The 1987 Topps baseball card set is highly valued by collectors today due to several factors.Released in 1987, the set features cards of players from that season and rookies who would go on to have Hall of Fame careers. While individual card values vary greatly depending on player, condition, and rarity – the 1987 set as a whole retains significant worth in the collector market.
One of the main drivers of the 1987 set’s value is the star rookies it features. Cards of players like Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and Barry Larkin – who all went on to have outstanding MLB careers and earn spots in the Baseball Hall of Fame – can fetch high prices. A flawless, mint condition rookie card of Greg Maddux is valued around $500-1000 today depending on exact specifications like centering and corners. Meanwhile, a Tom Glavine rookie in similar condition could sell for $150-300. Less pristine copies of these coveted cards still hold value, but are worth much less depending on problems like bends, scratches or discoloration.
In addition to star rookies, the 1987 set highlights active Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Rickey Henderson who were in their primes. High grade copies of their common cards can sell for $10-25 each. Rarer and more sought after insert cards featuring these players command higher prices. The Glossy All-Stars insert set depicting action shots of big stars has become a highly valued subset. Near-mint copies of the Ozzie Smith from this insert recently sold for $85-100 online.
Beyond flagship players cards, inserts and special parallel or serially numbered cards introduced rarer collection pieces driving additional interest in 1987 Topps. As one example, the gold border “Topps Traded” parallel set featuring 60 additional players signed as free agents features serial numbers between 1/150-1/250 copies. Near-mint condition samples of these scarce parallel cards regularly sell in the $50-150 range based on the specific player featured.
The design and photography quality of the 1987 base set is also praised by collectors. Featuring vibrant team color borders and clean headshots on a white backdrop, the appearance has aged very well. This nostalgic vintage look remains popular with collectors. The photography, captured by acclaimed Topps photographer Ken Hale, is considered some of the best in baseball card history. This classic aesthetic style has kept the 1987 design feeling fresh over 30 years later.
Perhaps surprisingly given the age of the issue, the overall condition of 1987 Topps cards found on the secondary market remains fairly high. Many aficionados attribute this to the smaller initial print run sizes of sets from the pre-1990s era. With reportedly around 600 million produced, the 1987 set had a much more limited circulation than modern billions-printed issues. This scarcer distribution combined with the high esteem many enthusiasts hold for 1980s vintage cardboard has meant fewer have been damaged or lost over the decades versus contemporary releases.
The 1987 Topps set retains significant collector value today due to showcase rookie cards of future Hall of Fame talents, photos of stars from that era, specialized inserts, and an eye-catching classic design that remains stylish. While individual card prices vary widely, complete high-grade sets in near-mint to mint condition regularly sell for $400-1000 online. This is a strong return for a hobby item over 30 years old. With flagship rookie cards of legendss like Glavine and Maddux still in demand, and fewer remaining in pristine condition, the 1987 issue looks poised to retain collector interest and worth for decades to come.
