The 1987 Topps baseball card set was the 66th year for Topps to produce baseball cards and saw the introduction of several young stars and Hall of Famers. Understanding the values of these iconic cards from 35 years ago can provide keen insights.
Several factors influence the value of any specific card from the 1987 Topps set, including the player featured, the card’s condition or grade, and any unique variations. Of course, demand from collectors is a big driver of current prices. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top rookies and stars from ’87 and what their cards tend to fetch today.
One of the most coveted rookie cards from the ’87 set is that of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joe Carter. Considered one of the best power hitters of the late 80s and 90s, Carter went on to hit over 300 home runs in his career and is best remembered for hitting a walk-off World Series home run for the Jays in 1993. In mint condition, his rookie card in the coveted #1 slot can sell for $800 or more. Any grade lower than mint sees values fall significantly.
Another star-studded rookie card is that of New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. As one of the most dominant pitchers of the mid-80s, Gooden won the ’85 NL Cy Young Award at age 20 and posted a stellar 24-4 record that year. In mint condition, his #119 rookie card can fetch $500-$700 depending on bidding activity. Like Carter, lower grades reduce the value considerably.
Hall of Famer Barry Larkin got his start with the Cincinnati Reds in 1986 and his coveted rookie card in the ’87 set, #263, can sell for around $200 in near-mint to mint condition. The shortstop would go on to be a 12-time All-Star and win the 1995 NL MVP award. Finding high-grade versions of Larkin’s rookie has become tougher over the years.
Two other highly valuable rookie cards belong to pitchers Kevin Brown (#188) of the Texas Rangers and Bret Saberhagen (#197) of the Kansas City Royals. Brown went on to notch over 200 wins in his career while Saberhagen won two Cy Young Awards. Their top-graded ’87 rookie cards can sell for $150-250 depending on condition. Solid copies still approach $50-100.
Of course, established superstars from the 1980s saw strong demand for their ’87 Topps cards as well. Future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt’s #12 card, featuring his amazing 47 home run, 119 RBI 1987 season for the Phillies, can reach up to $75 in near-mint. The #1 card of Detroit Tigers slugger and 3-time MVP Kirby Puckett tends to pull in $60-100. And elite closer Dennis Eckersley’s #203 as a member of the Red Sox has sold for upwards of $50 in top condition.
Beyond rookies and stars, several variations make certain common ’87 Topps cards much more valuable. The run-of-the-mill Nolan Ryan pitching card is only worth a few bucks normally. But his rare “blue suit” variation, where he’s pictured wearing a blue blazer instead of the typical uniform, has sold for over $1,000 in top shape. And the famous “Blank Back” error card featuring Yankees star Don Mattingly is valued at $300-500 depending on grade due to its manufacturing mishap.
In general, 1987 Topps cards in pristine mint condition can still pull in impressive sums. But realistically, most vintage collections contain cards that have seen play over the decades in much lower grades. Still, complete common sets in averaged near-mint to excellent condition can often sell for $150-300 online. And valuable singles in solid very good to excellent condition still hold value in the $5-25 range depending on player popularity.
While the 1987 Topps set lacked some modern extras like parallel or short-printed subsets featured in today’s releases, it nevertheless launched the careers of future legends and Hall of Famers. Understanding values based around player pedigree, scarcity, and card condition provides collectors with helpful context when considering premium vintage investments or simply enjoying nostalgic remnants from the 1980s baseball card boom. Whether chasing stars, errors, or completing a childhood collection, ’87 Topps remains an iconic release that continues finding new fans decades later.
