The 1987 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most popular releases of the decade and contained several highly coveted rookie cards and key veteran cards that remain collector favorites to this day. While overall production numbers were high for the era, demand has kept many of the top cards from the 440-card base set quite scarce and valuable decades later.
Released at the height of the modern baseball card boom in 1987, Donruss built major hype around several highly anticipated rookie cards, including those of future Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. One rookie that really stole the show was Cincinnati Reds catcher Mike Scioscia, who had broken out with an impressive .289 batting average and 86 RBIs in his first full major league season in 1986.
Scioscia’s impressive rookie campaign made his 1987 Donruss card one of the most sought-after in the entire set. Sporting crisp action photography of the catcher framed perfectly within the borders, the Scioscia rookie possessed sharp, colorful design elements that made it really pop among the sea of other cards in wax packs that year. While production numbers were higher than previous rookie classes due to Donruss’ popularity, the Scioscia rookie has aged extremely well and consistently trades in the $100-200 range even today.
Another huge draw for collectors were the veteran “key” cards featuring the games biggest stars of the era. Don Mattingly’s status as one of baseball’s premier sluggers made his ’87 Donruss one of the most iconic in the entire collection. With his signature batting stance immortalized in a perfectly framed close-up photograph, Mattingly’s rock-solid stats and superstar status ensured his card would remain a stable and sought-after component of collections for years to come.
Meanwhile, Rickey Henderson’s electric base-stealing skills had made him a fan favorite on the Oakland A’s and his ’87 Donruss showing him sliding headfirst into a base is still widely considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing in the entire set. As one of the most exciting players of his era, Henderson’s card remained a stable and hot commodity in the collecting world long after packs first hit stores. Both the Mattingly and Henderson veteran keys can be found trading consistently in the $50-100 range even in well-circulated condition today.
Arguably the single most iconic “key” card from the entire 1987 Donruss set shows New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. Reaching the peak of his abilities in ’85 and ’86 with otherworldly strikeout numbers and a Cy Young award, Gooden’s status as one of baseball’s brightest young stars made his ’87 Donruss a mega-hit. Capturing “Doc” in classic pitching form with leg kick captured mid-delivery, the photography and design on Gooden’s card helped make it one of the most visually stunning in the entire set.
While production numbers were high on Gooden due to the overall popularity of Donruss that year, demand for what is still widely considered the most notable card from the set has kept it a consistently high-dollar card. In near-mint condition, Gooden’s ’87 Donruss routinely trades in the $150-250 range and condition is less important for this all-time classic key. It remains among the most iconic and recognizable cards from the entire junk era of the late 1980s.
Other hugely notable “hits” from the set include an understated but fan-favorite card of Red Sox star Wade Boggs posing with bat on shoulder that remains a steady seller. Kirby Puckett’s breakout 1986 season that saw him hit over .300 for the first time made his ’87 Donruss rookie a red hot ticket as well. Meanwhile, the sheer excitement surrounding then-rookies Barry Larkin and Greg Maddux made their first Donruss cards instant standouts upon the set’s release as well.
While boasting huge star power and production deemed massive for its early 1987 release, the passage of time has seen certain portions of this hugely popular Donruss offering become quite tough to come by. Short prints were inserted at a rate of 1:96 packs and feature stars like Jesse Barfield, Devon White, and Oil Can Boyd in more commemorative photography. At the time, these short prints were not separately numbered or marked and were distributed randomly. Today, they are among the toughest chase cards to find in high grade from the entire set.
Similarly, the set’s awe-inspiring traded veterans like Ozzie Smith, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett have become exceedingly rare to find in pristine near-mint condition due to their star status ensuring heavy circulation through the hobby. As one of the most complete rookie classes ever assembled and boasting true icon status among vintage collectors, The 1987 Donruss set remains an epic piece of cardboard collecting history decades later. Top stars and heroes from the golden era of the game are immortalized within in vibrant, memorable photography and design that has ensured its classic status for baseball card enthusiasts of all generations.
While 1987 Donruss boasted huge initial production that satisfied voracious demand at the time of the set’s release, certain standout rookie and veteran cards have proven to be consistently strong long term investments. Iconic pieces like the Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, and Don Mattingly keys as well as the surprising Mike Scioscia rookie never seem to lose their luster and remain among the most easily recognizable and desirable pieces from the entire vintage baseball era. As one of the greatest and most iconic releases of its time, the 1987 Donruss set endures as a true touchstone of 20th century cardboard collecting culture.
