The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most valuable and iconic sets from the 1980s. It was the 26th series issued by Topps and contained 792 total cards including base cards, rookies, traded/update cards, and special subsets. Several key factors contribute to the long-term value and popularity of 1987 Topps cards among collectors.
One of the biggest reasons for the set’s value is the star-studded rookie class of 1987. Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, and Greg Maddux all made their Topps rookie card debuts that year. At the time, it was impossible to predict they would become some of the greatest players of all time. But Griffey and McGwire in particular have become the most coveted and valuable rookies from the 1980s. In mint condition, their rookie cards now sell for thousands of dollars each.
Another major contributor to the set’s prestige is the presence of career-milestone cards. Don Mattingly’s card shows him winning the 1986 AL batting title, cementing his status as one of the game’s best hitters. Meanwhile, Nolan Ryan’s card depicts his 5000th career strikeout, a record at the time. milestone moments like these captured on the players’ cards only serve to increase their significance and value over time.
Subset categories like Postseason Heroes and Topps All-Stars pay tribute to the biggest stars and performances from 1986. This serves as a historical reference point for the season. Rosters in the All-Star subset like Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Rickey Henderson are of significant interest to collectors decades later.
The photo and design quality of 1987 Topps is also praised. Most cards used unique action shots instead of generic posed portraits. This gave the set a lively, energetic feel. Meanwhile, the color palette and simplicity of the design elements have aged very well. The classic look and feel has lasted far better than experimental sets from other years.
Interestingly, the 1987 set did not feature players from the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, or St. Louis Cardinals due to ongoing licensing disputes. This omission makes stars like Darryl Strawberry, Andre Dawson, and Ozzie Smith significantly scarcer in the set compared to other big leaguers from 1987. As a result, their cards command higher values.
In terms of preservation, mint 1987 Topps cards have remained quite scarce over the past 35+ years. As one of the earliest vintage sets to be collected, many of the high-grade gems have been snatched up already. Meanwhile, the generation of kids who opened 1987 packs as young baseball fans in the late 80s are now middle-aged adults who still hold onto cherished pieces from their childhood collections. This long-term holding pattern for the set has ensured fewer mint heroes become available on the secondary market.
Perhaps the strongest endorsement of the 1987 Topps photography, design, and player selection is how well the design has held up to modern scrutiny. The set is still purchased and appreciated by today’s collectors decades later. It remains one of the best representations of 1980s baseball card aesthetics and a true time capsule of the sport in that golden era. While other sets from the decade may offer speculative upside, 1987 Topps has proven itself a stable long-term investment respected by collectors of all vintages.
The star power of players like Griffey Jr. and McGwire, milestone cards, well-designed photography, and decades of appreciation have cemented 1987 Topps as one of the most historically significant and valuable sets from the 1980s collecting boom. Condition-sensitive examples from this iconic series will remain a benchmark for the hobby for generations to come.
