The 1987 Topps baseball card set featured some of the most iconic rookie cards in the modern era. The 1987 rookie class included future Hall of Famers like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Greg Maddux. While the stars of that rookie class would go on to have legendary careers, in 1987 they were still early in their careers and full of promise and potential. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top rookies from the 1987 Topps set.
Barry Bonds was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 1985 amateur draft and made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 1986. His 1987 Topps rookie card showed Bonds in a batting stance wearing the Pirates’ black and gold uniform. While Bonds was just starting to scratch the surface of his prodigious talents in 1987, card collectors could sense they had something special. Bonds would go on to shatter the career home run record and cement his status as one of the greatest players of all-time. His 1987 rookie card is one of the most valuable from the decade.
Mark McGwire debuted with the Oakland A’s in 1987 after being drafted by the team a few years prior. “Big Mac” was listed at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds on his rookie card, foreshadowing his rise as one of the premier power hitters of the 1990s. McGwire set the single season home run record in 1998 and became synonymous with the home run. Despite injuries limiting his playing career, McGwire achieved icon status in the game and his rookie card from the 1987 set is a key piece for collectors.
Greg Maddux broke into the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs in 1987 after a quick rise through the minor league ranks. His rookie card showed promise but few could predict he would become arguably the greatest control pitcher of all-time. Maddux won 4 Cy Young Awards and displayed tremendous command, movement, and pitching smarts over a 23 year career. He sits atop the career wins list for pitchers and proved you don’t need blazing fastballs to dominate hitters. His rookie card from 1987 is a in high demand.
In addition to those future Hall of Famers, the 1987 Topps set featured other notable rookies like Lenny Dykstra, David Justice, and Mike Mussina. Dykstra, known as “Nails”, provided terrific contact and speed for the Phillies and Mets in the late 80s and early 90s. His 1987 Topps RC showed him batting from the left side in Philly’s red, white, and blue uniform. Justice was just starting his powerful run with the Atlanta Braves that would include a World Series title. He could be seen crouching in the batter’s box on his rookie card. Mussina, meanwhile, was pictured on the mound for the Baltimore Orioles, foretelling his steady success prior to reaching Cooperstown.
The 1987 Topps set overall featured 712 total cards as was standard for Topps releases during the late 80s. The designs had typical early 80s aesthetics with team logo fronts, player photos on the back, and yellow borders around the images. What made 1987 Topps unique was the star power of rookie talent hidden within. While the likes of Bonds, McGwire, and Maddux were far from household names at the time, theirTopps RCs from that year have proven to be some of the most valuable modern cards ever produced. Prices have soared over the decades as their careers blossomed.
For collectors, hunting 1987 Topps is a fun challenge. The sheer number of cards makes completing the set difficult and pricey. Zooming in on the prized rookie cards makes chasing ’87 Topps more manageable. In mint condition, a Bonds, McGwire, or Maddux rookie could easily fetch thousands of dollars today. Even lesser rookies like Justice and Dykstra command four-figure sums. Condition is critical, as the fragile late 80s cardboard does not always hold up perfectly over 35 years. Still, cracking packs from 1987 remains a thrill, no matter the finds inside.
In the end, the 1987 Topps baseball set serves as a special time capsule. It snapshotted the beginnings of some all-time MLB legends, when their greatness was just hinted at instead of fully realized. Collectors who purchased or opened 1987 wax back in the day could not possibly understand how valuable those fresh-faced rookie cards would become. The ’87 issue stands out as one of the most important releases in the entire history of sports cards. It paid tribute to a fantastic rookie class and has since grown to take on almost mythic status itself. For fans and investors alike, chasing 1987 Topps rookies remains the ultimate trading card quest.
