- Thread starter
- #1
BBCgalaxee
Well-known member
- Sep 9, 2011
- 6,475
- 59
Maybe we all can make something like this a regular post?
Spotlight a certain time period or cards or players.
When I think of this year, it brings me back to my childhood, especially card wise.
Besides being the start of the card boom for the hobby, it was also the year in which my collection exploded!
Prior to 1987, I bought a good amount of cards, but nothing like I did during this particular year.
Anyway, on to the sets.
TOPPS:
Definitely one of the most recognizable and liked designs of the last few decades. A throwback to the '62 design for sure.
All sets from this year had a super strong
Rookie card class and for the first time in years, topps brought back the "rookie cup" logo and invented a new "future stars" logo.
Although there are several error cards, the only two which garnered any hobby love were the all star cards of Mattingly and Gooden with a missing ™ next to the A.S. logo.
As the season went on, the hottest card turned out NOT to be a rc, but a second year card in Mark Mcgwire who broke the rookie HR record. And even a couple of years later, another second year card blew up, Cecil Fielder and then about 15 years later, Billy Beane.
Topps cards could be bought in many different configurations including wax, cello, raks, jumbo, vending, cut cases and sets.
A traded set was issued later in the year with the best rc being Maddux.
DONRUSS:
For the first time in several years, the average collector had a chance of finding '87 Donruss in retail stores as the company increased production. For several years prior, generally the only place to find packs were in hobby stores or mail order.
Donruss also benefited from the awesome rookie crop that year and definitely got kudos for including Mcgwire and Maddux as Rated Rookies.
And while none of the error cards really took off (maybe the Greg Walker DK drew some attention), it was a printing defect which became hot for a short time.
The Mike Greenwell rc could be found with and without a red stripe defect on his arm. Enough of the stripes were printed that, for a while, Beckett noted it as a variation and prices soared.
In a time when everything was mass produced, one error card from a forgotten set could be legitimately considered very scarce.
Donruss made a factory set called "opening day" which consisted of many players on the opening day rosters.
The Barry Bonds card can be found showing Johnny Ray instead of Barry and was corrected extremely early.
Later, Donruss issued a "rookies" set which smartly included another Mcgwire and Maddux card.
FLEER:
Donruss was "the card" to get from '84 till '86, but Fleer took over that notion in 1987 with an awesome color fading border design and innovative "cut out photo" which showcased heads, bats, balls, hats etc outside the photo border.
On top of that, production was much lower than Topps and Donruss and the hobby noticed.
Many of the hottest cards at some point came from this set including Will Clark, which went from a few bucks to $40 plus seemingly over night. And then as Bonds was chasing history, his Fleer rc was THE card to get.
One of the few things Fleer did wrong that year was neglect to have a McGWIRE card in the main set. Surely it would have made the product even hotter.
The biggest blunder they made was when they decided to make their own version of a high end "tiffany" product, like topps had been doing.
Because the regular issue was so hot and in demand, when the pre order sheets came out, dealers went nuts and pre bought tons of it so as to not "miss the boat"
Instead of actually limiting it, Fleer let the presses roll and after it was issued, it became clear that this glossy set was made in large quantities.
Later on, they produced their update set which included Mac and Maddux.
Spotlight a certain time period or cards or players.
When I think of this year, it brings me back to my childhood, especially card wise.
Besides being the start of the card boom for the hobby, it was also the year in which my collection exploded!
Prior to 1987, I bought a good amount of cards, but nothing like I did during this particular year.
Anyway, on to the sets.
TOPPS:
Definitely one of the most recognizable and liked designs of the last few decades. A throwback to the '62 design for sure.
All sets from this year had a super strong
Rookie card class and for the first time in years, topps brought back the "rookie cup" logo and invented a new "future stars" logo.
Although there are several error cards, the only two which garnered any hobby love were the all star cards of Mattingly and Gooden with a missing ™ next to the A.S. logo.
As the season went on, the hottest card turned out NOT to be a rc, but a second year card in Mark Mcgwire who broke the rookie HR record. And even a couple of years later, another second year card blew up, Cecil Fielder and then about 15 years later, Billy Beane.
Topps cards could be bought in many different configurations including wax, cello, raks, jumbo, vending, cut cases and sets.
A traded set was issued later in the year with the best rc being Maddux.
DONRUSS:
For the first time in several years, the average collector had a chance of finding '87 Donruss in retail stores as the company increased production. For several years prior, generally the only place to find packs were in hobby stores or mail order.
Donruss also benefited from the awesome rookie crop that year and definitely got kudos for including Mcgwire and Maddux as Rated Rookies.
And while none of the error cards really took off (maybe the Greg Walker DK drew some attention), it was a printing defect which became hot for a short time.
The Mike Greenwell rc could be found with and without a red stripe defect on his arm. Enough of the stripes were printed that, for a while, Beckett noted it as a variation and prices soared.
In a time when everything was mass produced, one error card from a forgotten set could be legitimately considered very scarce.
Donruss made a factory set called "opening day" which consisted of many players on the opening day rosters.
The Barry Bonds card can be found showing Johnny Ray instead of Barry and was corrected extremely early.
Later, Donruss issued a "rookies" set which smartly included another Mcgwire and Maddux card.
FLEER:
Donruss was "the card" to get from '84 till '86, but Fleer took over that notion in 1987 with an awesome color fading border design and innovative "cut out photo" which showcased heads, bats, balls, hats etc outside the photo border.
On top of that, production was much lower than Topps and Donruss and the hobby noticed.
Many of the hottest cards at some point came from this set including Will Clark, which went from a few bucks to $40 plus seemingly over night. And then as Bonds was chasing history, his Fleer rc was THE card to get.
One of the few things Fleer did wrong that year was neglect to have a McGWIRE card in the main set. Surely it would have made the product even hotter.
The biggest blunder they made was when they decided to make their own version of a high end "tiffany" product, like topps had been doing.
Because the regular issue was so hot and in demand, when the pre order sheets came out, dealers went nuts and pre bought tons of it so as to not "miss the boat"
Instead of actually limiting it, Fleer let the presses roll and after it was issued, it became clear that this glossy set was made in large quantities.
Later on, they produced their update set which included Mac and Maddux.
Last edited:
