The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable vintage sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s. While most cards from 1987 hold little monetary value today, there are a select few rookie cards, star cards, and error cards that can still fetch a pretty penny from serious collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key 1987 Topps cards that are worth tracking down and potentially worth money.
One of the most valuable rookie cards from the 1987 Topps set is none other than Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith’s rookie card. As arguably the greatest defensive shortstop of all time, Smith put together a Hall of Fame career and his rookie card remains highly coveted by collectors. In near mint to mint condition, Ozzie Smith’s rookie typically sells for $80-150. The card is fairly scarce in pristine gem mint 10 condition, where it has sold for over $500 before. Any collector building a set or PC of The Wizard would be remiss not to track down this key rookie card.
Another 1987 rookie card worth big money is Giants legend Barry Bonds. Arguably the greatest power hitter of all time, Bonds shattered virtually every career home run record during his storied career. His rookie card isn’t necessarily rare from the 1987 Topps set, but strong demand drives the price up significantly for high grade copies. A Bonds rookie in mint 9 condition can sell for $75-125, while a true gem mint 10 has been known to fetch over $300. No collection of 1980s/1990s stars is complete without the Baby Bond’s breakthrough rookie included.
Ken Griffey Jr.’s rookie card is yet another key piece from the 1987 Topps set worth significant money. Junior’s smooth left-handed swing and graceful outfield play made him a fan favorite throughout his Hall of Fame career spent primarily with the Mariners and Reds. Like Bonds, Griffey’s rookie isn’t scarce by any means but condition sensitive collectors push the price exponentially for pristine copies. A Griffey rookie in mint 9 condition can typically be acquired for $50-75, while a true gem mint gem 10 has sold for well over $200 before due to obsessive demand from collectors.
In addition to star rookie cards, error cards from the 1987 Topps set are also worth big money in the right grades. One of the most financially lucrative errors is Randy Johnson’s “missing left arm” photo variation, where his left arm is mysteriously missing from the image on the card. Only a small number are believed to exist in high grades and they have sold for thousands in the past. Another costly error is Alan Trammell’s “exposed torso” card, where part of the photo is cut off to reveal skin below his uniform. High grade examples of quirky errors like these can net mid-four figure returns.
Star veteran cards also have financial potential from the ’87 Topps set. A Roberto Clemente featuring his retired number “21” in Pirates’ duds is quite desirable. Another example would be an Ozzie Smith displaying the same retired Cardinals number “1” on the front of his uniform. Graded examples of these star/tribute cards have reached up to $400-500 each. The Kirk Gibson 1983 World Series winning home run parallel card is a hot collector’s item as well. Of course, the crown jewel star card of the set might be a true gem mint 10 copy of Nolan Ryan which recently sold for over $2,000 at auction.
While most 1987 Topps cards aren’t worth more than a buck even in pristine condition, there are certainly some standouts worth chasing for a combination of rarity, star power, and collector demand potential down the road. If you happen to have any of these key cards well-preserved in your childhood collection, it may be worth getting them professionally graded and potentially selling to turn a nice profit. The vintage Topps market is always evolving and the right high grade vintage star rookies, parallels and error cards can deliver hefty long term financial returns if acquired for the right price. This post shed light on some of 1987’s best cards worth tracking down and potentially money based on trends in the collecting community.
