1988 Topps Buddy Bell #726
Buddy Bell · Topps · Base
Player
Buddy Bell
Set
1988 Topps Baseball
Year
1988
Card #
726
Condition Grade
PSA 8 (NM-MT) - Corners appear sharp, centering is slightly heavy to the top and right, edges are clean with minimal chipping, and surface gloss is intact with no major scratches visible in the holder.
Category
Base
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low - Junk wax era mass-produced card with steady, nostalgic demand primarily from set builders and team collectors.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.25 - $1.00
Graded Value
PSA 7: $5-10, PSA 8: $10-15, PSA 9: $20-30, PSA 10: $75-100
Comparable Sales
Recent raw sales of 1988 Topps Buddy Bell range from $0.25 to $1.00 on eBay and COMC. Graded PSA 9 copies occasionally sell in the $15-$25 range.
Description
1988 Topps Baseball card featuring Cincinnati Reds third baseman Buddy Bell. The card features a classic 1988 wood-grain border design with a bold red 'REDS' team name at the top, the Topps logo in the upper right of the photo frame, a position badge reading '3B' in the lower left, and the player name 'BUDDY BELL' printed at the bottom white border. The action photo shows Bell crouched in his defensive stance at third base.
Key Features
Features veteran infielder and multi-time Gold Glove winner Buddy Bell during his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds. Part of the iconic 1988 Topps wood-grain set which is heavily nostalgic for 1980s baseball card collectors.
Authenticity Indicators
Standard 1988 Topps card stock, correct font formatting, registration, and trademark symbols. High confidence in authenticity; cards from this era and tier are rarely counterfeited due to low market value.
Flaws to Note
Slight top-to-bottom centering bias with a thicker bottom border. Minor corner softness typical of 1980s Topps factory cutting.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
COMC, eBay (best sold as part of a team lot or set rather than individually due to low single card value), or local card shop dollar bins.
Selling Tips
Not economically viable to grade given the high cost of grading relative to the low raw card value. Best sold raw as a single, part of a 1988 Topps complete set, or grouped into a Cincinnati Reds team lot using standard PWE (Plain White Envelope) shipping for single cards.