The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th year of production for Topps and contained 792 total cards issued in wax packs, rack packs, and hobby boxes. Some key things to know about the 1987 Topps set include:
The design featured a simple white border around each player photo with their team logo and position printed at the bottom left of the card. Statistics from the previous season were included on the back along with a short biography. The set is considered one of the more basic designs from Topps during the 1980s but remains a popular and affordable vintage set for collectors.
Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine were included along with other notable rookies like Terry Mulholland, David Wells, and Juan Gonzalez. The biggest rookie card in the set was that of slugging outfielder Kevin Mitchell who went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1987 while playing for the San Francisco Giants. Mitchell’s rookie card remains one of the key chase cards from the set.
Other notable rookie cards included Fred McGriff, Lenny Dykstra, and Mark McGwire in one of his early Cardinals uniforms before making a name for himself with the Oakland A’s. McGwire’s rookie is fairly affordable compared to some of his later high numbered cards from the late 1980s and 1990s.
The 1987 set is also known for featuring the last cards issued for several retiring legends including Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, and Rollie Fingers. Seaver’s card marks his final season before announcing his retirement in 1987 after 21 seasons in the majors.
One of the standout cards from the set is the Nolan Ryan card on the Houston Astros. Ryan was still an active power pitcher at age 40 during the 1987 season and this card captures him in the twilight of his career before retiring after the 1993 season. Ryan’s Astros card can be found in higher grades for a reasonable price compared to some of his more iconic early 1970s cards featuring his expressive throwing motion on the California Angels and Mets.
The flagship player in the 1987 set is Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees. Mattingly was coming off an American League MVP season in 1986 where he hit .353 with 35 home runs and 113 RBI. His smiling face adorns the very first card in the set numbered as the “Yankees Checklist” card. High grade versions of Mattingly’s flagship card remain a prized possession for any vintage baseball card collection.
In terms of chase cards outside the rookies, the 1987 Topps set is headlined by cards like Kirby Puckett’s mint condition rookie from 1984, an action shot of Ozzie Smith backflipping in the field for the 1985 All-Star game, and an Rickey Henderson stealing a base for the Oakland A’s. Each of these cards can be found in pristine condition for under $100, making them affordable chase cards for any collector.
The 1987 Topps set had a print run estimated between 80-100 million units, making it one of the larger productions from Topps during the junk wax era. Due to its classic design, iconic rookie cards, and affordability nearly 35 years later, the 1987 Topps set remains a staple in the collections of vintage baseball card enthusiasts. With mint condition examples of stars like Mattingly, Ryan, and Seaver still under $50, this 1980s flagship set offers collectors a chance to add affordable vintage cardboard from one of the biggest names in the industry.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set marked the 66th year of production for the iconic brand. Featuring rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Larkin and Maddux along with stars like Mattingly, Ryan, and Puckett, this basic but beloved 1980s design remains a budget-friendly starting point for any vintage baseball card collection three decades later.
