The 1987 Topps Baseball Card Traded Series holds a special place in the hearts of collectors due to the nostalgia it evokes from the late 1980s era of baseball cards as well as the valuable rookie cards and stars it features. With cards involving traded players from the 1986 season, this set stands out amongst collectors.
Released in 1987 as a companion to the main Topps base set, the Traded Series included 144 cards featuring players that had been traded to new teams during or after the 1986 season. This set followed the standard Topps design of the era with a photo on the front and player stats/career highlights on the back. What made it unique was that it captured players in the uniforms of their new teams before they appeared that way in the base set.
Some notable rookies and future Hall of Famers that are highly sought after from this traded set include Tom Glavine (Card #T110) of the Atlanta Braves, Greg Maddux (Card #T113) of the Chicago Cubs, and Ken Griffey Jr (Card #T130) of the Seattle Mariners. Griffey’s rookie card in particular regularly sells for over $1000 in top-graded condition due to his future stardom and popularity as “The Kid”.
Beyond rookies, the set also featured superstars like Wade Boggs (Card #T10) after his trade from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees, Andre Dawson (Card #T35) with the Chicago Cubs, and Dave Winfield (Card #T122) with the Minnesota Twins. The iconic Boggs card donning the Yankees pinstripes has added value as one of the more visually striking trades depicted in the set.
Production numbers for the 1987 Topps Traded Series were higher than past years, with the entire set consisting of 144 cards issued in wax packs along with the standard 660-card base set. Demand has remained strong due to the notable rookies, stars, and historical significance of capturing post-1986 trades. In top mint condition, a complete set in sheets can sell for over $1000 whilst individual premium cards can reach the multiple hundreds of dollars.
When grading cards from this set, there are some issues collectors look out for that can impact value. The biggest problems stem from production quality during the late 1980s. Some cards had issues with poor centering, white spots/lines, or color-breaking ink lines which are more readily seen on the white borders. Edge chipping and wear from extensive handling prior to modern sleeve/toploader use also took a long-term toll.
As a result, grades of EX-MT/NM are much more common for this set than pristine Mint or Gem Mint 10s. Condition is not as critical a factor compared to other vintage sets since the iconic players and rookie stars remain the primary drivers of interest. An EX-MT graded copy of a key card can still fetch over $100 whilst regularly appearing on auction sites.
In the early 2010s, the 1987 Topps Traded Series saw a noticeable increase in popularity and prices alongside the peak of the vintage baseball card market. Individual cards started regularly selling in the $50-250 range even in lower EX/Gem Mint grades based purely on the quality of the content versus condition-sensitive 1980s sets. Since then, values have remained stable and the demand from enthusiasts has stayed consistently strong.
For today’s collectors, this set represents an affordable way to obtain iconic late 1980s cards of Hall of Famers and young phenoms before they achieved stardom. With a vast majority of the 144 cards selling under $50 even graded, completing the set is still within reach compared to much pricier vintage issues. And for investors, key premium cards continue to climb gently as the players’ legends grow.
The nostalgic 1980s appeal, major star power, and notable rookie class has cemented the 1987 Topps Traded Series as both a fun and sound collecting and investing proposition for any vintage baseball card enthusiast. Over 30 years later, this set still delights in capturing one of the most iconic periods of MLB post-trade history in the sport’s modern era.
