The 1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held on July 16th at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the National League defeating the American League 6-1. That year’s midsummer classic produced a memorable set of All-Star Game cards that have become a highly sought after piece of baseball collectibles for fans and memorabilia enthusiasts.
Topps was the exclusive manufacturer of official MLB trading cards in 1985 and produced an insert set featuring the players selected to the American and National League All-Star rosters for that season. The 84-card set included cards for all the pitchers and position players on each league’s team, as well as cards highlighting the coaches, managers, and starting lineups. What made the 1985 All-Star cards particularly unique was Topps’ decision to feature color action photography on a silver foil stock for each player’s card.
At the time, most baseball cards used simpler graphic designs with illustrations of the players in their uniforms. By utilizing actual color photos on a silver substrate, Topps was able to make the 1985 All-Star cards visually stand out from the base sets and other cigarette or bubble gum insert cards of the era. This premium production quality reflected the prestige of being selected to start in or be named as a reserve for the midsummer classic. Collectors recognized the appeal of these unique cards immediately and demand has only grown in the decades since.
Some notable stars who had individually memorable cards in the 1985 set included AL starters Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, George Brett of the Kansas City Royals, and Wade Boggs of the Boston Red Sox. On the NL side, starters Darryl Strawberry of the New York Mets, Gary Carter of the Montreal Expos, and Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs had particularly striking silver foil photos highlighting their skills. Future Hall of Famers like Don Mattingly, Ozzie Smith, and Dave Parker also had popular early career cards in the 1985 set.
Perhaps the most iconic card from 1985 was that of AL manager Sparky Anderson of the Detroit Tigers, kicking up dirt on the first base line in his distinctive style. Anderson had just led the Tigers to their first World Series title in over a decade in 1984. His larger than life persona translated perfectly to his colorful action photo on a silver card. Other notable managers highlighted included Whitey Herzog of the St. Louis Cardinals and Billy Martin of the New York Yankees.
Beyond just the individual player and coach photographs, Topps also included overall team cards that pictured the full American and National League rosters lined up together. These help collectors easily identify all the All-Star participants and compare the squads in one place. The graphical designs on the borders incorporated elements like stars and striped borders that further distinguished the cards from the base sets.
While produced alongside Topps’ standard 1985 baseball card issues, the All-Star cards carried additional value as coveted inserts due to their premium silver photograph style. They have since become some of the most iconic and visually striking baseball cards of the entire 1980s decade. In the years since they were released, the 1985 All-Star cards have increased steadily in secondary market value as they are both highly collectible and able to preserve the memory of great players, managers, and the sole Midsummer Classic played in the Metrodome.
Whether being chased by set collectors looking to complete the full 84-card grouping, or desired by individual fans of players like Sandberg, Boggs or Brett, vintage copies of these silver foil All-Star cards remain a top priority in the collecting world over 35 years later. Modern grading services have also helped preserve and authenticate the best conditioned examples to please both casual fans and serious investors. For those able to obtain a pristine 1985 AL or NL roster card, or the legendary Sparky Anderson leading man photo, it serves as an tangible link to one of the classic All-Star Games of baseball’s past.
