The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was unique in the hobby for several reasons. It marked Fleer’s return to the baseball card market after a 6 year hiatus since their 1981 set. The set size was smaller than competitors Donruss and Topps at just 347 cards. It featured a bold new design with players photographed from head to toe in full color uniforms on a white background. The 1987 Fleer set also introduced popular promotional inserts like “Team Leaders” and “Fleer Futures” that highlighted prospects. Due to strong nostalgia and the set’s overall scarcity, several cards from the 1987 Fleer baseball release have gained notoriety as highly valuable modern vintage pieces over the past few decades.
Perhaps the most desirable card from 1987 Fleer is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Griffey was one of the most hyped rookie talents in baseball history and would go on to have a Hall of Fame career. His graceful all-around skills made him a fan-favorite and one of the faces of the sport during baseball’s resurgence in the 1990s. The Griffey rookie is the centerpiece of the set and holds iconic status among collectors. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples recently sold at auction for over $15,000, with more worn copies still fetching thousands. The card has gained substantial value from Griffey’s playing achievements combined with its small print run and status as one of the true “holy grails” that every collection aims to acquire.
Another highly valuable card is the Mark McGwire rookie. McGwire broke into the majors in 1987 and went on to set the single season home run record in 1998. Like Griffey, “Big Mac” was one of the top drawing cards in the sport during baseball’s renaissance. PSA 10 1987 Fleer McGwire rookies have topped $10,000 at auction. Even in worn lower grades, examples still sell for hundreds due to McGwire’s iconic home run chase and the fact that Fleer distributed far fewer copies of his card compared to competitors. While the McGwire rookie doesn’t command quite the same premium as Griffey, it remains a highly coveted piece for both vintage and contemporary collectors.
The 1987 Fleer set also features the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. Of those, Larkin and Maddux rookies have achieved the greatest appreciation. Maddux went on to win 355 career games and 4 Cy Young awards during a storied career with the Cubs and Braves. His cards from the late 1980s and early 1990s are strong performers. A PSA 10 1987 Fleer Maddux sold for over $8,000 in early 2022. Larkin’s career was somewhat overlooked during his era but he made 12 All-Star teams and won an MVP award as the longtime Reds shortstop. PSA 10 Larkin rookies have surpassed $5,000 at auction. Both are excellent examples of how stars attaining Hall of Fame enshrinement decades later can boost the value of their early vintage cards.
In addition to star player cards, 1987 Fleer features a number of rare errors and anomalies that create excitement among advanced collectors. One example is the “Upright Man” Edgar Martinez card that was mistakenly cut higher than the rest of the set. The manufacturing error makes the Martinez card instantly identifiable and highly valuable. True gem mint PSA 10 examples recently sold for over $4,000. Another bizarre error is a Cal Ripken Jr. card where his head is missing from the photograph. Naturally one-of-a-kind specimens like this achieve immense prices. Other notable variations include die-cut parallels and test prints that are hunted voraciously by specialists.
Beyond rookies and anomalies, the 1987 Fleer set overall holds nostalgic value for collectors who came of age during baseball’s renaissance in the late 1980s and 1990s. Sets from that transitional era pre-Traded are scarce because of low print runs. 1987 Fleer in particular stands out for its bold new design debuting Fleer’s return. As a result, high-grade completed team and master sets consistently sell for thousands. Individual stars from the 1987 season like Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden, and Jose Canseco that posted huge numbers further add to the allure and commemorative quality of the release. Fleer’s excellent photography also gives the cards enduring visual appeal.
The 1987 Fleer baseball card set occupies a special place in the vintage sports card landscape due to showcasing future legends’ rookie cards and scarce distribution during baseball’s rebirth period. Keys like the Griffey, McGwire and Maddux rookies are the true blue-chip trophies that many collectors pursue. But there also exists a strong market for high-grade team sets, stars of the era and manufacturing anomalies due to the set’s lasting nostalgia from the1980s and early 1990s generation of card enthusiasts. As result, the 1987 Fleer release remains an important issuance with consistently strong performer cards over 30 years after production.
