The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most coveted issues from the late 1980s. While it does not contain any true “gem mint” superstars on par with the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, several key rookie cards and short printed veterans have risen to the top of the 1987 Topps value rankings in recent years.
One of the most sought-after cards from the 660-card base set is the Kirby Puckett rookie card. Puckett went on to have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Minnesota Twins, winning six Gold Gloves and being named to six All-Star teams. He led the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. In top mint condition with a gem mint (GM) grade of 10, Puckett’s rookie currently sells for around $4,000-$5,000. Even in near mint to mint (NM-MT) condition around a grade of 8, it still fetches $1,000-$1,500.
Puckett’s teammate and fellow Twins star Kent Hrbek also has a valuable rookie in the ‘87 set. While not quite on Puckett’s level, a GM Hrbek rookie in the $1,500-$2,000 range shows his card has decent appeal to collectors as well thanks to his contributions to Minnesota’s title teams. In NM-MT condition, an Hrbek rookie will sell for $400-$600.
For rookie card collectors hunting big names beyond just the Twins, another top option is the Mark McGwire rookie. Big Mac went on to hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and finished his career with 583 total, making him one of the premier power hitters of his generation. A pristine McGwire rookie in GM condition can reach as high as $3,000, with an average around $2,000. In played condition of NM-MT, it still commands $700-$1,000 on the secondary market.
While rookies are always a draw, some of the biggest 1987 Topps values actually belong to short printed veteran stars. The star-studded New York Mets were well represented that year with superstar pitchers Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. Their cards were printed in much lower numbers than standard players leading to rarity. A Gooden or Strawberry in top grade can sell for $2,000+$ due to their scarcity.
The most expensive card in the entire ‘87 set though is undoubtedly the Gary Carter card. Like Gooden/Strawberry, Carter’s card was issued with a much lower print run than usual making it very scarce to find in top shape today. He was also a Future Hall of Famer who twice won the World Series with the New York Mets in ‘86. A pristine GM Carter routinely sells at auction for $4,000 and up. Even well-centered NM-MT examples still pull in $1,500-$2,000.
While it lacks true iconic stars, the 1987 Topps baseball set nonetheless features a handful of valuable cards at the top of the secondary market. Rookie gems of Kirby Puckett and Mark McGwire along with the ultra-rare short prints of Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry headline the most expensive and desired cards from the issue over 30 years later. For dedicated collectors, tracking down high grade examples of these keys remain a worthwhile pursuit.
