1988 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1988.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1988 Topps set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, rack (42 cards plus 1 All-Star Game Commemorative card), jumbo packs, vending boxes or factory sets. Subsets include Future Stars, Topps All-Star Rookies, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, Team Leaders, Checklists and Manager cards. Player cards had a thin colored line separating the white border and player photo. The team name appeared in color at the top of the action photo and was often hidden behind a player's head, giving a three-dimensional appearance. The player's name appeared in a colored trapezoid that ran from the bottom border to the right border. The player's position did not appear on the front of the card. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards and was issued as a factory set. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for the thinner, white cardstock and lighter colored back. This set featured traded players and managers, extended rookie cards, and the U.S. Olympic baseball team. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy Send-Ins

This set totals 60 cards and was available by mailing in the special offer cards found in 1988 Topps wax packs. The fronts have a glossy player photo while the backs say All-Star Set Collector's Edition and include the players name, team, and position. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy All-Stars

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1988 Topps rak packs. The back says All-Star Game Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and league. There are 11 cards each for the American and National League All-Star teams. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Mini Leaders

The Mini set includes 77 cards and were available in wax packs. The cards vaguely resemble the base set and featured players that led various statistical categories. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in.

Glossy Rookies

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1988 Topps jumbo packs. The back says Rookies Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and team. The cards slightly resemble the Glossy All-Star set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Topps Big

This set totals 264 cards issued in three series of 88 cards and was available in wax packs. Comic style career highlights are featured on the back. Size: 2-5/8 X 3-3/4 in.

Wax Box Cards

The "Box Bottom" cards were featured 4 to a box on the bottom of the wax pack boxes of 1988 Topps of which there were 4 different boxes for a total of 16 cards. They resemble the base cards except for having a career highlight on the back instead of full statistics and a light blue border instead of white. The set is lettered A-P rather than numbered. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. when individually cut out.

UK Minis

This "American Baseball" set had 88 total cards and was issued in wax packs for the United Kingdom. The backs featured explanations of plays and definitions of baseball terminology. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in.

Parallel Sets

*In 1988 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the Base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets. A Tiffany set was also available of the UK Minis set.
*In 1988 O-Pee-Chee printed an identical, save for O-Pee-Chee branding, set with only 396 cards which featured lighter gray cardstock, bilingual English/French backs, and added traded lines on some cards. O-Pee-Chee also printed bilingual versions of the Wax Box Cards.

Retail/Food Issues

These are sets issued by other companies in conjunction with Topps.
*Bazooka 22 cards issued in boxes of gum. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*K-Mart 33 card box set called Memorable Moments. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Kay-Bee 33 card box set called Superstars of Baseball. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Revco League Leaders 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Rite-Aid Team MVP's 33 card box set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Toys R Us 33 card box set called Baseball Rookies. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Woolworth's 33 card box set. Titled Topps Collectors Series Baseball Highlights. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Football

Base set

The 1988 football set contains 396 cards and was issued in wax packs and factory sets. Subsets include Team leaders, Record Breakers, league leaders, Super Bowl, and checklists. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Box Bottoms

The box card set has 16 cards that were found on the bottom of regular issue wax packs boxes as a four card panel. The cards feature two players per card of NFL stars who won awards when in college. The cards are lettered A-P. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. (individually)

1000 Yard Club

This set totals 28 glossy cards and were issued as inserts in the football wax packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained 1000 yards or more during the season by rushing or receiving. The back of the cards list the total yardage gained by the player in each game of the season. Since the 1987 season was shortened by a strike the figures on the backs of the cards are projected. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Hockey

The Topps 1988 hockey card set featured an English only 198 card set on grey card stock, with a white border all around the front with a bulletin board pin at the top with the players name. The Opeechee set featured a 396 card set in English and French printed on thicker white card stock. The main attractions on the Topps set were Brett Hull's Rookie card and Wayne Gretky's press conference photo announcing his move to the Los Angeles Kings. The Topps card of Wayne Gretzky is more sought after than the Opeechee card because the Opeechee card has Gretzky in full Kings gear, thus a newer photo. The Opeechee card of Brett Hull at one point was one of the most sought after hockey cards of the 1980's after his 86 goal season. It was counterfeited many times. One way to tell the original from a fake is that the real card has a yellow dot on the pin.

References

*Beckett, Dr. James et al (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X