The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was the second year Fleer held the license to produce Major League Baseball cards after taking over the rights from Topps. The set featured 598 total cards and was one of the more popular and iconic releases of the late 1980s.
For 1987, Fleer opted to go with white borders on most cards, switching from the gray borders used for their 1986 debut set. The design featured player names arched across the top with their team name below in reverse color. At the bottom was the Fleer logo as well as copyright information. Overall the cards had a clean aesthetic that provided a contrast from Topps’ more colorful designs of the era.
One of the notable aspects of the 1987 Fleer set was the inclusion of retired Hall of Famer cards at the very end of the base series numbering. Cards #599-#607 paid homage to legends like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. While not true rookie cards, these stamped a seal of approval on some of baseball’s greatest to ever play. Collectors loved finding these iconic legends mixed in with the current season’s players.
Rookie cards in 1987 included future Hall of Famers like Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, and Frank Thomas. McGwire’s first Fleer card #463 quickly became a key card for collectors. In the late 1980s and early 90s, before McGwire’s home run chase, his rookie fetched around $5-10. Today a mint condition 1987 Mark McGwire rookie in a PSA 10 gem mint slab can sell for over $10,000.
Beyond the base cards, Fleer also issued 87 different factory set and parallel variations including gold, silver, and bronze foil cards. They even produced mini leather football sized cards as a promotional item. The gold parallel cards were extremely scarce initially printed but are quite affordable today. Other key parallels include the 1987 Fleer Update set featuring mid-season call-ups like Cal Ripken Jr and additional stars.
In terms of team distribution, the 1987 Fleer set heavily featured the dominant New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals of the late 1980s. Players like Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Roger Clemens, and Ozzie Smith appeared frequently across the base set and inserts. The Fleer philosophy at the time seemed to be highlighting some of baseball’s biggest stars and teams each year which gave the sets broad appeal among collectors.
One lower number card that became highly desired was #8 Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres. Gwynn went on to have a Hall of Fame career and his 1987 Fleer rookie, while not quite as iconic McGwire’s, now carries a premium compared to most other non-rookie cards in the base set. Condition is also extremely important, with a PSA 10 example selling for over $2,000 today. Other singles that have increased in value due to player achievement include Bo Jackson #337, Frank Thomas #479, and Ken Griffey Jr. #551.
The 1987 Fleer set had an interesting mixture of proven veterans, familiar young stars, and future legends still emerging that captured the varied talent levels across the major leagues at the mid-1980s. Even more than 30 years later, collectors still enjoy putting together complete rain sets to experience this “window” of baseball history first hand. While not quite as expensive as flagship releases from Topps, 1987 Fleer cards remain readily available in the hobby at affordable levels for most budgets. The classic designs have also ensured they remain a staple in today’s market.
The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was a pivotal installment that defined late 1980s collecting while also looking ahead showcasing talented rookies. Between the mix of stars, parallels, and Hall of Famers included, it succeeded in establishing Fleer as a serious competitor to Topps’ long-held monopoly. The combination of design, player selection, and affordability have kept 1987 Fleer an engaging set for collectors both casual and serious to this day.
