The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the history of the hobby. While it doesn’t feature the all-time most expensive individual card, the ’87 Topps set does include several cards that have sold for astronomical prices due to the popularity and star power of the players featured. Let’s take a closer look at some of the 1987 Topps baseball cards that have reached the highest prices in recent sales.
Without a doubt, the most expensive 1987 Topps card is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Considered one of the greatest players of all time and an icon of the 1980s and 90s, Griffey’s rookie card from the ’87 set is the cream of the crop. In pristine mint condition with a grade of MINT+ 9.5 or higher on the scale of 10 from professional grading company PSA, Griffey rookie cards have sold for north of $100,000. A PSA 10 Griffey rookie smashed expectations when it sold for an astounding $275,432.50 on the PWCC Marketplace in August 2021, setting a new record.
Another legendary slugger with an extremely valuable rookie in the 1987 Topps set is Frank Thomas, aka “The Big Hurt.” Thomas dominated the league in the 1990s, winning back-to-back MVP awards in 1993 and 1994. His rookie card is considered perhaps the rarest and most desirable in the entire 1987 set due to the low print run of cards early in the alphabet. In a PSA 10 grade, Thomas’ rookie has cracked the $100,000 mark multiple times, including a sale of $116,000 in October 2021 on eBay. Pristine copies in PSA 9 have still commanded prices up to $30,000 as well.
Staying amongst the hitter cards, another 1987 Topps rookie with tremendous value is Barry Bonds. Prior to his all-time single season and career home run records in the late 90s and early 2000s, Bonds established himself as a superstar in Pittsburgh. His rookie card in the ’87 set is among the most iconic of the era. PSA 10 Bonds rookies have crossed the $15,000 threshold, while mint 9s still pull in up to $5,000. As one of the greats of all-time and with increased nostalgia, the Bonds rookie remains highly sought after.
On the pitching side, the headliner is undoubtedly Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. An absolute workhorse and dominant force in the 1990s, Maddux’s rookie card stands out in the 1987 Topps set. PSA 10 copies have sold for close to $10,000. Similar to his accomplishments on the mound, the Maddux rookie card shows impressive consistency, with PSA 9s still maintaining values of $2,000-3,000. His blend of star power, success, and defined rookie season make this one of the most prized hurler cards from the vintage 1987 set.
Rounding out the true “big four” of most valuable 1987 Topps rookies is San Diego Padres star shortstop Garry Templeton. While lesser known today than Griffey, Bonds or Maddux, Templeton burst onto the scene as a 22-year old All-Star in 1982 with the Cardinals. His impressive rookie season made his first Topps card quite popular and it remains one of the most coveted shortstop cards ever printed. Pristine PSA 10 Templeton rookies have sold for rarified air above $8,000. Like the other headliners, this rookie shows solid demand even in high-grade PSA 9s around the $3,000 range.
Beyond the star rookie class of 1987, a few other notable veteran and young star cards have reached over $1,000 in value based on player performance and nostalgia. PSA 10 cards of prolific hitters like Ryne Sandberg, Lenny Dykstra, and Ozzie Smith regularly sell above $2,000. Power pitchers like Dwight Gooden and Orel Hershiser also commanded four-figure values in top condition. RCs of young talent like Mark McGwire, Will Clark, and Kirt Manwaring that went on to respectably long MLB careers still trade hands for $500-1,000 in pristine condition as well.
While it lacks the single most valuable baseball card ever in Mickey Mantle, the 1987 Topps set features an unprecedented quarterback of perhaps the four most desirable rookie cards in the history of the hobby. Headlined by the astronomical prices achieved for Mint Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds and Garry Templeton rookie PSA 10 gems, coupled with steady four-figure and low five-figure values for veterans and young emerging talents, the ’87 Topps set stands tall as one of the most complete and investible vintage releases ever made. Its mixture of superstars, nostalgia, and defining rookie seasons have made it a true heavyweight in the vintage trading card market.
