The 1987 Topps baseball card set featured cards for all 26 Major League Baseball teams from that season, including the New York Mets. Coming off their World Series championship in 1986, expectations were high for the Mets in 1987. While they failed to repeat as champions that year, the 1987 Topps set remains a nostalgic reminder of that era for Mets fans and collectors. Several key Mets players from that team have cards that hold value for collectors today. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top 1987 Mets cards and what they are currently worth in the collectibles market.
One of the most valuable 1987 Mets cards is that of star outfielder Darryl Strawberry. As one of the cornerstone players of the 1986 championship team, Strawberry’s popularity and on-field production made his rookie card highly sought after. In near mint to mint condition, Strawberry’s 1987 Topps rookie card regularly sells for between $80-150. Given his status as a true rookie star for the Mets, along with the rarity of finding high-grade copies of his card over 30 years later, Strawberry’s 1987 RC remains one of the most valued individual cards from the set.
Another highly-priced 1987 Mets card belongs to future Hall of Famer Gary Carter. As the veteran catcher and leader of the ’86 squad, Carter was enormously popular in New York. His 1987 Topps card often trades hands for $30-50 in top condition. While not in the same rookie card stratosphere as Strawberry, Carter’s presence in the Mets’ dugout and his prolific 17-year playing career maintain interest in his 1987 issue. Additional star position players like Keith Hernandez, Mookie Wilson and Howard Johnson also have mid-range valuable commons in the $10-25 range.
On the pitching side, oft-injured but talented righty Dwight Gooden leads the way for 1987 Mets hurlers. As the phenom who won both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards in 1985, “Doc” Gooden was a fan favorite during this era. Near-mint to mint copies of his ’87 Topps card are valued between $50-75. Gooden’s on-field dominance and hype as one of the game’s true spectacle starters at the time makes his cardboard cutting highly coveted. Fellow ace Ron Darling joins Gooden in the $10-25 common range, with lesser pitchers like Sid Fernandez, Rick Aguilera and David Cone in the $5-15 range depending on condition.
Outside the key stars and regulars, there are a handful of less common but still valuable 1987 Mets rookie cards. Perhaps the most notable is pitcher David West. As the #1 overall pick from the 1986 draft, West had high expectations placed upon him coming into the 1987 season, his true rookie year in pro ball. Unfortunately, injuries hampered West’s career and he never panned out as hoped. His rookie card is quite scarce in high grade and has sold in the $75-150 range. Relief pitcher Randy Niemann, utilityman Alfredo Griffin and shortstop Rafael Santana also have lower-print rookie issues that can be worth $25-50 to dedicated Mets collectors.
When considering team sets as a whole, the 1987 Topps Mets rookie and star roster makes their cards among the most consistently collected from that year’s flagship release. Strong nostalgia remains for the players, styles and fashions of the mid-1980s MLB era. For investors, high-demand common cards of stars like Strawberry, Gooden and Carter offer relatively affordable opportunities to own important pieces from this seminal period in Mets history. And true condition-sensitive keys like the David West rookie provide added allure for advanced collectors pursuing the set. All in all, the 1987 Topps Mets maintain relevance and value more than 30 years since they first entered hobbyists’ hands.
