The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the late 1980s.Released at the height of the baseball card boom, the ’87 Donruss set showcased the biggest stars and top rookies of that era. While not quite as renowned as the flagship Topps sets of that time, 1987 Donruss cards still carry significant nostalgia and collector demand over 30 years later.
The base 1987 Donruss set contains 330 cards and was sold in wax packs, rack packs, and factory sets. Some of the most valuable regular issue cards from the set include rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. High-grade copies of their rookie cards in PSA 10 condition can fetch thousands. Other star rookie cards like Terry Mulholland, Darrin Jackson, and Jeff Gray also hold value due to their debut status, with PSA 10 examples selling in the $100-300 range.
Veteran stars of the late 1980s like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens, and Kirby Puckett have base cards in the ’87 Donruss set that are steadily gaining in value as well. High-grade copies in PSA/BGS 9-10 can sell for $50-150 depending on the player’s career accomplishments and Hall of Fame status. Less heralded veterans from that era in top grades may sell for $10-30.
Outside of the base set, there are also several valuable insert and parallel card variations from 1987 Donruss. One of the most iconic is the “Diamond Kings” parallel issue, which features photo variations of 25 star players on card #s 331-355. PSA 10 examples of the Diamond Kings of superstars like Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, and George Brett can sell for $300-1000 depending on the player featured.
Another coveted parallel is the “Glossy Sendbacks” variation, featuring a photo and design identical to the base issue but with a glossy finish. These are quite rare in high grades and the highest valued are of the star rookie cards. A PSA 10 Glossy Sendback of Greg Maddux’s rookie would sell for $1500-2500. Other inserts like “Team Leaders”, “League Leaders”, and “All-Star” parallels also carry value ranging from $25-200 in top condition, depending on specific players and scarcity.
Perhaps the most valuable card in the entire 1987 Donruss set is the elusive “Photo Variation” of Roger Clemens’ base card. Only a handful are known to exist, and it features an extremely rare alternate action photo instead of the standard posed portrait. High-grade examples in PSA/BGS 9-10 condition have sold at auction for $10,000-15,000 due to the photo swap and striking visual difference compared to the standard Clemens base card.
While not in the same collecting echelon as flagship ’80s sets from Topps, 1987 Donruss cards still hold tremendous nostalgia and value potential for investors and enthusiasts. Base rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz will always be in high demand. Meanwhile, pristine copies of stars’ base cards and coveted parallels can appreciate nicely as the years pass. For set builders and those who enjoyed the cards as kids in 1987, hunting a complete ’87 Donruss set remains a fun and rewarding collecting goal even today.
