The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and beloved issues in the company’s long and storied history. As with all annual sets in the mid-1980s, it contains 792 total cards comprising individual cards for every major and minor league player as well as managers, coaches, and other topics like stadiums, teams, and special subsets.
Released in late spring of 1987, this set chronicled the 1986 MLB season and featured many superstar players from that era including Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson, and more. Topps had the exclusive license from Major League Baseball to produce official trading cards at this time, giving them unprecedented access to team photos, player signatures, and other authentic details that made their releases the standard for collectors.
One of the most visually striking aspects of the 1987 Topps issue is the vivid color scheme and graphic design used on the borders and backgrounds of each card. Many feature bright neon shades of blue, red, yellow, green and more in geometric patterns that perfectly captured the aesthetic trends of the late 1980s. Combined with crisp action shots of players in their team uniforms, these cards truly transported fans back to that exciting time in baseball.
Another hallmark of Topps sets from this era was the various special subsets and photographic variations included to provide inserts with increased scarcity and collecting value. The 1987 edition was no exception, offering fan favorites like All-Star Cards, League Leaders, Team Checklists and Topps Traded cards depicting players who were traded mid-season. Photo variation cards showing alternate poses were sprinkled throughout the base set randomly.
Perhaps the most iconic special subset from 1987 Topps was the Super Veterans cards. This 12-card insert honored some of the greatest players who were still active during the mid-1980s despite having debuted over a decade earlier. Legends like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Gaylord Perry and others received beautiful portrait treatments befitting their legendary status. As some of the most aesthetically pleasing and historically significant cards in the set, Super Vets are highly sought after by collectors today.
In addition to these special sections, Topps also used photo cropping techniques on certain cards to create more variety. For example, many outfielders had one version showing their whole body fielding a ball and another tight close-up of just their face. These types of photograph variations within the base set added another layer of intrigue for young collectors looking to complete their albums.
From a statistical and baseball history perspective, the 1987 Topps set also stands out for chronicling some incredible individual player accomplishments and team achievements from the previous season. Roger Clemens’ record-setting 20 strikeout performance against the Seattle Mariners received a memorable highlight card. The New York Mets’ unexpected World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox was well represented too.
On the player side, Don Mattingly’s .335 batting average leading the American League, Wade Boggs achieving a .363 mark to take the National League title, and Tim Raines setting a new single-season stolen base record of 90 thefts all received fitting tributes. Superstars like Ozzie Smith, Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn and others appeared in their career-defining uniform colors and teams.
While production values and photography styles have certainly evolved since the 1980s, the 1987 Topps set still holds up incredibly well from an aesthetic standpoint. Its exaggerated neon graphics, vibrant team colors and classic action shots perfectly encapsulate the grandeur of baseball and collectability during the peak of the trading card boom. For fans and collectors who grew up with these cards, they invoke strong feelings of nostalgia.
Monetary values for individual cards from the 1987 set vary widely based on the player, statistical significance, error/variant status and overall condition or grade. Some star rookies like Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire and Ben McDonald can fetch hundreds in Near Mint condition. Sought after Veterans like Mays and Aaron often sell for $50-100 each. The complete base set in well-kept shape often trades hands for $300-500 on the secondary market.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set endures as one of the single most iconic issues from the hobby’s golden era. With its memorable design elements, timeless photography and historical relevance, it succeeded in preserving the magic of baseball during a thrilling time for the sport. Over three decades later, these cards remain beloved by collectors worldwide for their ability to transport fans back to 1986.
