The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. While it didn’t feature any rookies that would go on to the Hall of Fame, there are still several cards that stand out as some of the best from that year. Let’s take a look at some of the top cards collectors seek out from the 1987 Topps set.
One of the most well-known and valuable cards from 1987 Topps is the Roger Clemens card. Clemens was already establishing himself as one of the game’s elite pitchers and would go on to win the American League Cy Young Award in 1986 and 1987. His card features him in a Boston Red Sox uniform and carries a photo negative image that makes it quite distinctive. In near mint condition, Clemens’ 1987 Topps card can fetch hundreds of dollars due to his pitching dominance and fame.
Another pitching great with an outstanding card is Nolan Ryan. By 1987, Ryan was in his late 30s but was still overpowering hitters as a member of the Houston Astros. His Topps card shows him mid-windup and his blazing fastball made him a fan favorite. Like Clemens, Ryan’s card remains quite valuable in high grades. His on-field accomplishments and iconic status in the game give this card lasting appeal for collectors.
A third pitcher with an elite 1987 Topps card is Dwight Gooden. As a 22-year old phenom with the New York Mets, “Doc” Gooden’s rookie season in 1984 saw him win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award. By 1987, he was still in his prime and his ball-and-strike count Topps photo is a classic. Gooden’s early career success and his role in reviving baseball interest in New York City make this one of the most sought-after rookie/early career cards from the set.
While pitchers dominate the high-end cards from 1987 Topps, there are also position players with outstanding issue. One is Boston Red Sox star Wade Boggs. The 1987 season was Boggs’ first winning the American League batting title and his card shows him in the batter’s box. Boggs would go on to be a first ballot Hall of Famer and his consistent excellence at the plate gives his common Topps card strong collector demand.
Another position player card with lasting popularity is Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Bell. The 1987 season saw Bell win the American League MVP award by batting .308 with 47 home runs and 134 RBI. Not only was his MVP season career-defining, but his fun-loving persona made him a fan favorite in Toronto. Bell’s award-winning 1987 campaign is memorialized in his action-shot Topps card that remains a Canadian sports collectible classic.
While stars on winning teams receive the most acclaim, some players’ cards stand out due to unusual circumstances. One is Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham. His 1987 Topps issue shows him in the field but is notorious for featuring the wrong team logo. Instead of the Cubs’ “C”, it shows the St. Louis Cardinals logo in error. While a mishap, the logo error makes Durham’s card one of the most intriguing anomalies in the set that collectors love to find.
The 1987 Topps set didn’t yield any rookie cards that reached icon status. It perfectly captured the performances of superstar pitchers like Clemens, Ryan, and Gooden who were dominating the league. Position player standouts like Boggs, Bell, and even the erroneously logo’d Durham card add to the set’s appeal and memory-making moments in baseball history. For these reasons, the cards of the game’s biggest stars from 1987 continue to entice collectors and rank among the most iconic and valuable in the entire set.
