The 1987 Fleer baseball card set is considered by many collectors and experts to be one of the iconic modern baseball card issues released during the sport’s boom period of the 1980s and early 1990s. With its colorful photography and crisp designs, the ’87 Fleer set captured the imagination of kids and adults alike at the time. Now several decades later, these cards remain popular with collectors and have developed a strong market presence.
For collectors wanting to verify the condition and grade of their 1987 Fleer baseball cards, sending them to Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has become a standard practice. Founded in 2000, PSA utilizes state-of-the-art technology and employs a staff of expert graders to authenticate, grade, and encapsulate trading cards, autographs, autograph memorabilia and other collectibles. Their established reputation for consistency, accuracy, and integrity has made PSA the most trusted third-party grading service in the collectibles industry.
The sheer popularity of the 1987 Fleer issue over the decades means there are thousands upon thousands of these cards that have crossed grading desks at PSA headquarters in California. Collectors look to PSA slabs as the definitive statement on condition and quality, which directly impacts the value and demand for high-grade examples from this legendary set. Let’s take a closer look at some key things to know about PSA grading of 1987 Fleer baseball cards:
Gem Mint Condition Cards are Rare – Coming out of packs over 30 years ago, very few 1987 Fleer cards survived in perfect Mint or Near Mint condition. In fact, PSA has only graded a tiny fraction as the coveted Mint 9 or Gem Mint 10 status. Things like centering, corners and edges stood little chance of remaining flawless for so long. A PSA 10 1987 Fleer card is a true treasure.
Top Rated Cards Command Big Money – Whether it’s a star player rookie or a key subset, PSA 9 and PSA 10 examples of 1987 Fleer cards pull in the largest prices on the collector market. A PSA 10 Ozzie Smith Freak rookie can sell for over $10,000 USD. Superstar rookies like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire at a PSA 9+ also carry premiums in the thousands. Condition is king when it comes to value.
8.5 is the New 9 – For vintage cards from the 1980s like 1987 Fleer, a PSA 8.5 grade is increasingly seen by savvy collectors and sellers as the equivalent of a “near-mint” 9. PSA 8.5s while still graded “Excellent” command nearly the same demand as 9s, especially for higher end cards. The tiny condition differences are negligible to end users and a PSA 8.5 serves as a more attainable collecting target.
Cracking Issues Affect Grade – The fragile and brittle cardboard stock used in 1980s card production means examples often suffer from cracking along edges, known as “creases.” PSA is very strict on creasing based on their numerical criteria and won’t upgrade a card higher than an 8 due to cracking flaws. Modern pressing techniques by some have helped improve grades in certain cases though.
Authenticating is Key – With so many reprints and counterfeit versions of coveted 1987 Fleer cards floating around today, PSA authentication is invaluable. Their reputation and holder lend certainty that what’s inside is real, not forged or rebacked. Bad fakes pull the rug on assumed value, so PSA gives peace of mind against reproductions diluting the market. In short, “It’s real, in the slab.”
While PSA 10 1987 Fleer baseball cards are truly rare, there are still plenty of high quality PSA 9s or 8.5s around to collect across different player tiers and hobby budgets. Condition is paramount in the vintage card market and PSA third-party grading sets the standard in preserving value over the long term. Whether building a full ’87 Fleer set, team collection, or chasing star rookies and parallels, PSA certification provides authentication and condition assurances prized by collectors.
