The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th series produced by Topps and featured cards of players from that season. While not one of the most iconic sets of the late 1980s, 1987 Topps cards carry value for collectors and investors due to the inclusion of several Hall of Fame players early in their careers.
The base set for 1987 Topps consisted of 792 cards with parallel/variation inserts bringing the total published cards to around 840. The design featured a player photo on a white background with team logo and positional information above in team colors. At the bottom was the player’s name and statistics from the previous season. Topps used this basic template for most of the 1980s with minor tweaks each year.
Due to the large print run sizes common in the 1980s MLB card boom, most base cards from 1987 Topps are fairly common and affordable even in top-graded condition. There are still a number of standout rookies, stars and short-printed cards that command substantial premiums. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 1987 Topps cards:
Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie (card #416) – Even in low-grade copies, Griffey’s rookie is one of the most expensive cards from the 1987 set. High-end PSA 10 examples have sold for over $10,000. As one of the best players of his generation, Griffey’s rookie remains hugely popular with collectors.
Frank Thomas Rookie (card #662) – Though not as valuable as Griffey, Thomas’ rookie card still fetches big money due to his Hall of Fame resume. A PSA 10 can pull in $1,000-2,000 while most graded copies trade in the $100-500 range.
Tom Glavine Rookie (card #664) – The 300-game winning Glavine doesn’t have the star power of Griffey or Thomas but his rookie remains a key chase card from ’87 Topps. Near-mint copies grade $100-300.
Ozzie Smith (card #67) -Considered one of the best defensive shortstops ever,Smith’s stellar career has kept interest high in his ’87 Topps card. Higher grade copies can bring $150-500.
Errors/Variations – There are several oddball errors and variations that stand out for their rarity and collector interest from this set. The N. Ryan/T. Gwynn error card, card #407 missing Astro logo error, photo swapped variations and more are highly sought after in top condition and can sell for thousands.
Short Prints – A number of key players like Barry Bonds,Roger Clemens and the Star Player subset had shorter printed runs than typical base cards. Finding high-graded examples of these short prints can mean substantial premiums over common versions.
Completing this beloved set from the 1980s in high-grade quality is difficult due to the sheer volume of cards and challenges finding all the short prints and key rookies in strong condition. But for those who take on the challenge, there is satisfaction in owning a complete vintage flagship set of arguably the most iconic decade in the sport’s history. Top graded versions can hold long-term value as the collecting demographics mature and fans of their era’s childhood heroes seek to rekindle nostalgia. Overall, 1987 Topps remains one of the stronger modern vintage sets to consider investing in either individually or as a complete set.
