The 1987 Donruss baseball card set is one of the most unique and collectible issues in the history of the hobby. Not only did it feature players’ photos on the front of the cards for the first time, but it also included a puzzle promotion that sparked a nationwide frenzy among kids and adults alike.
Donruss had produced fairly standard baseball cards throughout the 1980s, using simple designs with stats on the back and team logos or action shots on the front. For 1987 they opted to put the focus squarely on the players by showing headshots of each guy from cap-to-jersey. This change helped make the players feel more like celebrities and icons to collectors.
But it was the puzzle promotion that truly set the ’87 Donruss set apart. On the reverse of every card was a small piece of a larger baseball-themed picture. If you collected the entire 660-card base set, you could assemble the full puzzle which depicted a scene from a game at Wrigley Field. Naturally, kids everywhere were enticed by the challenge of completing this massive jigsaw.
The puzzle craze dominated the baseball card collecting landscape that summer. Kids traded furiously to find cards from other teams and players they didn’t normally collect. Stores had trouble keeping the wax packs in stock. The demand was unprecedented. For many kids, it marked their first serious foray into the hobby. And for those who finished the puzzle, there was a great sense of accomplishment.
While the puzzle was the initial draw, the photography and design of the ’87 Donruss set has also contributed to its longevity. Photos of sluggers like Mark McGwire and Will Clark really capture their physical presence in crisp detail. Rookies such as Barry Larkin and Tom Glavine received some of their best early portrayals. Even lesser stars got memorable snapshots.
The puzzle wasn’t the only insert included, either. Donruss produced parallel sets like ‘Donruss Diamond Kings’ highlighting the sport’s biggest stars. Special rookie cards for Ben McDonald, Gregg Jefferies and others added to the excitement. And subsets like ‘Donruss Leaders’ and ‘Donruss Hall of Famers’ gave collectors varied chase categories beyond the base cards.
In the decades since, the ’87 Donruss set has maintained a strong fanbase. Its innovative puzzle aspect, iconic photography and memorable rookie class continue to attract collectors. PSA-graded gem mint examples of stars like McGwire, Larkin and Glavine routinely sell for hundreds on the secondary market. Even common players command respectable prices due to the set’s enduring popularity.
The puzzle promotion also had some unforeseen long-term impacts. It helped cement baseball cards as a mainstream hobby for both children and adults. And it showed manufacturers that insert cards and chase strategies could boost interest – paving the way for the inserts and parallels that are ubiquitous today. While the puzzle craze was short-lived, its influence on the industry proved lasting.
When the dust settled on the 1987 season, Donruss had undoubtedly produced one of the most significant releases in the history of sports cards. Between the puzzle, photography, designs and star rookies, it captured the baseball world’s imagination like few sets before or since. The ’87 Donruss cards remain a touchstone for collectors and a window into a peak period for the hobby. For both its innovations and what it exemplifies about the golden age of baseball cards, it is a true gem in the catalog.
