The 1987 Donruss set is considered one of the most iconic baseball card releases of all time. While it may not contain household name rookies like some other years, there are still several key cards from the 1987 Donruss set that can hold significant value for collectors. Let’s take a look at some of the top cards that frequently fetch a premium on the secondary market:
Ken Griffey Jr. RC (Card #1) – Widely considered one of the best rookie cards ever made, Griffey’s Donruss rookie is hugely desired by collectors. In pristine gem mint 10 condition, this card can sell for upwards of $10,000. Even well-centered near mint copies often trade hands for $500-1000. Griffey was already showing amazing talents as a rookie in 1987 and this iconic card is a must-have for any vintage baseball card collection.
Barry Bonds RC (Card #210) – Similar to Griffey, Bonds’ Donruss rookie is recognized as one of the true heavyweight cards from the set. Bonds would go on to have one of the greatest careers in MLB history and shattered home run records. Top graded examples of this historic card have reached as high as $5000-6000. Most near mint 7-9 copies still pull in a few hundred dollars.
Mark McGwire (Card #331) – McGwire’s breakout 1987 season helped raise excitement around the Donruss release. His highly sought after main rookie card from Topps is out of financial reach for most, making his Donruss card a popular alternate. Pristine mint condition 10s can sell for $1500-2000, with most near mints bringing $200-500.
Frank Thomas ROY (Card #574) – As the 1990 American League Rookie of the Year, Thomas burst onto the scene with impressive power numbers. His iconic Donruss design shows promise of the hitting machine he became. Graded mint 9s have sold for around $400-500 range, with most well-centered near mints around $100.
Nolan Ryan (Card #581) – Arguably the greatest power pitcher of all-time, Ryan’s iconic photo and achievements on the mound make this a favorite for collectors. Top graded examples in mint condition have reached as high as $400-500 in recent sales. Most near mint copies still sell in the $50-150 range.
Jose Canseco (Card #614) – Canseco’s breakout 1986 season made him one of the more popular players during the 1987 release. As one of the early boomer-era sluggers who helped revive fan interest, his Donruss card remains in demand. Near mint copies trade between $50-150 depending on centering quality.
Tom Glavine RC (Card #663) – A Hall of Fame bound southpaw, Glavine’s rookie season showed glimpses of what was to come. His understated Donruss design remains a popular pick for Atlanta Braves PC builders. Near mint examples can reach $30-80, with most others settling in the $10-25 range.
Griffey Jr. & Bonds Combined RC (Card #128-129) – The unique back-to-back Griffey Jr. and Bonds rookie card combos are exponentially rarer finds than their individual cards. Received a perfect Gem Mint 10 grade, a duo recently sold for an astounding $31,200! Even lower graded near mints could fetch $1000+ given scarcity.
This covers some of the headlining 1987 Donruss cards that frequently demand premium prices depending on condition grades. Other key names like Roger Clemens, Walt Weiss, and Greg Maddux rookies also hold value. For a complete set in top mint condition, auction prices have been known to soar into the five-figure range or higher given the star-studded rookie class and iconic design. The 1987 Donruss release is truly one of the finest and most valuable sets from thejunk wax era.
