The 1987 Topps baseball card set holds significant nostalgic and financial value for collectors and investors. Produced and distributed by the Topps Company, the 1987 set was the 66th annual issue in Topps’ flagship baseball card series and included 660 total cards. While not quite as iconic or valuable as some previous decades, the 1987 Topps set remains highly desired by collectors due to the stars, rookie cards, and memorable moments it captures from that MLB season.
One of the most valuable aspects of the 1987 Topps set is the rookie cards it features. Some of the top rookie cards from the set that can fetch high prices include Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, Randy Johnson, and Tom Glavine. A PSA 10 graded McGwire rookie in near-mint to mint condition could sell for over $10,000. The Larkin rookie has also gained value in recent years, with PSA 10 copies reaching $3,000-$4,000. Randy Johnson and Tom Glavine rookie cards from the ’87 Topps set in top condition also boast 4-figure valuations.
Beyond rookies, the ’87 set highlights several star players who were in their primes in the late 1980s. Hall of Famers like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, and Nolan Ryan are well-represented. High-grade copies of their common base cards still trade for $20-$50 even today. Rarer parallel and insert cards for these stars can sell for exponentially more. A PSA 10 ’87 Topps Traded Nolan Ryan, for instance, would be worth $1,000+ due to its scarcity.
Team sets from the 1987 Topps issues also carry collector value. Completing sets for popular franchises like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and others can cost a few hundred dollars depending on condition. The Cleveland Indians team set is among the most difficult and pricey to acquire fully due to star short prints and the notoriously low production runs of many ’80s Indians players’ cards. A 100% complete 1987 Topps Indians team set in high grade could command $2,000 or more on today’s market.
Of course, the true big-ticket cards in the 1987 Topps collection are the short prints and one-of-one parallel inserts that are exceedingly rare even in worn condition. Chief among these are the coveted ’87 Traded Update cards, which featured traded players in their new uniforms midway through the season. Only about 10 of each Traded card were produced, and all 22 are extremely valuable today. Another rare parallel is the ’87 Fleer-produced Glossy Send-In parallel, awarded by mailing in Topps wrappers. A complete authenticated set could bring $5,000+.
For collectors seeking condition-graded gems of their favorite stars, upper-end 1987 Topps rookies, stars, and rare parallel cards in PSA/BGS 10 are some of the most expensive across the entire vintage baseball card period. Even the base common cards maintain strong buyer interest and prices when fresh and flawless. Key factors influencing the longterm growth of 1987 Topps values include the emergence of younger collectors with nostalgia for the late ’80s era plus the sustained rise in overall sports collectibles as a viable investment asset class.
Given the rookie star power, memorable photography, and notoriously low production numbers ascribed to certain 1987 Topps cards over the decades, the set has remained a cornerstone of the vintage baseball collecting world. While it may never eclipse the true crown jewel issues of the 1950s and 1960s in terms of numbers of ultra-high-end valuable cards, the 1987 collection continues to attract new fans and financial backing due to how authentically it captured a special time in MLB history. As one of the most complete visual chronicles featuring future Hall of Famers and beloved stars of the late 20th century, the 1987 Topps baseball set rightfully stays in high demand with no signs of slowing appreciating value on the horizon.
