1988 Topps Andres Galarraga #231
Andres Galarraga · Topps · Base Card
Player
Andres Galarraga
Set
1988 Topps Base Set
Year
1988
Card #
#231
Condition Grade
PSA 6 (EX-MT). Centering is heavily skewed to the right (approx 70/30). Top-right corner shows visible whitening/softness. Surface appears to have standard factory 'orange peel' texture common in 1988 Topps production.
Category
Base Card
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low. While Galarraga is a beloved figure, this specific card was printed in the millions. There is a massive surplus of supply compared to collector demand, usually limited to player collectors or set builders.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.10 - $0.50
Graded Value
PSA 8: $5-10, PSA 9: $15-25, PSA 10: $60-80. Note: Grading costs significantly exceed current market value for this specific specimen.
Comparable Sales
Raw copies consistently sell for less than $1 in bulk lots. PSA 10 examples (perfect condition) have recently sold for $70-90, but cards in the condition shown (PSA 6/7 range) often fail to sell individually or go for under $2.
Description
This 1988 Topps Andres Galarraga card features 'The Big Cat' in his classic Montreal Expos powder blue road uniform completing a powerful swing. The card uses the iconic 1988 Topps design with a diagonal team name 'Expos' in the upper left and a colored border/nameplate at the bottom. The background features a blue/white patterned border unique to this set.
Key Features
Early career card of 5-time All-Star, 2-time Gold Glove winner, and 1993 NL Batting Champion. Popular player for Montreal Expos and Colorado Rockies collectors. Iconic junk-wax era design.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence. This card is a mass-produced base card from the junk-wax era with no known history of counterfeiting. Card stock is standard 1988 grey chipboard; colors and dot-matrix patterns are consistent with authentic Topps production.
Flaws to Note
Significant right-side centering bias (heavy white border on left, thin on right). Visible corner wear on the top right. Minor edge chipping along the blue border on the left side. Overall common production quality issues typical of the era.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Best sold as part of a lot on eBay or Mercari. For a single card of this value, a local card shop's '5-for-a-dollar' bin or a garage sale is most appropriate. Not recommended for high-end auction houses.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card; the grading fee will be roughly 20-50 times the card's actual value. If selling on eBay, use standard envelope shipping for $0.64 to keep costs low. Listing as '1988 Topps Expos Team Set' builder might attract more interest than a solo listing.