The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th annual release of Topps baseball cards and contained a total of 660 cards. Some of the key storylines and features of the 1987 Topps set included the start of new eras for several franchises, rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, and iconic photography that has stood the test of time.
One of the biggest storylines of the 1987 season was the resurgence of the St. Louis Cardinals franchise after years of struggle in the National League East division. Led by manager Whitey Herzog and powered by superstars Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, and Vince Coleman, the 1987 Cardinals won 95 games and captured the division title. Their success was reflected on the front of the Topps 1987 traded set card, which featured the entire Cardinals roster celebrating.
Another team entering a new era was the Minnesota Twins, who had just moved into the cavernous Metrodome after years playing at Metropolitan Stadium. Led by young pitching stars Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven and powered by sluggers Kent Hrbek and Gary Gaetti, the Twins emerged as AL West contenders, winning 85 games. Their move into the Metrodome and success was highlighted on their 1987 team card.
Two franchises going through transitions were also reflected in the 1987 set. The Chicago Cubs, still seeking their first World Series title since 1908, had fired popular manager Jim Frey and hired fiery ex-Yankee Gene Michael to take over the team. Their card showed this changing of the guard. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox had endured years of frustration but acquired slugger Jim Rice and brought in former Sox star Don Zimmer as manager, signaling a desire to return to prominence.
Among the many notable rookie cards in the 1987 set were those of future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz, who all broke into the Atlanta Braves rotation that season. Not to be overlooked were rookie cards of Willie McGee, Lenny Dykstra, and Rob Dibble, all of whom would go on to have productive big league careers. Mark McGwire also had his rookie card despite playing just 42 games for the A’s that season.
Topps photography in 1987 continued a trend of memorable and iconic images. The Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser stared straight ahead intense and determined on his base card. The Mets’ Dwight Gooden had an intense close-up shot displaying his blazing fastball. Rickey Henderson’s card showed him in motion stealing a base with arms and legs fully extended. And Wade Boggs had perhaps the most unique pose, standing with chest out and arms akimbo in the on-deck circle.
Trading cards insert subsets in 1987 included “1987 All-Stars” highlighting the biggest names in each league, “Topps All-Time Team” honoring legends of the past, and “Record Breakers” focusing on statistical milestones. Special subsets also paid tribute to the past with returns of “Turn Back The Clock” historic reprints and “All-Time Fan Favorites” selections chosen by fans.
The 1987 flagship Topps set closed with career highlights snapshots of the final players on the checklist. These included Nolan Ryan in mid-windup for the Angels, Mike Schmidt from his rookie season with the Phillies, and Robin Yount with the Brewers. The final card in the set was #660, an overview of the 1987 All-Star festivities from Oakland—a fitting conclusion to a set commemorating that historic season.
In the years since, the 1987 Topps set has become one of the most iconic and collected in the hobby’s history. Featuring coverage of compelling storylines like the Cardinals’ resurgence and Twins’ Metrodome debut, rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, and photography that retains its impact, the 1987 issue retains an air of nostalgia and significance for collectors and fans alike. Its dynamic coverage of the events and personalities from a pivotal season in baseball’s history is a big reason why the 1987 Topps baseball card release remains such a standout nearly 35 years later in the minds of sports memorabilia aficionados.
