The 1987 Fleer Update baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable modern issues due to the rookie cards it featured.Released as a supplement to Fleer’s main 1987 set in July of 1987, the Update included cards of players who were called up to the majors too late to be included in the original checklist. Among those who debuted were future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and David Justice. But the true gems were the rookie cards of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who would go on to break the single season home run record.
While the entire 1987 Fleer Update set only features 66 cards total, it is still highly sought after by collectors due to what it included. The chase cards from the issue are the rookies of McGwire, Bonds, Glavine, and Maddux, with their cards routinely demanding the highest prices in top condition. In a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade, those four rookie cards can each sell for well over $1000 and up to tens of thousands of dollars depending on market conditions. But there are a few other standouts from the Update set as well that can demand big money.
The #1 most valuable card from the 1987 Fleer Update based on recent sale prices is the Barry Bonds rookie (card #56). Considered the true Holy Grail of the set, high grade Bonds rookies are some of the rarest and priciest modern era cards. One factor driving their price up is that Bonds went on to break Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record and was one of the best players of his generation. In PSA 10 condition, his rookie has sold for as much as $30,000, with most examples above the $10,000 mark. Condition is critical, as lower graded copies can dip below $100.
In the #2 spot is Mark McGwire’s rookie (card #48). Like Bonds, McGwire smashed the single season home run record in 1998 and his first card is one of the key pieces of MLB history. PSA 10 McGwire rookies have sold for $15,000+, with most higher end copies demanding $4,000-$10,000 across the grading services. His is certainly the 2nd most valuable from the 1987 Fleer Update based on recent sales data.
Taking the #3 spot is Greg Maddux’s rookie card (card #22). As one of the greatest pitchers ever who won 4 Cy Young awards, there is high demand for Maddux’s first Fleer card. PSA 10 examples have sold for $6,500 and up, with most gem mint copies above $3,000. In lower grades, it can still fetch $200-$500 depending on condition. Not quite as iconic or rare as the McGwire or Bonds cards, but still a highly sought after piece from this set.
Cracking the top 5 most valuable from the 1987 Fleer Update at #4 is Tom Glavine’s rookie (card #49). Like Maddux his teammate, Glavine had a Hall of Fame career and his rookie shows up less frequently than the position players above him. In PSA 10 it has sold for over $5,000, with $2,000+ for ungraded or lower graded copies still the norm. rounds out the top 5 as still a very recognizable and pricey card from the short print run set.
Outside the premier rookie cards, there are a few other notables worth mentioning that can still hold significant value from the 1987 Fleer Update based on their attributes or the players involved.
The Ivan Calderon card (#61) is one of the most visually striking cards in the set due to the bright colorful design on the reverse. Higher graded examples have sold for well over $1,000 despite Calderon being a fairly unknown player.
Dwight Gooden’s card (#66) as a member of the Mets can approach $100 PSA 10 due to his status as a fan favorite and dominant pitcher early in his career. Even in lower grades it outperforms most common players.
David Justice’s rookie (#63) as ring leader of the Baby Braves movement can reach $500 for a PSA 10 example. It shows up less frequently than other stars in the set too.
Jeff Reardon’s card (#60) as an All-Star closer gets a bonus from being one of the highly scarce short prints from the set’s production run. Higher grades have sold for $500+ due to rarity.
While small with just 66 total cards, the 1987 Fleer Update set holds immense value primarily driven by the rookie appearances of future stars McGwire, Bonds, Glavine and Maddux. In top Condition, their cards can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. But there are also some visually striking, popular players, and short print cards that provide other notable valuations outside the premier rookies as well. It remains one of the crown jewels for modern collectors and investors due to what it included uniquely for that time period.
