The 1987 Fleer Limited Edition baseball card set is one of the most valuable vintage sets among collectors due to the rarity of the cards and pedigree of the players featured. The set contains only 200 cards that were inserted randomly in regular 1987 Fleer wax packs. Each card is serially numbered from 1 to 200, adding to the appeal for collectors.

Some key details on the 1987 Fleer Limited Edition set that adds to its mystique and value among collectors include:

Size of the set – As mentioned, it contains only 200 total cards making complete sets extremely difficult to obtain. Most early print runs of baseball cards contained thousands of cards making complete sets attainable.

Insert ratio – The 200 cards of the Limited Edition set were inserted at an extremely low ratio, estimated around 1:1000 packs. So hobby boxes which typically contain 12 packs would rarely if ever contain a Limited card. Collectors had to buy countless loose packs to chase these rare cards.

Roster pedigree – The roster featured many Hall of Famers and superstars of the 1980s such as Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, Ozzie Smith, and Don Mattingly. Having these iconic players in a uber-short print run elevates collector demand.

Serial numbering – Each card is serially numbered 1-200, adding prestige and individuality to each card much like a limited artwork run. This serial numbering also helped the cards and sets gain more mainstream notice and popularity.

Condition concerns – With such a tiny print run, high demand, and low survivability rate due to the flimsiness of 1987 Fleer cardboard, truly high grade specimens of these cards are exceedingly rare.

Some key individual cards and record prices from the 1987 Fleer Limited Edition set that highlight just how valuable complete, near-complete sets and keys singles have become include:

Roger Clemens #1 – As the lowest serial numbered card in the set and featuring one of the great pitchers of all-time, Clemens #1 is the undisputed crown jewel. In January 2020, a PSA 9 copy sold for an eye popping $119,500, setting records. Other high grades have sold for $75,000-$100,000 range in recent years.

Ozzie Smith #5 – Another extremely low serial number featuring an inner circle Hall of Famer. A PSA 10 fetched $32,940 back in 2016 while other high grades regularly sell for $15,000-20,000.

Dwight Gooden #31 – “Dr. K” captured the imagination of baseball fans in the mid-80s. A PSA 9 sold for $21,000 in early 2020. PSA 10 examples have reached $39,000.

Don Mattingly #61 – The Yankee captain and 1985 AL MVP sees big numbers himself. PSA 10 copies have hit $15,000 with PSA 9s recently bringing $10,000-12,000.

Wade Boggs #159 – Consistently one of the most valuable middle to higher serial numbered cards. PSA 10 recently went for $8,400 in January 2021 auction.

Complete sets – High grade PSA/BGS sets still fetch astronomical prices when they surface, usually $50,000-$75,000 for PSA 9 and up to $125,000 for a perfect PSA 10 set.

The demand hasn’t slowed either. While the 1980s/’90s boom years are long gone, vintage and especially uber-short print run cards like 1987 Fleer Limited have garnered strong interest from new collectors, speculators and investors. Given the small population of gems still around that managed to survive over 30 years, prices are likely to continue upward trends. Sports card and memorabilia investing has also grown, keeping values buoyant.

For the ultra-rich or institutional buyers, a true “condition census” PSA 10 Clemens #1 or near-complete PSA 10 set could push record prices deeper into six figures at some point. But for most collectors, even key singles in PSA 9 like Ozzie Smith #5 remain elite trophies that will hold longterm blue chip investment potential given the iconic players and unique small printed nature of the overall set.

The 1987 Fleer Limited Edition stands out among vintage card sets due to a combination of extremely small printed size of only 200 cards, blue chip Hall of Fame player roster, and serial numbering that added early prestige and value. Condition is ultra-important since high grades above a PSA 9 are exceedingly rare. Keys like Clemens #1, Smith #5 and others have reached five and even six figure prices. Complete sets achieve their own lofty auction records. For all those reasons it’s clear why the 1987 Fleer Limited remains among the most valuable vintage sports card sets and a longtime fascination of collectors.