The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and recognizable issues from the 1980s. What made this particular set stand out compared to others released during that decade was the jumbo sized format of the cards. At an enormous 3.5 inches by 5 inches in dimensions, the 1987 Donruss cards truly lived up to their “Jumbo” moniker.
Released at the height of the 1980s baseball card boom, Donruss made sure their 1987 offering stood out on the store shelves amongst the sea of competitive brands like Topps, Fleer, and Score. The oversized card dimensions allowed for vivid full color action photos and team logos to really pop. Large player names across the top also made these cards instantly recognizable from a distance compared to smaller standard size issues.
Part of what made the 1987 Donruss Jumbos so special at the time was how the large format design had never been done before on such a wide scale for a baseball card set. While some brands in the past had experimented with somewhat larger sizes, nothing came close to matching the visual impact and borderline novelty factor of seeing cards almost twice as big as normal. Kids who collected in 1987 remember being in awe at the grand scale of these cards compared to what they were used to.
The immense size was also a major selling point for Donruss as they aimed to one-up the competition. A child could now show off an imposing 3.5×5 baseball card to their friends which screamingly screamed premium quality and caught everyone’s attention. The jumbo size format was a huge promotional tactic for Donruss that year and helped make the brand one of the most popular in the hot trading card market of the late 80s.
Beyond just the literal size, the 1987 Donruss cards also featured some of the sharpest and most technicolor photographs seen to date on any trading card release. With the added real estate provided by the jumbo dimensions, photographers were able to capture action shots with players in mid-swing or mid-throw that showed incredible detail. Vivid team colors and uniforms really popped off the large card stock compared to the more compressed images common on smaller issues.
Statistics on the reverse of each card were also enlarged to match the big boy dimensions. Pitcher stats and fielding percentages became easier than ever for young fans to digest. The enlarged stat blocks also allowed for more in-depth player analysis and card comparisons with teammates and rivals. For amateur baseball card analysts even in elementary school, the 1987 Donruss Jumbos were the ultimate study tool.
While great for exciting young collectors, the gargantuan size of these cards did present some logistical challenges that past issues never had to deal with. First and foremost, the boxes and packs needed to be much bigger to properly contain and distribute the oversized cardboard. Instead of the classic yellow wax packs of six cards each, the 1987 Donruss jumbos came in larger green packs of only 3 cards each. Storage and organization of the collection also became an issue as the cards took up exponentially more room in a binder compared to smaller standard size issues.
Mint condition and centering of individual cards also became much more important attributes to scrutinize on these enlarged pieces of cardboard. With so much more real estate, even the slightest production flaws were easier to detect. Minor flaws imperceptible on smaller cards became very noticeable imperfections when viewed at 3.5×5 scale. This led to a more critical grading environment from the start regarding the condition collectability of 1986 Donruss Jumbos compared to past products.
When it came to the actual card design elements within the boundaries of the large format, Donruss kept things clean and straightforward. Bold solid colored borders framed the vibrant full bleed action photos. Team logos popped subtly in the top corners. And simple white font spelled out vital stats and player identifiers across a black or gray background. This minimalist yet highly legible approach allowed the core visual elements to truly shine large. Less could really be more when presented on this grand a canvas.
The rookie class featured on 1986 Donruss Jumbos is one of the most legendary and valuable in the modern era. Names like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Gregg Maddux first appeared triumphantly oversized at the start of their careers. Condition sensitive collectors to this day covet pristine examples from such an iconic issuing year featuring legends in the making before they became legends. While large format issues are sometimes seen as novelty items, 1987 Donruss rookies hold immense long term significance.
The 1987 Donruss baseball card set became one of the most beloved of the entire 1980s boom period thanks to its truly unique 3.5×5 jumbo sized packaging of the sport’s biggest stars. While not without logistical challenges for the time, collectors young and old were mesmerized by the sheer visual grandeur of seeing their cardboard idols presented on such an over enlarged scale. Even decades later, the 1987 Donruss Jumbos stand as a pioneering landmark that pushed the boundaries of the traditional baseball trading card format further than ever before seen. Their unabashed braggadocio size is their most lasting legacy within the hobby.
