The 1987 Burger King Baseball Cards represented a major leap for one of the most ubiquitous promotions in the sport’s history – the fast food baseball card. From 1978 to 1997, Burger King issued 40 different series of baseball cards as part of their highly successful “BK Baseball Card” promotion. The 1987 edition stands out as arguably the most desirable and collectible of the entire promotion.

The 1987 cards marked the tenth anniversary of the Burger King baseball card program and the company spared no expense to commemorate the milestone. For the first time since the promotion began in 1978, the 1987 cards featured custom artwork instead of reprints of action shots from Topps or other traditional card brands. Burger King hired the renowned illustrator Dick Perez to create original drawings depicting players from all 26 Major League teams at the time. Perez’s dynamic pen and ink style added a new level of visual appeal that collectors found highly memorable and aesthetically pleasing.

In addition to the original Perez artwork, several other factors contributed to the heightened popularity and value of the 1987 BK cards. First, the inclusion of all 26 teams for the first time allowed collectors to chase complete primary team sets in addition to chasing individual star players. Previous BK issues often left out smaller market clubs which frustrated completionists. The 1987 set also featured league leaders and All-Stars including Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Barry Bonds and many more.

Perhaps most importantly, Burger King massively increased production numbers to meet anticipated demand for the 10th anniversary promotion. Previous BK issues tended to number in the millions of cards produced whereas estimates suggest 1987 production reached over 50 million cards inserted into specially marked kid’s meals across the country. The combination of desirable content, original artwork, inclusion of all teams and high print run opened 1987 BK cards up to a much wider collecting audience beyond the niche of previous issues.

As one of the most widely distributed sports promotions ever, the 1987 BK cards gained instant mainstream popularity upon release. It was in the decades since that really cemented their status as one of the Holy Grails of the vintage food promotion era. Factors like the custom Perez artwork, the nostalgia of players popular in the late 80s, and the sheer number in circulation have kept serious collectors actively pursuing 1987 BK cards for over 30 years.

Some key things continue to drive interest and demand. The Perez drawings have aged remarkably well and appeal to adult collectors with childhood memories of the issue. The visual novelty compared to typical reprint driven card promotions also gives 1987 BK cards a unique aesthetic nostalgia. Sets of entire teams can still be challenging to assemble due to the high original print runs sustaining the market. And the fact that nearly every serious vintage collector chased these as a kid means a certain percentage will always look to upgrade rosters as the years pass.

1987 BK cards also carry cultural nostalgia as iconic representations of 1980s baseball cards before the specs boom of the 1990s. Burger King promotions today tend to lack the visual splendor or mass appeal of their golden age issues from the 70s/80s. A complete 1987 set instantly transports collectors back to a simpler time of youth baseball fandom.

Prices have risen steadily over the decades since issue to reflect all of these factors. Near mint examples of the most coveted stars today sell for hundreds while pristine team sets can command thousands. The highest price ever paid at auction for a 1987 Burger King card was $1,845 in 2018 for a mint graded Kirby Puckett. Clearly the potential rewards outweigh the risks for collectors still searching high and low for that elusive Perez artwork of their childhood favorite player.

For all these reasons, the 1987 Burger King Baseball Card issue is remembered as the crowning achievement of the longest running fast food sports card promotion ever. It represents the pinnacle of design, content, production values and collectibility within the category. Serious vintage collectors continue filling inexhaustible desires to revisit their youth through pursuing the icon that started it all – a 1987 Burger King Bazooka Joe’s kid’s meal baseball card. The legacy and mystique of this modern classic is sure to endure for collectors old and new for decades to come.

In 1986, Burger King released a highly popular promotional set of baseball cards featuring players from Major League Baseball teams. The cards came in children’s meals at Burger King restaurants from February through July of that year. They proved to be one of the most successful promotional campaigns in the history of fast food, helping drive attention and sales to Burger King while also fueling the growing collector’s market for baseball cards during the peak years of their popularity in the 1980s.

The 1986 Burger King baseball card set featured a total of 330 cards showing current players from American and National League teams. The cards had color photos on the front and statistics and facts on the back. They were issued randomly, one per kids’ meal, with rarer “chase” cards being much harder to obtain. Some of the chase cards included Mike Schmidt, Wade Boggs, and Ozzie Smith. Collectors eagerly awaited each visit to Burger King hoping to find one of these hard-to-get stars in their pack.

The massive popularity of the promotion was a huge surprise to Burger King. They had projected distributing around 100 million cards but ended up producing over 1 billion cards, such was the demand. At the height of the promotion in June 1986, it was estimated that a new Burger King baseball card was being given away every 2-3 seconds on average. Beyond driving significant new business to Burger King locations, the promotion also helped introduce baseball card collecting to a whole new generation of younger fans.

Part of what made the 1986 Burger King baseball cards so coveted by collectors compared to similar promotions by other fast food chains was their high production quality on thick, glossy card stock. The photography and design of the cards was also very consistent and avoided the issues sometimes seen on cheaper promotional baseball cards of that era with crooked photos or stats in strange locations on the back. The attention to detail made the Burger King cards feel like a serious collector’s item on par with packs bought at stores and not just a throwaway promotional freebie.

When it came to the rarity and demand for certain starred players, few 1986 Burger King cards approached the holy grail status of the elusive Mike Schmidt “chase” card. Schmidt, the slugging third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, was a perennial All-Star and league MVP winner throughout the 1980s. His card was printed in extremely limited numbers, making it exponentially harder to find than more common players. Unconfirmed estimates put the print run of Schmidt’s card at around only 5,000 produced, making each one that surfaced a major event within the baseball card collecting community.

Today, complete 1986 Burger King baseball card sets in near-mint condition can fetch $500-$1000 on auction sites due to their popularity and longevity as a classic issue. Values of individual premium cards like the Mike Schmidt continue to climb rapidly. A PSA-graded gem mint Schmidt recently sold for over $12,000, showing just how coveted these “black diamond” promotional cards remain among dedicated collectors decades later. With each passing year, pristine 1980s Burger King cards become scarcer as more get lost, damaged, or removed from holders for appreciation rather than resale.

While other fast food baseball cards from the same era have appreciated nicely, none stimulate as much intense bidding and discussion as the 1986 Burger King set. Their massive distribution still means common players remain easy to acquire. But finding high-grade examples of the most famous chase cards has become a literal needle in a haystack proposition. And as the generation that grew up with the promotion ages, a strong wave of nostalgia ensures a built-in collector base will continue pursuing this elite slice of 1980s pop culture memorabilia for years to come.

For the estimated 100 million American kids who consumed hamburgers at Burger King that summer of 1986, the experience of ripping open a waxy foil package to see if their meal contained baseball card history is a memory that has stayed with them. And for the small lucky few who peeled back a Schmidt, Boggs, or Smith, the thrill of discovery is undoubtedly still as vivid today as it was on those afternoons over 35 years ago. In the world of promotional baseball cards, none leave a bigger smile or command more fervor among collectors than the gold standard of them all – the 1986 Burger King set.

In 1979, fast food giant Burger King launched one of the most iconic and collectible baseball card promotions in history. Seeking to capitalize on America’s love of both baseball and hamburgers, Burger King partnered with Topps to create a special set of baseball cards exclusively available with kids’ meals at Burger King restaurants nationwide.

The promotion was a huge success and sparked lifelong baseball card collecting passions for many young fans across the country. In total, 65 cards were produced as part of the Burger King promotion and depict many of the game’s biggest stars from the late 1970s. Several elements combined to make these cards so popular and highly coveted by collectors even today.

To start, the association with America’s largest fast food chain at the time gave the cards instant mainstream appeal and accessibility. Any kid who wanted a chance at the cards simply had to accompany their parents to Burger King. Meanwhile, the colorful graphics, team logos, and professional photography brought the players and teams to life in a visually engaging way.

Topps also ensured each card featured key stats, career highlights, and fun facts about the featured MLB stars, giving young fans valuable information to learn about their favorite teams and players. The dual branding of Burger King and Topps logos on every card further reinforced the intertwining of fast food, baseball, and the excitement of the card chase into children’s minds.

Major stars of the late 1970s like Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, and Nolan Ryan anchored the set and further boosted its appeal. However, Topps and Burger King also wisely included rookie cards and less heralded players to intrigue collectors. This included rookie cards for Dave Parker, Don Baylor, Butch Wynegar, and Garry Templeton, who all went on to have stellar MLB careers.

Perhaps most importantly, the scarce availability of the cards at Burger King locations transformed them into a prized collectible. Kids had to eat their Burger King meals in hopes of scoring one of the elusive cards in their packaging. This scarcity heightened interest in the promotion and inspired children nationwide to pursue completing the 65-card rainbow in their collections. It also prompted many to return to Burger King time and again for a chance at cards they were missing.

While estimates vary, it’s believed Burger King produced tens if not hundreds of millions of these classic cards over the course of the 1979 promotion. Demand seemed to vastly outpace supply in some areas. Tales emerged of kids begging parents endlessly to take them to Burger King or eagerly awaiting relatives traveling through other regions to bring back coveted cards from their travels.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t uncommon for especially popular stars like Jackson and Schmidt to be almost impossible to obtain through random Kid’s Meal pack distribution. This led to early card show trading and specialization even among young collectors. Astute kids soon realized certain cards held greater value than others based on the player, team, and their scarcity in the promotion.

When the promotion ended after 1979, the Burger King cards took on an almost mythical status among collectors. Those fortunate enough to complete the 65-card rainbow set instantly possessed a highly coveted and valuable collection. Meanwhile, even incomplete sets and singular high-value cards like the rookie cards held significant collector interest and trade value.

As the players featured on the cards themselves aged and progressed in their baseball careers, so too did the popularity and interest in these pioneer baseball trading cards from a major corporate promotion. Graded gem mint examples of stars like Jackson, Schmidt, Ryan, and the rookies now routinely sell for thousands of dollars at auction. But even well-loved lower-grade examples still retain good collector value today.

In the digital age, online collecting communities have coalesced around the iconic Burger King cards. Stories, stats, and card registry sites allow fans to reconnect over these formative baseball memories. Even major league players today sometimes cite how the cards fueled a childhood love of the game. Their unique window into late 1970s MLB and role in launching countless collector passions ensured the 1979 Burger King baseball cards cemented their place in sportscard history.

While promotions of their scale may never be repeated, the 1979 Burger King baseball cards showed how partnerships between major fast food chains, trading card companies, and professional sports leagues can spark cultural phenomenons. Four decades later, these colorful cardboard relics continue evoking fond recollections of baseball’s golden era for fans both young and old.

The 1978 Burger King baseball cards were included as a promotional insert in Burger King kids’ meals from May through July of that year. The cards featured players and teams from Major League Baseball and were meant to entice young baseball fans to visit Burger King with their parents. In total, there were 84 unique cards in the 1978 set spanning all 26 MLB teams at the time. The cards were distributed randomly with no guaranteed full set in a single kids’ meal purchase. Collecting the entire 1978 Burger King baseball card set became a challenge for many children during that summer.

Each card featured a color photo of a baseball player in uniform on the front. The backs of the cards contained basic career stats and accomplishments for each player at the time. No gum or other extras were included with the cards unlike some other similar promotions from baseball card manufacturers. The photos and information still made the 1978 Burger King cards a hot collectible item for young baseball card collectors. They could be swapped and traded with friends in attempts to complete the full 84 card checklist.

One unique aspect of the 1978 Burger King baseball cards was they focused more on veteran star players rather than up-and-coming rookies. This helped increase appeal for younger collectors by featuring big name players they knew from watching games on TV. Stars featured included Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, Steve Carlton, Dave Winfield, and more. Lesser known role players and prospects got far less representation compared to their peers from typical yearly baseball card sets. This star power made the cards extra enticing for kids to collect.

Distribution of the 1978 Burger King baseball cards varied significantly by region. Reports from collectors indicate some areas received shipments of mostly common duplicate cards while others found scarce short prints and stars more frequently. This created a fun secondary market among kids trading to fill gaps. Completed 1978 Burger King baseball card sets in mint condition today are quite rare finds. The inserts were meant to be a temporary promotion and not preserved long term like traditional yearly baseball card releases.

Outside of young collectors at the time, the 1978 Burger King baseball cards received little attention or documentation over the following decades. They fell into the realm more of a fleeting kid-oriented promotion than a serious insert set like parallel issues from card manufacturers. But in recent years, as the vintage baseball card market has boomed, renewed interest has grown inpromotional and oddball sets from the 1970s-1980s ‘Junk Wax’ era that flew under the radar. This includes the 1978 Burger King baseball cards which have become a bit of a cult collectible.

complete higher grade 1978 Burger King baseball card sets today can sell for thousands of dollars depending on condition. Key cards of true star players like Nolan Ryan, Reggie Jackson, and Johnny Bench in mint condition may fetch over $100 individually. But for most collectors, simply owning any of the iconic 1978 Burger King baseball cards brings a nostalgic thrill of connecting to simpler summer times as a young baseball fan. Even in well-worn lower grades, individual cards still trade on collector markets for $5-20 based just on nostalgia value alone.

As a promotional insert aimed at kids in the late 1970s, quality control and card stock durability were not priorities for the 1978 Burger King baseball cards. Surviving examples today often show creases, edge wear, and staining that downgrade them to lower grades which hampers resale value. But completion of even a mid-grade 1978 Burger King baseball card set is still a fun and challenging quest that captures the collecting spirit of childhood summers past. For those who enjoyed the cards as young fans over 40 years ago, finding an example today brings a smile as a reminder of baseball’s magic during a special time in their lives.

While not a traditional yearly baseball card release, the nostalgia and cult popularity that the ephemeral 1978 Burger King baseball cards have attained in recent years is a testament to their unique place amid the ‘junk wax’ era. As a promotional insert designed to lure kids to the fast food chain, they served their purpose well over four decades ago. Their enduring appeal today shows how even seemingly minor items can take on more significance when memories of growing up and childhood innocence are attached to them. For many who spent summers enjoying backyard baseball games and filling card books, finding examples from their 1978 Burger King baseball card collection is a special way to reconnect with happier times.