The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most well-known and highly collectible issues from the 1980s. While it did not feature any true rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, the ’87 Topps set provides a nostalgic look back at some of baseball’s biggest stars from that era. Cards from this set hold value for collectors decades later due to the memorable players featured and the popular design Topps used that year.
One of the defining aspects of the 1987 Topps cards is the ‘highlights’ format they used for the player photography. Rather than the standard headshots collectors had become used to, Topps opted to make the focal point of each card an action photo highlighting a signature moment or play from that player’s career. This gave the ’87 issue a memorable visual style that resonated with collectors. While a controversial change at the time, the highlights photos are now widely considered one of the best design aspects of the entire set.
Some specific ’87 Topps highlights cards that routinely fetch strong prices in the current vintage baseball market include standout rookie cards like Mark McGwire’s (#391) and Lenny Dykstra’s (#422). McGwire’s rookie in particular can sell for over $100 in top-graded Gem Mint condition due to his future Hall of Fame career and his connection to the late ’90s home run era. Dykstra’s rookie also holds value as he went on to have an impressive career as a hitter and center fielder known by his nickname “Nails.”
Other high-value highlights cards from the ’87 Topps issue focus on the biggest stars of the day like Don Mattingly (#113), Wade Boggs (#153), and Roger Clemens (#383). Mattingly’s card often exceeds $50 due to his status as one of the 1980s’ premier hitters for the Yankees. Boggs, known for his stellar batting average and base-running prowess, routinely sees his ’87 Topps card trade hands north of $30. And Clemens, a dominant pitcher who won multiple Cy Young awards in the 1980s and beyond, commands $40-plus for his ’87 highlights issue card.
Condition is crucial when determining the value of any vintage card, and that is certainly true for ’87 Topps cards. Higher graded examples like Mint 9 or Gem Mint 10 can often be exponentially more valuable than lower graded copies in Fair or Good condition. Due to the huge print run of the set during the height of the baseball card boom era, lower grade ’87 Topps cards are still quite attainable and affordable for most collectors if they are seeking certain favorite players from that time period. Focusing on acquiring and holding well-centered, eye-appealing examples can help protect an investment even at lower condition grades like Very Good or Excellent.
Rookie highlights cards of players like Ron Gant (#537), Gregg Jefferies (#447), and Ken Griffey Jr. (#440) also hold collector interest, albeit with much more modest values compared to the stars of the era. Still, pristine MT10 examples of these mid-80s rookie debuts can often sell in the $20-40 range depending on the player’s career achievements. And on the lower end, common veterans from the set provide an affordable doorway into vintage collecting, with cards of the likes of Rick Sutcliffe (#169) and Lee Smith (#504) readily available in about $1-3 range across most conditions.
While not the most valuable set from the junk wax era that followed, the 1987 Topps baseball issues remain an iconic look back at the sport during that period. Modern collectors appreciate the nostalgia of the memorable action photography style coupled with the excitement of sporting favorite players from their childhoods. Top rookie talents like McGwire and Dykstra anchor the high-value ends of the price spectrum, while many other star-studded highlights cards from Mattingly, Boggs, and Clemens fill out the steady mid-range valuations. Condition sensitive but still accessible across all levels, the ’87 Topps baseballs cards retain an authentic appeal that speaks to both vintage collectors and fans of 1980s baseball today.
