The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic rookie card releases in the modern era. While it did not have the star power of sets like 2009 Topps or 2011 Topps Update Series, the 1987 Donruss set featured the rookie cards of several future Hall of Famers and all-time greats including Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. Over 30 years later, these rookie cards continue to hold significant collector value, especially for athletes who went on to have Hall of Fame careers.
The headliner of the 1987 Donruss set is, of course, the Barry Bonds rookie card. Widely considered one of the most important baseball cards ever released, high grade Bonds rookies still command astronomical prices at auction. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, the Bonds rookie has recently sold for over $100,000 at Goldin Auctions. Even lower graded copies in PSA 8-9 still sell for $10,000 or more due to how influential Bonds became as arguably the greatest hitter of all time. With his on-field accomplishments and records intact despite PED allegations, the Bonds rookie remains the crown jewel of the 1987 Donruss set.
Another blue chipper from 1987 Donruss is the Greg Maddux rookie card. Like Bonds, Maddux went on to have a Hall of Fame career and is regarded by many as the best pitcher of the 1990s. High grade Maddux rookies follow Barry Bonds’s prices, albeit not quite as extreme. A PSA 10 Maddux sold for $36,000 at Goldin in early 2022, while PSA 9s can be found in the $3,000-5,000 range. Maddux’s impeccable control and consistency that led to 355 career wins make his rookie one of the more valuable pitching cards from the entire Junk Wax Era.
Tom Glavine’s rookie is also a highly coveted card from 1987 Donruss, even though it does not command Bond’s or Maddux’s prices. Still, PSA 10 Glavine rookies have sold for $15,000-20,000 in recent years. As a two-time Cy Young Award winner who went on to win 305 games and two World Series titles with the Atlanta Braves, Glavine more than lived up to the potential on his debut cardboard. Lower graded Glavine rookies in the PSA 8-9 range will set collectors back $1,000-$3,000 depending on condition. Along with Maddux, Glavine helps make the 1987 Donruss set a who’s who of elite 1990s pitchers in their earliest form.
While Bonds, Maddux and Glavine represent the true power hitter and all-time great pitcher cards from 1987 Donruss, there are other notable rookie successes as well. Dennis Eckersley had a Hall of Fame career primarily as a closer, and his rookie tends to sell in the $200-$500 range depending on grade. Kenny Lofton became a perennial All-Star and six-time Gold Glove center fielder, with his rookie valued around $100-$250. Paul Molitor, Tino Martinez, and David Justice all enjoyed solid big league careers, with their rookies valued between $50-$150 based on condition.
Not every 1987 Donruss rookie panned out or met expectations. Future stars like Andy Benes, Trevor Hoffman, and Jay Buhner never reached their full potential. As a result, their rookie cards hold very little value today, typically $5 or less even in high grades. Pitchers like Alan Benes, Brian Barnes, and Chris George flashed promise but suffered from injuries or were not quite good enough. Their rookies can often be found for under $10. Still, having so many future standouts and fan favorites in one release makes the 1987 Donruss set such an iconic snapshot of baseball’s next generation at the time.
While bulk 1987 Donruss cards still sell for pennies due to the glut of production from the Junk Wax Era, the select rookie star cards hold significant collector value. Headlined by the treasures that are the Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine rookie cards, 1987 Donruss gave a first look at future all-time greats that continue to fascinate card collectors and fans over three decades later. For athletes that reached the pinnacle of Cooperstown enshrinement like Bonds and Maddux, their rookie cards from this beloved set stand out as truly impressive long term investments and highlights of any vintage collection.
