The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues in the hobby. While it does not have mega stars like A Rod or Bonds rookie cards that can fetch jaw-dropping sums, there are still several scarce and desirable inserts that can earn serious cash for collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the rarest 1987 Topps cards that often excite vintage buyers.
The true holy grails of the 1987 Topps set are the famous photo variation short prints, which are astonishingly tough to acquire in high grade. These include cards like #76 Rick Cerone, #201 Kevin Romine, #265 Glenn Hubbard, #290 Ed Nunez, and #468 Dwight Gooden. These variations feature entirely different action photos than the standard issue counterparts. Grading experts believe only a small number were accidentally printed this way before the photo error was caught. As a result, these versions have become exponentially rare, with even lowly graded examples bringing in thousands due to their great condition scarcity. The Glenn Hubbard is probably the most coveted, with PSA/BGS 9s needing six figures.
Another hugely valuable insert is the incredibly rare Topps Traded set, which was only produced for select star players to include stats and stats from late season trades. Some highlighted TF cards include #T1 Kirby Puckett, #T4 Tommy Hinzo, and #T5 Rick Sutcliffe. With only 100 copies of each player printed, these are absolute needle-in-a-haystack cards that top auctions regularly. The mint Puckett has gone for over $50,000 before. Also immensely tough to find are the minor league prospect Traded cards, like Dodgertown Traded #DT-17 Mike Sharperson. Fewer than 50 are believed to exist altogether.
Moving to numbered parallels, the gold #1 Mike Schmidt leads the way as the lone true 1/1 edition from 1987. This precious card has achieved astronomical prices, with the last PSA 10 example ending an auction at a staggering $96,000 back in 2015. It continues to be one of the most valuable modern-era baseball cards in the world. Other rarenumbered inserts include the gold #7 Eric Davis, #15 Reggie Jackson, and the more attainable but still pricey high numbers like the gold #400 Bret Saberhagen. These manufactured rarities can also gain five figures for pristine samples.
Speaking of gold, the widely publicized 1987 Topps Traded Set insert with golden backs also holds immense value. Only 35 full gold back traded sets with all 50 cards in pristine shape exist, according to the leading authentication companies’ population counts. This monumental feat of gaining rainbow shimmers on every single member makes these sets seven-figure status items. Even incomplete gold sets attract vast sums. An unopened factory sealed box holding a full gold set in prospect would likely sell at auction for over $500,000 if one ever became available today.
Perhaps the most glamorous card in the set for hardcore collectors is the famous error card #416 featuring Philadelphia Phillies ace Steve Bedrosian. The regular version correctly lists his wins as 3, but a small batch was accidentally printed stating his total as “S3.” This minor typo has made Bedrosian’s card one of the most valuable in the set. Prices start at $15,000 for low-grade examples and rapidly multiply for high certified samples. In fact, the only PSA 10 graded holds the record as the costliest single 1987 card at a final auction tally of $93,500 back in 2018.
With famous photo variances, traded short prints, gold parallels, and oddball errors, it’s clear why the 1987 Topps issue remains such a hit with investors and enthusiasts decades after production. Although age and condition issues prevent most examples from achieving astronomical prices, the select premier specimens continue to excite the hobby. Whether collecting for fun or future financial gain, discovering one of these prized rarities in a pack would surely produce a moment to remember. The 1987s truly have no shortage of fascinating stories left to tell.
