1987 Topps Mario Soto #101
Mario Soto · Topps · Base Card
Player
Mario Soto
Set
1987 Topps Base Set
Year
1987
Card #
#101
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint). The card has decent centering for the era, but visible white chipping is present on the top-right corner and along the upper left edge. The wooden grain borders of this set are notorious for showing smallest imperfections.
Category
Base Card
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low. Mario Soto is a respected Reds Hall of Famer, but as a non-rookie card from the 'junk wax' era, demand is mostly limited to Reds team collectors or set builders.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.25 - $1.00
Graded Value
PSA 8: $10 - $15, PSA 9: $25 - $35, PSA 10: $150 - $200 (Note: Grading cost exceeds current value of a PSA 7).
Comparable Sales
Recent raw copies typically sell for under $1.00. High-grade PSA 10 copies occasionally reach $150+, but PSA 8 and lower usually sell for less than the cost of the plastic slab they are housed in.
Description
This 1987 Topps Mario Soto card features the iconic faux-wood grain border design that defined the late 80s hobby. The image shows the Cincinnati Reds ace pitcher in his red warm-up jacket and white pants, capturing a candid practice moment. The Reds logo is featured in a circle at the top left, and the classic Topps logo is at the bottom left with a red nameplate.
Key Features
Iconic 1987 wood-grain border design; represents a key pitcher of the 1980s Cincinnati Reds pitching staff.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity confidence is High. The card displays the correct dot-matrix printing pattern for late 80s Topps cardstock and has the appropriate dull brown cardboard backing typical of the era. This card is not a target for counterfeiting due to its high production volume.
Flaws to Note
Significant corner wear on the top right; minor edge chipping along the left vertical side; slight top-to-bottom centering bias toward the bottom.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Best sold as part of a lot on eBay or via a COMC (Check Out My Cards) account. It is also a good 'dime box' candidate for local card shows.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card unless you are pursuing a personal Registry Set, as grading fees will outweigh the market value. When listing, use keywords like '1987 Topps Baseball', 'Cincinnati Reds', and 'Wood Grain Border'. Shipping should be done via USPS Ground Advantage or eBay Standard Envelope for low-cost tracking.