The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was the third release of Fleer’s modern run of producing baseball cards that began in 1981. It marked several milestones and featured many rookie cards that would go on to be highly valuable. The set size was 660 cards and included cards of all players in Major League Baseball at the time.
Fleer’s 1987 release came during a time of great change in the baseball card industry. For decades, Topps had monopolized the baseball card market but competitors like Fleer and Donruss were now challenging them. The 1986 season had seen the first work stoppage in baseball history as players went on strike, shortening the season. This created uncertainty in the card industry that year. By 1987 though, baseball was back to normal and the card market was booming.
Some of the key things that made the 1987 Fleer set notable included several highly sought after rookie cards as well as some innovations Fleer brought to the design of the cards compared to previous years. One of the most famous rookie cards in the set was that of Ken Griffey Jr, who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career. Griffey’s elegant swing and effortless power made him a fan favorite and his rookie card is one of the most iconic and valuable from the 1980s.
Another hugely valuable rookie in the 1987 Fleer set was that of Greg Maddux. Like Griffey, Maddux put together a career that cemented him as one of the all-time greats and his rookie card is widely considered the most coveted from the entire set. With over 300 career wins and a record setting run of consecutive Gold Gloves, Maddux’s rookie card now fetches prices well into the thousands of dollars. Both Griffey and Maddux’s rookies would come to define the entire 1987 Fleer set in the eyes of collectors.
While Griffey and Maddux received top billing, there were other notable rookies as well including Tom Glavine, who like Maddux was a dominant pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. John Smoltz, who had a relief role as a rookie in 1987 before emerging as an ace, also had his first card in the set. Mark Grace, who would win the 1989 batting title, had his rookie card. And Ellis Burks, who hit 20 or more home runs six times in his career, debuted as well.
Fleer’s designers in 1987 made some changes to the overall card design compared to previous years. For the first time, all players were shown in full color action shots instead of the simpler headshot photos of the past. Colors were also bolder and graphics cleaner. Fleer also began including career statistics and biographies on the back of many cards, something that became standard in future years. Additionally, Fleer introduced “traded” cards, which showed players in the uniforms of teams they had been dealt to after the regular season but before photo shoots. This added to the realistic team rosters.
Beyond the rookie cards and design innovations, the 1987 Fleer set also featured the final cards of some all-time great players who were wrapping up their careers. The cards of Don Sutton, Fergie Jenkins, and Steve Carlton marked the last depictions of those Hall of Fame pitchers in uniform. The set also included the final card of Pete Rose, who despite being the career hits leader, had been banned from baseball in 1989 for gambling. Rose’s card from 1987 took on additional historical significance because of this.
When it came to chase cards and inserts, Fleer included several popular subsets. Their “Fleer All-Stars” insert set featured 25 additional cards of the games biggest stars at the time. Rated Rookies, Manager Records, and Team Checklists were also included as specialty subsets. The ’87 set had several highly sought after error cards due to mistakes in the production process. Perhaps most famous was the Ken Phelps card that was accidentally printed with a photo of Donruss pitcher Tim Leary on the front, making it a huge error card for collectors.
In the decades since its release, the 1987 Fleer baseball card set has become one of the most revered of the modern era. Powered by the rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Griffey and Maddux, it created a new wave of young collectors. The innovative designs and inclusion of key veterans’ final cards gave it plenty of historical appeal too. For these reasons, a complete set or individual high value cards from 1987 Fleer continue to attract serious collector interest and command high prices to this day. When pulling out a full box of 1987 Fleer cards, one can practically feel the magic of that time in baseball card history come alive again.
