The 1987 Topps Baseball card set was issued during a transformative time for the baseball card industry. While the 1980s boom was starting to fade, stellar rookie cards from Hall of Famers like Barry Bonds and Greg Maddux debuted in this 792 card set. Several factors converged to make select 1987 Topps cards exceptionally valuable today.
The rookie card boom was still going strong in 1987, with hot prospects debuting everywhere. Two future Hall of Famers had their true Topps rookie cards in this set – Barry Bonds (#468) and Greg Maddux (#686). Bonds’ iconic rookie card shows him dressed in black and white Pirates gear, glaring determinedly from the dugout with stats from his debut 1986 season on the back. Maddux’s more modest rookie depicts the mustachioed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs throwing a pitch. Both are key pieces for any serious collection and have grown in value tremendously over the past 30+ years. PSA 10 Gem Mint examples of the Bonds rookie routinely sell for well over $10,000 today.
Other notable rookies included future 300-game winner Andy Pettitte (#388), elite slugger Mark McGwire (#672), and smooth-fielding shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. (#627). Ripken’s rookie is particularly sought after, with his iconic ironman consecutive games streak already underway in 1987. Hall of Famer Craig Biggio also had his first major cardboard appearance, albeit as a “Traded” variation highlighting his midseason move from the New York Mets to the Houston Astros.
Scarcities stemming from print runs and surging demand have also pumped up values for certain 1987 Topps stars. The flagship set had a large initial print run estimated around 800-850 million cards, but certain players seem rarer in high grades today. The Mark McGwire rookie (#672) and Ozzie Smith (#583) are notable examples – both have PSA 10 populations under 50 cards despite huge initial distributions.
The 1987 Topps set also marked rising stars like Ken Griffey Jr. as future icons. Griffey’s sophomore card (#91) shows him making an acrobatic catch for the Mariners and is remarkably well-centered and crisp, earning strong grades. PSA 10 examples have climbed above the $500 mark. In the set’s latter series, Griffey gets one of the coveted “mini” photo variants reminiscent of old tobacco cards.
Major stars of the day like Wade Boggs (#438), Roger Clemens (#455), and Jose Canseco (#592) had iconic poses and stats on their 1987 cards. But one transcendent superstar stood above the rest – Nolan Ryan. The Ryan card (#234) shows the ageless wonder of the Astros winging a pitch with his famous violent windup. In PSA 10 condition, it’s one of the most expensive common cards from the set, routinely reaching $300-400.
Error varieties and offshore printing anomalies also pump up certain 1987 values. The star-crossed George Bell (#642) rookie card was mistakenly printed without stats on the rear, making PSA-graded examples quite rare. Another bizarre anomaly saw select cards with a British printing line rather than the normal American Topps information. These UK variants have become serious oddball keys for specialists.
In modern times, the 1987 Topps set has further built its mystique through prominent highlights in pop culture. The Bonds and McGwire rookies attained renewed fame when they were featured prominently in the trading card scenes from the 1990 film “The Wizard.” More recently, the full set drew widespread nostalgia online as talented artists created ’87 Topps-style cards for athletes from other sports and eras through awesome homages.
In summarizing why the 1987 Topps set holds such enduring appeal and value more than 30 years since issue, the perfect storm of fantastic rookie debuts, print qualities, surging collector demand and pop culture moments sets it apart. For dedicated baseball card investors and enthusiasts, key 1987 Topps cards remain vitally important holdings greatly enhanced through third-party grading authentication. The iconic players and nostalgia represented ensure this classic cardboard retains its significance.
