The 1987 Topps chewing gum baseball card series is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. While not as collectible or valuable as the iconic 1952 Topps or 1957 Topps sets from the post-World War 2 Golden Era, the 1987 Topps cards still hold significant nostalgia and monetary value for many baseball card collectors and investors. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable and desirable rookie and star player cards from the 1987 Topps set.
One of the undisputed stars and most valuable cards from the 1987 Topps set is the Frank Thomas rookie card. Frank Thomas would go on to have a Hall of Fame career spanning 16 seasons mostly with the Chicago White Sox. He was a 5-time All-Star and 2-time American League MVP in 1993 and 1994. In his prime, Thomas was one of the game’s most feared power hitters. His rookie card from 1987 Topps is one of the marquee rookies from the late 1980s. In near mint to mint condition, a Frank Thomas 1987 Topps rookie card can fetch $500-$1000 or more on the current market. The card holds significant value given Thomas’ stellar career and the card’s classic design from the 1987 Topps set.
Another superstar 1980s rookie card that commands big money from the 1987 Topps set is the Barry Bonds rookie. Like Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds would go on to have a legendary career that saw him break the all-time home run record. His rookie card was issued during his first season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1987 before he transformed into the homer hitting machine of the 1990s and 2000s. In pristine mint condition, a Barry Bonds 1987 Topps rookie card can sell for $2000-4000 or more. Even well-centered near mint copies still pull in $1000+ due to Bonds’ iconic status and the card’s scarce high-grade pop reports.
In addition to those marquee rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, several star veterans from the late 1980s have valuable flagship cards in the 1987 Topps set as well. One of the most iconic and valuable veteran cards is the Nolan Ryan card starring his expressionless staring portrait from the front of the set. Nolan Ryan was already a legend in 1987 at age 40, holding numerous career strikeout records. His 1987 Topps card is one of the most widely recognized from the entire set. High grade Ryan rookie cards from the late 1960s consistently fetch five-figure sums, but his 1987 Topps signature card still often sells for $200-400+ in mint condition due to the imposing photo and Ryan’s storied career.
Another highly sought after star veteran card is the Ozzie Smith card from 1987 Topps. Known as the “Wizard of Oz,” Ozzie Smith was arguably the best defensive shortstop of all time and a fan favorite for his acrobatic plays and backflips. His card displays his playful personality and was a poster child for the 1987 Topps design. In gem mint to pristine condition, an Ozzie Smith 1987 flagship card can be worth $100-300 depending on exact grade. High grade copies are valuable pieces for any 1980s card collector given Smith’s beloved playing career and iconic status in the hobby.
Rookie cards and star veterans naturally get the most attention and value, but other factors like rare parallel and serially numbered cards can also spike the value of certain 1987 Topps cards. One example is the “Crisp” parallel issue, featuring current stars like Tony Gwynn. These rare green-bordered parallel cards were short printed and awarded randomly in wax packs. High grade Crisp parallels of star players can be worth $50-150 or more due to the added rarity and specialty parallel designation. Other serially numberedSubset cards like the “Tekk” issue featuring catcher cards also carry value ranging from $20-100 based on the player and condition.
While not quite as coveted or expensive as the true post-war vintage sets of the 1950s, the 1987 Topps baseball card set still contains many valuable and desirable rookie cards and star veterans that hold significance for collectors and investors decades later. Keys like the rookie cards of Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds combined with stars of the day like Nolan Ryan and Ozzie Smith make the 1987 set a vibrant snapshot of the late 1980s MLB landscape. When found in pristine graded mint condition, these marquee 1987 issue cards can still pull in substantial sums when they cross the auction block. The enduring popularity of the players and designs continue to make the 1987 Topps set a fundamental part of the modern baseball card collecting landscape.
