The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th annual set produced by the Topps Company. It marked another year of transition for Topps as they began to embrace more modern designs and photography after decades of traditional illustrated cards. The 1987 set would feature several rookie cards that would go on to become very valuable, as well as highlight some of the game’s biggest stars at the time.
The 1987 set consisted of 792 total cards and included photos of all players from the American and National Leagues. The design featured a primarily white background with blue and red accents. Each card displayed the player’s picture on the front along with their name, team, and stats from the previous season. On the back, it provided more stats as well as a short biography of the player. The cards measured 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, which was the standard size Topps had been using since the early 1950s.
Some notable rookie cards featured in the 1987 Topps set included Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz. All four of these players went on to have Hall of Fame careers and their rookie cards are now highly sought after by collectors. Griffey’s rookie in particular is one of the most valuable baseball cards ever printed due to his iconic status as “The Kid” and one of the game’s greatest players. Other young stars like Mark McGwire, Will Clark, and Barry Larkin also had rookie cards in the 1987 set that have gained value over the years.
The 1987 set highlighted many of baseball’s biggest names from the late 1980s. Stars like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, and Kirby Puckett each received prominent card images. Boggs had one of the most visually striking cards, showing him mid-swing with his unique batting stance. Clemens’ card stood out for how intense he looked on the mound. Puckett’s cheerful smile made his one of the more memorable images from the set. The cards did a nice job of capturing the personalities and skills of the era’s top talent.
In addition to future Hall of Famers, the 1987 Topps set also included cards for veteran stars who were nearing the end of their careers. Players like Reggie Jackson, Steve Carlton, and Eddie Murray all appeared, though it would be one of their final card issues. Nolan Ryan’s record-breaking achievement of his 5,000th career strikeout was highlighted on his card from that season. The set provided a snapshot of the transition period between one generation of stars passing the torch to the next wave of young talent emerging.
Beyond current MLB players, the 1987 Topps set also included several special subset cards. An “All-Time Team” subset honored some of the game’s greatest legends with stylized black-and-white images. Players recognized included Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron among others. An “All-Star” subset featured color action photos of standouts from the 1986 Midsummer Classic. Topps also included “Turn Back The Clock” retrospective cards honoring past seasons and achievements in baseball history.
When it was released in 1987, the entire 792 card Topps set retailed for around $1 per pack. While the majority of cards held little value at the time above their original cost, the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Maddux, and Glavine have since exploded in secondary market demand. In near-mint condition, some of those rookies can now sell for thousands of dollars. The 1987 set did a great job highlighting the transition period of the late 1980s game and included many iconic players who are still revered today. It remains one of the most historically significant issues from the long-running Topps baseball card series.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set was a product of its time but contained many cards that have become extremely valuable collectibles in the decades since. Rookie cards of future superstars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Tom Glavine led the way, but iconic veterans and all-time greats also received due recognition. The photography and design embraced the modern era while still honoring baseball’s rich history. For both its notable rookie cards and snapshot of 1980s MLB, the 1987 Topps set endures as an important release within the hobby.
