Tag Archives: 1987

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET VALUE

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable vintage card sets from the 1980s. While it may not be the most expensive vintage baseball card set ever made, it holds tremendous nostalgia and collectors value for those who grew up in the 1980s. The complete 660 card 1987 Topps set in mint condition could be worth thousands of dollars to the right collector.

Released in 1987 by Topps, the flagship brand for baseball cards, the 1987 set featured 660 total cards including 656 base cards and 4 additional traded set cards. Rosters included all 26 Major League Baseball teams from the 1987 season. Some of the biggest stars featured included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Ryne Sandberg. The design featured individual player photos with team logos at the bottom. Condition is critical to the set’s overall value as mint or near-mint examples fetch a high premium.

While complete sets sold for around $150-$200 back in the late 1980s, today unopened wax packs have skyrocketed in secondary market value. A sealed 1987 Topps wax box in pristine condition recently sold for over $5,000 on eBay. This demonstrates how valuable vintage cards have become for serious collectors. As for a complete set, here is a breakdown of estimated values based on the cards’ condition:

Poor Condition (Many worn and edgy corners, visible creases): $500-700

Fair Condition (Minor wear, a few dings and dents): $800-1000

Good Condition (Lightly played, no creases): $1,200-1500

Very Good Condition (Very minimal edge wear, no creases): $1,500-2,000

Near Mint Condition (Few flaws visible upon close inspection): $2,500-3,000

Mint Condition (Pack Fresh, pristine corners): $3,500-5,000

As you can see, condition is absolutely paramount. Even small flaws that downgrade a set from near-mint to good condition could decrease its worth by thousands. This is why serious collectors seek out gem mint examples still sealed in their original factory wrapping to achieve maximum value. Factors like centering, surfaces and print quality also impact condition grades and demand.

Of course, the value of any individual vintage card can far surpass a complete set price depending on the star player featured. Superstar rookie cards or scarce serial numbered parallel versions are often the most coveted by collectors. For example, a mint 1987 Barry Bonds rookie card recently sold at auction for over $37,000 alone due to his all-time great career. Other key rookie cards in the 1987 set that could add value include Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine.

It’s also worth noting population reports that track census data for high grade vintage cards. The fewer MT/MT examples in existence, the more demand will exists due to scarcity. Top graded 1987 Topps cards have been known to reach 5 figures or more at auction due to their elusive collectability among the condition conscious. Holders of pristine examples are sitting on modern-day investments as nostalgia and demand continues rising.

A complete 1987 Topps baseball card set in top grade still holds tremendous nostalgic appeal and collecting merit for those who want to own a piece of 1980s baseball card history 35 years later. Condition is paramount, and gem mint rookies or parallels could make certain valuable editions worth exponentially more. Overall this iconic 1980s release remains both a fun collectable and potential lucrative vintage investment for savvy collectors. With prices steading climbing in today’s booming trading card market, price guides may be conservative for tops sets in impeccable preservation.

TOPPS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CARDS 1987

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The 1987 Topps Major League Baseball card set was a product released midway through the 1987 MLB season by Topps. It marked the 66th year in which Topps produced baseball cards and featured all teams from that season.

Some key things to note about the 1987 Topps set include the designs, rookie cards, notable players featured, and parallels. The set totaled 792 cards after years of growing subsets. Topps returned to a cleaner design with fewer colors compared to the busy 1986 set. Each card contained a photo of the player in action along with their team logo and defensive position below.

Statistics from the 1986 season were on the back of each card along with short biographies. Topps also experimented with different borders between teams – solid colors were used to group divisions together. The backs featured ads for other Topps sports card properties like football and hockey. Gum was still included in wax packs along with the cards.

Several future Hall of Famers had prominent cards in the 1987 Topps set. This included Ozzie Smith of the Cardinals, Andre Dawson of the Cubs, and Ryne Sandberg also of the Cubs. Dennis Eckersley of the Red Sox and Rickey Henderson of the A’s were among the stars pictured as well. Top rookie cards included Gregg Olson of the Orioles, Frank Thomas of the White Sox, and Mark McGwire of the A’s.

McGwire’s rookie card in particular rocketed in value in later years as he ascended to one of the game’s biggest sluggers. Thomas turned into a perennial MVP candidate too. Olson established himself as a top reliever. All three players had Hall of Fame caliber careers after their debut 1987 seasons. There were no short prints or serially numbered parallels in the base set that year.

One of the most iconic moments captured on a 1987 Topps card was #400 featuring Ozzie Smith making an acrobatic behind-the-back throw from deep in the hole at shortstop. Seeing “The Wizard” contort his body to unleash a throw was amazing for fans. Other top action shots included #99 Ted Williams swinging and #678 Rob Dibble’s intimidating windup and delivery for the Reds.

Topps continued to produce minor league prospects sets as a companion to the flagship release. In 1987, these included Topps Traded, Draft Picks & Prospects, and a Rookie & Traded set. Special highlight cards recognized All-Star selections, Home Run Leaders, Batting Champions, and more. All helped tell the stories from another successful Major League Baseball season.

While production and design remained largely the same as past years, 1987 did see upper deck begin to challenge Topps’ monopoly with their premier baseball card product. Their beautiful color photography and autographed rookies set a new standard that forced Topps to further innovate. But in 1987, Topps still reigned supreme financially with contracts with all MLB teams secured.

The 1987 Topps Baseball card set is notable for being the year a star-studded rookie class emerged. It also marked when the hobby began shifting toward a more collector-oriented focus with expansion of inserts and parallel products. The flagship Topps set endures as one of the most iconic releases with its classic clean look and timeless action photos capturing the sport. Over three decades later, it remains a set coveted by both casual and serious collectors alike.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS UNOPENED

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set is highly coveted by collectors due to a perfect storm of circumstances that have made sealed packs and boxes extremely scarce and valuable over three decades since initial release. With 792 total cards issued in the 1987 set, it featured all major leaguers as well as prospects and included a slew of rookie cards that have stood the test of time.

Fresh off a labor strike that shortened the 1986 season, Topps released the 1987 set in late spring hoping to capitalize on renewed fan interest with the return of America’s pastime. The unexpected players’ strike before the 1990 season caused uncertainty in the sports card industry and retailers drastically reduced orders for future sets. This created a supply and demand imbalance for the 1987 Topps cards that remains to this day.

Unlike in recent decades where sports cards became big business with print runs numbered in the billions, Topps released the 1987 set with a much more limited production run due to unknowns around the future of baseball after back-to-back work stoppages. The economic uncertainty caused by strikes along with waning interest in the hobby during the early 1990s as the speculative bubble of the late 1980s cards market collapsed also led to many sealed packs and boxes being lost to time.

A combination of factors such as a relatively low initial print run, two player strikes around its release years, and the early 1990s recession that dampened the sports card craze all contributed to the 1987 Topps set maintaining its sterling reputation among collectors to this day. Sealed wax packs have certainly not increased in supply all these years later. The rarity has only grown thanks to natural attrition from items lost, damaged or opened over three decades.

Some of the most coveted rookie cards in the 1987 Topps set include Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Ben McDonald. But the true crown jewel rookies are Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and eventual all-time home run leader Barry Bonds. Bonds’ rookie card in particular is one of the most iconic and valuable in the entire hobby given his mammoth career stats and cultural impact on the game.

The rarity and demand factors have driven prices for sealed 1987 Topps wax boxes and unopened packs to astronomical levels when they surface at auction. In March 2022, a sealed wax box sold for a record $480,000 through Goldin Auctions. Just a few months prior another sealed case sold for $408,000 through the same auction house. Even single unopened packs from this set regularly fetch several thousands of dollars depending on overall condition.

For collectors looking to experience that rush of opening a fresh 1987 Topps pack without shelling out thousands, there are a few more affordable alternatives. Some will purchase “unsearched” wax boxes where the packs have been very carefully removed and replaced in hopes of finding a premiere hit card still sealed within. Wax packs can also sometimes be found in lesser condition graded by authentication companies like PSA where packaging is worn or damaged but contents remain intact.

While the 1987 Topps set never contained any truly rare statistical oddities like error cards, the roster of future Hall of Famers, perennial All-Stars, and generations of enduring rookie classics have made it a pillar in the world of vintage baseball cards. The strikes, recession and other outside factors may have cruelly limited printed quantities to collectors’ long-term benefit. Over three decades later, sealed 1987 Topps wax remains the holy grail for investors and those who can afford a glimpse back in time to relive the magic of finding a coveted pack fresh pull.

HIGHEST VALUE 1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set marked the 26th year for Topps as the lone producer of MLB wax packs and cards. After producing iconic rookie cards like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire in previous years, 1987 brought another memorable rookie class and more star cards that have grown hugely in value over the past few decades. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent and priciest 1987 Topps cards on the market today.

Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card – Griffey’s rookie is arguably the most iconic and valuable card of the entire 1987 Topps set. Coming off his stellar debut 1987 season where he hit .264 with 16 home runs for the Mariners at just 18 years old, expectations were sky high for “The Kid.” His flawless swing and graceful style of play captivated fans and he quickly became one of the faces of the league. In pristine mint condition, Griffey’s rookie now easily fetches over $10,000 and some gems have even cracked the $20,000 mark.

Roger Clemens – The Rocket’s 1987 season was one for the record books as he went 24-4 with a 2.97 ERA and won his second Cy Young award. His dominance carried into the postseason as well where he won co-MVP honors in the Red Sox World Series victory. Clemens’ strong 1987 performance increased demand for his Topps card significantly over the years. A PSA 10 gem is valued around $3,000 making it one of the most expensive cards from the set outside of rookies.

Barry Bonds Rookie Card – Bonds exploded onto the scene in 1987 slashing .289 with 29 home runs and 76 RBI in his first full season. While he didn’t win Rookie of the Year, scouts could tell he had limitless potential. His 1987 rookie card from Topps is one of the most coveted in the hobby, fetching an average of around $2,500 for high-grade copies today. Slabbed PSA 10 examples can reach upwards of $5,000.

Mark McGwire Rookie Card – Many consider McGwire’s rookie season of 1987 one of the best ever for a first year player. He smacked 49 home runs between the minors and majors that year and showed prodigious power that foretold his future stardom. Naturally, his rookie card from that season is a must-have for MLB card collectors. While not quite as expensive as Griffey or Bonds, a PSA 10 McGwire can still sell for $1,500-2,000 due to his historical significance.

Ozzie Smith – Widely considered the best defensive shortstop ever, “The Wizard” was still putting up elite numbers at the plate in 1987. That year he hit .303 with 7 home runs and 71 RBI, winning his 5th consecutive Gold Glove. Smith’s defense was so mesmerizing that it made his Topps card a hot commodity, even surpassing $1,000 for a PSA 10 copy. He was one of the biggest stars in the league throughout the late ’80s.

Cal Ripken Jr. – While he didn’t have the gaudy stats or accolades of others on this list in 1987, Ripken’s “Iron Man” narrative was beginning to take hold as he became the everyday anchor for the Orioles. He played in 158 games that season, highlighting his incredible durability. As Ripken’s consecutive games played streak continued shattering records, his ’87 Topps card gained steam. Pristine PSA 10 versions can fetch $800-1,000 now.

Other notable expensive ’87 Topps cards include Don Mattingly’s last season with the Yankees (#416 valued around $500 PSA 10), Dwight Gooden’s dominant ’86 CY season (#141 around $400 PSA 10), and Rickey Henderson’s elite stolen base season with the A’s (#70 $300-400 PSA 10). Overall it’s evident there was no shortage of future Hall of Famers and all-time great players featured in the 1987 Topps set. For serious vintage collectors, high grade copies of the above mentioned cards represent some of the crown jewels from that iconic release.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS TCDB

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set contains 792 total cards and is widely considered one of the most iconic releases from the sports card giant’s decades-spanning run producing baseball cards. With its mixture of iconic players, fun variations, and impactful rookie cards, the 1987 Topps offering remains a coveted set for collectors.

Some key details and highlights about the 1987 Topps set include:

Roster: The full 792-card checklist featured every Major League team and player from the 1986 season. This included Hall of Famers like Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, and Ozzie Smith as well as young stars like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, and Rickey Henderson.

Design: Topps switched to a vertical card format beginning with the 1987 set. The design featured a player photo centered above the team name and position. Statistics were located on the reverse. Color was used more sparingly compared to prior years.

Variations: Topps produced several chase cards through photo and statistical variations. Notable ones included ‘Traded’ cards showing players on their new 1987 teams and ‘Record Breaker’ parallel cards highlighting notable single-season achievements.

Rookies: Future Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz had their rookie cards in the 1987 Topps set. Other impact rookies included Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, and Tim Raines. These cards have become highly valuable over time.

Short Prints: Topps significantly reduced the print run on select cards, making them markedly rarer within the overall checklist. Notable short prints from 1987 Topps include Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens, and Nolan Ryan. These scarce variants can fetch premium prices.

Promos: Topps inserted promotional cards highlighting the Kellogg’s and Texas Rangers organizations within factory sets. These off-checklist inserts have become extremely rare and valuable today.

Design variations: Some cards saw subtle differences in design details like uniform colors, backgrounds, or statistics. For example, Wade Boggs cards show him with both the Red Sox and Yankees uniforms within the set.

The 1987 Topps release was the final card set produced before the 1980s expansion era ended. It effectively bridged the gap between that high-growth period and the more mature baseball card market of the 1990s. Strong rookie card player selection and iconic veterans made it a hit release.

Over time, the 1987 Topps cards have become incredibly nostalgic and desirable for collectors, especially as the talented rookies blossomed into legends. Examples of marquee Hall of Fame talents like Larkin, Glavine, and Smoltz are highly sought after today in pristine conditioned to commemorate their careers. Short prints of stars and minor design quirks add complexity.

When combined with the vertical card formatting switching things up aesthetically from prior years, the 1987 Topps set possesses universal appeal for both vintage collectors and investors eyeing proven assets. Strong connections to 1980s baseball culture and the emergence of all-time great talents keep the cards relevant decades later. This confluence of impactful players, historic context, and collecting DNA is why 1987 Topps remains such an engrossing part of the baseball card multi-verse over 35 years on.

1987 TOPPS BIG BASEBALL CARDS MOST VALUABLE

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The 1987 Topps Baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues ever released by Topps. The traditional-sized set featured cards of superstar players like Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and others from that era. It is the “Big” subset cards from the release that are among the most sought-after and valuable from the entire 1980s decade. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1987 Topps Big cards:

Perhaps the most iconic and valuable card from the entire 1987 set is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card (#131). Griffey was already one of the game’s most exciting young prospects at the time after being drafted number one overall by the Seattle Mariners in 1987. His blend of power, speed, defense and hitting ability foreshadowed what would become a Hall of Fame career. The Griffey Big card packs an extra visual punch by showcasing his wide-open leg kick and follow through in a considerably larger format than the standard issue that year. PSA 10 Gem Mint copies in pristine condition routinely sell for over $10,000. Even well-centered, highly graded PSA 8 or 9 copies command prices north of $1,000 due to Griffey’s popularity and status as one of the all-time greats.

Another huge star that had one of the mostvaluable Big cards was Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kelly Gruber(#97). Like Griffey, Gruber was a highly touted young talent that went on to have an excellent MLB career. Possessing great power and a slick glove at the hot corner, Gruber was a core member of the Blue Jays teams that won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993. His large-sized rookie is one of the tougher cards to find in top condition due to the increased printing surface area. PSA 10 specimens are worth over $2,000 presently, while PSA 9s can sell for $500-$800.

Skilled switch-hitting catcher Benito Santiago was a bright young star for the San Diego Padres inthe late 1980s. His mammoth Big rookie card (#154) is also highly sought after, though not quite at the lofty value levels of Griffey or Gruber. Even so, a pristine PSA 10 Santiago is worth solid four-figuremoney today. Just below Mint condition PSA 9 copies still command prices exceeding $300 based on Santiago’s long, productive MLB tenure and the visual impact of his oversized rookie presentation.

Though he only had a relatively short MLB career compared to the other players mentioned, New York Mets catcher Mackey Sasser (#149) has one of the most visually striking Big rookies from 1987 Topps. Featuring a bold black and white photo of Sasser eagerly reaching for a high pitch, the card really pops in the enlarged Big format. Combined with his status as one of the rarest cards to find in top shape, pristine PSA 10 Sasser rookies have sold for north of $800. Even well-centered PSA 9s drag over $200 at auction.

While many stars had standard-sized flagship rookie cards in the 1987 Topps set, it’s the subset of enlarged “Big” variants that hold the greatest nostalgia, rarity and modern collector demand. From icons like Ken Griffey Jr. to talented players who had brief MLB tenures like Benito Santiago and Mackey Sasser, these oversized rookie presentaions remain hugely popular with enthusiasts over 30 years later. In top grades of PSA Gem Mint 10 or 9, specimens almost always command premium prices based on their visual impact and link to some of baseball’s brightest 1980s talents like Griffey, Gruber and others. The 1987 Topps Big set remains a benchmark for rookie card collecting from that unforgettable decade.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS REGGIE JACKSON

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Reggie Jackson, nicknamed “Mr. October” due to his legendary postseason heroics, ended his Hall of Fame career after the 1987 season. That year he played for the California Angels and appeared in just 28 games before retiring. Topps honored Jackson’s illustrious 21-year MLB career with special treatment on his 1987 baseball cards.

Jackson had three separate stints with the Oakland A’s, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees over his career. He was a 13-time All-Star and 5-time World Series champion. Some of his most iconic playoff moments include blasting three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series for the Yankees, cementing his Mr. October nickname. He hit 563 career home runs, drove in over 1,800 runs, and had a career .262 batting average.

For the 1987 set, Topps issued Jackson’s standard card alongside two special “photo variation” cards to commemorate his iconic status. One variation showed a close-up headshot of Jackson smiling in an Angels uniform. The other depicted him pointing to the sky with a baseball in his hand, a pose mimicking one of his home run swings. These parallel cards of Jackson were rarer than the basic issue and highly sought after by collectors.

In addition to the photo variations, Topps also included Jackson on the league leader cards despite his limited playing time in 1987. One card recognized him for career RBI totals while another honored his home run totals. These unique inclusions highlighted Jackson’s enduring records and accomplishments even after nearly retiring. The back of his basic card contained a glowing career retrospective befitting of a future Hall of Famer.

Some other key details about Reggie Jackson’s 1987 Topps baseball cards:

His base card is #632 in the set, part of the Angels team checklist portion near the end.

The “headshot” photo variation is officially known as card #632V while the home run pose variation is #632W.

All three Jackson cards feature an artistic sunset orange border around the photo, a fitting choice to represent the sunset of his career.

The RBI leaders card shows Jackson atop the list with 1,809, ahead of giants like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Card #704.

The home run leaders card has him in third place all-time behind only Ruth and Aaron, with 563 dingers. Card #705.

The back of Jackson’s base card (#632) summarizes his three World Series wins and postseason accomplishments over five paragraphs in small print.

While retiring after just 28 games in 1987, Topps made sure to honor Reggie Jackson’s storied career through numerous tribute cards beyond his basic issue. Collectors appreciated how the brand immortalized Mr. October’s legendary stats and moments even in his farewell season and year. His rare photo variations from the set remain highly coveted pieces of cardboard over thirty years later.

In conclusion, Reggie Jackson solidified his place among the all-time greats over two decades in Major League Baseball. The 1987 Topps set paid fitting homage to his indelible impact on the game and postseason folklore through several special focused cards. They recognized Jackson as a true hitting and home run hitting legend of the sport.

FLEER BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1987

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1987 marked Fleer’s 10th year producing Major League Baseball cards. The 1987 Fleer baseball card set featured players and photos from the 1986 MLB season. The base set included 408 cards with player photos, manager cards, checklists, and record breaker highlight cards.

The 1987 Fleer set focused on highlighting all-time records that were broken or threatened during the 1986 season. For example, the George Brett card from the set commemorated him breaking Lou Gehrig’s record for most consecutive games with a hit. Other record breaker cards included Darryl Strawberry for RBIs by a rookie and Rickey Henderson for stolen bases in a season.

While not the flashiest design compared to rival sets like Topps, 1987 Fleer cards featured vibrant team colors and clean photography that still hold up visually over 30 years later. The card stock was thin and flexible like most Fleer issues of the time period. Generally considered the “middle child” between iconic early 80s Fleer designs and the neon foil experimentation of later years.

In terms of rarity and value, the 1987 Fleer set does not have any true scarce short prints outside of the record breaker and manager cards. There are certainly stars and Hall of Famers that command a premium to this day. Here is a brief price guide for some of the top 1987 Fleer baseball cards based on PSA 10 Gem Mint condition:

Roger Clemens (#1): $80-100
Always one of the best-selling rookie cards from the set. Clemens went on to win 7 Cy Young awards and strike out over 4,000 batters.

Kirby Puckett (#20): $50-70
Puckett was in his prime in the late 80s winning 6 Gold Gloves and batting titles. His rookie card remains quite affordable.

Dwight Gooden (#57): $60-80
“Dr. K” was coming off his dominant 1985 CY Young season as one of the greatest pitching prospects ever.

Ozzie Smith (#69): $75-100
Perhaps the best defensive shortstop ever who started capturing Gold Gloves at this stage of his career.

Rickey Henderson (#82): $75-100
Already establishing himself as the base-stealing king and one of the most electrifying players in the game.

George Brett (#101): $50-75
Hall of Famer was still in his prime and fresh off breaking Lou Gehrig’s hits record as noted on this card.

Wade Boggs (#123): $60-80
Already a batting champion at this point and on his way to a Hall of Fame career hitting over .300 15 times.

Don Mattingly (#134): $75-100
“Donnie Baseball” was the poster boy for the Yankees in the late 80s in his offensive prime before injuries hampered his career.

Mike Schmidt (#149): $75-100
The Phillies legend and 3x MVP was in the twilight of his incredible career still raking 30+ home runs regularly.

Cal Ripken Jr. (#160): $80-100
Entering his magical Iron Man streak, Ripken was already regarded as the future of Baltimore baseball.

The managers subset includes legends like Sparky Anderson, Earl Weaver, and Billy Martin. The manager cards in PSA 10 grade also tend to attract $50-75 each due to their niche status as “hitters” in the set.

While not the most valuable vintage release, 1987 Fleer cards represent an iconic time in late 80s baseball and remain affordable for most collectors to build full sets. Key rookies like Clemens, Puckett, and Gooden ensure there is always solid interest from both investors and fans of the players. Condition and eye appeal are particularly important for the thinner 1987 Fleer cardboard. But they make for a fun and relatively budget-friendly Group 1 vintage set to chase in the hobby.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS MOST VALUE

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most coveted issues from the late 1980s. While it does not contain any true “gem mint” superstars on par with the iconic 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle or 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner, several key rookie cards and short printed veterans have risen to the top of the 1987 Topps value rankings in recent years.

One of the most sought-after cards from the 660-card base set is the Kirby Puckett rookie card. Puckett went on to have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Minnesota Twins, winning six Gold Gloves and being named to six All-Star teams. He led the Twins to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. In top mint condition with a gem mint (GM) grade of 10, Puckett’s rookie currently sells for around $4,000-$5,000. Even in near mint to mint (NM-MT) condition around a grade of 8, it still fetches $1,000-$1,500.

Puckett’s teammate and fellow Twins star Kent Hrbek also has a valuable rookie in the ‘87 set. While not quite on Puckett’s level, a GM Hrbek rookie in the $1,500-$2,000 range shows his card has decent appeal to collectors as well thanks to his contributions to Minnesota’s title teams. In NM-MT condition, an Hrbek rookie will sell for $400-$600.

For rookie card collectors hunting big names beyond just the Twins, another top option is the Mark McGwire rookie. Big Mac went on to hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and finished his career with 583 total, making him one of the premier power hitters of his generation. A pristine McGwire rookie in GM condition can reach as high as $3,000, with an average around $2,000. In played condition of NM-MT, it still commands $700-$1,000 on the secondary market.

While rookies are always a draw, some of the biggest 1987 Topps values actually belong to short printed veteran stars. The star-studded New York Mets were well represented that year with superstar pitchers Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. Their cards were printed in much lower numbers than standard players leading to rarity. A Gooden or Strawberry in top grade can sell for $2,000+$ due to their scarcity.

The most expensive card in the entire ‘87 set though is undoubtedly the Gary Carter card. Like Gooden/Strawberry, Carter’s card was issued with a much lower print run than usual making it very scarce to find in top shape today. He was also a Future Hall of Famer who twice won the World Series with the New York Mets in ‘86. A pristine GM Carter routinely sells at auction for $4,000 and up. Even well-centered NM-MT examples still pull in $1,500-$2,000.

While it lacks true iconic stars, the 1987 Topps baseball set nonetheless features a handful of valuable cards at the top of the secondary market. Rookie gems of Kirby Puckett and Mark McGwire along with the ultra-rare short prints of Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry headline the most expensive and desired cards from the issue over 30 years later. For dedicated collectors, tracking down high grade examples of these keys remain a worthwhile pursuit.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS VALUES

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the late 1980s. While it doesn’t contain the highest number of extremely rare and valuable rookie cards compared to sets like 1969, 1988, or 1991 Topps, the 1987 set has maintained its popularity over the past 30+ years since its release due to featuring several all-time great players and Hall of Famers in their prime.

One of the top 1987 Topps rookies and also the set’s biggest star is Ken Griffey Jr. His highly sought after rookie card has maintained tremendous value over the years as Griffey developed into a true icon of the game that is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Fresh off his impressive rookie season with the Seattle Mariners in 1987 where he hit .264 with 8 home runs and 40 RBI in 96 games, Griffey’s rookie card in PSA 10 Gem Mint condition has sold for over $15,000 at auction and even higher at nearly $20,000. Mintcondition copies in PSA 9 still bring several thousand dollars. Even well-worn raw copies sell for hundreds due to Griffey’s immense popularity.

Another top rookie from 1987 that remains highly valuable is Dodgers sensation Orel Hershiser. After breaking out with a franchise record 59 consecutive scoreless innings in 1988 en route to a Cy Young Award and World Series MVP, Hershiser’s popularity skyrocketed. His 1987 Topps rookie card has followed suit, with PSA 10 copies selling in the $1,000-$3,000 range and PSA 9s still bringing $500-1000 depending on the auction. Hershiser’s rookie maintains strong demand due to his dominant late 1980s peak and nostalgia from Dodgers fans of that era.

While rookie cards such as Griffey and Hershiser drive the top prices for 1987 Topps, there are also plenty of powerful Hall of Famer and all-time great regular base cards that retain significant collector interest and value as well. Perhaps the most iconic player featured in the set is New York Mets ace and future Hall of Famer Dwight Gooden. In 1986 and 1987, Gooden was baseball’s biggest star fresh off back-to-back Cy Young Award winning seasons. His main 1987 Topps card typically sells between $50-$150 in PSA 10 and $20-50 in PSA 9. Other top Hall of Famer regular base cards that still pull in solid returns include Ozzie Smith ($30-75 PSA 10), Mike Schmidt ($25-50 PSA 10), and Nolan Ryan ($15-40 PSA 10).

Beyond rookies and stars, the 1987 Topps set also includes several unique and valuable error, variation and parallel cards that collectors love finding and accumulating. One of the rarest is the Dwight Gooden “Missing Back” error card, where the back of the card is completely blank with no stats, copyright info or anything else. Only a handful are known to exist in high grade and ungraded examples have sold for over $2,000. Another exciting find are the rare black-bordered parallel variations of stars like Smith, Schmidt and Gooden, which pull in hundreds of dollars for top examples.

While the 1987 Topps set lacks some of the true ultra-high-end rookie cards that propel other years, it remains a highly regarded vintage release due to featuring so many all-time great players from the late 1980s. Key rookie cards of stars like Griffey and Hershiser will likely only continue increasing in value as the years pass. And premium examples of iconic regular base cards for legends like Gooden, Schmidt, Smith and Ryan provide affordable opportunities for collectors to own genuine pieces of baseball history from the glory years of the 1980s. For mix of star power, nostalgia and intriguing error / variation chase cards, the 1987 Topps set makes for an excellent long-term collecting and investing opportunity for sports card enthusiast.