1988 Topps Al Leiter Future Stars RC #18
Al Leiter · Topps · Rookie Card (RC), Future Stars subset
Player
Al Leiter
Set
1988 Topps Baseball
Year
1988
Card #
#18
Condition Grade
PSA 6 (EX-MT) - Corners show visible soft rounding, particularly the bottom left and top right. Centering is significantly shifted towards the left border. Surface shows standard paper stock tooth.
Category
Rookie Card (RC), Future Stars subset
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low/Stable. While Leiter had a great career and is a popular broadcaster, 1988 Topps was produced in massive quantities, making this card extremely common.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.50 - $2.00
Graded Value
PSA 8: $15-20, PSA 9: $45-60, PSA 10: $250-350 (Note: This specific card is unlikely to grade high enough to justify the cost of authentication).
Comparable Sales
Raw copies frequently sell for $1.00 plus shipping in lots. Recent PSA 9 sales have reached $50-$60, while PSA 10s command high premiums due to the difficulty of finding gem mint copies in 'Junk Wax' paper stock.
Description
Featured is the 1988 Topps Al Leiter rookie card, part of the iconic 'Future Stars' subset. The card shows a young Leiter in a New York Yankees pinstripe uniform, set against a classic vibrant 80s blue background with the multi-colored 'Future Stars' banner. This is an essential card for Yankees collectors or fans of the multi-time All-Star and World Series champion.
Key Features
Official Rookie Card designation for Al Leiter; Iconic 1988 Topps design; Future Stars subset high-visibility branding.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity Confidence: High. Correct card stock thickness for the 'Junk Wax' era. Correct halftone printing dots visible in the photo. This card is not commonly counterfeited due to high production numbers.
Flaws to Note
Significant left-to-right centering horizontal bias. Softening corners, especially prominent on the lower left edge. Minor edge chipping visible on the right side against the darker border colors.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Best sold as part of a lot on eBay or Mercari, or as a filler for a team set at a local card show. The value does not warrant high-end auction house placement.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this specific card; the grading fees will exceed the market value of the expected grade. List it using keywords like 'Yankees RC' and 'Future Stars' to attract team collectors. Ship in a standard PWE (Plain White Envelope) with a penny sleeve and top loader to keep costs low for the buyer.