The 1987 Topps Baseball Card set was issued during a time when baseball card collecting was at the peak of its popularity in the late 1980s. As one of the flagship brands for baseball cards, Topps continued to produce high quality sets that became highly coveted by collectors both young and old. The 1987 set featured 660 total cards and offered collectors memorable rookie cards, star players, and postseason highlights from the 1986 season.
Some key details about the 1987 Topps set include that it marked the 30th anniversary of Topps’ iconic design with a red border on most cards. Topps also produced several parallel sets that year such as Traded, Update, and Turquoise foil inserts which added to the excitement of collecting. The final complete set checklists 660 cards and can often be found in factory sealed wax packs, boxes, or complete pre-built sets.
For the front of each standard card, Topps continued their tried-and-true vertical design with the player’s picture on top and their name, team, and stats listed below. The back of each card featured the player’s career stats and highlights surrounded by a white border. Notably, Topps began including unique callouts on the back of select star players pointing out career milestones. Color photos were used for nearly every image that year which helped the set visually stand out among collectors.
In terms of rookie cards, the 1987 Topps set is perhaps best remembered today for featuring future Hall of FamersKen Griffey Jr, Gregg Maddux, and Tom Glavine in their rookie seasons. While not quite as treasured as Griffey’s iconic 1989 rookie, collectors still prize the 1987 rookies as some of the earliest cards captured of these all-time great players. Other notable rookies included Kevin Maas, Jeff Gray, and Kirt Manwaring. Nearly all of these rookie cards have held their value well over the years.
The 1987 set is also infamous for infamous printing errors that have added to the intrigue for collectors over the decades. Perhaps the most widely known is the reversed front/back printing error on card #420 (Tim Raines), making it one of the most recognizable mistakes in the hobby. Other notable mistakes include upside down photographs, missing signatures, and typos/misspellings that have since become collector favorites.
In terms of team checklists, Topps continued club-by-club rosters from #1-660 with the Detroit Tigers starting things off and the Toronto Blue Jays ending the set. Stars featured prominently that year included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson, and Jose Canseco amidst many others. Meanwhile, the postseason highlight cards paid tribute to the 1986 World Series and LCS matchups. This included cards spotlighting the eventual champion New York Mets and their World Series MVP Ray Knight.
When the 1987 Topps set was initially released, the cards sold for about $0.25 per pack with a box containing 12 packs running closer to $3. In the following decades, as the players captured in the set rose to fame and baseball card collecting boomed, complete 1987 Topps sets steadily increased in demand and value. Today, a complete unopened 1987 Topps Baseball Card set in mint condition can fetch over $1,000 due to its combination of stars, rookies, and vintage appeal.
Meanwhile, individual high-value cards from the 1987 set often sell for far more. The coveted Ken Griffey Jr. rookie routinely fetches well over $100 even in lower grades. The iconic #420 Tim Raines error card has sold for upwards of $2,000 in pristine condition. Other notable singles include Gregg Maddux ($75+), Tom Glavine ($50+), and postseason highlights of players like Ray Knight ($25+). Of course, well-preserved rookies of stars like Canseco, Clemens, and Henderson continue to appreciat over the long-term as well.
The 1987 Topps Baseball Card set holds a special nostalgia for collectors of the 1980s while also preserving memorable rookie cards and seasons of future Hall of Famers. Even with over 660 total cards, the set remains relatively affordable to collect or build compared to some other vintage years. Factors like unique printing mistakes, team checklists, and commemorative postseason highlights give the 1987 issue a distinctive personality that has thrilled collectors for decades. Whether building a complete factory set or chasing individual star cards, the 1987 Topps offering remains a foundational release cherished by vintage baseball card aficionados.
