1985 was a monumental year for baseball cards as it was the year that Topps released the highly coveted and iconic Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. While 1984 may get more attention as Griffey’s true rookie season in the big leagues, 1985 marked the first time collectors could find “The Kid” in a pack of Topps baseball cards. An unopened box of 1985 Topps baseball cards in near mint to mint condition remains a true hobby gem that any serious card collector would be thrilled to add to their collection today given the high-value rookie cards it holds.
Some key details about the 1985 Topps baseball set and what collectors can expect to find in an unopened wax box include:
The set includes 792 total cards with photographic portraits of players from that 1985 MLB season. The design features a simple white border around each photo with team names across the bottom.
In addition to Ken Griffey Jr’s highly-sought after rookie card, other star rookies included in the set are Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, and Don Mattingly. Collectors also have a chance at predraft or “batboy” photos of future stars like Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine.
Topps distributed the 1985 cards in wax packs, boxes, and rack packs. A full wax box sealed from the original distribution would contain 24 wax packs with 11 cards per pack. This gives a total of 264 cards in a box on average.
Grading scales cards on a 1-10 system with 10 being mint/pristine. An unopened 1985 Topps box in True Gem Mint (9.5-10) condition would be an incredibly rare and valuable find today given its 36+ year old age. Even Near Mint 8+ condition for sealed wax would be very desirable.
Estimated odds of pulling the Griffey Jr. rookie in a pack were about 1 in 10-15 packs. The average box then would statistically contain 1-2 Griffey rookies. Other notable rookie odds were around 1 in 20 packs for Clemens and McGwire.
With Griffey’s rookie one of the most iconic and valuable of all-time, PSA 10 examples today can sell for $10,000+ individually. High grade Clemens and McGwire rookies also demand $1,000+ each. An unopened box preserves the chance at these gems.
While packs from 1985 Topps wax boxes have long since been opened in search of treasures over the past decades, finding a factory sealed full case today would be like stepping back in time. It offers collectors the thrill and excitement of the original hunt without any cards having been tampered with or removed.
Knowing each of the 24 packs inside could potentially yield a true hobby holy grail in a Griffey Jr., Clemens, or McGwire rookie only adds to the mystique and investment potential. Professional grading could also authenticate the seal integrity for sellers.
Beyond star rookies, a sealed 1985 Topps box also presents the opportunity to pull other key veteran and young player cards from that era that remain highly collected today. This includes cards of Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and more established names mingled with future Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin and David Cone in their early career stages.
Financially, last reported auction sales of sealed 1985 Topps wax boxes in similar near mint to gem mint grades have ranged between $3,000-$5,000. Given the continued rise in popularity and value of vintage sports cards overall, especially those first year issues of all-time greats, a pristine sealed example from this classic set holds great long term investment and collecting potential.
For the right vintage card collector, an unopened 1985 Topps wax box presents the opportunity to both preserve a slice of hobby history untouched for over 35 years as well as chase true cardboard treasures still waiting within. The lure and mystery associated with such a find continues to fascinate enthusiasts of the era.
A full unopened case of 1985 Topps baseball cards offers a rare preserved time capsule back to the mid-80s trading card boom. With each pack inside capable of potentially yielding a true seven-figure rookie gem like Ken Griffey Jr., it presents an incredible opportunity to both collect and potentially invest in one of the most prized issues from the hobby’s “golden age”.
