The 1987 Fleer baseball card set was one of the most highly anticipated releases of the late 1980s. Coming on the heels of Topps’ monopoly on licensed MLB cards being broken in 1981 by Fleer and later Donruss, collectors were eager to see what new players, designs and innovations Fleer would unveil for the ’87 season. And they did not disappoint.
The ’87 Fleer set is considered by many to be the pinnacle vintage release from the brand during their time competing with Topps in the late 80s/early 90s. It contained an exciting mix of young stars, veteran greats and emerging talents that captured the excitement of the game at that moment in time. The card designs were also some of the boldest and most visually appealing Fleer had produced up to that point.
Some of the key aspects and notables from the 1987 Fleer baseball card set that made it such a beloved and valuable vintage release among collectors include:
Players Featured: The ’87 Fleer roster had a perfect blend of established superstars and up-and-coming young talents that kept packs exciting. Names like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens, Rickey Henderson and Mike Schmidt represented the old guard, while emerging talents like Mark McGwire (in one of his early Fleer rookie cards), Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine got collectors excited about the future of the game.
Rookie Cards: In addition to McGwire, the ’87 Fleer set featured rookie cards for future Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Tim Raines that would go on to become two of the most iconic and valuable rookie cards from the entire junk wax era. Other notable rookies included Milt Thompson, Gregg Olson and Dwight Gooden’s final rookie card appearance after previously being featured in his first two seasons by Topps.
Design & Photography: The ’87 Fleer cards had a very bold and colorful design with thick borders and large player photos that popped off the card. The photography quality was also a step up from previous Fleer issues, with many cards featuring unique action shots. The modern yet retro style made for an extremely appealing and collectible visual product.
Parallels & Variations: While not as abundant as in some modern sets, the ’87 Fleer release did contain several parallels and rare variations that added to the excitement of the product. This included the highly coveted “Photo Variations” where certain players received alternate action photos on their cards. Rarer still were “Black Back” parallel versions of some cards that were extremely tough pulls.
Product Packaging: Fleer went above and beyond with their packaging and marketing for the ’87 release. The boxes and wax packs had a sharp color scheme and eye-catching graphic design. The factory sealed wax boxes guaranteed four “hit” cards that added collector value and intrigue to each sealed product.
Secondary Market Growth: All of these factors combined to make the ’87 Fleer set incredibly popular and valuable even before the infamous “Junk Wax Era” boom of the late 80s/early 90s. The strong player selection and innovative design ensured it remained a highly collectible and desirable vintage release as the collector market expanded in following decades. Key rookie cards like McGwire, Griffey and Raines in particular have seen astronomical price increases in recent years as their careers progressed.
In the years since its release, the 1987 Fleer baseball card set has cemented its status as one of the true vintage classics and among the most iconic issues ever produced by the Fleer brand during their run making licensed MLB cards. It has stood the test of time due to capturing an exciting moment in the game through memorable photography and cutting edge design while also featuring some of the most significant rookie cards and young stars in baseball history. For collectors of ’80s cardboard or the players featured, it is considered required holding in any serious vintage collection.
