The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th edition of Topps’ venerable flagship baseball card series. The set features 792 total cards and had some memorable rookie cards as well as fun oddball subset inserts. With its mix of stars, prospects, and oddities, the ’87 Topps set remains a popular vintage baseball card collection for enthusiasts. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the highlights and explore what 1987 Topps cards may be fetching on the popular auction site eBay.
One of the biggest storylines from the 1987 season was the emergence of 22-year old slugger Mark McGwire with the Oakland A’s. McGwire blasted 49 home runs in just his second MLB season and finished third in MVP voting. Not surprisingly, his coveted rookie card from the ’87 Topps set is one of the most sought after and valuable from the entire release. On eBay recently, PSA-graded examples of McGwire’s rookie card in mint condition have been selling for well over $1,000. High-grade copies in Near Mint to Mint condition seem to command prices consistently above $500 given McGwire’s legendary home run chase and place in baseball history.
Another compelling young star and rookie card from the set was Cardinals’ phenom Ozzie Smith. Nicknamed “The Wizard” for his glove work at shortstop, Smith was already an elite defender but was starting to show more pop at the plate. His rookie is highly collectible for Cardinals fans and sells regularly for $80-150 in raw Near Mint condition on eBay. Higher graded copies in the PSA 8-10 range have been moving for $250-500. Though not the biggest name, Smith’s playmaking abilities and 13 Gold Gloves make his rookie a favorite of vintage collectors.
Some other notable rookies and rising prospects featured rookie cards in the ’87 Topps set include Lenny Dykstra, Bob Welch, Fred Lynn, and Barry Larkin. All were established or breakout players that season. But one rookie that became a true legend was Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Still early in his career in 1987, Carter’s Toronto rookie has blossomed into a highly sought after card, especially for Jays fans. Pristine PSA 10 examples of Carter’s rookie have cracked $1,000 on eBay. Even well-centered raw copies sell in the $50-100 range.
Beyond the rookies, the ’87 set also highlighted baseball’s biggest stars of the time. Hall of Famers like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens all appeared near the front of the set in sharp horizontally formatted cards. On eBay, raw copies of their commons can routinely fetch $10-20 depending on condition. But for the true star cards, you’ll pay a premium. A PSA 9 Wade Boggs or PSA 8 Roger Clemens regularly reaches at least $100. And a PSA 10 Rickey Henderson would likely sell for well over $500 given his place as one of the game’s all-time great leadoff hitters and base stealers.
Unlike today’s inserts, oddball subsets from vintage sets often gave collectors strange and fun alternate cards to pursue. The 1987 Topps set featured subset cards devoted to “If I Were…” cards asking players to imagine what they would do in another profession. These lighthearted inserts featured legends like Pete Rose as an artist or Steve Carlton as a writer. On eBay, intact runs of the “If I Were…” subsets in Near Mint can often sell for $30-50.
1987 Topps also had short prints that were rarer than the regular issues. Cards like Joe Niekro’s short print are frequently bootlegged so it pays to do research. But authentic examples in good shape can pull in $15-30 based on recent eBay sales. Another specialty subset was the squad photo cards spotlighting full teams. These are highly coveted by franchise collectors and in Near Mint condition tend to sell above $50 individually depending on the club featured.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set remains an affordable and enjoyable vintage release for collectors. With a stars-studded lineup of HOFers and future stars mixed in with fun oddballs, there is a little something for everyone. Key rookie cards like McGwire, Smith, and Carter will always be in demand. But hunting lesser known stars, inserts, and short prints can make for an inexpensive yet engaging collecting project. And when sourcing on eBay, paying attention to details like centering, edges, and authenticity helps ensure the best deals and bargaining positions are found.
