The 1987 Topps baseball card set featured the San Diego Padres and provided a snapshot of the team from that year. It was the 75th annual set produced by Topps and included cards for all 26 Major League Baseball teams from that season. For Padres fans and collectors, it serves as a view back into one of the franchise’s more successful periods in the late 1980s.

The 1987 Padres finished the season with an 87-75 record, good enough for second place in the National League West division behind the 87-74 Giants. It was skipper Larry Bowa’s first year at the helm for San Diego. Notable players included Cy Young Award winner Andy Hawkins, slugging first baseman Jack Clark, catcher Terry Kennedy, and All-Star shortstop Garry Templeton.

Topps issued cards numbered 530-555 for the Padres players and managers. Some of the more notable inclusions were:

#530 Andy Hawkins: Hawkins is shown in a Padres uniform on the front, with stats and details on the back. His breakout season earned him Cy Young votes as he went 19-8 with a 2.41 ERA in 210 innings.

#531 Jack Clark: One of the team’s big offseason acquisitions, Clark batted .250 with 19 home runs in his first year in San Diego. He’s pictured batting right-handed on his card.

#532 Craig Lefferts: The veteran lefty reliever snapped and pointed on his card after posting a solid 3.79 ERA in 55 appearances out of the bullpen.

#533 Terry Kennedy: The defensive-minded catcher is shown tagging a runner at the plate. He hit .242 and threw out 33% of would-be base stealers.

#534 Garry Templeton: The smooth-fielding shortstop demonstrated outstanding range and a strong arm. He contributed a .278 average with 8 homers and 56 RBI.

#535 Rich Gossage: “Goose” brought his legendary fastball and experience to the Padres bullpen midway through 1987. The future Hall of Famer notched 10 saves with a 2.03 ERA after joining from NY Yankees.

#536 Benito Santiago: Still a young catcher at age 21, Santiago impressed with his cannon arm behind the dish. He hit .236 in just 47 games in his rookie season.

#537 Al Newman: One of the team’s utility players, Newman grinded out at-bats at 1B, 3B, LF and even pitched an inning when needed. A true “glue guy” off the bench.

#538 Kevin McReynolds: In his third season, McReynolds erupted with career-highs of 31 HRs and 101 RBI while batting .278 as the Padres’ regular left fielder.

#539 Rick Schu: The submarine-style righty was effective for San Diego in a setup role before closers. He notched 7 saves with a 3.62 ERA in 61 games pitched.

#540 Tim Flannery: A popular backup infielder and pinch hitter, Flannery slapped the ball from both sides of the plate despite petite stature. He gave maximum effort in a minimal role.

#541 Larry Bowa: In his first year managing in the big leagues, Bowa brought his fiery competitiveness and attention to detail to the Padres dugout. He aimed to lead a talented but inconsistent roster to greater success.

#542 Chris Brown: A promising young right-hander, Brown flashed an overpowering fastball while starting 21 games as a 22-year old. He went 8-7 with a 3.76 ERA in his sophomore campaign.

#543 Eric Show: A staple in the Padres rotation, the crafty left-hander continued mixing speeds effectively at age 36. He notched 13 wins against 10 losses and a team-best 3.21 ERA over 32 starts.

#544 John Shelby: An on-base machine, Shelby hit leadoff frequently and got on base at a .379 clip despite batting just .264 overall. His speed and baseball smarts were assets at the top of the order.

#545 Tony Gwynn: Already a three-time batting champ, “Mr. Padre” maintained his excellence with a .370 average in 1987. He continued to be the face of the franchise and one of the game’s very best hitters in his prime.

#546 Marvell Wynne: A five-tool talent still in development at age 23, Wynne flashed potential with 12 homers, 16 stolen bases and strong defense in center field. He aimed to build on his promising beginnings.

#547 Kevin Mitchell: A 22-year-old corner outfielder, Mitchell showcased big power with 18 HRs and an .838 OPS in his sophomore campaign. His skills still seemed on the rise early in his career.

#548 Goose Gossage: Features the menacing scowl and bushy mustache of the legendary Goose, in a San Diego uniform after being acquired via midseason trade from the Yankees.

#549 Mark Parent: A versatile left-handed arm out of the bullpen, Parent chipped in 51 relief appearances with a respectable 3.71 ERA as one of the Padres top setup men.

#550 Ed Whitson: An enigmatic starter still hoping to tap into the potential that once made him a top prospect. Whitson logged 121 innings with an underwhelming 4.81 ERA in his first season in San Diego.

#551 Gary Lucas: The Padres bullpen coach is pictured from the waist up in a jacket and team cap, calling out pitches from the dugout.

#552 Del Unser: A lightly-used utility player and pinch hitter, Unser appeared in just 27 games but wore several different uniform numbers throughout the season as a true “Organizational Player.”

#553 Larry Bowa: As player/manager, Bowa is featured in a full Padres uniform leaning against the dugout rail, cigarette in hand, exhibiting his fiery leadership style.

#554 Joe Orsulak: Acquired midseason in a trade, Orsulak was a left-handed bat off the bench and late-inning defensive replacement. He hit .286 in 113 at-bats after joining San Diego.

#555 Mark Davis: The sidearming righty closer led the NL with 43 saves in his first year in San Diego. His dominating performances out of the bullpen helped solidify victories on most nights.

In total, the 1987 Topps San Diego Padres set showcased a talented but evolving roster from Larry Bowa’s first year at the helm. Veterans like Gossage, Gwynn and Kennedy anchored the squad, while emerging young talents like Hawkins, Mitchell, McReynolds, Santiago and Wynne offered hope that better success might be ahead. For collectors and fans today, it serves as a colorful memory capsule from the 1987 season.