1988 Score Bobby Kelly Rookie Card #323
Bobby Kelly (Roberto Kelly) · Score · Rookie Card (RC)
Player
Bobby Kelly (Roberto Kelly)
Set
1988 Score (Base)
Year
1988
Card #
323
Condition Grade
PSA 8 (NM-MT). The centering is shifted slightly top-heavy (roughly 60/40); corners appear sharp with minimal whitening; edges are clean; surface shows no major visible refractor scratches or wax stains.
Category
Rookie Card (RC)
Manufacturer
Score
Demand Level
Low/Niche. Primarily sought by Reds/Yankees team collectors or completionists of the 1988 Score set. Robert Kelly is a respected former player and coach, but lacks Hall of Fame status to drive major 'investment' demand.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.25 - $1.00
Graded Value
PSA 8: $5-10, PSA 9: $15-25, PSA 10: $60-80 (Note: High volatility for PSA 10 junk wax due to low population and high grading costs relative to value).
Comparable Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies are consistently under $1.00 plus shipping. PSA 9 copies have moved in the $15-20 range, though transactions are infrequent due to the high volume of raw supply.
Description
This 1988 Score rookie card features individual Bobby Kelly in his Cincinnati Reds uniform. The card boasts the iconic Score red-and-white striped border design with a clean action shot. The player's name is boldly printed at the top in white against a red header, with the classic Reds logo in the bottom right corner.
Key Features
Official Rookie Card (RC) of the 2-time All-Star; iconic first-year Score set design from the 'Junk Wax' era; early career appearance in Cincinnati Reds uniform before his prominent tenure as a New York Yankee.
Authenticity Indicators
Signs of high confidence. Typical card stock thickness for 1988 Score; dot-matrix printing pattern visible in the red banner consistent with late-80s manufacturing; no common reprints exist as it is not a high-value vintage card.
Flaws to Note
Centering is slightly off towards the top and left margins. Minor corner softness may be visible under magnification on the bottom left corner. This set is notorious for print dots (fisheyes) which often occur in the solid background colors.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as part of a lot or via eBay Standard Envelope), COMC (Check Out My Cards) for long-tail sales to set builders, or local card shop bulk bins.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card unless it is a flawless candidate for a PSA 10, as grading fees will exceed the market value. When listing, use keywords like 'RC', 'Rookie', and 'Cincinnati Reds'. Best sold in a 'Rookies of the 80s' bundle to save on shipping costs.