The 1987 Donruss baseball card set was the seventh annual release from Donruss and featured 660 total cards including rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Tom Glavine. The set showcased players from both the American and National Leagues and was a popular release among collectors at the time due to its unique photography and rookie cards.
Donruss began producing baseball cards in 1981 and had grown to be one of the top three brands by 1987 along with Topps and Fleer. The company was known for using innovative photography and cutting edge design elements in their sets which made them attractive to collectors. For the 1987 release, Donruss continued focusing on unique photo concepts and posed shots of the players. Many of the images stood out compared to the more traditional headshots used in other contemporary sets.
One of the defining characteristics of 1987 Donruss was the card design and layout. The front of each card featured a large portrait size photo with thick gray borders. Below the photo was a gray bar with the player’s name and position. Donruss logos were placed prominently above and below the photo area. The backs had a blue and gray color scheme with stats and career highlights. Pitcher cards showed pitching stats while fielders displayed fielding stats based on the prior season’s performance.
Among the top rookie cards in the 1987 Donruss set were future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Tom Glavine. Griffey’s explosive rookie season made his Donruss RC extremely popular. At just 17 years old in 1987, he hit .336 with 25 doubles and 13 home runs for the Seattle Mariners. His dazzling play and five-tool potential had collectors eagerly searching packs for his rookie. Glavine also made his MLB debut in 1987 and his Donruss rookie remains one of the more iconic pitcher cards from the 1980s era.
Other notable rookies included future 300-game winner Greg Maddux, slugger Will Clark, pitcher Mark Langston, and outfielders Mookie Wilson and Tim Raines. While none may have had the hype of Griffey or Glavine at the time, these players all went on to have outstanding MLB careers making their rookie cards valuable in the long run. The set as a whole proved to have strong longevity in the hobby given how many future stars were featured early in their playing days.
Some key veteran stars included on cards in the 1987 Donruss set were Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Cal Ripken Jr., Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, and Dave Winfield. These were some of the game’s top active players at the time and their inclusion added to the cachet of the product. Donruss also had team marketing deals that year with the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds, so starters like Boggs, Dwight Evans, and Eric Davis received flashy teal bordered team cards alongside their base issue.
Beyond the impressive rookie class and star veterans, one of the most notable aspects of 1987 Donruss were the creative photographer concepts and poses used on many of the cards. For example, Kirby Puckett’s card showcased him dramatically diving for a ball. Orel Hershiser had an aerodynamic windup pose captured. And Dennis Martinez’s card pictured him holding a live bird behind his back during delivery in a whimsical moment. These creative shots separated Donruss fromTopps’ more traditional headshot approach.
When it was released in 1987, the Donruss set retailed for about $1 per pack with 24 cards inside (12 packs per wax box). Despite competition from sets like Topps and Fleer, it performed well on store shelves due to the popularity of rookie stars Griffey and Glavine. Since then, the 1987 Donruss set has become a collector favorite of the late 1980s era. Key rookie cards like Griffey, Glavine and Raines hold significant modern value. And vintage buyers appreciate the creative photography concepts throughout. For baseball card enthusiasts of the period, 1987 Donruss was truly a standout annual release.
The 1987 Donruss baseball card set proved to have excellent longevity and collector interest. Featuring future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Glavine and a strong class of rookies, it captured many notable players early in their careers. Donruss also employed innovative photography that made the cards visually unique. While it faced competition upon release, 1987 Donruss has emerged as one of the iconic baseball card products from the decade. Loaded with stars both established and emerging, it provides a comprehensive snapshot of the time period and remains a highly collectible vintage issue.
