1987 was a unique year for Topps baseball cards as it was the first year Topps produced its cards through printing instead of the previous gum manufacturing process. This change led to significant differences in the physical composition and appearance of the 1987 Topps cards compared to prior years. The cards had a thinner glossier finish and featured brighter colors compared to the thicker stock of previous Topps issues.

While the physical differences were notable, what really drives the collectibility and prices of vintage baseball cards is the players and the scarcity of rare and valuable cards. The 1987 Topps set features many all-time great players who were in their prime or just entering it. Players like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Barry Bonds all appear prominently in the set in seasons before they achieved their highest levels of fame and accolades.

The standard 1987 Topps base card set contains 792 cards featuring active major leaguers as well as retired stars and managers/coaches. The most common cards from this set hold relatively little value today, being readily available and found in most vintage baseball card collections. Examples of mid-range priced common base cards include:

Wade Boggs (#48 Boston Red Sox): $1-2
Ozzie Smith (#118 St. Louis Cardinals): $2-3
Roger Clemens (#331 Boston Red Sox): $3-5

There are several key factors that can dramatically increase the value of certain 1987 Topps cards above their base values:

Rookie Cards: Debut cards often carry a substantial premium, especially for future Hall of Famers and all-time great players. Some examples of valuable 1987 Topps rookie cards include:

Ken Griffey Jr (#321 Seattle Mariners): $50-75
Greg Maddux (#600 Chicago Cubs): $40-60
Tom Glavine (#581 Atlanta Braves): $30-50
Barry Larkin (#680 Cincinnati Reds): $25-35

Short Prints: Certain cards in the 1987 Topps base set were printed in lower numbers than usual, making them statistically rarer and more valuable. Among the most coveted short prints are:

Tim Raines (#481 Montreal Expos): $50-75
Mark McGwire (#601 Oakland A’s): $40-60
Kirby Puckett (#651 Minnesota Twins): $30-50

Gold Cards: Occurring 1 in every wax pack on average, the 1987 Topps Gold Cards featured a gold border around the image and held an instant premium over the basic issue. Key gold cards include:

Ozzie Smith (#118G St. Louis Cardinals): $75-100
Wade Boggs (#48G Boston Red Sox): $50-75
Rickey Henderson (#481G Oakland A’s): $40-60

odder Errors: Missed-cut errors, off-center strikes, upside-down prints and other manufacturing anomalies that differ significantly from the card’s normal design command high values from error card collectors.

Additional Insert Sets: Topps also released additional insert sets packed less frequently in 1987 wax packs to spark extended collector interest. The most valuable of these include:

All-Star Cards (132 cards): Complete set $200-300
Postseason Highlights Cards (48 cards): Key cards $20-50 each

While not all 1987 Topps cards hold enormous long-term appreciation potential, savvy collectors know that this vintage issue features some of the best rookie cards and most iconography of players crossing over into their primes or entering baseball immortality. Short print variations, manufacturing errors, strong visual designs featuring rising young talents all contribute to an active market where Condition sensitive high-grade examples continue earning premium value investment returns decades after the original product’s release.

For collectors seeking affordability alongside the allure of pre-fame stars, 1987 Topps maintains its status as one of the most collectible late 1980s issues thanks to iconic imagery and an enviable place in the early careers of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Glavine, Maddux, Larry Walker, and others. Whether enjoying the nostalgia of childhood heroes or pursuing valuable classic cardboard, 1987 Topps remains among the most fan-recommended vintage sports card sets for builders of the past and future.