The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues ever produced. With 792 total cards in the base set and various insert subsets, the ‘87 Topps set featured a who’s who of superstar players from the late 80s era.
Several factors contribute to making certain cards from this set especially valuable to collectors. The rookie cards of future Hall of Famers and all-time greats like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Frank Thomas are among the most sought after. The condition and scarcity of prestigious older vintage cards also drives up their worth.
Here’s a look at some of the most valuable 1987 Topps baseball cards and what makes each one so desirable decades after their original printing:
Barry Bonds Rookie Card (#556)
Considered the crown jewel of the set, Bonds’ rookie is consistently one of the highest valued ’87 Topps cards on the market. As one of the greatest players in MLB history and still the all-time home run king, demand for Bonds’ first Topps issue remains extremely strong from collectors.
Graded Gem Mint (GM) 10 examples have sold for over $30,000. Even well-centered near-mint to mint (NM-MT) 8’s trade hands for thousands. The rarity of finding this card in top condition combined with Bonds’ legendary career and status as a true icon of the game make his rookie one of the most important in baseball history.
Mark McGwire Rookie Card (#246)
Like Bonds, McGwire put up absolutely mind-blowing power numbers that still hold historical significance. Before injuries plagued his later years, Big Mac was following right in Bonds’ footsteps as one of the game’s most prodigious home run hitters. His first Topps card is a phenomenal rookie to own.
High-grade McGwire rookies have sold at auction for over $20,000. Even lower-grade specimens still demand four figures due to his status as a prolific slugger and one of the faces of the steroid era in baseball. Condition is critical, as are the aesthetics and sharpness of details and centering.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card (#163)
Nicknamed “The Big Hurt,” Thomas redefined what a dominant power hitter who could also hit for average looked like in the 1990s. A five-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP, Thomas’ rookie card has gotten more recognition in recent years with the uptick in player appreciation cards from the late 80s and early 90s eras.
Frank Thomas rookies in top condition are pushing into the five-figure range, though most circulate in the $1,000-3,000 area depending on centering and sharpness of details. Unlike some of his contemporaries, memories of PED controversies don’t take away from the fascination with Thomas’ prodigious skills and pure hitting prowess.
Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card (#581)
While Ripken’s rookie isn’t quite as monstrously rare as the three names above, it remains one of the most historically significant issues from the set as he owned the record for consecutive games played for over 20 years. Graded EX-MT 6’s trade around $1,000. But the true gems keep appreciating – a PSA 10 just set an auction record of over $15,000.
Condition is paramount since centering and print issues plague many of the Ripken rookies available on the secondary market. But for an all-time great who redefined durability and what it meant to suit up day in and day out, Cal Ripken’s rookie will always retain value for baseball collectors of ’80s and ’90s memorabilia.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (#316)
Junior’s explosive early career made him a fan favorite and one of the most talented five-tool players ever. Rated the #1 prospect in baseball prior to his debut by Don Mattingly, Griffey lived up to the hype and more in Seattle before moving Cincinnati late in his Hall of Fame career.
While condition challenges exist to attaining a true gem, high-grade Griffey rookies have shattered the $10,000 mark in recent auction sales. His picture-perfect swing and joy for the game translated perfectly onto his Topps rookie in an iconic pose that defined a new era for the sport. Widely considered the most aesthetically pleasing card in the set.
Ozzie Smith Rookie Card (#166)
Known as the “Wizard” for his otherworldly defense at shortstop, Ozzie Smith broke in as a hitter with the Padres before finding his Groove in St. Louis. Highly sought after by collectors for vintage 80s Expos, Padres, and Cardinals, Smith’s rookie holds steady four-figure value.
True gem 10’s command over $8,000 while mint 9’s are around $2,000-4,000 depending on centering. His acrobatic highlights fit perfectly on a baseball card and encapsulate why he was such a fan favorite. The defensive specialist rookie is a feather in any vintage collection, especially for 80s NL teams.
Donruss/Topps Tiffany Set (#1-100, #401-500)
Extremely rare uncut prototypes featuring photo variations and unlisted statistics on the reverse not found in the final issue. Limited production run and strictly for employees, these uncut sheet sets are the holy grail for ’87 collectors.
Just three are privately held, with one set achieving a record $96,000 auction price. Incredibly scarce and sought after by the most elite collectors, these unreleased variations possess a historical significance like no other in the hobby.
The 1987 Topps set offers an incredible array of high-quality and widely beloved rookie cards from baseball legends of the late 80s and 90s. Condition, scarcity, and the immense talents and careers of players like Bonds, McGwire, Thomas, Ripken, Griffey and more make these select cards from the set permanently prized possessions for dedicated collectors. With intrinsic nostalgia and neverending fascination for the stars of a bygone era, demand will always exist for true condition census ‘87 Topps gems.
