In 1987, Kmart partnered with Topps to produce a special baseball card set exclusively for Kmart stores. The 1987 Kmart baseball card set featured 87 cards featuring players, managers, and executives from MLB teams. The unique card set was only available through Kmart and generated significant interest among baseball card collectors at the time.
The 1987 Kmart baseball card set came about as a partnership between the major retail chain Kmart and Topps, the dominant manufacturer of sports cards in the late 20th century. Topps had been producing baseball cards annually since the early 1950s and had exclusive licenses with MLB, the MLB Players Association, and individual teams. In 1987, Topps worked with Kmart to design and produce a special 87 card set that could only be purchased from Kmart stores.
Each of the 26 MLB teams at the time were represented with 3 cards in the set, giving a total of 78 cards featuring current players. The other 9 cards featured managers, team executives, and baseball icons of the past. Some notable players included in the set were Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Jose Canseco during the peak of their careers. Managers featured included Whitey Herzog and Tommy Lasorda, while executives included George Steinbrenner of the Yankees. Legendary players honored in the set included Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.
The cards featured standard size and design common for Topps sets of the era. On the front was a color photo of the featured person alongside their name, team, and position. The back of the card included career statistics and a short biography. No gum or other incentives were included with the Kmart exclusive cards, unlike traditional Topps packs. The cards carried the Topps and Kmart logos prominently to signify the partnership behind the product. Each card was encased in a thin plastic sleeve for protection.
The 1987 Kmart baseball cards were only available through Kmart retail stores and could not be found elsewhere. Kmart sold unopened wax packs containing 6 random cards for $1.99 per pack. This gave collectors an affordable way to build their sets while driving traffic to Kmart locations. Reports from the time indicate the cards sold briskly as many collectors sought to complete the unique 87 card roster. The limited retail availability and focus on current stars made the Kmart cards highly desirable additions to any baseball card collection.
While not quite as valuable today as flagship Topps sets due to the larger print run through Kmart, the 1987 Kmart baseball cards remain a highlight for collectors of 1980s cards and unique promotional issues. The cards captured a snapshot of MLB during a peak era for the sport and featured many all-time great players. For Kmart, the partnership with Topps helped bring customers into stores and boost sales of a popular licensed product. Both companies benefited and Topps would go on to produce special retail exclusive card sets with other major chains in future years.
For today’s collectors, a full 87 card set of 1987 Kmart baseball cards can still be found intact in the collectors’ market. Pricing will vary depending on the overall condition but sets are realistically obtainable compared to other vintage issues. Individually, higher value stars like Clemens, Boggs, and Puckett can command $5-10 per card in near mint condition. Lesser players are only $1-3. The managers and executives are often the most difficult to find. The 1987 Kmart baseball card set remains an interesting specialty subset that captured a unique moment between Kmart, Topps, and the players and personalities of 1980s MLB.
The 1987 Kmart baseball card set was a one-of-a-kind licensed product that showcased current MLB stars through an exclusive retail partnership between Kmart and Topps. Collectors at the time snatched up the affordable wax packs from Kmart seeking to complete the 87 card roster. While the print run was larger than traditional Topps flagship sets, the Kmart cards still hold value today for collectors of 1980s memorabilia and unique promotional issues. The partnership helped drive customers to Kmart and sales of the popular baseball cards. Both companies leveraged their brands to create a win-win promotional opportunity capturing the MLB zeitgeist of that era.
