The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable complete sets for collectors. Issued during one of the golden eras of the sport, the 1987 Topps set contains 792 total cards and features some of the biggest stars and best players of the 1980s. With its classic design, memorable rookie cards, and historical moments captured on card, acquiring a complete 1987 Topps set in pristine condition is a true prize for any serious baseball card collector.
The 1987 season was a memorable one in Major League Baseball. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series, led by star players like Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, and manager Whitey Herzog. Roger Clemens won his second Cy Young Award and first MVP with the Boston Red Sox. Other notable players who had standout seasons included Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, and Tony Gwynn. Topps captured all the action and talent from that year in their flagship 792-card release.
The design of the 1987 Topps set is considered a classic among collectors. With a mostly white border and team logo at the top, each card featured a large central photo of the player along with their vital stats. The back of each card contained the standard career stats and highlights box along with an action photo. What made the 1987 design stand out was the team logo watermark that appeared behind the front image, giving each card a distinctive look tied to the player’s club. The design has held up extremely well over time and remains a favorite among collectors.
One of the biggest draws of the 1987 Topps set are the valuable rookie cards it contains. Some true all-time greats made their cardboard debuts that year, including Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine. Other notable rookies included Mark McGwire, Lenny Dykstra, and Mike Mussina. In pristine mint condition, the rookie cards of stars like Larkin, Maddux, and McGwire can fetch thousands of dollars on the secondary market. Even lesser-known rookies from the set that went on to have solid careers hold value due to their scarcity.
Beyond rookies, the 1987 Topps set captured iconic players and memorable moments from that season. Cards like Ozzie Smith’s backflip, Wade Boggs’ batting title, and Roger Clemens’ 20 strikeout performance live on as some of the most visually striking and historically significant in the hobby. Topps also included career achievement cards for milestones like Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th strikeout that year. For historians, the 1987 set provides an invaluable time capsule of that period in baseball.
When it comes to condition, a true gem mint 1987 Topps set is among the most difficult complete sets to acquire in pristine condition. With nearly 800 total cards produced on flimsy cardboard stock over 35 years ago, the odds of surviving completely unworn and unblemished are extremely low. Even light play or storage wear can drastically reduce the value. Top-graded 1987 sets that achieve BGS/PSA Gem Mint 10 status across all cards regularly sell for tens of thousands of dollars. Partial sets or ones with only a few non-gem cards are still extremely valuable at many thousands as well.
For dedicated collectors, finding and completing a true pristine 1987 Topps set is the pinnacle. The iconic design, star players, and rookie class featured have cemented it as one of the most historically significant and valuable releases ever produced by Topps. For researchers and historians, it provides an unparalleled look at that special year in baseball frozen in time. The challenge of acquiring a true perfect gem mint example nearly four decades later is part of what makes owning a complete 1987 Topps set such a prized possession. It remains one of the most coveted collections in the entire sports card industry.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set brilliantly captured a memorable season on the diamond and introduced collectors to future legends like Larkin, Maddux, and McGwire. With its classic design, significant rookie class, and star players featured, it has become one of the most iconic releases in the hobby’s history. Finding a complete 1987 Topps set in true pristine mint condition nearly 35 years later is an incredibly difficult feat, making high-grade examples exceedingly rare and valuable. For dedicated collectors, historians, and fans of the era, acquiring this set represents obtaining a true piece of baseball history in the palm of your hands.
