The Most Valuable Topps Baseball Cards of 1987

The 1987 Topps Baseball set is arguably the most distinctive releases of the 1980s, as the company eschewed the simple white border background that had been used in various incarnations for over a decade and decided to go with a more distinctive wood-grain border design, a nostalgic callback to Topps’ 1962 set and (to a lesser extent) the 1968 set. The set contains 792 cards, issued in wax packs, rack packs, and factory sets, and represents the heart of the so-called “junk wax era” due to its massive production.

Among the most notable cards are the quasi-rookie issues of Barry Bonds and Bo Jackson, both of whom were in the 1986 Traded set, and the definitive Topps rookie cards of Barry Larkin, and Rafael Palmeiro, which remain the key draws for collectors today. A premium Tiffany version was also released, which were printed on glossy stock and in limited quantities.  The Tiffany cards are universally more expensive and are not included in this report.  

There is a noticeable drop in the value of cards between 1986 and 1987 due to the massive production, but the set holds lasting appeal for its classic design, star power, and nostalgia. It captures a defining era in baseball card history when collecting was at its peak popularity and continues to be cherished by fans as a colorful, wood-framed time capsule of late-1980s baseball.

Here at Remarkable Artworks we think value is in the eye of the beholder and the greatest value you can get from your cards is to appreciate them in our unique display solution. If you want to learn more about the display, click below.

#320 Barry Bonds - $470

Bonds’ official rookie card is the 1986 Topps Traded, which is actually worth a little more than this one, but this is his first card in the regular set. Bonds is not in the Hall of Fame due to the the current views against letting in steroid era players, but if that view changes then this card would likely jump in value as his statistics indicate he has a credible claim to being the best position player of all-time.

#152 Toby Harrah - $228

Harrah was a very good major league baseball player. He played for seventeen years, was a four time All-Star and has a career Wins Above Replacement of 51.4, more than some Hall of Famers. Harrah is in the Rangers Hall of Fame, underscoring how good he was. While 1986 was his last season and the value of this card is in the difficulty in finding it in gem mint condition.

#170 Bo Jackson - $189

Jackson’s second card and first in the regular set is one of the most sought after in the set. Jackson was not a great baseball player yet, but he did hit 22 home runs in 116 games. The real key to 1987 is that once the Royals season ended Jackson joined the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Jackson averaged an astounding 6.8 yards per carry in eight games that season and famously ran through the heralded linebacker Brian Bosworth on Monday Night Football.

#28 Rick Dempsey - $175

Dempsey played twenty four years in the majors, an astonishingly long career for someone who has a career total of 25.1 Wins Above Replacement. Throughout his career, Dempsey was consistently a little above average but never good enough to be an All-Star. To his credit, Dempsey was the MVP of the 1983 World Series Champion Orioles and is in the Orioles Hall of Fame. This is one of those cards that is very hard to find in gem mint condition.

#603 Doc Gooden error - $161

Every once in a while an error occurs on a card, which gets noticed, corrected, and future production runs print the corrected card replacing. The result is that the error card is much harder to find than most cards. That is the case with this card, which is missing a “TM” on the National League Logo in the top left. To the casual observer, you can’t tell the two cards apart. But the error version is rarer and more valuable.

#131 Pirates leaders - $153

This back of this card reports the Pirates batting and pitching leaders in various categories from the 1986 season. You would think that both players pictured on the front of the card would also be listed on the back, but strangely you would be mistaken. Sid Bream, the player on the left, is listed on the back as the Pirates leader in both runs scored and doubles. Tony Pena, the player on the right, was an All-Star in 1985 and a great catcher, but doesn’t show up in any of the statistical categories on the back. Good luck finding this card in gem mint condition.

#128 Checklist 1-132 - $150

Has some great players on it - Gary Carter, Lee Smith, Tim Raines, and Tony Pena - but it’s a checklist. Nobody collects checklists unless they are trying to complete a set and some people will pay to create a gem mint condition complete set.