The 1987 Fleer Glossy baseball card set was quite innovative for its time, marking Fleer’s second year producing licensed baseball cards after obtaining the rights from Topps in 1986. The set took an artistic, almost “graphic novel” approach to its design that set it apart from the traditional style of contemporary card designs from Topps and Donruss. While not as iconic or valuable as some of the early Fleer and Topps releases, the 1987 Fleer Glossy set is still popular among collectors today due to its unique aesthetic and the notable rookie cards it features.
Standing out from the typical rigid baseball card template of the 1980s, the 1987 Fleer Glossy set took on a looser, more freestyle layout with dynamic action photography and artistic flair. Each card displayed a full color team logo above the player image rather than the strict team name text style used in other sets. The photography also captured players in unique poses either during game action or practice rather than the usual static portrait shots. With their bold colors and graphic design elements like thought bubbles, the 1987 Fleer Glossy cards resembled comic books or graphic novels more than the standard baseball cards collectors were used to at the time.
This deviation from baseball card orthodoxy was both praised for its creative risks but also criticized by some for departing too much from convention. While innovative, the unusual card dimensions of 2 5/8 inches by 3 3/4 inches also made the 1987 Fleer Glossys incompatible for organized storage in traditional baseball card binders, boxes and albums. The glossier, heavier stock cardstock Fleer used was also more prone to damage from bending or creasing compared to the thinner paper stock of competitors. These production qualities took some getting used to for loyal baseball card collectors but are part of what gives the 1987 Fleer Glossy set its unique collectible charm today.
The visual strengths of the 1987 Fleer Glossy set are best exemplified by the rookie cards it featured, headlined by future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio in the Astros uniform during his early career. Other notable rookie debuts included Mark Grace, Ellis Burks, and Ken Hill. The standout rookie from the set though remains Gregg Jefferies, who had one of the highest rookie card values in the late 1980s as a top prospect for the Mets. While Jefferies failed to live up to expectations in the major leagues, his 1987 Fleer Glossy rookie remains a key card for Dodgers collectors because of the promise he once showed.
In terms of condition and completeness, finding a 1987 Fleer Glossy set in pristine mint condition is quite challenging given the flimsier stock used for the cards. Most examples show at least some wear around the edges or corners from typical handling over the years. Cards still graded Near Mint to Mint by services like PSA or BGS that feature especially sharp images with no creases, discoloration or clouding fetch higher prices than expected for a set from the late 1980s glut era of mass-produced cards. Common star players like Barry Bonds, Wade Boggs and Nolan Ryan often sell in the $10-20 range regardless of grade due to strong name recognition and demand. More obscure common players usually sell for under $5.
Top rookie cards and stars are where the real value is found in the 1987 Fleer Glossy set. In PSA 10 Gem Mint, examples of the Craig Biggio rookie have sold for over $300 given his Hall of Fame career. Likewise, a PSA 10 1987 Fleer Glossy Gregg Jefferies rookie in its most valuable Mets uniform variation has exceeded $400 at auction. Top stars like Don Mattingly in Yankee pinstripes have exceeded $100 PSA 10. Even graded lower at PSA 8 or BGS 8, elite cards can far surpass the average card price for the set. Condition is still vital though – most common cards even in lower grades are under $5, with higher end stars usually sticking to the $10-30 range without eye appeal.
Despite early criticism, the 1987 Fleer Glossy set has grown in appreciation as collectors have come to recognize its innovative styles and important rookie debuts featured. While not achieving the fame or big money sales of Fleer’s 1987 Traded set that year, condition-sensitive examples of star rookies and vets from the 1987 Fleer Glossy release remain collectible and hold values today disproportionate to the sheer size of their original print run. For fanatics of 1980s card design or teams featured, hunting down a complete set still presents an enjoyable and relatively affordable collecting challenge compared to many other modern stars. The 1987 Fleer Glossy cards showed baseball cards could break free of staid traditions through creative risks while still honoring the sport – a hallmark that would shape Fleer releases for years after.
While not the most expensive vintage baseball card set, the 1987 Fleer Glossy release holds enduring charm and value for collectors due to its artistic style deviations, rookie star power featured, and importance as an innovative release that expanded possibilities for hobby design. Condition remains paramount, but examples of star rookies and veterans grading well can offer disproportionately high returns compared to the average 1980s card. For aficionados of the exuberant late 1980s card design era or specific franchises, hunting a pristine 1987 Fleer Glossy set presents an engaging collection challenge and piece of baseball card history.
