1987 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1987.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1987 Topps set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, rack, and jumbo packs or factory sets. Subsets include Future Stars, Topps All-Star Rookies, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, Team Leaders, Checklists and Manager cards. Each card had a wood grain background, and player cards had a team logo within a circle in the upper-left corner, the player name within a colored box in the lower-right corner and the Topps logo in the lower-left corner. For the first time since 1972, the player's position did not appear on the front of the card. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards issued as a factory set and was printed in Ireland on white cardstock. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for T-suffixed numbering and are ordered alphabetically by player name. This set includes traded players and managers, and rookie cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy Send-Ins

This set totals 60 cards and was available by mailing in the special offer cards found in 1987 Topps wax packs. The fronts have a glossy player photo while the backs say All-Star Set Collector's Edition and include the players name, team ,and position. Printed to only 1% of the production printing run of the regular 1987 Topps Set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy All-Stars

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1987 Topps rak paks. The back says All-Star Game Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and league. There are 11 cards each for the American and National League All-Star teams. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Mini Leaders

The Mini set includes 77 cards and were available in wax packs. The cards vaguely resemble the base set and featured players that led various statistical categories. Size: 2-5/32 X 3 in.

Glossy Rookies

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1987 Topps jumbo packs. The back says Rookies Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and team. The cards are ordered alphabetically and slightly resemble the Glossy All-Star set. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Wax Box Cards

The "Box Bottom" cards were featured 2 to a box on the back of the wax pack boxes of 1987 Topps of which there were 4 different boxes for a total of 8 cards. They resemble the base cards except for having a career highlight on the back instead of full statistics and are smaller in size. The set is lettered A-H rather than numbered. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in. when individually cut out.

Parallel Sets

*In 1987 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the Base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets.
*In 1987 O-Pee-Chee printed an identical, save for O-Pee-Chee branding, set with only 396 cards which featured lighter gray cardstock, bilingual English/French backs, and added traded lines on some cards. O-Pee-Chee also printed bilingual versions of the Wax Box Cards.

Retail/Food Issues

These are sets issued by other companies in conjunction with Topps.
*Boardwalk and Baseball 33 card box set. Issued at Florida Theme Park. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*K-Mart 33 card box set for 25th anniversary called Stars of the Decades. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Kay-Bee 33 card box set called Super Stars of Baseball. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Toys R Us 33 card box set called Baseball Rookies. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Woolworth's 33 card box set. Titled Topps Collectors Series Baseball Highlights. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Football

Base set

The 1987 football set contains 396 cards and was issued in wax packs and hobby factory sets. The cards feature a pennant motif to display the players name and team. Subsets include Record Breakers, league leaders, Super Bowl, checklists, and Team cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Box Bottoms

The box card set has 16 cards that were found on the bottom of regular issue wax packs boxes as a four card panel. The cards resemble the base set cards except for a yellow border instead of white. The cards are lettered A-P. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. (individually)

1000 Yard Club

This set totals 24 cards and were issued as inserts in the football wax packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained 1000 yards or more during the season by rushing or receiving. The back of the cards list the total yardage gained by the player in each game of the season. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Topps American/UK

Topps issued an 88 card set of mini football cards and were available in the United Kingdom. The fronts look like the regular issue cards while the back explains football terminology. The Team Action cards form a puzzle on their reverse of William 'The Refrigerator' Perry. Size: 2-1/8 X 3 in.

Hockey

References

*Beckett, Dr. James et al (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X