Manufacturer: Topps
Set: 1988 Topps Traded Baseball ➡️
Player Name: David Wells
Position/Team: Pitcher for Blue Jays
Card #: 128T
Card Size: 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
David Lee Wells, better known as “Boomer,” is one of the most colorful and “un-athletic” legends in baseball history. He was a quintessential “guy’s guy”—a portly, left-handed pitcher who loved beer, heavy metal, and Babe Ruth, yet possessed a precision on the mound that defied his “party animal” reputation. Wells was called “Boomer” for both his booming personality and his heavy-set physique.
The defining moment of Wells’ career occurred while wearing pinstripes. He pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history, retiring 27 straight Minnesota Twins. Wells famously claimed in his autobiography, Perfect I’m Not, that he threw the game while suffering from a “raging, skull-rattling hangover” after staying out until 5:00 AM. His 2003 book caused a massive stir in the Yankees clubhouse for its raw honesty about his teammates, his partying, and his disdain for certain team rules, leading to a $100,000 fine from the team.
Despite his “beer and brawls” persona, Wells was a workhorse with incredible control. He rarely walked batters and was a winner on almost every team he joined. He played for 9 teams over 21 seasons, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees. He was a big-game pitcher, winning two World Series rings (1992 with Toronto, 1998 with New York) and earning the 1998 ALCS MVP.
His mother, “Attitude Annie,” was a legendary member of a local motorcycle club, and Wells grew up around bikers who would reportedly pay him a dollar for every strikeout he threw in Little League.
Wells remains a fan favorite today because he represented the “everyman” athlete—someone who looked like he just stepped off a barstool but could still out-pitch the best in the world.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
➡️ See All 1988 Topps Rookie Card Prices
Pricing chart includes raw card price & some graded card value estimates.
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