1987 Topps Tony Gwynn All-Star #611
Tony Gwynn · Topps · Base / All-Star Sub-set
Player
Tony Gwynn
Set
1987 Topps Base Set
Year
1987
Card #
#611
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint). The card exhibits decent centering but shows slight top-to-bottom and left-to-right shifts. The corners appear mostly square with very minor white chipping visible on the top right edge. The wood-grain borders of this set are notorious for showing any edge wear.
Category
Base / All-Star Sub-set
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate. Tony Gwynn has a dedicated fan base, but because this is not a rookie card and was produced during the 'junk wax' era, supply is very high. Demand spikes for 'Gem Mint' copies only.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 7: $10-15, PSA 8: $20-30, PSA 9: $75-100, PSA 10: $600+
Comparable Sales
Raw copies typically sell for $1-$2 plus shipping. PSA 8 copies regularly sell for $20-$25. PSA 9 copies average $80. PSA 10 copies have reached over $700 due to the difficulty of finding the wood borders without chipping.
Description
This 1987 Topps card features San Diego Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. The design is iconic for its brown wood-grain border. Gwynn is depicted in his brown Padres jersey. The bottom of the card features the Red, White, and Blue 'ALL STAR' shield design. The National League logo is situated in the top left corner.
Key Features
Hall of Fame player; iconic 1987 'Woodgrain' design; All-Star designation; high-grade specimens (PSA 10) are extremely rare and valuable due to the sensitivity of the brown borders.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence. Card stock is the standard brown cardboard used by Topps in 1987. The 'Topps' logo and wood-grain pattern are consistent with mass-production printing for that year. This card is not commonly faked because of its high print volume.
Flaws to Note
Slight centering issues common to 1987 Topps; minor edge chipping along the top wood-grain border; potential surface print spots often found in this mass-produced junk wax era set.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the best platform for raw or low-grade copies. High-end graded copies should be sold via eBay or COMC.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card unless it is absolutely flawless (centering 50/50, no white on corners). The cost of grading usually exceeds the value of the card at lower grades. Best sold in a 'Padres' lot or 'Tony Gwynn' player lot to maximize shipping costs.