The 1987 Leaf Baseball card set launched card collecting into the modern era. This was the first major set to feature highly stylized photographs beyond simply athlete portraits. Due to increased popularity and scarcity, several cards from the 1987 Leaf set have become extremely valuable today. Below we examine 5 of the most valuable and sought after 1987 Leaf baseball cards that regularly sell for thousands of dollars in near-mint condition.
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card (#1)
Widely considered one of the most iconic rookie cards of all time, the Ken Griffey Jr. card from the 1987 Leaf set is the undisputed king. Griffey would go on to have a Hall of Fame career and was already a can’t-miss prospect at the time of this release. The card depicts a youthful Griffey crouched down and featured dazzling action photography that set the standard. In pristine mint condition, this treasure has sold for over $100,000, with most NM examples bringing $5,000-10,000 still. Even well-worn copies in lower grades command over $500 due to Griffey’s popularity and the debut of his rookie card before the 1989 Upper Deck set.
Frank Thomas Rookie Card (#77)
Only Griffey exceeds the value of the Frank Thomas rookie. “The Big Hurt” would go on to have one of the most dominant and consistent careers of any hitter in MLB history. His Leaf debut card shows Thomas unleashing a powerful swing. Like Griffey, he was recognized as a future star from this early date. NM copies have sold for over $10,000, though $4,000-6,000 is a more reasonable price range today for a gem mint PSA 10 example of this highly influential card.
Mark McGwire Rookie Card (#148)
Before steroid allegations tainted his legacy, Mark McGwire was beloved as the home run king who revived baseball’s popularity. His rookie portrait card is quite valuable, having last sold for over $3,000 in NM condition. McGwire’s prodigious power potential was evident from early on, making this an important piece of baseball card history. Well-kept examples should earn $1,000-2,000 for knowledgeable collectors.
Barry Bonds Rookie Card (#260)
Few could have predicted the greatness of Barry Bonds from his rookie portrait in the 1987 Leaf set. Bonds would go on to shatter the all-time home run record and become perhaps the most dominant overall player ever. Today, in high grades his card sells for between $1,500-3,000. While not in the same Griffey/Thomas/McGwire tier, it’s a noteworthy piece of history from a truly unique (if controversial) career arc in the game.
Roger Clemens Rookie Card (#331)
Along with Bonds, Clemens was one of the game’s most debated stars of the steroid era. Prior to allegations, Clemens established himself as perhaps the greatest pitching pitcher of all time. His clean-cut rookie card is among the most aesthetically pleasing in the 1987 Leaf set. High-grade copies have sold for over $1,000, with $500-800 being average for a well-kept PSA/BGS graded example in the hands of an avid collector.
While not all were obvious future Hall of Famers at the time of issue, the 1987 Leaf set debuted some true icons of the sport. For this reason, examples of these players’ rookie cards in pristine condition are highly sought after over 35 years later. With more than 700 total cards, there are also plenty of opportunities to collect other stars and prospects more affordably from this innovative and historic leaf releases. Due to short printed runs, the supply does not meet demand for rookie cards of players like Griffey, Thomas, McGwire and others who became all-time greats. This scarcity is a big reason why select 1987 Leaf cards remain exceptionally valuable collectibles today.
