13 Most Valuable 1998 Donruss Baseball Cards

1998 Donruss #299 David Ortiz

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $75

Before he was "Big Papi," David Ortiz was just a kid looking to prove himself at the big-league level.

At the beginning of his rookie season in 1998, it looked promising.

The Minnesota Twins first baseman/designated hitter hit .300 with 20 RBIs into the second week of May, putting aside a contentious relationship with manager Tom Kelly to contribute and contribute big.

Unluckily, fate intervened on May 9th.

Ortiz snapped the hamate bone in his right wrist in an 8-1 win over the Yankees, putting his season on hiatus for two months.

According to Ortiz, he'd been playing through wrist pain for a week and a half before the injury occurred.

And wildly enough, the 22-year-old homered through the pain in his final at-bat before his DL stint.

Ortiz returned late in the season and hit .370 in September.

The 70-win Twins were a nowhere team, but the kid added some flair to an otherwise drab stretch run.

He ended '98 slashing .277/.371/.446 with nine homers and 46 RBIs in 86 games played.

1998 Donruss #28 Ken Griffey Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $50

The most famous man in baseball became Public Enemy #1 at the 1998 All-Star Game.

It shouldn't have been that way.

Reigning AL MVP Ken Griffey Jr. was at the peak of the MLB mountain in the late 90s before injuries derailed his career in the latter half.

He stacked Gold Gloves, hit 50-plus bombs, and displayed a smile that captivated a world of baseball fans.

There were few reasons to jeer Griffey unless he was blasting your team to smithereens.

Yet, at the '98 Midsummer Classic, Griffey got booed mercilessly.

And it was all because of the Home Run Derby.

Two home runs behind Mark McGwire in hot pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season record, Griffey said no to a swing-for-swing showdown.

Fans fumed at Griffey's decision and let him know it on Derby Day.

Griffey was taken aback by the reaction and decided to change course right before the festivities began.

"I really didn't like it," Griffey said. "They felt they wanted me in the home run competition so I did it. This is not a time to get booed, at an All-Star game."

Junior did the fans one better, outlasting McGwire and fellow finalist Jim Thome for the Derby win.

1998 Donruss #105 Todd Helton

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $40

After hitting .352 with 16 home runs, 88 RBIs and 87 runs scored through 99 games with the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Colorado Rockies called up Todd Helton on August 2, 1997.

The Rockies faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium that day, with both teams playing below .500 baseball.

But, in an otherwise meaningless game, a Hall of Fame career was just getting started.

The Rockies had Helton in left field and hitting fifth in the order behind the legendary Andres Galarraga, the man Helton would eventually replace at first base the following year.

After flying out to left in his first at-bat, Helton followed with a single to left in the top of the fourth for his first Major League hit.

But the real fun came in the top of the 8th when Helton sent a pitch from Marc Wilkins over the fence in center-right for his first Major League home run.

From that day on, Helton played solid ball the rest of the season.

And by next season, with Galarraga headed to the St. Louis Cardinals, Helton settled in as the Rockies' full-time first baseman.

From his rookie 1998 season until he retired in 2013, Helton was a fixture at first for Colorado, finishing his career as a .316 hitter with 2,519 hits, 369 home runs and 1,406 RBIs.

1998 Donruss #118 Rickey Henderson

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $35

Back in Oakland for the fourth time in two decades, Rickey Henderson looked to turn the clock back and turn on the after-burners in 1998.

It worked in some ways and not in others.

The '98 A's were an uninspiring bunch, finishing at 74-88 with a league-average offense and a porous pitching staff.

They never sniffed contention, and Henderson's light hitting didn't help.

A career .279 hitter with a .401 on-base percentage, Henderson hit just .236 in 1998 with a .376 OBP.

It was the first time since 1988 that he failed to get on base forty percent of the time.

On the plus side, Rickey was an absolute terror when he got aboard.

He used an AL-best 118 walks to his advantage, swiping an MLB-leading 66 bases for his 12th-and-final stolen base crown.

As quickly as he came back to the Bay, Henderson left again, signing a one-year deal with the New York Mets for the 1999 campaign.

He never suited up in Oakland's trademark green and gold again.

1998 Donruss #22 Tony Gwynn

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

After four straight batting titles and eight total, legendary San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn wasn't satisfied.

From his rookie year in 1982 to 1997, the Friars made just two playoff appearances (1984, 1996) and one World Series (1984).

They were the picture of mediocrity, all while Gwynn raked his way to the Hall of Fame.

So, it's ironic that the Padres made their second World Series trip in a year that Gwynn took a noticeable step back.

It wasn't that Gwynn was bad in '98.

He finished ninth in the National League with a .321 average and notched both a 14th All-Star appearance and a down-ballot mention in the MVP race.

On the other hand, Gwynn's defense in right field was pretty awful, and his WAR dipped dramatically from 4.3 in 1997 to 1.5.

Regardless of Gwynn's downturn, the 98-win Padres lapped the NL West for their second postseason berth in three seasons.

San Diego dumped the Astros in four and the Braves in six to reach the Fall Classic.

In the World Series, the 38-year-old future Hall-of-Famer was a menace, going 8-for-16 against the Yankees and blasting the only playoff homer of his career.

It didn't help the Padres' fortunes, though, as New York outclassed San Diego in an emphatic four-game sweep.

1998 Donruss #61 Cal Ripken Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

In the eighteen seasons of Cal Ripken Jr's record-breaking consecutive games streak, nearly 5,000 fellow players made a trip or multiple trips to the disabled list.

The Baltimore Orioles shortstop/third baseman was a wonder of determination and durability.

His 2,632-game odyssey cleared Lou Gehrig's previous record by over 500 contests, and he played every game with a sense of purpose and grace.

So, when Ripken decided to pull himself out of the Orioles' final home game in 1998, it was a jarring sight.

The O's played a game without him for the first time since 1981.

It was downright weird.

"There have been times during the streak that the focus was on the streak, and I never felt totally comfortable with that," Ripken said. "It just reached a point where I firmly believe it was time to change the subject and restore the focus back where it should be."

A team-first player from start to finish, Ripken played all but that one game in '98.

The 16-time All-Star slashed .271/.331/.389 for the fourth-place O's with 14 home runs and 61 RBIs in 659 plate appearances (601 at-bats).

1998 Donruss #100 Derek Jeter

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

The 1998 New York Yankees were too good, too dominant for any one player to stand above the rest.

So, perhaps Derek Jeter got screwed.

Yeah, Juan Gonzalez went bonkers, and Nomar Garciaparra had a banger of an all-around season.

But Jeter piloted the 114-win Yankees juggernaut to one of the best seasons in Major League history.

The 24-year-old shortstop slashed .324/.384/.481 on the year with an AL-best 127 runs scored, 19 home runs, 25 doubles, eight triples, 30 stolen bases, and 84 RBIs in 149 games played.

Jeter didn't have the flashiest numbers or the fashionable power stroke of the Steroid Era.

Yet, there's no debating who was the most valuable contributor to one of the best ballclubs of all time.

"MVP is the most valuable player, not necessarily the player who had the best numbers or had the best year," Jeter said. "A lot of people look at homers and RBIs as the only thing that's important, and that's not true."

Voters felt differently.

Jeter earned just two of a possible 28 first-place votes.

Yet, the future Captain got the last laugh.

The Yankees ripped through the playoffs on an 11-2 run, finishing things off with a definitive four-game World Series sweep of the Padres. 

1998 Donruss #375 Ken Griffey Jr.

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $30

The 13-card Hit List subset highlighted some of the biggest names and best hitters of the day.

And the design was great, too.

While Griffey's Home Run Derby victory over McGwire and Thome was a memorable moment, some fans may forget just how many incredible moments he had overall in 1998.

Understandably, the season-long home run chase between McGwire and Sammy Sosa overshadowed just about everything else.

But Griffey was as outstanding as ever.

Griffey ended the campaign with a .284/.365/.611 slash, 56 home runs, 33 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 120 runs scored, and 146 RBIs in 161 games played.

He hit both his 300th and 350th career homers in the same season.

Historic feats aside, Griffey finished fourth in his bid for an MVP repeat, likely because the Mariners fell from division champs in '97 to a 76-win also-ran.

The eye appeal of this card is incredible, considering how Griffey's smooth swing really pops with the excellent surrounding graphic design.

1998 Donruss #21 Chipper Jones

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

1998 is the year that Chipper Jones' Cooperstown journey began in earnest.

On the short list of the best switch hitters in MLB history, Jones already had two top-ten MVP finishes and a Rookie of the Year runner-up in his back pocket before the 1998 campaign.

However, here's when Chipper's Hall-of-Fame concoction of power, average, and patience really got cooking.

Jones topped .400 in on-base percentage for the first of ten times (.404), en route to a .401 career mark.

He set new career bests in several categories, including batting average (.313), walks (96), home runs (34), and slugging percentage (.547).

It was only up from here.

Jones finished ninth in the NL MVP balloting for the second consecutive year and nabbed his third straight All-Star spot.

Three years after winning a title in his rookie year, the stars seemed to align for another trophy run in '98.

Instead, Jones hit barely over .200 with no homers in nine October games.

The Braves lost in six to the Padres in the NLCS, with Jones contributing very little in the losing effort.

1998 Donruss #165 Derek Jeter

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

The "Fan Club" cards were another group of well-designed cards that featured ten of the biggest names in baseball.

Guys like Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr., Greg Maddux, and, of course, Derek Jeter gave collectors another way to see their favorite players in this subset.

The reverse of the cards highlighted Donruss's promotion to "put the ball in your hand" by allowing collectors to visit their website and vote for their favorite player.

The players who received the most votes received a spot in the ten-card subset.

It was an excellent way for Donruss to boost collector interest and build hype for the release of its "Donruss Update" cards, which ended up being the second series of this set.

Remember, the card market was still suffering after the bubble burst of the early 90s, so doing things like this to gain collector favor were a must.

Regardless of the intention behind this card, I really enjoy its design.

The image of Jeter ready to throw after fielding a grounder gives the card a solid look and feel in an already aesthetically pleasing layout.

1998 Donruss #305 Magglio Ordóñez

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $25

Magglio Ordoñez showed plenty of promise during his rookie 1998 season for the Chicago White Sox, slashing .282/.326/.415 with 12 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 70 runs scored.

Though the White Sox finished a disappointing 80-82-1, Ordoñez was a bright spot, capturing fifth place in the AL Rookie of the Year vote.

Over time, he continued building himself into one of the best hitters of his era.

In eight seasons on the South Side, Ordoñez made four trips to the All-Star Game, establishing himself as a consistent .300+ hitter with plenty of pop.

Ordoñez seemed good for 30+ homers and 100+ RBIs almost automatically in any given year.

His time in Chicago ended in 2005 when he signed a five-year, $85 million deal to play for the division-rival Detroit Tigers.

Ultimately, he spent 7 years with Detroit before retiring in 2011, and while he wasn't as good as he was in Chicago, he still turned in a couple more All-Star seasons.

The Venezuelan native was one of the best in the Majors during his day but fell short of an induction to Cooperstown.

1998 Donruss #12 Frank Thomas

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

The 1998 season was a waking nightmare for Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas.

As baseball enjoyed a surge in popularity during the Great Home Run Chase, Thomas had the worst campaign of his nine-season career thus far.

His .265 batting average was 65 points lower than his career mark, and his 29 homers were his worst since 1992.

The Big Hurt was full of hurt in 1998.

And he took that pent-up frustration out on those around him.

"I was miserable, and I made everyone around me miserable," Thomas said. "It was an extremely humbling season."

Calling himself Five O'Clock Frank for his inability to transfer his batting practice theatrics to the games themselves, Thomas directed his ire at fans, umpires, media members, and opposing players.

He'd eventually turn that harsh spotlight onto himself, losing 15 pounds during the winter and dedicating himself to a strict condition routine.

1998 Donruss #62 Mark McGwire

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $20

Mark McGwire's 1998 season was pretty much about one thing: chasing Roger Maris's record for most home runs in a single season.

The St. Louis Cardinals were decent, finishing 83-79-1 and out of the playoffs.

But Cardinals fans and all of baseball were primarily focused on McGwire's relentless pursuit of Maris's record.

And, to make things even more entertaining, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa were also hitting home runs at record-setting paces.

Ultimately, the home run chase came down to McGwire and Sosa, who would both eventually hit more than Maris's 61 home runs.

On September 18, 1998, McGwire became the first of the pair of home run hitters to break the record when he sent a scorcher over the left field fence at Busch Stadium, giving him 62 and the new record.

He'd go on to hit 70 home runs that year, while Sosa finished with 66 of his own.

Both players would eventually find themselves and their careers overshadowed by their controversial usage of performance-enhancing drugs.

And many no longer take their 1998 seasons seriously.

But as that season unfolded, McGwire and Sosa helped baseball get back on its feet. 

1998 Donruss Baseball Cards In Review

For collectors who were around in the late 1990s, this set can bring back some great memories of that era.

The David Ortiz, Todd Helton, and Magglio Ordoñez star rookie cards are must-haves, as are the base cards of big names like Griffey, Jeter, Henderson, Ripken, and more.

None of them will break the bank, so they're worth grabbing if you're a fan of those guys.

I also really enjoy the set design since it's not too flashy but still looks sharp.

And even if you're not a big fan of this set, ripping packs can still be a fun way to chase those extremely popular Donruss Crusade inserts.

Other information about this set includes:

Checklist: 420 cards 

Distribution: Series 1: 170 cards ; Series 2 (Donruss Update): 250 cards

Subsets:

• Checklists (#110 and #220)

Insert Sets

• 1998 NBA Draft Redemptions
• Apparitions
• Autographs
• Classic Collection
• Coast To Coast
• Cornerstones
• East/West
• East/West Refractors
• Emissaries
• Kick Start
• Legacies
• Roundball Royalty
• Roundball Royalty Refractors
• Season's Best
• Topps Chrome Previews
• Topps Chrome Previews Refractors
• Topps Gold Label
• Topps Gold Label Black Label
• Topps Gold Label Red Label

The lack of subsets is notable but doesn't really hurt the desirability of this set by any means.

The Hall of Fame rookie cards carry a solid checklist that appeared during a rough spot in NBA history, thanks to the work stoppage and lockout that season.

Eventually, the league recovered and many of the guys in this set became legends.