Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby for over a century, with collectors seeking out rare and valuable cards that can fetch huge sums at auction. One of the modern players whose rookie cards have skyrocketed in value is Mark McGwire, largely due to his record-breaking home run chase with Sammy Sosa in 1998 that captivated the nation.
McGwire debuted as an Oakland A’s rookie in 1987. His rookie card from that year’s Topps set had been relatively inexpensive for years, settling in the $10-20 range in the late 1980s and 1990s. Once McGwire started mashing home runs in the late 90s, collectors began snatching up his rookie card in anticipation of its rising value. By 1998, as McGwire and Sosa dueled for Roger Maris’ single season home run record, McGwire’s ’87 rookie was selling for $50-100.
When Big Mac finally broke the record on September 8, 1998 by hitting #62, the sports world stopped to celebrate. His iconic home run trot where he pointed to the sky as he rounded the bases is still replayed today. In the aftermath of the record-setting season, McGwire mania gripped the country. Anything related to the home run king suddenly became highly sought after by collectors. His 1987 Topps rookie card skyrocketed in value, selling in the $300-500 range throughout 1999 and 2000. The combination of a beloved player, an iconic record-breaking season, and the first major home run chase in decades all contributed to McGwire’s rookie becoming one of the most valuable cards from the late 80s.
Just a few years later McGwire’s reputation and the value of his cards would take a major hit. In 2005, he admitted to using steroids during his career, including in 1998. The admission was a bombshell that tainted the view of the home run record year. Suddenly one of the most cherished seasons in baseball history was viewed through a lens of performance enhancing drug use. While McGwire claimed he used steroids to stay healthy and not to enhance performance, the damage was done. His 1987 rookie card plummeted in value, settling in the $50-100 range in the late 2000s.
While the steroids scandal diminished McGwire’s legacy and the value of his cards at the time, collectors have begun to appreciate them once again in recent years. Some see the cards as an important part of baseball history from the steroid era, flaws and all. There is also a school of thought that McGwire’s home run chase with Sosa helped revive interest in baseball nationwide. Either way, demand and prices for McGwire’s rare rookie cards have been on the upswing. In the hot trading card market of 2021, a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade 1987 Topps McGwire rookie sold at auction for over $23,000. Even lower graded copies in NM-MT 8 condition have sold for $4,000-6,000.
The resurgence of interest in McGwire’s rookie is part of a broader trend. Many cards from the late 80s/early 90s “junk wax” era that were once nearly worthless have gained newfound value as a generation of children from that time have become adult collectors with disposable income. McGwire’s record-setting fame places his 1987 among the most desirable from that period. The recent boom in sports card investing has attracted many new collectors not concerned with the steroid era. They simply see the cards as an appreciating asset.
Whether you agree with McGwire’s actions or not, there is no denying the historical significance of his career. His rookie card captures the beginning of a career that would see him smash many home run records before the steroid admission. The card’s value rise and fall directly correlates to perceptions of McGwire and that era. But even after scandals, strong demand has returned and made his ’87 Topps one of the most valuable baseball cards from the late 80s pack era once again. For dedicated collectors, a high grade McGwire rookie in their collection has become a noteworthy trophy piece and sound investment over three decades after it was first pulled from a pack as a kid.
