The 1987 Donruss Opening Day baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the 1980s. With legendary players like Mike Schmidt, Mark McGwire, Alan Trammell and Barry Larkin highlighting their early careers, this 752 card release has withstood the test of time and produced many highly valuable vintage cards over the past 35 years. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable rookies, stars and short printed cards from the 1987 Donruss Opening Day set.
One of the most significant rookies from the 1987 set is Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan. As one of the greatest power pitchers of all time, Ryan’s rookie card became highly sought after by collectors years after its initial release. Graded gem mint examples of his rookie now sell for well over $1000. Another impactful rookie is Hall of Famer Barry Larkin of the Cincinnati Reds. As a franchise player who won an MVP award during his career, higher grade Larkin rookies can reach over $500. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire also had his rookie season in 1987. His explosive home run chasing style made his rookie a beloved card that can sell for $300-400 graded.
Two other rookies that gained value over time are Toronto Blue Jays pitcher David Wells and Oakland Athletics outfielder Jose Canseco. Both players went on to have solid careers and World Series appearances. Near mint or better graded versions of their 1987 rookies are around the $150-200 range today. Rookies of Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine and Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens also reached six figure values years ago before settling in the $100-150 range currently. Both players became aces and won multiple Cy Young awards.
Outside of the rookies, high grade copies of veterans like Mike Schmidt, Ozzie Smith, Don Mattingly and George Brett routinely reach the $100 mark. Another in-demand star was Oakland A’s slugger Mark McGwire, with his base card valued near $80-100 and his gold foil parallel around $200-250 graded. Two short printed veterans that gained value are Baltimore Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey (#649) and Seattle Mariners outfielder Steve Sax (#657). Both cards have a print run estimated under 10,000 copies. Higher grades bring $150-250 each.
Beyond the singles, there are several valuable parallels and inserts from the 1987 Donruss Opening Day set that attract collector interest. One highly sought after parallel is the gold foil “Diamond Kings” subset, which featured 20 star players on shiny gold cards (#1-20). Near mint graded examples of the Mike Schmidt or Ozzie Smith Diamond Kings regularly sell for over $200. The gold foil Traded set (#T1-T10), which featured recently traded players like Gary Carter and Steve Sax, also gained collector demand with $100-150 valuations.
A popular insert from 1987 Donruss was the “Hall of Fame” tribute card featuring a retired player enshrined in Cooperstown. Higher graded copies of the Ty Cobb and George Sisler Hall of Fame cards reach the $150-250 range. Another desired insert was the “Record Breakers” parallel, recognizing a player who set a new record that season. Near mint versions of the Don Mattingly (#RB5) and Dale Murphy (#RB8) Record Breakers have sold for $100-150 as well. Extremely rare are the gold foil parallel Hall of Fame and Record Breakers inserts, with only a handful believed printed. Graded gems would undoubtedly sell for thousands.
Lastly, the ultra-short printed gold foil rookie cards of defense-first players like Ozzie Guillen (#616), Andres Galarraga (#658) and Rafael Palmeiro (#751) have also gained value in recent years. All three players had career arcs that exceeded expectations and their rookie gold parallels are graded at PSA/BGS 8 or above are valued at $400-600 based on recent auction sales. To find near mint conditioned examples of key 1987 Donruss rookies, stars, inserts and parallels today requires diligent searching of the secondary market. But for patient collectors, the vintage cardboard treasures waiting to be unearthed in this iconic set ensure its staying power for many more years to come.
The 1987 Donruss Opening Day set assembled a who’s who of 1980s baseball with Hall of Fame talents, all-time home run leaders, Cy Young winners and memorable rookies all within the expansive 752 card checklist. High grade copies of the top rookies, stars, inserts and short printed parallels continue to attract strong collector demand decades later. With its historical significance and iconic designs, the 1987 Donruss Opening Day set is considered among the most valuable and popular vintage releases for baseball card investors and collectors to this day.
