1988 Donruss Greg Maddux #439
Greg Maddux · Donruss · Base Card (Early Career Second-Year Card)
Player
Greg Maddux
Set
1988 Donruss Base Set
Year
1988
Card #
#439
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint). The card appears reasonably centered for the set, but visible soft corners on the bottom right and potential surface scratches on the top-loader/card surface suggest a mid-tier grade.
Category
Base Card (Early Career Second-Year Card)
Manufacturer
Donruss
Demand Level
Moderate. While a high-population card, Maddux is a legendary pitcher with a dedicated fan base. Raw copies move slowly, but high-grade (PSA 10) copies are high in demand.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 8: $15-25, PSA 9: $45-60, PSA 10: $250-350
Comparable Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies range from $0.99 to $2.50 plus shipping. PSA 9 copies have recently settled around $50, while PSA 10s fluctuate based on registry demand between $275 and $325.
Description
Featured here is a classic 1988 Donruss card of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (#439). The card features a young 'Mad Dog' in his Chicago Cubs home pinstripes, mid-windup. The design showcases the iconic 1988 Donruss border with its blue, black, and red color blocks and the scripted 1988 Donruss logo in the top left corner.
Key Features
Hall of Fame player; early career Chicago Cubs card; clean 80s aesthetic; high demand for 'The Professor' collectors.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence. This card is from the 'Junk Wax Era' and is not commonly counterfeited. Authentic indicators include the characteristic chipboard-style card stock and the specific red/blue color saturation of the 1988 Donruss design.
Flaws to Note
Centering is slightly shifted toward the bottom left. Bottom right corner shows minor whitening/rounding. Surface likely has minor factory print lines common with 1988 Donruss stock.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the best platform for a single raw card like this. If part of a larger lot, consider Facebook Marketplace or a local card show 'dollar box.'
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card unless it is absolutely flawless (potential PSA 10). The cost of grading exceeds the value of a PSA 8 or PSA 9. For listing, use keywords like 'HOF', 'Cubs', and 'Vigorous Photography' to show corner sharpness. Ship in a cardboard-reinforced envelope.