The year 1987 saw the height of the baseball card boom in America, with collectors spending millions to acquire the rarest and most valuable cards from that year’s sets. While many from 1987 are still relatively common, some stand out as truly remarkable finds that can sell for tens of thousands of dollars or more in near-mint condition. These scarce ’87s celebrate iconic players who were entering or nearing the peak of their careers.
Perhaps the single rarest card from that year is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card from the Upper Deck set. Only 264 of these highly coveted rookie cards were produced, making it incredibly difficult to find one in pristine condition today. When they do surface at auction, prices have exceeded $100,000 multiple times. What makes Griffey’s ’87 UD rookie so unique is that it was one of the very first Upper Deck sets released, introducing the revolutionary technology and quality control that changed the card industry for decades to come. Holding a Griffey Jr. from that groundbreaking premiere set in your hands is a thrill baseball collectors likely never forget.
For Dodger fans, one of the most elusive ’87s is the Orel Hershiser rookie card from Topps. As one of the top pitching prospects in the game at that time, collectors instantly recognized Hershiser’s potential and emptied shelves trying to find his first issue card. Fewer than 1000 are believed to exist today in pristine condition. Given what he went on to accomplish for Los Angeles – winning the Cy Young and World Series MVP award in 1988 after posting a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings – Hershiser rookies have appreciated greatly. Eight-figure offers reportedly aren’t unheard of for a true gem mint example.
Continuing the Dodgers theme, the Kirk Gibson rookie from ’87 Donruss Action All-Stars also ranks among the most valuable from that year. Gibson’s explosive home run in the 1988 World Series will forever live on in L.A. sports lore, but back in ’87 collectors were drawn to his potential after a few strong seasons with the Tigers. His scarce Donruss rookie hasn’t sold for less than $50,000 in recent years, and a flawless copy could demand six figures or more. Gibson demonstrated you’re never too old to have a rookie card – he was already 29 years old in 1987 but still a prized rookie for collectors.
Switching to the American League, the Roger Clemens rookie card from 1987 Topps is one collectors sink their savings into acquiring. Arguably the top pitcher of the late 1980s and 1990s, Clemens dominating career path was still ahead of him back then. His aggressive overhand delivery and electric stuff made him a must-own for fans even in his early days with the Red Sox. Clemens’ already iconic autographed Topps rookie can go for over $100,000 in pristine condition as one of the most valuable modern autograph cards ever pulled from a pack. For the raw un-autographed version, $25,000 examples aren’t unheard of.
Continuing down the list, other extremely rare ’87s include the Mark McGwire rookie from Topps, the Nolan Ryan high number card from ’87 Topps (with only 12 copies in existence), the Frank Thomas rookie from Score, and the Cal Ripken Jr. All-Star card from Fleer. Collectors are always on the lookout for these elusive keys to any 1987 baseball card collection, which prove daily how that year was truly the pinnacle of the hobby’s boom period. Prices will likely continue climbing as fewer high grade specimens remain and new enthusiasts enter the collecting scene. For those who held onto their ’87 treasures, they offer a tangible reminder of the great players and sets from baseball’s golden age of cardboard.
The 1987 baseball card market celebrates iconic talents who were just entering their baseball primes. Renegade brands like Upper Deck and innovative parallel sets showed collectors had big aspirations. Young superstars like Griffey Jr., Hershiser, Gibson, Clemens and the rest were only starting to scratch the surface of Hall of Fame careers. Decades later, their rarest ’87 rookie and early career issues remain destinations for enthusiasts willing to invest tens of thousands or more in mint condition examples. As long as baseball retains its nostalgic hold over generations of fans, its oldest and most prized cards will maintain their significance.
