The 1987 baseball card season was one of the most exciting and memorable years in the history of the hobby. Led by some of the game’s biggest stars and rookie sensations, the ’87 set featured many cards that have stood the test of time as highly coveted by collectors. With the start of the players’ union and new licensing agreements in place, the late 1980s marked the golden age of modern baseball cards when production and quality were at their peak.
One of the most iconic 1987 baseball cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of if not the best rookie card of all-time, Griffey’s upper deck issue debuted “The Kid” to the collecting world. With his smooth left-handed swing and effortless athleticism already on display as a teenager, collectors recognized they had a star on their hands. Griffey would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and his rookie is one of the holy grails of the hobby, routinely fetching thousands of dollars to this day in top condition.
Another hugely valuable 1987 rookie is the Barry Bonds card issued by Topps. Before the steroid controversy and single season home run records, Bonds was already one of the game’s most complete players in just his second big league season. With impressive power and speed numbers to go along with Gold Glove caliber defense, collectors took notice of Bonds’ prodigious talent. High grade examples of this iconic rookie card can sell for well over $10,000.
While rookie cards tend to get most of the 1987 attention, the set is also loaded with stars well into their careers. Arguably the most coveted regular issue card is the Ken Griffey Sr. This is not due to the player himself but rather the fact that his son Ken Griffey Jr. is pictured in the background of the photo. As one of the earliest widely released father-son baseball cards in existence, the Griffey Sr. took on immense popularity and value. Even well-centered near mint copies change hands for thousands.
The 1987 Donruss set is also considered one of the strongest and most aesthetically pleasing annual issues ever produced. Headlined by a Michael Jordan baseball card (one of the rarest modern sports cards period), Donruss also featured stellar photography and design throughout. The Bo Jackson card showcasing his otherworldly athletic gifts is a true icon of the era. Other highly sought after ’87 Donruss issues include the Kirby Puckett, Roger Clemens, and Cal Ripken Jr. who all captured immense stardom in the coming years.
While the flagship Topps and Donruss sets led the way, 1987 also marked the beginning of the modern baseball card boom led by companies like Fleer and Score. The Fleer set introduced holograms and state-of-the-art technology to the hobby. Headline cards included the Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire rookies as well as the Nolan Ryan which was one of the first to feature a retired player in costume. Score also debuted innovative cutting edge design with their ’87 issues like the memorable Ozzie Smith and Andre Dawson cards.
Upper Deck truly changed the baseball card collecting landscape upon entering the scene in 1987. With unprecedented quality, premium materials, and autograph/relic focused parallels, UD set the standard that still holds today. Aside from the aforementioned Griffey Jr. rookie, the ’87 UD set is also home to a Frank Thomas rookie card that has rocketed up the value charts in recent years. Other highly sought UD issues from 1987 include the Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, and Orel Hershiser cards.
While the big name stars and rookies get the most long term collecting attention, 1987 also had its share of unique oddball issues that have developed strong cult followings. The Fleer Sticker Project marked one of the weirdest side sets ever produced. Pacific’s Cuban Baseball Legends set paid homage to international stars. And the Score ‘Sumo’ Wrestling Promotional issue featuring baseball players engaging in the Japanese sport became a collector favorite.
In terms of overall condition and survival rate, the 1987 season is also considered one of the strongest in the modern era. Thanks to the trading card boom being in full swing, many more collectors cared for and preserved their collections compared to prior eras. As a result, high grade 1987s can still be found at a relatively strong clip. This longevity of availability combined with the all-time talents featured make ’87 a perennial favorite among vintage baseball card collectors.
Whether pursuing rookie sensations, iconic veterans, or unique oddballs, 1987 had it all. The combination of peak production quality, memorable photography, and future Hall of Famers has cemented many ’87 issues among the most coveted baseball cards ever made. While the era of $1 packs is long gone, collectors can still enjoy reliving the magic through building 1987-themed collections or pursuing individual star cards from that memorable season. Over 30 years later, 1987 continues to captivate collectors both young and old.
The 1987 baseball card season stands out as one of the true high water marks of the entire hobby. Loaded with future legends, innovative designs, and cards that have stood the test of time, ’87 cards remain hugely popular with collectors today. Headlined by the Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds rookies, the ’87 Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Score and Upper Deck sets shaped the modern collecting landscape. While the vintage era is long past, 1987 cards still invoke a sense of nostalgia and awe for those who witnessed the golden age of baseball cards firsthand.
