The 1987 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the company during the junk wax era of the late 1980s. While sets from that time period are generally not worth much in today’s market due to massive production numbers that saturated the collecting hobby, the ’87 Donruss set stands out amongst its peers as one containing several highly valuable and desirable vintage cards.
Released in March of 1987, the base set included designs on 792 player and manager cards plus additional inserts. A couple things set this Donruss release apart from others of the time – it was the last set to feature the original photo on the front design that Donruss had used since they entered the baseball card market in 1981, as well as being the last set to feature yellow borders on the front of the cards before switching to white starting in 1988.
While reselling individual common cards from the ’87 Donruss issue for high dollar amounts today would be unrealistic given the printing quantities during the junk wax era, there are certainly stand-out rookie and star player cards that maintain strong vintage collector demand and value. Near the top of the list would be the highly coveted Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card, which was the true “main event” hit of the set. Graded examples in pristine gem mint condition have sold for upwards of $10,000 in recent years, showing the enduring popularity of this all-time great player’s first Bowman issue.
Other notable rookies that can stillfetch respectable prices depending on grade include Gregg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz, who all went on to have hall of fame careers. Power hitters like Mark McGwire, Darryl Strawberry, and Will Clark also have cards that maintain collector interest from this release due to their prolific stats and accomplishments at the major league level. The flashy style of cards made by Donruss during this period is also part of what draws fans back to appreciate the designs and photography years later.
Often overlooked but another aspect that adds to the intrigue and collectibility of the 1987 Donruss issue are the coveted test print/proof cards that are extremely rare and sought after by enthusiasts. There are only a handful known to exist of select players like Bo Jackson, Barry Bonds, and Cory Snyder among others that were experimental test prints made before the official production process. Examples that surface at auction can sell for five-figure or even six-figure sums depending on condition and eye appeal.
While repack boxes and unopened wax packs containing this set are relatively easy to find today listed by sellers online since millions were originally produced, the 1987 Donruss issue remains one of the true “premium vintage” releases that maintained stronger long-term demand and investment potential compared to many of its peers. This is a result of featuring rookie cards of future hall of famers, attractive photo and design elements, and the cache attached to being the last Donruss baseball design before changes were made starting the following year. For avid collectors three decades later, hunting down high-grade examples of stars from this classic set never loses its appeal.
While sometimes overlooked due to being produced during the heyday of the junk wax era, the 1987 Donruss baseball card set stands out as a memorable and landmark release due to housing rookie cards of some of the game’s all-time greatest players. Featuring the last usage of Donruss’ original hallmark design fronts also adds nostalgia and intrigue. While obtaining individual commons for profit is unrealistic today, key rookie and star cards maintain strong vintage collector demand and have proven to retain value better than most other similar sets from the late 1980s boom period. The allure of seeking out elusive test print variants as well as the fun, flashy photography further cement this Donruss issue as a true favorite for aficionados of late 80s/early 90s vintage memorabilia and card culture.
