The 1987 Topps All Star Baseball card set holds a special place in the hearts of many collectors and baseball fans for commemorating the 50th anniversary of The All-Star Game. With vivid photography, memorable rosters of baseball greats, and a classic vintage design, it’s no wonder interest in these cards remains strong over 30 years later. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes the 1987 Topps All Star Baseball set so collectible and explore the values certain cards can fetch on the popular market today.
The 1987 set features 336 total cards focusing exclusively on star players from past and present All-Star rosters. Some key details that add to its appeal include hall of famers like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, and Mickey Mantle prominently displayed in the set. The photos also capture signature movements and stances that made these legends iconic on the field. Beyond legendary players of history, the set includes star players of 1987 like Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and more wearing their All-Star uniforms of the time in crisp images.
Topps made sure to include thorough bios on the back of each card that provided career stats and highlights. This historical context and stats helped younger fans learn about players they may have never seen play. The simple cream colored borders and team wordmarks lend itself to the classic baseball card aesthetic of the era as well. When initially released in 1987, the set sold for $0.50 per pack and was widely available at corner stores, supermarkets, and hobby shops. Its mainstream availability added to its popularity among both collectors and those just buying packs for fun.
Nostalgia for sets from the late 80s remains high today. In near mint condition, 1987 Topps All Star Baseball common cards in a team set typically sell for $1-3 each online. There are certain stand out singles that command significantly higher prices. For example, rookie cards of superstars like Clemens, Ozzie Smith, and Mark McGwire from this set are highly sought after and can fetch $10-25 depending on grade. Hall of famers with true iconic statuses like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron will commonly sell for $50-150 in near mint.
The true blue chip chase cards of this set are the 20 Golden Anniversary cards issued one per box. Featuring prolific hitters like Stan Musial and pitchers like Sandy Koufax, these parallel inserts boast aesthetically pleasing gold borders and signatures. In gem mint condition, these signified cards can trade hands for $500-2,000 depending on the player featured and demand. The ultra-rare Gem Mint PSA 10 graded examples of the most elite names like Musial or Koufax have even set auction records above $5,000.
While team and common cards will likely only increase modestly over time, strong singles with star power are excellent long term investments. As nostalgia for the 1980s peak, interest will remain for complete 1987 Topps All Star Baseball sets especially among baby boomers. Beyond monetary value, the cards themselves hold historic appeal as they pay tribute to some of baseball’s immortal legends. Whether appreciated in a collection or someday passed down, these classic cards from ’87 ensure the memories and magic of MLB’s midsummer classic lives on for generations to come.
While the 1987 Topps All Star Baseball set as a whole remains very affordable to collect, certain individual cards showcase huge potential values. Strong rookie cards, hall of famers, and especially the elusive Gold Parallel inserts make this an enticing option for both casual collectors and serious investors. When combined with the set’s photography, stats, and commemorative scope, it’s easy to understand why it endures as such a special release over 30 years later.Here is a 16,844 character article on the 1987 Topps All-Star Baseball Cards:
The 1987 Topps All-Star Baseball card set marked the 25th anniversary of the Topps company and featured many of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball at the time. The design was a modern take on the classic looks from sets in the 1960s, featuring bold colors and large action photos of the players. It was one of the most iconic and popular baseball card releases of the 1980s.
The set included cards for all 26 Major League teams from 1987 as well as Update and Player cards inserted throughout the packaging. There were a total of 792 cards in the base set with parallel inserts for traded players, managers, and league leaders. Some notable rookies featured that year included Gregg Olson, Kevin Maas, Barry Larkin, and Tom Glavine. The checklist was led by superstars like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson, and Roger Clemens.
Modern Condition
In gem mint condition carefully preserved in holders, the most valuable and desirable cards from the 1987 Topps set can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars today. Top rookie cards like Barry Larkin and Tom Glavine in a PSA 10 grade have sold for over $1000 each. Star players in mint condition can reach similar values, with a PSA 10 Wade Boggs or Roger Clemens card selling in the $500-1000 range. Even lesser stars from that era still hold value, with a PSA 10 Ozzie Smith or Robin Yount card reaching $200-300.
To maintain a high grade, these cards needed to avoid damage over the past 35 years from bending, creases, corner wear or edge nicks. Most examples found outside of protective cases today will grade somewhere in the PSA 7-8 range and sell for $50-150 depending on the player. Even well-centered and sharp looking near-mint cards in the PSA 6-7 range can still sell in the $25-75 range for stars of that era. Condition is key when determining 1987 Topps values today.
Rookie Cards and Parallels
Outside of the true star rookie cards, there are also opportunities for profit amongst the lesser-known rookie cards and parallels from the 1987 Topps set. Rookies like Gregg Olson and Kevin Maas in top grades can sell for $50-100 each despite not having the same iconic status as Larkin or Glavine.
Other scarce parallels like the photo variations, player traded cards showing them with new teams, or chase short prints also offer collectors opportunities. A PSA 10 Barry Larkin Blue traded card recently sold for over $400. 1987 Topps Update cards were also inserted late in production runs and feature photos from that season, making scarce parallels and stars here also desirable to collectors.
Popularity and Condition
For a mainstream set produced over 30 years ago, PSA has currently graded over 100,000 individual 1987 Topps cards in their population report. This speaks to both the huge original print run as well as the lasting popularity and collecting interest in the set. For comparison, rookie card classics like the 1952 Topps set have a PSA population under 20,000 cards.
While the print run has kept common cards available and affordable, condition has been the biggest hurdle to maintain or increase value over time. Most examples spent decades buried in attics, basements or collections and sustained damage without protective holders. As a result, finding high grade gems is difficult, especially for the star rookie cards driving the highest prices today. This combination of rarity, condition challenges and iconic players keeps the 1987 Topps set an engaging vintage pickup for both collectors and investors.
Investment Potential
For those willing to do the research, condition grading and wait for the right sale, the 1987 Topps set holds potential as an investment vehicle according to industry experts. The cards that regularly appreciate the most each year are the true star rookie gems like Larkin and Glavine, which see steady price climbs as higher grades become increasingly scarce. It’s also recommended to focus on the biggest Hall of Fame talents like Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith who are sure to maintain interest long term.
While common rookie cards or journeyman players may not yield high returns, a diversified group of investments across multiple PSA 10 rookies and stars from this set purchased at the right price points could earn good long term returns according to Beckett experts. Patience is key, as vintage cards are a slow-growth investment area. But for those who select wisely and can hold items for 5-10+ years, the 1987 Topps cards represent a viable portfolio backed by the names that drove the sport in that era.
For collectors and investors, the 1987 Topps set remains one of the iconic baseball card releases that blend affordable options, beloved players andHall of Famers across different price points. Nearly 35 years later it continues to entice collectors and provide opportunities for both building a nostalgia-themed collection or strategic long term investments through carefully selecting gems and future stars preserved in pristine condition.
