Topps continued to control the market into the late 1980s with a solid 1988 Topps Baseball Cards checklist that gave baseball card collectors a long list of all-stars, future Hall of Famers, and one notable rookie. That rookie card is of future Hall of Famer and long-time Atlanta Braves great Tom Glavine. With a loaded 1988 Topps checklist, the set produced many cards deserving to land on the 10 best 1988 Topps Baseball Cards list.
Joining Tom Glavine on the list were fellow rookie cards for Ken Al Leiter, Ken Caminiti, and Billy Ripken. Ripken would later be part of one of the most iconic error cards in sports card history. Other notable names within the set featured Barry Bonds, Cal Ripken Jr, and Nolan Ryan.
Meanwhile, the 1988 Topps Traded provided a long list of rookie cards for players such as Roberto Alomar, Mark Grace, Tino Martinez, Jim Abbot, and Robin Ventura.
10 Best 1988 Topps Baseball Cards
1988 Topps Tiffany #779 Tom Glavine Rookie Card
Among the most sought-after baseball cards featured within the 1988 Topps Baseball card product line across all four products are the 1988 Topps Tom Glavine Rookie Card and the 1988 Topps Tiffany Tom Glavine Rookie Card.
Glavine finished his career with a 3.54 earned run average, 305 wins, and two NL Cy Young Awards, earning him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A recent 1988 Topps Tiffany Tom Glavine PSA 10 rookie card sold for $898 in February 2023. Here are recent sale prices of Tom Glavine Topps Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $898
- PSA 9 – $55
- PSA 8 – $20.25
- Raw (Ungraded) – $8.99
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #4T Roberto Alomar Rookie Card
One of the slickest fielding infielders of all time and one of the greatest second basemen of all time, Roberto Alomar’s rookie card featured in the 1988 Topps Traded set and 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany set ranks among some of the best 1988 Topps baseball cards.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Roberto Alomar rookie card sold for $330 in March 2023. Here are recent sale prices of Robert Alomar Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $330
- PSA 9 – $56
- PSA 8 – $8.01
- Raw (Ungraded) – $
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #124T Robin Ventura Rookie Card
In today’s age of baseball card collecting, the 1988 Topps Traded rookie card may not be classified as his proper rookie card since he is featured in Team USA.
However, during this time frame of baseball card collecting, the 1988 Topps Traded and Topps Traded Tiffany Robin Ventura is considered his actual rookie card. Ventura had a strong MLB career while also being remembered for his fight with Nolan Ryan.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Robin Ventura Team USA rookie card sold for $279 in February 2023. Here are recent sale prices of Robin Ventura Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $279
- PSA 9 – $17.51
- PSA 8 – $15.05
- Raw (Ungraded) – $4.25
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #66T Tino Martinez Rookie Card
A vital member of the New York Yankees Dynasty Team in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, Tino Martinez was a fan favorite among Yankees fans and baseball card collectors.
Martinez racked up 339 career home runs while winning four World Series Championships with the Yankees. Similar to Ventura, Martinez is featured in the Team USA jersey.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Tino Martinez Team USA rookie card sold for $279 in December 2022. Here are recent sale prices of Tino Martinez Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $199.99
- PSA 9 – $21.27
- PSA 8 – $5.50
- Raw (Ungraded) – $7.25
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #1T Jim Abbott Rookie Card
It is hard to imagine the career Jim Abbott had after being born with no right hand. However, it didn’t slow him down while pitching from 1989 to 1999.
Abbott picked up 87 wins and 888 strikeouts with one no-hitter and a Gold Medal during his time with Team USA in the 1988 Olympic Games. Like Ventura and Martinez, Abbot is featured in the Team USA jersey.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Jim Abbott Team USA rookie card sold for $279 in February 2023. Here are recent sale prices of Robin Ventura Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $199.99
- PSA 9 – $44.25
- PSA 8 – $26
- Raw (Ungraded) – $9
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #21T Jay Buhner Rookie Card
Jay Buhner was one of the Seattle Mariners’ dynamic trio of hitters, teaming up with Ken Griffey Jr and Edgar Martinez.
Buhner finished his career with 310 home runs, one All-Star appearance, and one Gold Glove Award, earning him a spot in the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Jay Buhner rookie card sold for $127.50 in January 2023. Here are recent sale prices of Jay Buhner Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $127.50
- PSA 9 – $27.25
- PSA 8 – $13.20
- Raw (Ungraded) – $6.50
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #42T Mark Grace Rookie Card
The long-time Chicago Cubs All-Star first baseman Mark Grace lands among the Best 1988 Topps Baseball Cards list.
Grace, who played from 1988 to 2003, finished his career as a .303 hitter, winning four Gold Glove Awards, making three All-Star teams, and the 2001 World Series Arizona Diamondbacks team.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Mark Grace rookie card sold for $125 in November 2022. Here are recent sale prices of Mark Grace Topps Traded Tiffany rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $125
- PSA 9 – $37
- PSA 8 – $10
- Raw (Ungraded) – $2.50
1988 Topps #779 Tom Glavine Rookie Card
Despite not being as popular as the 1988 Topps Tiffany rookie card version, the base set Tom Glavine rookie card still ranks among some of the best Topps baseball cards in 1988.
Glavine, a member of the Atlanta Braves big three trio, including Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, finished his career as a member of the 300-win club. A recent 1988 Topps Tom Glavine rookie card sold for $117.50 in January 2023.
Here are recent sale prices of Tom Glavine Topps rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $117.50
- PSA 9 – $54
- PSA 8 – $8.25
- Raw (Ungraded) – $4.10
1988 Topps Tiffany #3 Mark McGwire Record Breakers No White Triangle
Mark McGwire followed up his monumental rookie season in 1987, hitting a former record 49 home runs as a rookie while leading all of Major League Baseball.
This success made him a member of the record breaker set within the 1988 Topps set. Some have no white triangle by his left foot, and others have one.
The no-white triangle is rarer and more popular amongst sports card collectors.
A recent 1988 Topps Tiffany Mark McGwire Record Breakers (No White Triangle) sold for $110 in January 2022. Here are recent sale prices of Mark McGwire Record Breakers (No White Triangle) cards.
- PSA 10 – $110
- PSA 9 – $15
- PSA 8 – $1.69
- Raw (Ungraded) – $3
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany #128T David Wells Rookie Card
David Wells is another rookie landing in the 1988 Topps Traded and 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany set. Wells pitched from 1987 to 2007 and racked up 2,201 career strikeouts with 239 wins, one perfect game, two World Series championships, and three All-Star selections.
A recent 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany David Wells rookie card sold for $98 in November 2022. Here are recent sale prices of David Wells rookie cards.
- PSA 10 – $98
- PSA 9 – $11.50
- PSA 8 – $1.99
- Raw (Ungraded) – $1
1988 Topps Baseball Card Buying Guide
Much like other years, baseball card collectors were given four products to collect in 1988, including both the base sets for 1988 Topps Baseball Cards and 1988 Topps Traded Baseball Cards, as well as the 1988 Topps Tiffany Baseball factory set and the 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany Baseball factory set.
1988 Topps Baseball Base Set
The 1988 Topps Baseball base set featured a 792-card checklist featured a massive list of all-stars and future Baseball Hall of Famers.
Topps offered the 1988 Topps Baseball cards in a factory set to feature all 792 baseball cards from the complete set in one box.
In addition, baseball card collectors could buy single 1988 Topps Baseball packs as well as full boxes and cases of 1988 Topps Baseball to allow for set building and trading.
1988 Topps Traded
In addition to the 1988 Topps Baseball base set, Topps released the 1988 Topps Traded set.
Arriving later in the year, the 1988 Topps Traded set delivered a strong rookie checklist while providing baseball card collectors a 132-factory set of players who were on the move or made their rookie debuts.
1988 Topps Tiffany
The third set Topps released from 1984 to 1991 to mirror their regular base set was the Topps Tiffany set, which was an upgrade to the standard set while featuring a different back and a glossy front.
The 1988 Topps Tiffany set was rumored to have a print run of 30,000 while delivering one of the most popular cards released – the Tom Glavine Topps Tiffany rookie card.
1988 Topps Traded Tiffany
The last Topps product line released during the 1988 MLB season was the 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany set that mirrored the 132-card 1988 Topps Traded Set.
The 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany set was rumored to have a print of 30,000 while delivering a rookie class that featured a few of the Best 1988 Topps Baseball cards in the collection.
1988 Topps Baseball Base Set VS 1988 Topps Tiffany Baseball Set Value
The 1988 Topps Baseball base set ranged from $27 for a set build set upwards of $60 for a 1988 Topps Baseball factory set.
In comparison, the 1989 Topps Tiffany Baseball set, which only comes in a factory set, sells between $250 and $400 depending on if the base is factory sealed.
1988 Topps Traded VS 1988 Topps Tiffany Traded Set Value
Featuring a solid rookie class for the 1988 MLB season, the 1988 Topps traded set was overproduced, which lowered its value.
The 1988 Topps Traded set sales price ranges between $15 and $30. Whereas the 1988 Topps Traded Tiffany set sales price ranges between $185 and $300 depending on the condition of the box.
