The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s trading card boom. While it lacked the flashy multi-photo cards and inserts of some other sets from that era, the 1987 Donruss roster featured a whole host of young stars and future Hall of Famers in their ascent. Among the expansive 700+ card checklist are several uncommon and rare gems that continue to excite collectors decades later. Let’s take a closer look at some of the toughest cards to find in well-centered, high-grade condition from the 1987 Donruss baseball release.
One of the true crown jewels from the ’87 Donruss set is the Nolan Ryan rookie card #157. While it was Ryan’s 15th season in the big leagues, this was the first card issued of him during his tenure with the Houston Astros, making it a desirable rookie regardless of the definition. Only about 10 high-grade PSA/BGS 9 or 10 examples are known to exist, and one recently sold for over $30,000. Equally rare is the #310 Ivan Calderon rookie card, with the speedy outfielder having only played 3 MLB seasons. Finding a Calderon rookie in excess of a PSA 8 is extremely difficult.
Moving beyond rookies, several star players have incredibly scarce ’87 Donruss cards in pristine condition. The #83 Ozzie Smith “Wizard of Oz” is a tough pull at a PSA 9 or above, and one recently broke $10,000 at auction. Other ultra-tough hall of famers to find high include #89 Wade Boggs, #135 Dennis Eckersley, #138 Andre Dawson, and #155 Eddie Murray. Dawson’s iconic Expos photo and Murray’s classic Orioles uniform shot are must-owns for vintage collectors but will cost thousands to acquire top-graded examples. Rookie talent like #142 Tim Belcher, #206 Wally Joyner, and #286 Jon Garland also have very limited supplies in high-end archives.
Rarity is amplified for certain variations and parallel cards inserted at low ratios in ’87 Donruss packs. The elusive “Factory Set” parallel cards like #157 Nolan Ryan hold a special allure for completionists. Printed on silver foil stock and numbering under 100 copies each, these parallel rookies can reach five-figure prices.Similarly scarce are the white whiting parallel cards, featuring washed-out photos on a white backdrop. Finding key white whiting parallels of stars like #89 Boggs, #138 Dawson, or #210 Barry Bonds in top condition presents a true challenge.
Beyond the ultra-premium cards, there are also many undervalued mid-level hits still obtainable for vintage collectors. Rookie talents like #302 Mark McGwire, #472 Randy Johnson, and #578 Bobby Thigpen have decent supplies in PSA 8-9 but remain affordable for most enthusiast’s budgets compared to the highest-end keys. Solid regular base cards of stars like #33 Mike Scott, #50 Dale Murphy, #99 Rickey Henderson, and #163 Roger Clemens can usually be had in the $100-500 range when graded 8 or above.
For players who only had brief cups of coffee in the show, their 1987 Donruss cards attain mythic status among set builders striving for true completeness. Examples include #103 Mookie Wilson’s partial season with the Reds, #189 Steve Lake’s 16 games for the Padres, or the #590 Brian Holton rookie which was his only MLB action. In the ultra-high grades, examples sell for $1000’s due to their scarcity. But for those willing to land proven examples in the PSA 6-7 range, true oddball rookie gems can still be found in the $100-200 range.
The 1987 Donruss baseball card set endures as one of the crown jewels of the 1980s trading card boom. While the entire set presents a daunting challenge to complete in high grades, savvy collectors can still find affordable opportunities among solid examples of stars or obscure rookies. But for the true keys, examples of Ryan, Smith, Dawson, and other top names will command premium prices commensurate with their rarity over 30 years after initial production. The ’87 Donruss release is a set that continues captivating collectors with its history, photography, and tales of extraordinary scarcity amongst its most desirable issues.
