1987 marked Topps’ 65th year producing baseball cards and their set from that year remains a highly collectible and iconic release from the 1980s. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 1987 Topps baseball cards price list to analyze which players and cards hold the most value today.
The 1987 Topps set contains 792 total cards including player cards, managers, coaches, checklist cards and league leader cards. The design goes with a simple bold font for the team name and player stats/bio on a plain white background. Some consider it one of the more plain and basic designs of the 1980s but this understated look has also allowed the photographs and players themselves to stand out more prominently over time.
The biggest stars and most valuable cards from the 1987 Topps set unsurprisingly feature Hall of Famers and all-time greats who were in their prime during that season. The most expensive card is #1 Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox. In near mint to mint condition, Clemens’ rookie card regularly fetches $150-250. As arguably the greatest pitcher of his generation and still in the early years of his iconic career with the Red Sox, this card holds tremendous nostalgia and importance for collectors.
Another hugely valuable ’87 Topps card is #377 Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs. Sandberg won the National League MVP award in 1984 and was a 10-time All-Star and perennial .300 hitter during his career, mostly spent with the Cubs. His smooth left-handed swing made him a fan favorite in Chicago. In gem mint condition, Sandberg’s ’87 Topps card can sell for $125-175. Condition is especially important for Sandberg and other star cards from this set as even slightly played copies will diminish in price significantly.
Coming in around the same $100-150 price range for a near-perfect copy is #206 Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox. Boggs was a five-time batting champion in the 1980s and the quintessential hustling third baseman and hitter for Boston. His consistency and skill at the plate directly translated to strong demand for his rookie cards, of which the ’87 Topps is among the most affordable from his early career. Other top Boggs cards include his 1985 & 1986 issues.
Rounding out the $100+ club is #1 Kirby Puckett of the Minnesota Twins. Puckett brought six World Series rings to Minnesota as a stellar center fielder with sneaky power and one of the best batting eyes of the late 80s/90s. The Twins star is a modern era Hall of Famer whose cards found new popularity after his tragic early passing in 2006. A flawless Puckett rookie in ’87 Topps would sell between $125-175 making it among the most expensive non-rookie cards in the set.
Outside of the true upper-echelon rookie cards and stars, there are plenty of $25-75 range cards in the 1987 Topps set worth exploring. #98 Rickey Henderson’s card has found new appreciation in recent years as the all-time stolen base king fully cemented his legacy. In gem mint condition, Rickey’s sharply photographed card trades between $50-75. #659 Mark McGwire’s rookie card isn’t his most iconic as that distinction belongs to his 1986 issue, but his inaugural Topps card still holds value at $35-55 depending on condition.
Two of the biggest stars of the late 80s/90s have particularly desirable cards despite not being true rookies in ’87 Topps – #733 Barry Bonds and #674 Ken Griffey Jr. Bonds was already one of the game’s top sluggers but enthusiasm for his early Pirates days plus recognition of his all-time great peak keep this card in the $40-65 range. Griffey meanwhile was just entering his own with Seattle at age 17, foreshadowing a decade of highlight reel catches and home run trots. his sunny smiling photo makes this a $35-55 card.
Later Hall of Fame inductees with strong 1987 Topps cards include #420 Andre Dawson/$25-50, #682 Nolan Ryan/$30-45, and #674 Tom Glavine/$20-35 among others. Staying in the $15-30 range are perennial All-Stars Dennis Eckersley, Dave Stewart, Dwight Gooden and Ozzie Smith plus young talent like Walt Weiss and Terry Pendleton. Factor in Hall of Very Good level players like Will Clark, Harold Baines, Bob Boone and more and you can see how virtually the entire 1987 set holds longterm collectibility and nostalgia.
In terms of chase cards and variants that bring even greater returns, the biggest keys are the mega-hits like the elusive #1 Roger Clemens autographed rookie which recently sold for $15,000 in mint condition. Other coveted autographs throughout the set can reach $500-1000 depending on the signature. As for chase errors, the infamous ’87 Griffey Airbrush Error where his name is spelled GRIFFEY instead of GRIFFIN on back commands $500-1000 in well-centered, unaltered condition.
While certain cards like Clemens and Boggs top out north of $200, there is affordability throughout the 1987 Topps baseball card price list with stars, prospects and Hall of Famers to be had for $25 or less. Condition is everything, and mid-grade proofs provide an accessible entry into owning cards from one of the most recognizable sets from the sport’s glamour 1980s era. The overall design has aged quite well and snapshot photographs spark nostalgia for many who grew up with the players featured during that classic campaign. After 35 years, 1987 Topps remains a blueprint release that any baseball card collection is enhanced by.
