The 1987 Fleer baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the junk wax era of the late 1980s. While many see the sets from this time period as having little value due to high print runs that saturated the market, there are still some highly coveted gems to be found in the 1987 Fleer set that have stood the test of time. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most notable cards from this 720 card release that are still sought after by collectors today.

One of the true heavyweights of the 1987 Fleer set is card #336, featuring Chicago Cubs superstar Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg was coming off an MVP caliber 1986 season where he hit .314 with 204 hits, 40 doubles and 19 home runs. His dominance at the plate and his Gold Glove caliber defense at second base had cemented him as one of the game’s premier all-around players. His card captured him in the midst of his prime and its luster has hardly diminished. In top graded gem mint condition, Sandberg’s 1987 Fleer card can fetch prices upwards of $500 due to his legendary career and the card’s sharp photo and design.

Another Cubs star who shines bright in the 1987 Fleer set is Andre Dawson, known as “The Hawk.” Dawson’s card is #99 in the set and depicts him patrolling centerfield with his signature hawk-like intensity. 1987 was a monumental season for Dawson as he won the NL MVP award after batting .287 with 49 home runs and 137 RBI. He led the league in total bases, extra-base hits, and home runs. Dawson’s MVP season and iconic nickname have made his 1987 Fleer card a very strong mover in the secondary market. High-grade copies can sell for over $300 due to Dawson’s Hall of Fame career and the allure of his “Hawk” persona captured on his ’87 Fleer cardboard.

Shifting gears to the American League, few players loom larger in the 1987 Fleer set than Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees. As card #207, Mattingly’s iconic batting stance and Yankee pinstripes make him instantly recognizable. He was coming off yet another All-Star season in 1986 where he hit .352 with 35 home runs and 113 RBI, finishing third in MVP voting. Mattingly’s career was cut short by injury but he remains one of the great slugging first basemen of the 1980s. In pristine mint condition, his 1987 Fleer card can bring in over $200. The photo and design are top-notch but it’s Mattingly’s Yankee legacy that gives this card its strong staying power.

While stars like Sandberg, Dawson and Mattingly shine brightest in the 1987 Fleer set, there are also some highly valuable rookie cards to be found as well. Chief among them is the rookie card of Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine, who burst onto the scene in 1987 for the Atlanta Braves. As the #1 overall pick in the 1984 draft, Glavine made his MLB debut in ’87 and showed flashes of the dominance that would come. His rookie card is found at #93 in the set and portrays the young lefty in his Braves jersey. While Glavine didn’t post big numbers in his first season, collectors had an inkling they were seeing the start of a great career. In pristine mint condition, Glavine’s rookie now commands prices up to $400 due to his 305 career wins and two Cy Young Awards over a storied career.

Another can’t-miss rookie from 1987 Fleer is #556, featuring Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Carter had played parts of 1985-86 with the Cubs and Indians, but 1987 was his first full season and the first appearance of his rookie card. Carter went on to have a solid 19-year career hitting 389 home runs and was best known for hitting a walk-off World Series home run for the Jays in 1993. In top condition, his rookie card can sell for $150-200 given the excitement of a postseason hero card from such a significant player. The photo captures the enthusiasm of a young Carter starting his MLB journey.

While the headliner cards of stars and rookies receive much of the 1987 Fleer attention, there are also a few oddball gems that intrigue collectors. Card #200 features St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane in a unique pose, squatting down on the mound as if he’s about to go into his windup. It’s an action shot seldom seen on baseball cards at the time. Magrane’s career flamed out after a few promising seasons, but the novelty of the photo has made this one a bit of a cult favorite. Another offbeat find is #661 featuring Chicago White Sox pitcher Joel Davis in a mid-delivery windup. Davis only pitched two seasons in the majors but his card captures an unusual pitching stance that collectors have come to appreciate in the decades since. Both Magrane and Davis cards can sell for $50-75 in top condition due to their quirky photo subjects.

While the 1987 Fleer set had a huge print run estimated at over 3.5 billion cards, the combination of star players, future Hall of Famers, and unique photographic subjects has allowed some truly elite cards to retain strong collector demand and secondary market pricing. Sets from the late ’80s junk wax era are often overlooked in the broader hobby, but a deeper look inside 1987 Fleer reveals several true gems that have stood the test of time. Keys like Sandberg, Dawson, Mattingly, Glavine and Carter anchor the set with Hall of Fame pedigrees, while quirky shots of Magrane and Davis add intrigue. For savvy collectors, the 1987 Fleer set remains a treasure trove of iconic cardboard even decades after its initial release.