The 1987 Topps Mini Baseball card set is considered a classic by collectors and remains popular to this day due to its nostalgic design and historic player content. Issued during baseball’s steroid era, the set features many star players from the late 1980s in a unique miniature format. While not as coveted as full-sized rookie cards from the same year, 1987 Topps Minis provide a more affordable alternative for fans looking to add key pieces from that era to their collections.
The 1987 set consists of 399 total cards issued in wax packs. Like traditional full-size cards of the time, the front of each mini card features a color action photo of the player along with their team logo and stats from the previous season. On the back is a brief biography with career highlights. What makes the 1987 Topps Minis stand out is their smaller size, measuring only about 13⁄4 inches tall by 11⁄4 inches wide. This gives them a fun, novel look compared to standard issue cards.
When it comes to value, key 1987 Topps Mini rookie cards and stars from the era can still fetch premium prices due to strong nostalgia and demand from collectors. Some examples of cards that consistently sell well above average for the set include Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace’s rookie card, Oakland Athletics slugger Mark McGwire’s rookie card, and Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Dave Stieb. Each of these can bring $10-25 or more in top-graded gem mint condition.
Other notable rookie cards that hold value include Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Norm Charlton, and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds. Non-rookie star cards such as New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden, California Angels first baseman Wally Joyner, and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Vince Coleman also tend to sell higher than common players due to their iconic status from the late ’80s MLB landscape.
Graded gem mint rookies or star cards from major HOF players can potentially sell for several hundred dollars or more in some cases. For example, a PSA 10 graded version of Toronto Blue Jays starter Jimmy Key’s rookie card recently sold for over $800. Key veterans and stars that could potentially reach $100+ in a PSA 10 include Detroit Tigers third baseman Darrell Evans, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine, and New York Yankees star Don Mattingly.
It’s important to note the vast majority of 1987 Topps Mini cards have modest values today that more closely reflect the set as a whole. Common player cards in near mint to excellent conditioned can often be acquired for $1-3 each. Even star players fall into the $5-10 range unless they are in pristine, mint condition grades. Rookies of non-HOF caliber players are usually $3-8.
The relatively small size of the 1987 Topps Mini cards does pose some risks to the longevity and condition of the cardboard stock compared to full-size issues. Corners and edges are more prone to wear during storage and display. As a result, finding high-grade specimens gets more difficult over time as natural deterioration takes place. This scarcity factor lends itself to stronger demand and prices for examples that grade out nicely.
Beyond individual card values, there is also interest in completing the entire 399 card 1987 Topps Mini set among completionist collectors. Unopened wax packs have considerable value as well, routinely hitting $50-100 on auction sites depending on the number contained. A sealed full box could command several hundred dollars or more from the right buyer. In total, the 1987 Topps Mini set remains a fun and affordable segment of the massive baseball card market, especially for enthusiasts of 1980s MLB history. With strong nostalgia carrying over generations, demand for these mini cards is likely to stay robust for years to come.
While common 1987 Topps Mini cards hold relatively modest individual values, key rookies, stars and graded gems from iconic players of the era can still fetch premium prices relative to the set due to nostalgia and collector demand. The smaller size of the minis presents preservation challenges over time but also scarcity potential for well-maintained high-grade examples. Both the full set and unopened wax packs appeal to completionists and have found robust interest from collectors. All in all, the 1987 Topps Mini Baseball Card set remains a collector favorite that shows no signs of losing popularity among fans of 1980s baseball memorabilia.
