The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the 1980s. Produced during baseball’s golden age, the ’87 Topps set featured many of the game’s biggest stars and future Hall of Famers. It also contained several highly sought after rookie cards that are now extremely valuable.
Released in March 1987, the base set included 792 total cards. The design featured a simple black and white photo with team logo and player stats on the front. On the back was a career stats recap and player bio. Some key rookie cards included Ken Griffey Jr., Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux. Griffey’s rookie is arguably the most valuable from the set, often grading PSA 10 examples sell for over $10,000.
Beyond rookies, the ’87 Topps set contained photos of baseball’s biggest names from the late 1980s. Stars like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens were all entering their primes. Iconic players like Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett were also featured in the set in the later stages of their Hall of Fame careers. The back of the cards provided a snapshot into the stats and accomplishments of these all-time great players.
In addition to the base set, Topps also produced several popular insert sets in 1987. The ’87 Topps Traded set included 96 additional cards focusing on off-season trades. Highlights included Eric Davis’ rookie card in a Reds uniform and Darryl Strawberry in a Dodgers jersey. The ’87 Topps Record Breakers set highlighted notable single-season and career records. A 5-card ’87 Topps All-Star insert set was also included randomly in wax packs.
The design and photography quality of the ’87 Topps issue was a step above many 1980s sets. Photos were crisp and colorful compared to washed out images of some previous years. The simple yet classic design has stood the test of time. While not as flashy as modern releases, collectors appreciate the clean vintage aesthetic of the ’87s. The cards also captured the players and teams at the peak of the steroid era before performance enhancing drugs became a major scandal.
In the decades since its original release, the 1987 Topps baseball card set has grown tremendously in popularity and monetary value. PSA 10 graded examples of stars like Griffey, Glavine, and Clemens routinely sell for hundreds or even thousands. But more common players from the set still hold value graded or raw. The affordable vintage hobby has boomed in recent years, driving up demand and prices for classic 1980s issues like ’87 Topps.
For collectors, the set provides a snapshot into the players and teams of baseball’s late 1980s golden age. Rookies like Griffey, Glavine, and Maddux went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Stars like Schmidt, Ryan, and Boggs cemented their legacies among the games all-time greats. Even lesser known players hold nostalgia for fans who collected the cards as kids in 1987. The classic photography, designs, and memorable rookies have cemented the 1987 Topps baseball card set as one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the 1980s hobby.
