The 1987 Topps complete baseball card set is one of the more iconic and valuable complete sets from the vintage era of the 1980s. Packed with 660 total cards featuring all teams and players from the 1986 MLB season, the ’87 Topps set holds nostalgia and appeal for collectors even decades later. For those fortunate enough to have maintained a full ’87 Topps collection in mint condition, it can be a very worthwhile asset.
In the mid-1980s, Topps was still the dominant brand in the baseball card market as the exclusive license holder with MLB. Their sets from this period are some of the most chase and remembered. The ’87 Topps design had a classic illustration style with team logo borders and photos filling most of the card front. On the back was stats and basic career info. Gum was still included in wax packs along with the five cards.
For a complete ’87 Topps set in pristine near-mint to mint condition, a collector can reasonably expect to get $500-$800 today. This assumes all cards are carefully stored and preserved without creases, scratches or other flaws to dramatically hurt grade. Top graded gems could perhaps get up to $1,000-1,500 for the set. While not an enormous amount of money relatively, it’s a healthy return on investment for a complete vintage collection.
Certain factors influence the value, such as the general condition across the board. Even one or two heavily worn cards could negatively impact potential resale price. Also, the more popular the players included that year, generally the better. The ’87 Topps set has multiple stars and future Hall of Famers that add appeal like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs and more.
Another positive is that the ’87 Topps design has maintained popularity over the decades. The simple yet iconic team logo borders remain a classic aesthetic that collectors still admire today. This nostalgia factor ensures ongoing demand even for older sets compared to newer issues. As long as the hobby remains robust, vintage like ’87 Topps will retain collectible status.
Highest individual card values from the ’87 Topps set are unsurprisingly the true superstar rookies and young players shining brightly that season. The flagship rookie card for the set is Hall of Famer Barry Bonds, which can fetch $75-150 in top condition. Another strong hitter rookie like Mark McGwire brings $30-60. Starting pitcher sensation Roger Clemens in a Red Sox uniform is $40-80.
Stars in their prime like Wade Boggs get $15-30. Even backups or role players on playoff teams like Mookie Wilson of the ’86 World Champion Mets can reach $10-20. The rest of the set cards stay around $1-5 generally. So while there may not be extreme high-end cards, the ’87 Topps set has proven to be very collectible as a whole package over many price guides and auctions.
Just to exemplify potential returns further, consider a documented 1992 Sports Collector’s Digest auction. A complete ’87 Topps baseball card set, graded by SCD as average with some flaws, sold then for $275. Adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars, that same average condition collection would be worth about $550 in 2022. So even if flaws lower the grade a bit, a full set still retains hundreds in value decades later as a vintage investment.
Of course, a pristine ’87 Topps specimen could net well over $1,000 as one of the more prized vintage sets from the 1980s. The combination of iconic design, mid-80s MLB stars and overall rarity of a complete run in top shape makes it a Blue Chip holding for any collection. For those who may inherit or rediscover an intact ’87 set from childhood, it’s well worth having professionally graded and marketed to serious vintage baseball card investors and collectors.
The 1987 Topps baseball card complete set maintains its place as one of the most historically significant and financially beneficial vintage collections for those lucky enough to own one fully preserved. While individual cards can occasionally achieve over $100 in rare cases, the strength is in retaining the full 660 card checklist which strengthens resale potential to $500-$800 minimum on today’s market. With sustained interest in nostalgic 1980s designs and players, the ’87 Topps complete set will remain a sound long term collectible investment prized by vintage enthusiasts.
