1988 Rookie Cards
18 rookie cards across Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, Football. Sorted by estimated gem mint value.
1988-89 O-Pee-Chee Joe Sakic #113
Super Joe's OPC rookie card. Sakic won two Stanley Cups with Colorado and was named team captain of Team Canada for the 2002 Olympics — an honor that speaks to his teammates' respect for his leadership and excellence.
1988-89 Fleer Scottie Pippen #20 RC
Pippen Fleer flagship RC. One of the most versatile players in NBA history — could guard all five positions, run the offense, and was the perfect complement to Jordan. Six championships, seven-time All-Defensive First Team.
1988-89 Fleer All-Stars Scottie Pippen #8
Jordan's greatest teammate and one of the best defenders ever. Pippen was the other half of the Bulls dynasty.
1988-89 Topps Brian Leetch RC #136
Brian Leetch won the 1989 Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year and became the heart of the New York Rangers. His 1988-89 Topps rookie card is a key card of the junk wax era.
1988 Topps Roberto Alomar #4 RC
Robbie Alomar Topps RC. The most complete second baseman of his generation — 12 All-Star games, 10 Gold Gloves, and a .300 career average. His ALCS performance in 1992 against Oakland is the stuff of legend.
1988-89 Fleer Mitch Richmond RC #100
The Fleer rookie card of The Rock, one of the most prolific scorers of the 1990s. Richmond won Rookie of the Year with the Golden State Warriors and immediately showed the scoring prowess that would define his career. His pull-up jumper from the mid-range was automatic and virtually unguardable.
1988 Topps Tim Brown #352
Tim Brown 1988 Topps rookie card. The 1987 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame who became the Raiders all-time leading receiver. 1,094 career receptions and 14,934 yards rank among the top 10 in NFL history.
1988-89 Fleer Rik Smits RC #57
"The Dunking Dutchman" — 7-foot-4 center from the Netherlands. 2nd pick in 1988 and cornerstone of the Pacers through the Reggie Miller era.
1988 Donruss Fred McGriff #195
The Crime Dog Donruss RC. McGriff hit 493 career home runs across five teams and was elected to the HOF in 2023 by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. He was the consummate professional — 10 seasons with 30+ home runs.
1988-89 Topps Pierre Turgeon RC #194
Pierre Turgeon 1988-89 Topps rookie card. The #1 overall pick in 1987 was one of the most gifted playmakers of his era. His 1,327 career points rank him among the top 50 scorers in NHL history, yet he remains one of the most underappreciated players ever.
1988 Score Roberto Alomar #80
One of the greatest second basemen ever. Alomar's 12 All-Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves set the standard for the position.
1988 Donruss Tom Glavine RC #644
The key rookie card of the left-handed maestro who mastered the art of pitching. Glavine won two Cy Young Awards and a World Series MVP with the Braves dynasty of the 1990s. His 305 career wins and pinpoint control made him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
1988-89 Topps Joe Nieuwendyk RC #16
The Topps rookie of the Calder Trophy winner who scored 51 goals as a rookie with the Calgary Flames. Nieuwendyk went on to win three Stanley Cups with three different teams and the Conn Smythe Trophy as 1999 playoff MVP with Dallas.
1988 Topps Fred McGriff #463
McGriff Topps RC. He was one of the few elite sluggers of the 1990s who was never linked to performance-enhancing drugs, which added context to his HOF election. His 1995 mid-season trade to Atlanta ignited the Braves to a World Series title.
1988 Donruss Edgar Martinez RC #275
The key rookie of the greatest designated hitter in baseball history. Martinez hit .312 with 309 home runs for the Mariners, and his famous 1995 ALDS double against the Yankees saved baseball in Seattle. The DH award is literally named after him.
Mark Jackson 1988 Fleer #56 Rookie Card
Famous for the Menendez Brothers courtside appearance in the background. Jackson later coached the Warriors pre-Kerr and finished with 10,334 career assists.
David Wells 1988 Topps #765 Rookie Card
Boomer threw a perfect game for the Yankees on May 17, 1998 — the 15th in MLB history. A Babe Ruth superfan who pitched 21 seasons with 239 career wins.
1988 Topps Bill Ripken RC #493
The actual Topps rookie card of Cal Ripken Jr.'s younger brother. While overshadowed by the infamous 1989 Fleer error, Bill had a solid 12-year career as a utility infielder with Baltimore and Texas.