The 1987 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set is one of the more legendary issues in the modern baseball card era due to the rookie cards it featured. While the iconic rookie cards of players like Griffey Jr. and Bonds from 1989 Topps get most of the attention, the 1987 O-Pee-Chee set defined entire generation of collectors and included some true gems. Let’s take an in depth look at some of the most valuable rookie and unique cards from the 1987 O-Pee-Chee set.

One of the true holy grails from 1987 O-Pee-Chee is the rookie card of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Despite going on to have a solid 19 year career that included three All-Star selections and being a member of the 1992 World Series winning Blue Jays, Carter’s rookie card remains one of the most sought after and valuable cards from the entire set. In a PSA 10 gem mint condition, Carter’s rookie now routinely sells for well over $1,000. Even in lower grades of PSA 8 or BGS 9, mint examples can still fetch $300-500 due to the card’s legendary status. The Carter rookie is one of the iconic cards from the entire 1980s era and remains hugely popular with collectors.

Another Toronto Blue Jays rookie from 1987 that has skyrocketed in value is outfielder George Bell. Like Carter, Bell had a long and productive career after 1987 that culminated with an American League MVP award in 1987. It was Bell’s almost complete lack of inclusion in later card releases from the 1980s that has made his O-Pee-Chee rookie one of the true keys to the set. In top PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 black label condition, a Bell rookie can sell for $2,000-3,000. Even well-centered PSA 8 or BGS 9 copies still sell for $400-700 depending on the day due to strong demand. The Bell rookie is iconic for Blue Jays fans and represents one of the biggest sleepers from the entire 1987 set.

While Griffey Jr. cards from later years dominate discussions of rookie cards, his true first card was actually included in the 1987 O-Pee-Chee issue as well. The Griffey rookie looks very similar to the famous upper deck and tops cards that followed in 1989, but carries it’s own mystique as well. In pristine PSA 10 or BGS 9.5-10 condition, the Griffey O-Pee-Chee rookie often fetches over $3,000. Even well-centered PSA 8 or BGS 9 copies still sell today for $600-1000 due to strong demand from collectors wanting an early Griffey card before the huge hype started in 1989. The Griffey O-Pee-Chee rookie remains hugely iconic and always in high demand on the secondary baseball card market.

While the Griffey, Carter and Bell rookies receive most of the spotlight, there are other key rookie and stars cards that make the 1987 O-Pee-Chee set highly valuable as well. The Cal Ripken Jr. and Don Mattingly star cards, which feature fantastic close up photos, routinely sell for $300-500 in top PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 condition. The Ozzie Smith and Wade Boggs star cards also command $150-250 in top grades. Rookie cards of future stars like Mark McGwire, Barry Larkin, and David Justice are also highly regarded, with PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 examples selling for $100-250 depending on the particular player.

Aside from the high-value stars and rookies, there are also several unique short print and parallel cards that make the 1987 O-Pee-Chee set highly collectible as well. The Tim Raines “Turkey Red” parallel card, which features a red tint instead of the standard blue-back design, is one of the true crown jewels. In pristine condition these rarely appear on the market, but when they do a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+ can sell for $3,000-5,000. Another hugely valuable parallel is the Jim Abbott “Scratch Off” card, featuring an innovative scratch off statistic inset. High grade examples have sold for well over $1,000 due to the card being one of the most unique concepts ever featured.

Even commons from the set featuring classic designs by Joe Skinn have gained value in recent years. With collectors looking to complete full rainbow sets that also include parallels, short prints and autographs, demand has grown for even basic cards. Complete common base sets in PSA 8-10 condition routinely sell for $300-500. When especially scarce commons are found in pristine PSA 10 or Black Label BGS condition prices can reach $50-100 each depending on number of copies still remaining in high grades. Add in the difficulty of finding pristine older sets from the 1980s at all, and the overall collectibility of 1987 O-Pee-Chee remains extremely strong even 35 years later.

While marquee rookies like Griffey Jr., Bonds and McGwire get largest headlines, the 1987 O-Pee-Chee baseball card set as a whole remains one of the true legends of the modern era. Icons like the Joe Carter and George Bell rookies are forever linked to their debut seasons, while stars like Ripken Jr. and Boggs got classic vintage designs. Innovative parallels and unique short prints push values even higher. With such a perfect storm of hall of famers, future stars, and innovative concepts all included, the 1987 O-Pee-Chee set will always be remembered as one of the most valuable vintage cardboard releases ever produced. Prices remain very strong today for even commons due to the 35-year legacy that was started.