The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was the second series of baseball cards produced by Fleer after they entered the baseball card market in 1986. The 1987 set saw Fleer take another step forward in their efforts to compete against industry leaders Topps. The 1987 Fleer cards featured several innovative designs and included some of the most iconic rookie cards in the modern era of baseball cards.
At the time of its release in 1987, the Fleer baseball card set consisted of 398 total cards. The set included base cards for all 26 Major League teams from that season. Notable rookie cards in the 1987 Fleer set included cards for Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, and Greg Maddux. All three of these players would go on to have Hall of Fame careers and their rookie cards from the 1987 Fleer set are still highly sought after by collectors today.
One of the most distinguishing design elements of the 1987 Fleer cards was the innovative black border that ran around the perimeter of each card front. This was a departure from the traditional white or gray borders used by most other card manufacturers at the time. The black border helped the photographs and graphics really pop off the card. Fleer also incorporated team logo designs directly into the borders, giving each card a unique team-specific look.
On the back of each 1987 Fleer card, statistics and biographical information about the player was presented in an easy to read layout. Fleer opted for a simpler, cleaner back design compared to some of the cluttered multi-column formats used by competitors. At the bottom of each card back was a small ad promoting other Fleer sports card products like basketball, football, and hockey. This helped cross-promote Fleer’s expanding sports card portfolio within the set.
While the base cards were the core of any trading card set, Fleer also included several innovative insert sets within the 1987 release. One of the most popular was the “Fleer Futures” subset which highlighted some of the up and coming rookie and prospect players. Notable names in the Fleer Futures cards that year included Bobby Bonilla, Gregg Jefferies, and Ben McDonald. Other inserts in the 1987 Fleer set included “Traded” cards highlighting players that changed teams, “Team Leaders” cards, and “All-Star” cards for some of the games top performers.
When it was first released in 1987, the Fleer baseball card set retailed for $1 per pack with 11 cards inside each wax paper wrapper. While it didn’t surpass Topps in total sales that first year, Fleer was making steady gains on the market leader. The innovative designs, popular rookie cards, and insert sets all helped raise Fleer’s profile among collectors. Prices for sealed 1987 Fleer wax packs have risen steadily in the ensuing decades. Unopened boxes can now fetch thousands of dollars depending on condition from vintage sports card collectors.
Of the nearly 400 total cards in the 1987 Fleer baseball set, perhaps none are more iconic and valuable today than the rookie cards of Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, and Greg Maddux. McGwire’s rookie card in particular skyrocketed in demand after he broke the single season home run record in 1998. In near mint condition, a 1987 Fleer McGwire rookie card can sell for over $10,000 today. Larkin and Maddux, both Hall of Famers, also have rookie cards from the 1987 Fleer set that can sell for thousands in top grades.
Beyond just the star rookie cards, the 1987 Fleer baseball card set as a whole remains a highly collectible part of the modern era of sports card history. Fleer helped drive innovation and competition within the baseball card market during the late 1980s. Design elements like the black borders and unique team logo treatments gave the 1987 Fleer cards a distinctive visual style that still holds up over 30 years later. For collectors and investors alike, 1987 Fleer cards continue to be a solid long term hold within any vintage baseball card portfolio. The combination of iconic rookie cards, innovative designs, and Fleer’s early success in the baseball card wars makes the 1987 release one of the most fondly remembered sets from the golden age of sportscards.
