The 1988 Topps baseball set is a classic one.
It had a simplistic look to it that just works. The action image in the middle and the team name in the top, with minimal graphical elements.
The set also had some of the biggest stars in it, especially when it comes to rookie cards – Tom Glavine and Jim Abbott, just to name a few.
Of course, we must not forget about stars such as Nolan Ryan, Bo Jackson, or Don Mattingly…
Let’s go over the top 5 cards from the 1988 Topps baseball set and some honorable mentions to top it off!
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Top 5 1988 Topps Baseball Cards
These are the top 5 cards from the 1988 Topps baseball set.
1. 1988 Topps Tom Glavine RC #779
This Tom Glavine rookie card from 1988 might be one of the first picks for many collectors looking to get something from the set.
#779 is a special one. The set contained 795 cards in total, so this card was near the end of the set.
But perhaps more importantly, it is the rookie card of Tom Glavine, one of the biggest baseball stars of the 1990s and early 2000s. And let’s not forget that Glavine was voted into the Hall of Fame, so this card is extra special.
The good thing here is that this card won’t be very expensive. Because of high print runs and easy availability, you will be able to get this one for relatively cheap. You might even find one in great condition that won’t blow your entire budget away.
2. 1988 Topps Tiffany Don Mattingly #300
This Don Mattingly card is rarer than most Topps cards from 1988, making it an extra bit special.
By 1988, Mattingly was already a well-known entity in baseball and one of the biggest stars at the time. Having won the AL MVP award in 1985 and after being included in the All-Star team from 1984 to 1989, Mattingly’s Topps cards were always popular.
Considering all that, this will undoubtedly be one of the most valuable cards from the 1988 Topps baseball set.
Note that this particular card is the Tiffany version, which will be a bit more valuable than the base card. The base card will be more easily available and perhaps a bit more affordable, too.