The 1987 Fleer baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the 1980s. Fleer was the only company to produce baseball cards in 1987 after Topps lost its license. This resulted in a unique and highly coveted release that contained several highly sought after rookie cards and error variants that continue to attract attention from collectors decades later.
One of the most notable rookies included was Ken Griffey Jr.’s debut card. Griffey emerged as one of the greatest players of his generation and his rookie quickly became one of the most valuable modern baseball cards. In gem mint condition, Griffey’s ’87 Fleer rookie regularly sells for well over $1000 and there is constant demand from collectors trying to add this iconic card to their collection. Another impact rookie was Barry Bonds, who also debuted with Fleer in ’87. While not as valuable as Griffey currently, Bonds’ rookie remains quite sought after given his all-time great career.
In addition to rookie stars, the ’87 Fleer set featured several error variants that captured the attention of the card collecting community. One of the major errors was the inclusion of San Diego Padres starting pitcher Rick Rhoden on his Minnesota Twins card. Rhoden was traded from Minnesota to San Diego prior to the ’87 season but his Twins information mistakenly made it onto his Fleer card. Only a small number of these “Rhoden Twins” errors are known to exist and they can sell for thousands in mint condition.
Another notable error was Mark Langston’s card mistakenly featuring Angels information despite being traded mid-season to the Montreal Expos. Like the Rhoden error, the Langston Angels card is extremely rare and holds great value. Fleer also mistakenly left off Angels pitcher Kirk McCaskill’s last name on his card. Known as the “McCaskill Nameless” error, around a dozen are believed to exist and have sold for over $10,000 each.
Beyond rookies and errors, several other ’87 Fleer stars hold significant value. Arguably the most iconic baseball card of the 1980s is the Fleer update issue of Ken Griffey Jr. where he is shown wearing a Seattle Mariners cap despite never playing a game for the team. Nicknamed the “Griffey Mariners” error, each one that pops up on the market seems to break records, with the highest sale to date being over $100,000.
Other star cards that remained quite valuable decades later include Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Dwight Gooden. All of these players emerged as some of the best hitters and pitchers of the late 80s/early 90s and their ’87 Fleer rookie or base cards typically sell for hundreds or even over $1000 for gem mint quality.
Of course, no discussion of iconic ’87 Fleer cards would be complete without mentioning the complete set. With just 379 cards in the base issue, completing the entire ’87 Fleer run in Near Mint to Mint condition remains a pinnacle achievement for many seasoned collectors and beyond the reach of many casual fans. A full ’87 Fleer set that scores a SGC or PSA grade of 8.5 or higher has sold for over $25,000 in recent years given its rarity and historical significance.
While produced 30+ years ago during the height of the baseball card boom, the 1987 Fleer set stands out for its perfect combination of hugely valuable rookie cards, notable errors and variations, and depictions of all-time great players. Added to this is the novelty of it being the only major baseball card release of that year. All of these factors have contributed to the set maintaining its revered status among collectors and continued strong demand and escalating values for its highly coveted cards. Whether chasing rookie stars like Griffey and Bonds or completing the full base set, the 1987 Fleer release remains a pinnacle that many collectors aspire to achieve decades after its original release.
