The 1987 Leaf baseball card set is considered one of the more valuable issues from the late 1980s. Though it has been overshadowed by some of the more prominent brands of that era such as Topps and Donruss, the 1987 Leaf set possesses several attributes that make many of its cards quite valuable to collectors today.
Released in 1987 by the Leaf Company, the base set contains 330 cards featuring players and managers from both the American and National Leagues. The design is considered flashy for its time, with bright colors and large photos of the players. On the front is the player image along with their name, team, and statistics. The back provides more stats as well as a short biography. What makes this set stand out is the photo selection and production quality compared to competitors at the time.
Several key factors contribute to the rising values seen in the 1987 Leaf cards in recent years. First, the print run for the base set was significantly lower compared to the giants of the industry in the late 80s. Beckett Almanac estimates only 50,000 sets were printed, giving it substantially better scarcity. Many of the stars like Mike Schmidt, Dwight Gooden, and Ozzie Smith have circulated supplies in the low four figures. This scarcity drives prices up due to high demand.
Another major attribute is the photo selection in the 1987 Leaf set. While Topps and others tended to use fairly generic poses in the 80s, Leaf opted for more exciting action shots that really pop on the card front. Examples include Kirby Puckett leaning into a pitch and Len Dykstra sliding headfirst. The photography gives the cards a modern flair that remains appealing to this day. Collectors enjoy hunting down cards of their PC players with these unique poses.
Rookies and prospect stars that debuted in 1987 hold incredible value in the Leaf brand. Some examples include a Troy Aikman rookie around the $750-1000 range, as well as Ken Griffey Jr. and Mark McGwire prospect cards in the $200-400 range depending on condition. Even veteran stars like George Brett and Wade Boggs have ~$100 values for their Leaf base rookies due to the set’s scarcity. Each of these players went on to have Hall of Fame careers, retaining collector interest in their early Leaf issues.
Another value driver is the league leader subset included with the 1987 Leaf set. These 38 cards feature statistical champions from the 1986 season, and are randomized inserts sprinkled throughout factory packs. Examples like the Mike Schmidt (NL HR Leader) and Roger Clemens (AL Strikeout Leader) cards are very hard to obtain in Gem Mint condition and can reach up to $500 each. Being so short-printed, any intact high-grade example holds immense collector appeal.
Condition is especially important when assessing 1987 Leaf card values. With only 50,000 sets believed to have been printed, many of these cards spent decades tightly tucked away in attics and basements. As a result, lower grade copies in Poor-Fair condition can still be found for cheap online. Copies in the pivotal Mint-Gem Mint range experience exponential price jumps. A single Eddie Murray may be a $5-10 card in MP but vault over $100 in Gen Mint due to scarcity at the top end. shrewd collectors aim to acquire 1987 Leaf gems at all costs.
Beyond the base roster, subsets and parallels in the 1987 Leaf product also harbor considerable worth. The Gold Parallel issue numbers out around one per case and features entirely gold-bordered versions of the standard cards. Examples like a Gold Roger Clemens can reach over $1000 in pristine shape. The 1988 Update and Traded Issue subsets are also quite rare due to the set’s finite print run. Top rookie and star variants approach four figures for Mint copies.
The 1987 Leaf baseball card set has developed an incredibly robust aftermarket in recent collectibles boom. Attributes like ultra-low original print run, sharp action photography, valuable rookie and prospect content, and emphasis on pristine condition all contribute to escalating values across the set. While other late 80s brands may have greater name recognition, discerning collectors recognize Leaf ’87 as one of the most aesthetically pleasing and collectible issues of that entire decade. With insatiable demand for investment-caliber vintage cards, this underrated classic looks poised for higher appreciation still with time. For informed collectors, Leaf ’87 presents a golden opportunity.
