The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and desirable years in the entire history of Topps baseball cards. With flashy designs, fun artistic touches, and starring some of the biggest stars and best players of the late 1980s, it’s no wonder that collectors seek out the complete 660-card set on auction sites like eBay. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes the ‘87 Topps set so special and why a mint condition complete collection can fetch thousands of dollars on the popular online marketplace.
Released in 1987 as the official MLB licensed product, Topps’ design that year had a very unique and memorable aesthetic. A thick bright red border surrounded each card, with a red and white baseball pattern wallpapering the background. Topps’ iconic logo was displayed prominently in red at the top, with the team logo and player’s picture box outlined in white. Subtle sparkles and animation lines were airbrushed around the player photo area to give the cards a lively, vibrant feel. The reverse side featured the standard white background with black text layout reviewing the player’s biography and career stats. The bold color scheme and intricate artwork made the ‘87s really pop and stand out from other years.
Some huge names graced the checklist of the 1987 Topps baseball card set. Arguably the most coveted and expensive card is number 1, Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros. As one of the greatest pitchers of all-time with over 5,000 career strikeouts, any Ryan card is iconic but his 1987 is among the most aesthetically pleasing. Other legendary players featured included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Tim Raines, Kirby Puckett, and Don Mattingly. Rising young stars like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, and Frank Thomas also had their rookie cards in the set. The sheer talent level and caliber of future Hall of Famers captured in the ‘87s added to its prestige and longevity.
With a massive total print run of over 160 million cards, finding a 1987 Topps complete set in pristine mint condition is quite rare and takes a lot of patience and persistence on eBay. Most listings are for partial incomplete sets or individual high-value cards, not the full collection. When a flawless ‘87 does become available, bidding wars often ensue driving the final sales price into the thousands. One such auction in January 2020 saw a flawless set with all cards certified mint by Professional Sports Authenticator sell for an astonishing $6,500! Condition is absolutely paramount for vintage sports cards, and the 1987 Topps set highlights just how valuable untouched collections can become over time.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the 1987 Topps set appreciating so dramatically in the collector marketplace isnostalgia. Many kids who grew up in the 1980s have fond memories of chasing these cards in packs at the corner store, and are now adults with disposable income looking to recapture some of that magic. The iconic designs, players, and artistic style of the ‘87s instantly transport collectors back to their youth. As the original children who opened these cards age, demand increases for high-grade preserved copies to remember that special time in their lives through the hobby. This nostalgic connection ensures the 1987 Topps baseball cards will remain a cornerstone of the sports memorabilia industry for decades to come.
Several other notable characteristics contribute to the enduring popularity and high values seen for 1987 Topps baseball cards on auction sites. The vibrant colorscheme translated nicely to the mass-produced cardboard and has held up very well compared to other vintage designs. With no odors, stains or creases visible to the naked eye, mint cards truly appear as if they were produced yesterday instead of 35 years ago. The giant checklist included rookie cards, stars, and Hall of Famers at their physical prime which translates to eyecatching, aesthetically pleasing photos. And of course, being licensed by the MLB afforded Topps legitimacy at the time which added to the cache and collectibility from the start. All these traits have molded the ‘87s into the iconic and treasured set they are remembered as today.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set holds a very special place in the hobby due to a combination of amazing licensed players, fun artistic designs, huge nostalgia factor, and scarcity of high-grade complete sets available to collectors today. While individual cards can be acquired for more reasonable prices, finding that nearly impossible to obtain mint condition full 660-card collection on eBay is truly a rare opportunity. With each passing year, as the original children who grew up with these cards enter adulthood and look to recapture those memories, values will likely continue their meteoric rise. The 1987 Topps baseball cards proved to not just be a popular product of their time, but rather an authentication of baseball’s best era that remains universally beloved and collected to this day.
