The 1987 Leaf Baseball Card set is considered one of the most sought after and valuable sets from the late 1980s. With its eye-catching color photography, attractive designs, and notable rookie cards, it is a standout among collectors from that era. Even as several decades have passed, there remains a strong market and demand for the cards due to certain short prints and star players featured. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this set stand out and explore the value of some of its leading cards.
Issued in 1987 by the Leaf trading card company, the flagship design featured 164 total cards with individual player photos on the front and stats on the back. Unique for its time was the use of full color, high quality photography throughout instead of the basic black and white photos found on many contemporary sets. The vivid pictures really allowed the players to pop off the cardboard and captured the genuine excitement of Major League Baseball. The set also featured patriotic red, white, and blue borders that matched well with the all-American pastime depicted within.
In terms of content, the set covers every team from the 1986 MLB season including stars, future Hall of Famers, and up-and-coming young talent. Some notable rookie cards include Barry Larkin, Terry Pendleton, Todd Zeile, and Jim Abbott. The cards of established icons like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Rickey Henderson are also widely collected today. An additional 14 manager/coach cards were also included to round out the checklist. Several key short prints like Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden are highly sought after by collectors due to their scarcity within packs.
Part of what makes the 1987 Leaf issue so special in the eyes of collectors is the numerous star players that went on to have Hall of Fame careers after being featured as youngsters within the set. Cards of Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Dennis Eckersley hold great significance as they capture these all-time great ballplayers very early in their respected journeys to Cooperstown. Even more, the set is a who’s who of talent from the 1980s full of household names that dominated the decade like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Nolan Ryan.
When it comes to monetary value, the 1987 Leaf set contains several highly valuable rookie and star player cards that can fetch big sums depending on condition. The Barry Larkin rookie in mint condition has sold for over $1,000 given his stellar career and place in Reds franchise history. Similarly, the Jim Abbott rookie has reached the $500-800 range due to his inspirational story and no-hitter with the Yankees. Todd Zeile, Terry Pendleton, and Milt Thompson rookies can sell for $100-200 each as well for diehard collectors.
For the true big hitters, cards of Roberto Alomar, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Rickey Henderson in near mint to mint condition have been known to sell anywhere from $500-1,500 depending on several factors. The key short prints carry additional weight too with Dwight Gooden reaching up to $400 and Darryl Strawberry $300 in top shape. Perhaps the most valuable card overall is the Mike Schmidt which routinely moves for $2,000 or more in pristine condition due to his status as a Phillies and baseball legend. Condition is absolutely critical to these investment-level cards retaining or increasing in value long term.
The 1987 Leaf Baseball set remains an exceptionally classic and worthwhile set for collectors to pursue pieces of over thirty years later. Not only does it showcase photography, designs, and players that perfectly capture the baseball atmosphere of the time, but it features several definitive rookie cards that went on to enormous success. From affordable young player options to true grail cards of the all-time greats, this single-year issue spans a vast spectrum of values. For those collecting teams, players, or entire sets from the late 1980s, adding key cards from the 1987 Leaf set is a must to represent that era authentically for both nostalgia and investment purposes.
The 1987 Donruss set broke the mold compared to its contemporary competitors and endures as one of the most iconic of its time. With its marriage of classic photography, rookie stars, and household names excelling both during and after the 1986 season, its appeal has remained robust with collectors even after 35+ years. Condition-sensitive big hitters can demand premium prices reflecting player accomplishment, but reasonably graded Larkin, Zeile, and Abbott rookies also keep the set broadly accessible depending on budget. For any collector seeking to strengthen their 1980s collection or invest in rookies of future Hall of Famers, the 1987 Leaf Baseball set deserves highlighting as a true standout of the period.
