Introduction
The 1985 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and recognizable issues of the 1980s. Featuring 660 total cards in the base set, the 1985 Topps offering commemorated the success of the 1984 Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres, who faced off in the World Series that year. While not considered one of the scarcer pre-1990 sets, the 1985 Topps issue does feature several key rookie cards that today command premium prices. This price guide will provide an overview of the set and highlight the most valuable 1985 Topps cards for collectors.
Top Rated Rookie Cards
Perhaps the most famous and desired rookie card from the 1985 Topps set belongs to Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson. Widely considered one of the best leadoff hitters and base stealers in baseball history, Henderson’s rookie card in the 1985 Topps set is a must-have for any collector. In high grade (NM-MT 7 or above), Henderson’s rookie commands an average price of $150-200. Another star player with a highly sought after rookie in 1985 Topps is Dwight Gooden. As one of the hardest throwers of his era and an eventual NL Cy Young award winner in 1985, Gooden rookie cards still excite collectors today. Expect to pay $75-100 for a Gooden rookie in top condition.
Two other rookies that routinely fetch above average prices include Dodgers starter Orel Hershiser and Phillies outfielder John Kruk. Hershiser would go on to win both the Cy Young and World Series MVP in 1988, making his modestly printed 1985 Topps issue a find. Near mint Hershiser rookies sell in the range of $40-60. Kruk enjoyed a productive, if unconventional, career and his rookie has found demand among Phillies collectors over the years. Look to pay $25-35 for a nicely centered Kruk rookie in the 1985 Topps set.
Stars and Superstars
While rookie cards generate the most collector interest, the 1985 Topps set also featured the biggest names in the game at the time. Naturally, the key cards to watch out for are those starring the sports’ biggest stars from the mid-1980s. In top condition, the flagship cards for Rickey Henderson, Dwight Gooden, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett and Don Mattingly routinely sell for $20-30. The true blue chip cards belong to players like Nolan Ryan and Mike Schmidt, who were in the twilight ofHall of Fame careers. Neither are considered short prints, yet their iconic status and on-card photos make them highly demanded. Very nicely centered (’88-90) examples of Ryan and Schmidt typically sell in the range of $40-60.
League Leaders and Checklist Variations
The 1985 Topps set featured cards highlighting the batting and ERA leaders from the 1984 season. Chief among these are the cards honoring Detroit’s Kirk Gibson (.361 BA) and Padres closer Goose Gossage (1.72 ERA, 33 saves). Though common inserts in the base set, high graded versions still attract solid prices. Near mint Gibson and Gossage leader cards will sell for $15-25. Also popular among collectors are intentional and unintentional variations found throughout the base checklist. Examples include error cards missing team logos or player names on the front. No card is valued more than a few dollars normally, but error and variation collectors seek them out.
Parallels and Insert Sets
1985 Topps featured several supplemental subsets beyond the base 660-card checklist. Among the highlights were 50 photo cards highlighting player images from the 1984 season, which added a woodgrain border treatment. Another parallel insert included 13 players’ photo negative images. Neither parallel subset is considered particularly scarce in the overall scheme of 1980s cards. Conditioned and well-centered examples still attract interest from collectors looking to build a complete rainbow set. Expect to pay $5-10 each for the photo and negative parallels of stars like Gooden and Schmidt.
Rare Short Prints
Only a small number of cards in the 1985 Topps base set qualify as true short prints due to significantly lower print runs. Chief among these are the cards featuring players who were traded midseason in 1984, thus receiving significantly truncated distribution. Two examples that regularly top price guide lists are Mike Krukow (card #49) and Larry Bowa (#107), who were both traded by mid-August. In high grade (NM-MT 7 or better), their scarce short prints can earn $50-75 each. Also belonging in this category is Dodgers reliever Tom Niedenfuer (#284), who holds the distinction of being one of the rarest cards in the set with an estimated print run under 1000. Conditioned examples trade hands for $100-150.
Condition and Grading
As with any pre-1990s issue, condition is absolutely paramount when determining value for 1985 Topps cards. Even the rookie cards of superstars like Henderson see their values cut by half or more for moderate flaws and wear. As such, collectors tend to either grade or carefully assess condition on their own. PSA/BGS populations indicate about 5-10% of a given star rookie have achieved NM-MT 7 or better. This rarity naturally leads to inflated prices for specimens achieving superior grades. Even in lower graded forms (EX-MT 5-6), the rookies of Gooden, Henderson and Hershiser remain widely bought and sold. Overall set completion also becomes much more feasible and affordable when focusing on lower graded copies to build around.
Long Term Outlook
Given the immense popularity and nostalgia surrounding mid-1980s cardboard, the 1985 Topps set looks poised to remain a blue chip mainstream vintage issue for decades to come. Iconic stars like Rickey Henderson and Dwight Gooden will always attract new generations of collectors. Meanwhile, rarer short prints like Krukow and Niedenfuer ensure this set has plenty to continue engaging advanced collectors. Condition sensitivity gives graded examples the potential to appreciate steadily for discerning investors as well. Overall the 1985 Topps baseball card set stands the test of time as one of the most historically significant and enjoyable issues to collect from the sport’s hobby Golden Era.
