The 1987 Topps Roger Clemens baseball card is one of the most iconic and valuable cards of The Rocket during his early years with the Boston Red Sox. Coming off his first all-star and Cy Young award winning seasons in 1986 and 1987 respectively, Clemens’ 1987 Topps card captured him at the very beginning of what would become one of the greatest pitching careers in MLB history.

The 1987 Topps set is considered one of the most aesthetically pleasing designs in modern baseball card history. Featuring colorful team logo designs across the top and player photos positioned high on the card to maximize foreground space, the images truly pop on the 1987 design. Clemens’ card takes advantage of this with a crystal clear close-up headshot showing his fierce competitive stare. His dominating presence and potential for greatness is evident even in his early 20s.

Off the mound, 1986 was Clemens’ breakout campaign. Going 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts, he led the AL in wins, ERA, strikeouts, winning percentage (.857) and WAR (8.3). His 24 wins set a new MLB single-season record. For his efforts, Clemens was named the AL Cy Young award winner, becoming just the third pitcher in league history to win it at age 23 or younger.

Continuing his ascendance in 1987, Clemens went 20-9 with a 2.97 ERA and 270 strikeouts while lowering his walks allowed from 77 to 61. He finished third in AL Cy Young voting behind teammate Bruce Hurst and Minnesota’s Frank Viola. Individually, Clemens set a new MLB single-season record with his 270 strikeouts that stood for over 20 years.

With the exceptional seasons Clemens was putting together early in his career, demand was high for his rookie and early Topps cards. The 1987 is arguably the most iconic of his early Red Sox issues due to capturing him amid back-to-back stellar seasons and Cy Young caliber performances. Long considered the card that emerged Clemens into superstardom, graded versions today regularly sell for well over $1000.

Part of what makes the 1987 stand out is the incredible photography. A tight close-cropped shot from chest up shows Clemens intense eyes locked in with a serious, gameday focused expression. His thick early career curls flow out from under his baseball cap. The high photo placement on the card gives a wonderful headshot portrait effect emphasizing Clemens’ intimidating stare. It’s an iconic image that has inspired countless renditions and remains one of Clemens’ most recognizable card photographs.

While Clemens shone on the mound, the 1987 Red Sox were an underperforming last place team. Finishing 77-84, it was Clemens carrying the pitching staff with Hurst right behind him. The lack of team success that season has kept many of Clemens’ 1987s in circulation over the years as Red Sox fans looked to collect stars on otherwise disappointing teams. With time Clemens’ stardom has boosted values of his early Sox issues like the ’87 Topps.

For collectors, finding high grade 1987 Clemens presents a challenge. The relatively low initial print run combined with thirty plus years of collecting interest means pristine near-mint examples have mostly been snatched up long ago. Even well-centered examples often show minor defects upon close inspection. But for enthusiasts, the 1987 remains coveted for its rich saturation of colors and iconic photography capturing Clemens right before superstardom.

In the following seasons, Clemens would cement his case as one of baseball’s all-time greats. Three more Cy Youngs and the 1990 AL MVP award were still ahead. He would go on to dominate into the late 1990s and early 2000s with the Blue Jays and Yankees, cementing a legacy as one of the most accomplished right-handed pitchers in MLB history. But it all started with back-to-back electric seasons for the Red Sox in 1986-1987, immortalized in the classic 1987 Topps Roger Clemens card. For collectors and fans alike, it remains a highly treasured piece of his early career collecting lore.