The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most nostalgic and collectible sets from the late 1980s. Packed with stars from the era like Wade Boggs, Orel Hershiser, Tony Gwynn, and Roger Clemens, the ‘87 Topps set saw the debut of many future Hall of Famers as well. With its classic design and memorable rookie cards, it’s no wonder this set remains highly sought after by collectors over 35 years later.
Released in March 1987 as the sports card manufacturer’s 55th annual baseball set, Topps’ offering that year contained 792 total cards. The basic set included 660 cards making up teams’ regular rosters as well as managers, umpires, and retired players. There were 82 star cards highlighting some of the game’s biggest names in a shiny foil format. Finally, 50 extra rookie cards were inserted randomly in wax packs. Some key aspects that made the 1987 Topps set stand out included its return to the classic brown borders that surrounded each card photo that fans had come to expect in previous decades. White borders were added along the edges for a cleaner look compared to recent prior years.
On the reverse of each card, stats from the 1986 season were featured along with a write-up about the player. One of the more unique aspects was the addition of a cartoon bubble quote from each player, giving collectors a sense of their personalities. Surface printing quality had improved from years past as colors and images were crisper than earlier 1980s Topps issues. Topps also included the player’s birthday and information about organizational affiliations on the back of each card. This added context and history that resonated with collectors.
The star power of the included players, especially in the foil star subset, was evident. Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Roger Clemens highlighted the stars. But the true gems that make ‘87 Topps a standout are its bounty of memorable rookie cards. Names like Gregg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, and Craig Biggio had their MLB cardboard debuts that year in the standard set. Others like David Wells, David Cone, and Shawn Green appeared in the coveted extra rookie card subset. While production numbers were extremely high at the time in the midst of the 1980s baseball card boom, the star power and history accumulated in this set over the decades has made many of its cards highly sought after collectibles today.
Naturally, many of the top rookie cards from the 1987 Topps set command huge premiums on auction sites like eBay today. The standout is undoubtedly Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Greg Maddux’s impressive rookie effort. Often considered one of, if not the single best rookie card in the entire 1980s period, PSA 10 Gem Mint copies of Maddux’s card have regularly sold for well over $10,000 each in recent years. Other extremely valuable and desirable ‘87 Topps rookies include Randy Johnson ($1,000 – $3,000), Tom Glavine ($500 – $1,500), and Craig Biggio ($300 – $700) in high grades. Beyond the true stars, even mid-tier rookie cards for players who had solid careers like David Cone and Shawn Green can sell in the $50-$150 range depending on condition.
For stars and established veterans from the set, topCondition examples also demand premium prices on eBay. Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Ozzie Smith in PSA 10 are consistently $150-$300 cards. Graded copies of star performers like Roger Clemens, Orel Hershiser, and Dwight Gooden also fall within the $100-$200 range. Even less heralded but solid major leaguers sell well graded – PSA 10s of Don Mattingly, Kirby Puckett, and Tim Raines can cost $50-$100 each. For elite vintage players already enshrined in Cooperstown like Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson, pristine specimens easily pass $500.
Beyond single cards, sealed wax boxes of 1987 Topps packs are a highly sought after collectible on their own for set builders and investors. With an original print run estimated around 480 million packs, intact unopened boxes have become far scarcer than individual loose packs or cards. On eBay, mint condition 1987 Topps wax boxes in the iconic original packaging routinely sell for $150-$300. Very high grade sealed cases containing 12 wax boxes have even been known to eclipse $2,000 before. For collectors chasing complete sets, buying wax is often seen as the most exciting and rewarding way to build a collection through discovery.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set exemplifies everything that collectors love about classic 1980s cardboard. Its perfect storm of all-time stars, rookie phenoms, iconic designs, and nostalgia has cemented it as one of the true vintage gems that retains immense value decades later. Whether hunting for individual star cards, complete sets, or sealed wax, the 1987 edition remains an extremely popular draw for collectors on eBay. With no signs of slowing appreciation, this memorable Topps release will continue enthralling buyers and sellers alike on the leading online marketplace for sports collectibles in the years to come.
