The value of any 1987 baseball card can vary greatly depending on the player, the condition or grade of the card, and other factors. Generally speaking, cards from the mid-1980s are not as valuable as those from the late 1980s and early 1990s when the baseball card market was booming. There are still some noteworthy 1987 rookies and stars that can be quite valuable in top condition.
One of the most valuable 1987 cards is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best player debut cards of all time, the Griffey rookie is extremely sought after. In near-mint to mint condition (grading 8-10 on the standard 1-10 scale), it can fetch between $300-2000 or more depending on factors like centering and corners. Well-centered mint condition (gem mint 10) copies have even sold for upwards of $5000. The Griffey rookie remains one of the crown jewels of the baseball card vintage era.
Other top rookie cards from 1987 include cards of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Benito Santiago. All debuted that season and went on to have Hall of Fame caliber careers. A PSA 10 graded Glavine or Maddux rookie could be worth $1000-2000. The Santiago is less valuable but still quite collectible in the $50-150 range depending in high grades. For stars who were already established in 1987, flagship cards of Andre Dawson, Don Mattingly, Tony Gwynn, and Ozzie Smith can reach $50-150+ for PSA 10s.
Beyond the star rookie and player cards, there is value to be found across the entire 1987 Topps and Fleer sets as well. Complete sets in pristine condition have sold for over $1000 before. For individual common cards, prices usually range from $1-10 each in grades of 8-10 for most players. There are exceptions. For example, cards of Mark McGwire from 1987 are quite collectible now given his record-breaking home run chase in 1998. An pristine McGwire from ’87 could bring $20-50 alone due to nostalgia and relevance to baseball history.
When considering the value of any 1987 baseball card, it is important to assess the condition or grade carefully. Even star cards can be worth just a few dollars if worn or damaged. The two leading third-party grading services, PSA and BGS, provide scientific grading of factors like centering, corners, edges and surface to assign numeric condition grades. These verified grades add confidence and trust in the transaction. Generally, the higher the numeric grade from 1-10 (or gem mint for BGS 10s), the more valuable the card will be to collectors.
While not at the level of the superstar 1990s rookie cards, there is still value to be found across the entire 1987 baseball card vintage – from affordable common cards up to $1000s for the true gem star rookie cards and complete high-grade sets. Condition, of course, is critical to realizing peak prices. For collectors and investors, 1987 remains a fun and affordable vintage year to explore the early careers of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Glavine and more affordable stars across the entire sport.
