The 1987 Fleer baseball card set holds significant nostalgia and value for collectors and fans of 80s baseball. With a diverse and talented roster of rookies and stars from that era, the 1987 Fleer set endures as one of the most iconic and desirable issues from the brand. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top cards and their estimated values in today’s market.
The 1987 Fleer set contains 374 total cards and was the only major brand to feature licenses from both MLB and the MLBPA at the time. This allowed Fleer to use player names and importantly, rookie seasons of breakout stars. One such star was Mark McGwire, who had his rookie card in the 1987 Fleer set. McGwire’s rookie is considered one of the key chase cards from the issue. In near-mint to mint condition, examples regularly sell for $250-500. Pristine, gem mint 10-graded copies have been known to exceed $1,000 at auction.
Another hugely valuable rookie is that of Barry Bonds. Bonds was already establishing himself as a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate by 1987. It served as his true rookie card issue. Bonds rookies in NM-MT condition reach $100-200. Higher graded 9s and 10s command $500-1,000+. The debuts of McGwire and Bonds alone make 1987 Fleer an extremely rich set for star-studded rookie cards.
But those weren’t the only rookies that year. Additional noteworthy rookies included Tom Glavine, David Justice, and Bip Roberts. Glavine rookie cards are valued around $25-50 in standard condition. Justice and Roberts rookies are worth $10-20. Still, all hold appeal as fleeting glimpses of future Hall of Famers in their earliest career stages.
Moving beyond the rookies, the 1987 Fleer set featured many established superstars of the day, including Roger Clemen, Nolan Ryan, and Don Mattingly. Clemens and Ryan, each amongst the top pitchers of their generation, had fairly common cards in the base set. Nevertheless, high-grade examples still sell for $10-20.
Mattingly, though, was one of the premier hitters in baseball in 1987. As a result, his card carries higher value. Near-mint Mattingly cards can achieve $30-50. Copies grading a 9 or 10 in terms of centering, edges and corners often reach triple digits. Condition is critical, as even slightly played copies dip down under $10.
Outside of the individual star cards, 1987 Fleer also holds value for team and league subset cards. This includes final National League Championship cards for the 1980s Mets and Cardinals teams. The Mets NL Pennant card typically sells for $15-30 based on condition. The Cardinals parallel often reaches slightly higher at $20-40.
An area that drives prices up generally for the 1987 Fleer set is the lack of plentiful high quality specimens still in existence today. Like many 1980s issues, the sheer volume produced far exceeded today’s collector population. As a result, pristine near-mint and gem mint copies can be tough to acquire. This scarcity plays a role in the valuations discussed.
The 1987 Fleer baseball card set remains a coveted part of the larger vintage card culture. With stars of the day like McGwire, Bonds, Clemens and more, it offers a view of the league at a really interesting transition point. While common cards can be had for under $10, key rookies and higher graded pieces persist as serious targets for enthusiastic collectors. From a nostalgia and historical value perspective, 1987 Fleer will surely stay relevant for years to come.
