The 1985 Topps baseball card set is one of the most renowned issues in the hobby’s history, containing several hard-to-find gems that can fetch big bucks from passionate collectors. With its colorful cartoon-style artwork and nostalgia for the pastime, the ‘85 Topps set has developed a cult following over the decades. Inside every 1985 Topps wax box, which contained 12 packs with 11 cards each, lurked the possibility of pulling a true rare card that could start a young collector on the path to a valuable collection.
Perhaps the most sought-after rookie card from the 1985 Topps set is that of Houston Astros pitcher Bob Knepper. Only 50 of his base rookie card were printed, making it tremendously scarce in gem mint condition. Receiving the coveted PSA 10 grading is practically unheard of for this piece of cardboard. In PSA 9 or 8 condition, the Knepper rookie has sold for upwards of $10,000. The low print run and star potential of the player made this one of the true keys to a box of ‘85 wax all these years later.
Another legendary short-print from 1985 Topps was the card of Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Lee Smith. Like the Knepper, only 50 of Smith’s base rookie card existed. Finding one in pristine shape is like discovering buried treasure for collectors. In a PSA 9 holder, the Lee Smith rookie has gone for over $4,000 at auction. The combination of its extreme scarcity and Smith’s Hall of Fame career elevated this short-print to the upper levels of desired 1985 issues. Breaking a wax box and unearthing a mint Smith was a collector’s dream come true.
Staying in the Cubs organization, the Luis Salazar rookie card is also quite rare from the ‘85 set due to a print run around 200 copies. While not in the same league as the 50-card Knepper or Smith, finding the Salazar rookie pristine earned collectors some serious street cred in the hobby. Grading a PSA 9, this Cuban born outfielder’s first Bowman card has sold for around $1,500. For fans of Chicago’s North Side nine, the Salazar held extra significance as a key player on those teams in the mid-1980’s.
No conversation about valuable 1985 Topps cards would be complete without mentioning the Starlin Castro and Bryce Harper rookie variations that can be discovered nestled inside a wax box. Both were inserted as special prospect cards at a ratio of 1 per wax case (12 boxes). In a PSA 10 holder, the Castro has exceeded $10,000 at auction while the Harper tops $25,000. Even in high-grade PSA 9s, these light blue bordered prospects will earn collectors five figures. The scarcest of the scarce from ‘85 Topps, finding either in a pack jumpstarted dreams of riches for clever kids.
The 1984 Donruss Freddy Lynn rookie parallel is different in that it was actually inserted into the 1985 Topps wax packs at an unknown ratio. Sporting a black and white photo and “Rookie Card” designation underneath, this is truly one of the legendary oddball insert cards. Just the photo variation alone makes it a huge find in any grade. Receiving high grades like a PSA 8 has resulted in $2,000 sales while a pristine PSA 10 brought over $20,000 due to its mystique and rarity in the ‘85 packages.
The quest doesn’t end there, as other relatively scarce but worthwhile rookie and star player cards lurked inside those 1985 wax boxes as bettter-than-average hits. The Oddibe McDowell rookie around 500 printed and a PSA 9 selling for $800. The Eric Davis with its beautiful action shot around 1500 printed graded PSA 8 valued at $600. The Bob Horner with maybe 2000 copies extant grading PSA 9 at $350. These may not have the glamour of the big three short prints, but still provide that rush of pulling a key cardboard hit from the pack.
For veteran collectors with memories of ripping 1985 Topps packs as kids or newly minted fans diving into the vintage era, the sheer possibility of what secret treasures might emerge from an old wax box keeps the allure of this classic set burning strong. While the odds were indeed small, the rewards were great for anyone who unearthed a true blue-chip short print rookie card still in pristine condition. The rarest of the rare from that year will likely maintain their legendary status, and high prices, for collectors enjoy for generations to come. A 1985 Topps wax box still contains the ability to transport lucky openers back to a simpler time, and maybe even furnish a nice nest egg all these years later.
