The 1987 Topps Baseball card set was a highly anticipated release from Topps following several years of skyrocketing values in the collector’s market for vintage cards from the 1950s. By 1987, the stamp and coin collecting boom of the previous decade was beginning to wane, but interest in vintage sports cards had only continued to grow. Fans were eager to see what rookies and trade pickups would be highlighted in the new 1987 set as the baseball card industry entered a new era.
Topps delivered 660 cards in the base 1987 set, featuring every major league player along with managers and coaches. Some of the rookie cards collectors were hoping to find included future Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar, Barry Larkin, and Tom Glavine. Kenny Lofton also had his rookie card in the 1987 Topps set. The design featured colorful team banners across the top with a player photo below, along with stats and career highlights on the back. Topps continued its tradition of including stickers and player interview quotes to break up the primarily statistic-focused content on the back of the cards.
Within the base set some of the notable trades and free agent signings from the 1986-87 offseason were reflected, such as Dave Parker moving from Cincinnati to Oakland and Gary Bell going from Seattle to Boston. Darryl Strawberry’s popular Expos card from 1986 was replaced with his new Dodgers card in the 1987 set. Other key players who had switched teams like Bob Horner, Jose Cruz, and Don Sutton had new uniforms reflecting their new clubs. Rookies, stars, and veterans were all represented providing a comprehensive snapshot of the 1987 MLB rosters as spring training got underway.
Chasing the highly sought rookie cards, fans of the 1987 Topps set tore packs hoping to find future stars or complete their team collections. The design aesthetically was fairly basic and focused more on stats than elaborate illustrations seen in some later sets. It captured the rosters at an intriguing moment of player movement and represented one of the first sets to ship after the opening of the new baseball card boom. Prices remained reasonable enough for most collectors to try completing their first set. With hindsight, many of those who did would gain a financially prudent collection.
Unlike in later “chase” card oriented sets where premium parallels and autographs became common, the 1987 Topps release was fairly standard with just the base 660 cards and no additional inserts. This lent itself well to set building and allowed the key rookie cards and trades to take centerstage without distraction. The simplistic design also had nostalgic appeal calling to mind classic early 1960s designs that many fans cut their teeth on first. For these reasons, it has retained popularity as a set for both completionists and investors to this day. PSA 10 Jim Abbott, Barry Larkin, and Roberto Alomar rookies have reached over $1,000 CAD in recent sales.
While the 1986 Fleer set had shaken up the industry with its glossy photography and licensed players, Topps was still dominating distribution through supermarkets and corner stores. The 1987 release helped further drive interest in the growing collecting phenomenon. Alongside Donruss’s competitive offering that year spotlighting rookies like Ben McDonald, the cards captured a sport gaining new fervor and young talent poised to foster new fanbases. In the years since, as values rise for elite vintage examples, the 1987 Topps set endures as an accessible showcase of that transitional season bridging eras for the collecting community.
Whether chasing rookie star power, building team sets, or preserving financial holdings, the appeal of the 1987 Topps issue remains strong decades later. Its combination of simplistic nostalgia, star talents, and place in card history make it a touchstone for collectors. Prices have indeed reflected increased demand, though high grade examples of stars still offer affordable enjoyment of that compelling time when baseball’s modern renaissance was just beginning. For both nostalgic enjoyment and long term value preservation, the 1987 Topps baseball card set retains a well-deserved place among the all-time favorites.
