The 1987 Donruss Opening Day baseball card set is considered a classic among collectors and holds significant nostalgia and value for many. Originally released as a rack pack in 1987 and featuring players from that year’s Opening Day rosters, the set contains 132 cards and includes some true icons of the baseball card collecting hobby from the late 1980s.
While not one of the flagship or highest printed card sets of that era, 1987 Donruss Opening Day cards still hold meaning and merit in the collecting world decades later. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes this particular set notable and the values some of its star cards can currently command.
The Design
Donruss is known for illustrative and cartoonish card designs in the 1980s, and the 1987 Opening Day set followed suit with that artistic style. Each card featured a colorful painted portrait of the player on a blue background with a yellow border. Prominent stats like batting average, home runs, and RBI from the previous season were displayed alongside.
The back of the cards contained the standard rookie card, stats, and career highlights information layout fans had come to expect. What made the designs unique was the depiction of various stadiums and ballparks behind each player photo, harkening to the set’s “Opening Day” theme with a new visual element. Overall it was a fun, colorful look that matched the tone of 80s cardboard.
Top Rated Cards
While there are no true rookie cards or first year player issues that achieve extreme value in this set, several star players from the late 80s have cards that hold meaningful value based on pedigree and playing career accolades. Here are some notable examples:
Roger Clemens (#84) – Widely considered one of the greatest pitchers ever, and his career was just taking off in 1987. Mint condition examples fetch $30-50 routinely.
Mike Schmidt (#113) – Future Hall of Famer and the best third baseman of his generation. His legendary status earns $15-25 for a near mint card.
Ozzie Smith (#86) – Similar to Schmidt in terms of all-time defensive wizard reputation at shortstop. Fetches $10-20.
Rickey Henderson (#50) – Perhaps the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer who was already a star in 1987. $10-15 range.
Dwight Gooden (#63) – Fresh off his Rookie of the Year season and one of the most dominant early careers ever. $8-12.
Condition and Popularity
As with any older issue, condition is extremely important when evaluating the potential value of 1987 Donruss Opening Day cards. Even top name stars will only return $1-5 for heavily played examples. Finding high grade copies of stars in near mint to mint condition is no simple task after 35+ years of existence.
The set also sees less population pressure and overall collector demand compared to the flagship sets from that season like Topps, Fleer, or even other Donruss products. So while the best cards may carry meaning and value, there is less protection of value due to rarity factors alone – demand must be present.
Variant and Parallel Versions
This set only had a traditional base issue but no special parallel, insert, or short print variations that drastically boost individual card prices. Knowledgeable collectors may pay slight premiums for error cards missing stats, miscut examples, or other unusual printing flaws depending on the specific error.
While not in the same stratosphere as true rookie card monsters, the 1987 Donruss Opening Day baseball card set remains a respected part of the vintage collector marketplace. Finding high quality examples of the set’s biggest star players from the decade like Clemens, Schmidt, Smith, and Gooden in the $5-50 range seems fairly stable based on long term demand and playing achievements. For fans and investors of 80s cardboard, this issue delivers fun memories and solid nostalgic value.
