ranks as a teen and reached the Majors in '08 at the tender age of 20.
His first MLB start on May 24th was an event.
Dodger Stadium was packed, and the energy was palpable, similar to Hideo Nomo's first outings in 1995.
The lefty acquitted himself well under the bright lights, striking out seven St. Louis Cardinals and surrendering just two runs in six innings pitched.
However, his subsequent 21 regular-season outings (20 starts) would reveal a young pitcher who still needed time and seasoning to become truly great.
The Dallas native alternated good starts and rough ones, finishing the year at 5-5 with a 4.26 ERA.
He gave up 109 hits in 107.2 innings, marking the only time in his career (so far) that he's given up more hits than innings pitched.
All's well that ends well, though, and Kershaw was the organization's future, and both bigger and better things lay ahead.
Technically, this card is from the 2008 Topps Update & Highlights set and not the base set.
But, given Kershaw's importance, I made an exception for him, and a couple of other guys as well.
2008 Topps Update & Highlights #UH280 Max Scherzer Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $125
While he’d only end up pitching for two years in an Arizona Diamondbacks uniform, Max Scherzer was determined to make a great first impression with his first big-league club in 2008.
And he did just that, setting a new MLB record for consecutive batters retired by a pitcher making his debut in relief with 13.
Those 4.1 scoreless innings (and seven strikeouts) against the Houston Astros were absolutely electric and brought us a glimpse of what Scherzer would become after moving to Detroit.
The rest of Scherzer’s rookie season was just fine.
Splitting his time between the bullpen and the starting rotation, the young righty pitched to a 3.05 ERA in 16 appearances (seven starts) for the 82-win D-Backs.
He gave up just 48 hits in 56 innings pitched, striking out 66 for an impressive 10.6 K/9 ratio.
It was a year of promise and potential for the former first-round pick.
It was also a crucial building block towards a surefire Hall-of-Fame career that has brought three Cy Young awards and eight All-Star appearances (so far.)
2008 Topps #319 Joey Votto Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45
After a cup of coffee in 2007 and a strong Spring Training, Cincinnati Reds youngster Joey Votto earned a roster spot in ‘08 as part of a platoon at first with former Oakland A’s “Moneyball” hero Scott Hatteberg.
The platoon didn’t last very long.
A former second-round draft pick back in 2002, Votto’s sweet left-handed swing quickly won him the outright job at the three.
From there, one of the most beloved Cincinnati Reds of this or any generation began his ascent, in earnest, to All-Star status.
In 151 games for the 74-88 Reds, Votto slashed .297/.368/.506 with 24 home runs, 32 doubles, 69 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and a Cincinnati rookie record 84 RBIs.
The 24-year-old wunderkind paced the NL rookie field in batting average, homers, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits (156), multi-hit games (42), and total bases (266).
Finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year race to Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, Votto combined elite glove work at first with a selective and intelligent hitting approach beyond his years.
It would only go onwards and upwards from there for the future National League MVP.
2008 Topps Update & Highlights #UH10 Evan Longoria Rookie Card
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $45
After just six MLB games, the oft-frugal Tampa Bay Rays opened their checkbooks to lock up Evan Longoria for the long term.
That's how good he was during his 2008 Rookie-of-the-Year campaign, even at the start.
Steady, smart, and unfazed at the hot corner, Longoria shined even brighter when he stepped into the batter's box.
In 508 plate appearances (448 at-bats), Longoria slashed .272/.343/.531 with 27 home runs, 31 doubles, 67 runs scored, seven stolen bases, and 85 RBIs.
If he hadn't missed five weeks with a broken right wrist, those numbers would have popped off the page even more.
The true measure of Longoria's impact in Tampa was in the win column.
Before he arrived, the Rays had won no more than 70 games in ten years of existence.
With Longoria in tow, the Rays broke through the glass ceiling with 97 wins and an AL East title.
The fun continued in the first two rounds of Tampa's maiden postseason journey.
Longoria hit six home runs and posted an OPS over 1.000 to lead the Rays to their first pennant with series victories over the White Sox and Red Sox.
Everything screeched to a halt in the World Series, however, as Longoria went just 1-for-20 in a five-game loss to the Phillies.
2008 Topps #229 Dustin Pedroia
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
Dustin Pedroia was the first American League second baseman in nearly 50 years to win Rookie of the Year and the league's MVP award in consecutive seasons (Nellie Fox, 1959).
Coming off the high of the Boston Red Sox's World Series triumph in '07, Pedroia was a ready-made complete player in '08.
He provided Gold Glove defense at one of the game's most demanding positions, earned a starting role in his first All-Star Game, and captured his first Silver Slugger award in 95-win Boston's run to a Wild Card berth.
The California native posted a .326/.376./.493 slash line with 17 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.
He led all of baseball in hits (213) and doubles (54) and topped the Junior Circuit with 118 runs scored.
There wasn't anything that Pedroia couldn't do at an elite level.
Whenever Boston needed a spark, he was there with a web gem, swiped bag, or clutch hit.
In the playoffs, the young second baseman hit just .233 as Boston's title defense hopes died in a seven-game ALCS loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
However, Pedroia made up for his lackluster average with seven walks, nine runs scored, two stolen bases, three home runs, and six RBIs in 11 games.
2008 Topps #580 Ken Griffey Jr.
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35
The real story of Ken Griffey Jr.’s 2008 season boils down to a single moment that changed the course of his final years as an active player.
On June 8th, Griffey returned to Seattle in an opposing uniform for the first time since leaving the M’s via trade in early 2000.
Griffey expected a cold welcome with boos a-plenty, considering he had forced his way into that deal to return to his hometown of Cincinnati.
However, that was far from the case.
Griffey received a four-minute standing ovation during an emotion-packed pregame ceremony.
It was the first step towards a reunion a few months later.
As for the particulars of the 2008 season on a broader scale, Griffey played 102 games for the Reds before being dealt to the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline.
It was an unceremonious end to his nine years with the club.
The former “Kid” provided Sox fans with a brilliant throwback moment at the most crucial of moments: a brilliant throw from center in the fifth inning of a Game #163 tiebreaker helped propel the White Sox past the Twins and into the playoffs as AL Central champs.
The White Sox would bow out four games later with an ALDS loss to Tampa, but the throw was still as epic as they come.
2008 Topps #10 Miguel Cabrera
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
After consecutive winning seasons and an AL pennant in 2006, the 2008 season was a sobering letdown for the Detroit Tigers.
The offense was fine in Motown.
But, the pitching imploded due to injuries and effectiveness en route to a dismal 74-88 finish.
Sadly, it was a waste of a fantastic Detroit debut for superstar third baseman turned first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
Traded from the Marlins to the Tigers after the 2007 season alongside starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis for a six-player haul, the AL's Player of the Month for July hit a new career-best (and AL-best) 37 home runs in 2008.
Cabrera, the youngest AL home run champion since Troy Glaus in 2000, was the lynchpin of one of the game's most feared offensive barrages.
If the Tigers had a decent pitching staff, Detroit would have easily been a contender in a questionable AL Central field.
Cabrera ended the year with a .292/.349/.537 slash line, 36 doubles, 85 runs scored, and 127 RBIs in 684 plate appearances (616 at-bats).
2008 Topps #455 Derek Jeter
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
2008 was one of Derek Jeter's most trying years as a professional baseball player.
Receiving zero MVP votes for the first time since 2002, Jeter posted a career-worst .771 OPS and failed to crack 100 runs scored (88) for just the second time in 13 years.
That wasn't the worst part.
With the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox each securing playoff berths, Jeter's Yankees were the odd men out for the first time in his career.
This set off a tabloid meltdown in the Bronx as critics lined up to take potshots at the team captain and his tumultuous relationship with superstar teammate Alex Rodriguez.
It's not that Jeter had an awful year.
After all, he won the AL Silver Slugger at short and hit .300 for the fourth consecutive campaign.
However, the rules apply differently to the Yankees.
And Jeter knew that.
Missing the playoffs might be acceptable in the bigger picture for other franchises.
But, it's a downright catastrophe when you're donning the trademark pinstripes.
2008 Topps #490 Albert Pujols
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30
If the 2008 NL MVP award had been voted for during the present day, Albert Pujols might have run away and hid with the trophy.
Yes, the St. Louis Cardinals underachieved in '08, finishing fourth in the NL Central with an 86-76 record.
And yes, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard's durability and MLB-best 48 home runs and 146 RBIs were undeniably impressive for a team that actually made the postseason.
However, hindsight is 20/20, and Pujols deserved far more than 18 of a possible 30 first-place votes.
Leading all of baseball with 9.2 WAR, the hulking Cards' first baseman also topped the Majors in slugging percentage (.653), OPS (1.114), total bases (342), intentional walks (34), and OPS + (192) among other categories.
Without Pujols, the Cardinals may not have sniffed .500, let alone ten games above.
His .357 batting average was second among qualifying hitters (Chipper Jones), and his 100 walks and 104 runs scored were emblematic of his importance.
Pujols ended the campaign with 37 home runs, 44 doubles, and 116 RBIs.
He may not have put up video game numbers for a playoff contender, but he sure as heck put together one of the best top-to-bottom seasons of the post-steroids era thus far.
2008 Topps #320 Ichiro Suzuki
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
Amid the franchise's worst season in 25 years, the Seattle Mariners decided to clean house and start fresh, axing manager John McLaren and general manager Bill Bavasi in the middle of the year.
Things wouldn’t improve much from there.
Seattle won just 61 games thanks to bottom-seven finishes in both runs scored and runs allowed.
It was a miserable year.
But, it was at least a miserable year with Ichiro doing Ichiro things.
As the rest of the M’s flailed and imploded around him, Suzuki continued his all-world ways.
Now eight for eight in Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances, the 34-year-old outfielder led the Majors with 213 hits and topped the AL in plate appearances (749) and at-bats (686).
Steady as they come, Ichiro hit to a .310/.361/.386 slash line with six homers, 20 doubles, seven triples, 43 stolen bases, and 42 RBIs.
One of the most impactful singles hitters in baseball history, Ichiro was M’s fans’ sole reason to cheer for the majority of the 2008 MLB season.
2008 Topps #440 Pedro Martinez
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25
Everything fell apart for Pedro Martinez in his final year as a New York Met.
From his father's passing in July to his professional woes, it was just rough.
Really rough.
After a brilliant debut season for the Mets in 2005, the future Hall-of-Fame hurler's body started to short-circuit on him.
It all reached its nadir in 2008 when the 36-year-old righty had the worst campaign of his 18-year career.
Missing nearly half of the season due to injury, Martinez lost the ace's touch with a worse-than-replacement-level performance when he could play.
In 20 starts, Martinez pitched to an uncharacteristic 5.61 ERA with a career-worst 1.569 WHIP.
Pedro surrendered 127 hits and 44 walks in just 109 innings pitched, and his 7.2 strikeouts per 9 innings were nearly three strikeouts short of his career mark.
The 89-win Mets finished just a game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Wild Card spot.
If Martinez had been even marginally better, they would likely have made the postseason.
2008 Topps #360 David Ortiz
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
As good as Dustin Pedroia's performance was for the defending champs in 2008, it was counterbalanced by David Ortiz's lengthy slumps, injury issues, and overall struggles at the plate.
After a rough start to the campaign, Ortiz suffered a severe left wrist injury on Memorial Day weekend that limited him to just 109 games played in the regular season.
And when he was on the field, things just didn't gel as teams employed extreme shifts against him to great effect.
Posting the worst overall season of his six-year stay in Boston thus far, Ortiz slashed .264/.369/.507 with 23 home runs, 30 doubles, 74 runs scored, 70 walks, and 89 RBIs.
The Red Sox overcame Ortiz's season in the wilderness and captured a playoff berth.
Yet, they wouldn't be so lucky as the playoffs went on.
After hitting just .235 with a .644 OPS in a four-game ALDS win over the Angels, Ortiz was even worse in the ALCS against Tampa Bay.
Other than a massive three-run home run that helped the Red Sox stave off elimination in Game 5, Ortiz was a liability.
He went just 4-for-26 (.154) with a .697 OPS as the Rays stopped Boston's repeat bid short in the ALCS.
2008 Topps #500 Chipper Jones
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
While Chipper Jones' chase for .400 ended in the middle of the 2008 campaign, the 36-year-old Atlanta Braves third baseman still submitted one of the finest performances by a switch-hitter in MLB history.
Jones was nearly unstoppable in the season's first two months, hitting .413 for a Braves team mulling about around the .500 mark.
As the season wore on, the Braves fell a couple of rungs from mediocre to bad, and Jones' blistering pace started to slow.
But, it only slowed compared to his own Herculean efforts.
As the 72-90 Braves meandered to the finish line, Jones outlasted Albert Pujols to win his first-and-only batting title with a .364 average.
Finishing one point shy of Mickey Mantle's record for a switch-hitter, Jones also led the Major Leagues with the highest on-base percentage (.470) of his Hall-of-Fame career.
And oh yeah, he did all of this while battling injury concerns and missing over a month's worth of games.
The oldest switch-hitter to win a batting crown and the first Braves player since Terry Pendleton (1991) to do so, Jones posted a 1.044 OPS with 22 home runs, 24 doubles, 82 runs scored, 90 walks, and 75 RBIs in 439 at-bats.
2008 Topps #625 Greg Maddux
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
Over his incredible 23-year Major League Baseball career, Greg Maddux shone brightest during his days with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves.
Between the two clubs, Maddux piled up four Cy Young Awards, eight All-Star appearances, four ERA titles, and sixteen of his eighteen Gold Gloves.
But the crafty righty would finish his career between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
He never looked right in either uniform.
But he was effective.
After the Cubs traded him to the playoff-contending Dodgers in 2006, Maddux pitched admirably, finishing with a 3.30 ERA and 6-3 record.
In 2007, he won 14 games with the Padres.
And during his final season of his career in 2008, he would split time between San Diego and Los Angeles.
His 8-13 record that year was one of the few times he had a losing record.
Maddux worked out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in the playoffs, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three in four innings of work.
LA lost the NLCS in five to the Philadelphia Phillies and Maddux announced his retirement soon after.
And just like that, one of the greatest to ever grace the mound was done.
2008 Topps #650 Frank Thomas
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20
A former two-time MVP and perennial All-Star, Frank Thomas looked nothing like his former self in his 19th-and-final Major League season.
After a solid year in his first go-around with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007, Thomas was openly optimistic about 2008 north of the border.
However, injuries and ineffectiveness plagued Thomas from the get-go , and manager John Gibbons benched him after hitting just .167 in 16 games.
Vowing his career would "not end like this," Thomas was released on April 20th and signed on with the Oakland A's four days later.
Thomas had revitalized his career with the Athletics just two years before, finishing in the top five of the league's MVP voting.
It just wasn't the same in 2008.
Thomas missed over half of the team's games due to injury, hitting .263 with just five home runs in the 55 games he played.
Those were the last five of his 521 career dingers.
The "Big Hurt" did not play in '09 and officially retired after signing a one-day deal with the White Sox before the 2010 campaign.
2008 Topps Baseball Cards In Review
The 2008 Topps Update & Highlights set certainly has things covered when it comes to big-time rookies with Kershaw, Scherzer and Longoria.
And the 2008 Topps base set contains the rookie card of surefire Hall-of-Famer Joey Votto.
Plenty of other huge superstars can also be found throughout the 660-card checklist.
These are all positive things.
But then there were some controversial aspects to the set.
There were several different subsets in the checklist, but rather than being grouped in sequential order, they are sprinkled randomly throughout:
- Leaders
- Managers
- Postseason Highlights
- Classic Combos
It's not a huge deal that the subset cards were grouped together.
But it was unusual.
2008 Topps also had a huge political influence to it which, depending on your style, may or may not have rubbed some collectors the wrong way.
The "Campaign 2008" insert set featured 12 cards highlighting candidates and themes of the 2008 election while the 55-card "Historical Campaign Match-Ups" inserts covered the past 54 elections as well as the Democratic primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Some collectors liked the political inserts, others not so much.
The design was another controversial point for many.
And the set checklist seemed to lack consistency and direction.
That was kind of the overall theme to the entire set, really: some collectors liked it and others weren't fans at all.
Overall, though it might not rank high on many collectors' wishlists, the 2008 Topps baseball set has plenty to offer for the hardcore hobbyist willing to take a closer look.