“The 1985 Topps baseball card set is a significant standout in the hobby due to its oversized card format. Rather than the standard card size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches that had been used since the late 1950s, Topps opted to produce the 1985 set on dramatically enlarged 3.5 inch by 5 inch cards. There were several factors that led Topps to this unorthodox decision.
Topps had experienced declining sales throughout the early 1980s as the popularity of the hobby began to wane. They were looking for ways to reinvigorate interest in their flagship baseball card release. At the same time, collectors were beginning to gain appreciation for vintage cards from the early decades of the 20th century when cards had much larger dimensions before standardization took effect. Topps executives believed an oversized card format may appeal to collectors’ renewed interest in nostalgia and vintage memorabilia from baseball’s earliest eras.
The large size also provided more breathing room for photography and design elements on each card. Most notably, the expansive front of each 1985 Topps card featured a full body shot of the player posed in his team’s uniform along with plenty of blank space. This stood out compared to the tight cropped headshot photos common on standard size cards of the 1970s-1980s era. The backs of the cards retained the familiar layout of stats and career highlights but had room for more extensive text in a larger font that was easier to read.
When the 1985 Topps set was released during Spring Training, the oversized cards were an immediate novelty that drew significant attention. While some collectors disliked the larger non-standard size which did not fit in traditional binders and albums, the majority received it positively as a welcome change of pace and conversation piece. While sales did see an initial spike that year in response, Topps only produced the 1985 set in the large format rather than establishing it as the new standard size going forward.
Regardless, the 1985 Topps cards remain one of the most recognizable and collectible issues amongst hobbyists today due to their distinctive large physical size which really allows the photography and card designs to stand out more prominently on the shelf. The set is also highly popular with team and player collectors seeking a big bold presentation of their favorite ballplayers. Graded mint condition specimens often command substantial price premiums compared to the standard size issues from other years.
Topps had additional motivations for the 1985 experimental oversized card size beyond just boosting interest and sales. They were embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit with rival card manufacturer Fleer over restrictive licensing agreements. Part of Topps’ legal argument was that their bigger cards provided more value as memorabilia collectibles compared to Fleer’s smaller and lower quality cardboard issues of the time. While the lawsuit ultimately ruled against Topps’ monopoly claims, the oversized 1985 set helped strengthen their public image as the premium innovative leader in the baseball card market.
The 1985 Topps large format cards were a well-intentioned risky gamble by the company to shake up a declining industry that paid off well enough for one year, even if they did not permanently shift card dimensions. Regardless of Topps’ original motivations, the set has become a true standout and highly treasured release for collectors due to its visually striking physical large size alone which really makes the cards pop impressively in any collection. While not the new standard Topps hoped for, the 1985 experiment left a lasting positive mark on the hobby and is still widely recognized 35 years later as one of the most unusual and desirable issues in the entire history of mass-produced trading cards.”
