The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the all-time classics of the 1980s era. While it may not be the flashiest or contain the biggest stars of the time, the ’87 Topps set holds significant nostalgia and collector value for those who grew up during that period. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the key rookies, stars and oddball cards from the 1987 Topps baseball cards and assign estimated average values for high-grade specimens in the PSA 9 – PSA 10 range.
We’ll start with the rookie cards, as these are often the most coveted cards in any vintage set. The true superstar rookie of the ’87 Topps set is Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Griffey’s rookie card shows him as a member of the Seattle Mariners organization and displays his smooth left-handed swing. High-grade Griffey rookies in a PSA 9 or PSA 10 slab regularly fetch over $1,000 on the secondary market, with PSA 10 examples often bringing north of $3,000. Another big name rookie is Chicago Cubs phenom Andre Dawson, known as “Hawk” during his playing days. Dawson’s breakout 1987 season is commemorated on his Topps rookie, which also carries value in the $300-$500 range for top grades.
Two other noteworthy rookies from the ’87 set include Mark McGwire and Wally Joyner. McGwire had just finished his first full season with the Oakland A’s, bashing 49 homers. His durable cardboard is viewed by collectors as a pre-cursor to his legendary home run chase nearly a decade later. High-grade McGwire rookies sell in the $200-$400 range. Joyner had a solid rookie campaign for the California Angels in 1987 and his bright smile and stance portrayed on the Topps card remains a fan favorite. Top graded Joyner rookies reach $100-$250. Two dark horse rookies that can provide value returns are Orel Hershiser at $50-$100 and Tony Fernandez at $25-$75 for PSA 9-10 copies.
Moving beyond the rookies, the headliners of 1987 like Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Ozzie Smith are consistently strong sellers from ’87 Topps. Mattingly’s infamous ’87 batting title season where he hit .343 is captured perfectly on his card, which tends to pull in $75-$150 for pristine copies. Boggs’ defensive prowess at third base for the Boston Red Sox is on full display on his issue. Near-mint to mint condition Boggs cards move for $50-$100. Clemens’ powerful delivery is frozen in time on his Blue Jays card from his Cy Young-winning season. High-end Clemens examples ring up $75-$125. And Ozzie Smith’s legendary wizardry at shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals is epitomized on his flashy smile card, valued at $50-$100 PSA 9-10.
Some additional star names that command collector interest include Dwight Gooden ($40-$80), Roger Maris’ Brooklyn Dodger card seen without his trademark helmet ($30-$60), Robbie Alomar’s rookie season card as a San Diego Padre ($30-$60) and Rafael Palmeiro’s slick early career issue with the Chicago Cubs ($20-$50). But the ’87 set also features other quirky cards that intrigue collectors. Mark Langston’s seemingly confused Angels card photo generates fanfare, selling for $25-$50. The infamous error card showing Walt Terrell pitching for the wrong team, the Milwaukee Brewers, remains a coveted mistake, valued around $150-$250. And one of the more visually entertaining cards depicts Expos hurler Bryn Smith grimacing mid-windup, priced at $20-$40.
While star power drives the top prices overall for 1987 Topps, there’s a strong undercurrent of demand for team and player collection subsets as well. Near-complete team sets, such as the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins andSt. Louis Cardinals are routinely broken up by collectors pursuing certain lineups. Individual team heroes also attract loyal collectors. For example, Baltimore Orioles legends like Eddie Murray ($15-$30), Cal Ripken Jr. ($10-$25) and Mike Boddicker ($5-$15) maintain regional collector interest. The same can be said for Detroit Tigers legend Lou Whitaker ($10-$20) and Atlanta Braves fan favorite Dale Murphy ($8-$15). Overall team and local player collecting is a big part of the ongoing enthusiasm for 1987 Topps.
The nostalgia and collecting ecosystems surrounding the 1987 Topps baseball card set remain vibrant over 30 years later. While flagship rookies and superstar cards command the greatest demand and investment potential, there are plenty of opportunities to build value through team and player subsets too. For those who grew up with the cards in the late 1980s, the ’87 Topps set will likely always hold a special place. And for collectors just becoming acquainted with the vintage hobby, this classic 1980s release provides an affordable entry point to acquire memorable cardboard from baseball’s past.
