The 1987 Topps Traded baseball card set was issued midway through the 1987 MLB season as a supplemental set to the flagship 1987 Topps baseball card release. With 198 total cards in the set, Topps Traded offered cards of players who had been traded to new teams since the regular 1987 Topps cards were produced earlier in the year. This makes the 1987 Topps Traded set particularly interesting to collectors, as it features players photographed in the uniforms of their new clubs.
Some key things to know about the 1987 Topps Traded set and price guide:
Set Size: As mentioned, the total number of cards in the 1987 Topps Traded set is 198. This includes 180 individual player cards, 15 team/manager cards and 3 checklist cards.
Key Rookies: There were no true rookie cards in the 1987 Topps Traded set, as all players had previously appeared in the 1987 Topps base set or other past issues. The cards of top rookie performers like Mark McGwire, Jeff Reardon and Doyle Alexander feature them with their new teams for the first time.
Top Players: Some of the most notable active players featured in new uniforms after trades included Ozzie Smith (San Diego Padres to St. Louis Cardinals), Rick Sutcliffe (Cleveland Indians to Chicago Cubs), Bob Horner (Atlanta Braves to St. Louis Cardinals), and Tim Raines (Montreal Expos to Chicago White Sox).
Hot Rookies Section: While there were no true rookie cards, Topps did include a “Hot Rookies” insert section highlighting top first-year players like McGwire, Fred Lynn, and Jerry Browne. These unnumbered inserts are short printed and collectible.
Condition Sensitive: As an older issuance, the 1987 Topps Traded set is very condition sensitive when determining card values. Even minor flaws can drastically reduce prices. Obtaining high grade copies of stars and key cards is important.
Grading Impact: As with most vintage releases, third-party grading by PSA or BGS can multiply prices paid for 1987 Topps Traded cards, especially for pristine examples. Even common players gain value in high grades.
below is a price guide for some top 1987 Topps Traded cards in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition:
Ozzie Smith (Card #1): $500-700
Tim Raines (Card #15): $350-500
Rick Sutcliffe (Card #40): $250-350
Mark McGwire “Hot Rookies” Insert: $250-350
Bob Horner (Card #85): $200-300
Jeff Reardon (Card #137): $150-225
Doyle Alexander (Card #161): $100-150
Commons/Uncommons in PSA 10: $10-30
Prices tend to be 50-75% lower in PSA 9 Mint condition and can fall further for raw, repaired or lower graded copies. The 1987 Topps Traded set remains very popular with collectors today due to the photography of players with their new teams. Condition is paramount, and finding high grade flagship stars like Smith, Raines and Sutcliffe in the affordable $100-$500 range is very difficult over 30 years after issue. The 1987 Topps Traded price guide shows that top rookies, inserts and stars will always be strong performers from this set.
The 1987 Topps Traded baseball card set serves as a fun way to highlight the trades and new uniforms of MLB players from mid-1987. Condition sensitive but packed with stars and key performers from that season, it remains a mainstream vintage release that experienced collectors enjoy to this day. Using the price guide benchmarks above can help you build a 1987 Topps Traded collection while avoiding overpaying in the current market. With smart collecting and an eye for high grades, this iconic traded set can deliver affordable vintage baseball card thrills.
