The late 1980s and early 1990s saw an unprecedented surge in baseball card production and speculation, driven by the sport’s exploding popularity and new printing technologies that allowed for stunning photo-realistic cardboard. The floods of new issues also severely diluted the scarcity and drove down values of even the most iconic players and sets from that era. These so-called “junk wax” cards are now widely available in penny boxes and bargain bins for collectors looking to fill out theirwant lists on a tight budget or start a collection without breaking the bank.
The main culprits behind the junk wax era were the dominant companies Donruss and Fleer. In 1989 alone, Donruss produced a mind-boggling 1.8 billion cards while Fleer wasn’t far behind at 1.5 billion. Sets from this era like Donruss’ “Diamond Kings,” Fleer’s “Ultra,” and Score’s “Black Gold” featuring high gloss foil treatments were designed more as pieces of colorful cardboard than true collectibles. With print runs numbered in the millions or more for star players, these cards lost scarcity and therefore value almost immediately.
This glut of available cardboard from the junk wax era opened the door for many modern collectors. Prices for even the biggest 80s and 90s star rookies or inserts have remained very budget-friendly compared to their predecessors. Complete sets from Topps, Donruss, Fleer and more can be had on the secondary market for just pennies per card. This makes junk wax an ideal starting point for those looking to fill out team and player collections inexpensively. While reseller sites are abundant for junk wax, local card shows will offer the best in-person browsing experience and haggling opportunities.
Some examples of sets that exemplify the junk wax concept include Donruss’ 1989 flagship issue. With astronomical print runs in the billions, even rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine can be found for under $1 in played condition. 1989 Fleer and Score are also emblematic of this era, plastering photos of stars on cards that were clearly mass produced. Junk wax collectors may also want to target sets from brands like Stadium Club, Ultra, Pinnacle and ProCards that were pumping out cards by the truckload.
Not all junk wax should be discarded – there are still gems to be found with enough digging. Rare gold parallels, coveted serial numbered inserts, and error cards can pop up worth far more than their facial value. The 1991 Topps Traded set is a good example, housing short printed parallels of Chipper Jones, Moises Alou and others that command higher prices. Savvy collectors may also notice that even common junk wax rookies of all-time greats like Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Barry Bonds are starting to creep back up in value as those 1980s/1990s generations age into serious collection.
While many view junk wax as the dark era of mass production ruining scarcity and values, their extreme availability makes them an affordable doorway into set and player collection building. One man’s junk is another’s treasure, and budding or budget-minded collectors would be wise to scour the surplus of 90s cardboard still available before prices recover any further with nostalgia. Resellers will practically give away complete junk wax sets, making it an inexpensive opportunity to acquire iconic 80s and 90s cards that tell the story of that larger-than-life era in MLB history. Just don’t expect high returns if trying to flip bulk junk wax lots for profit.
The junk wax era opened the floodgates for modern collectors. While stars and inserts from that era will likely never regain the scarcity and value of their predecessors, their extreme availability makes sets featuring flagship players surprisingly affordable to acquire. Whether it’s filling out a team, player collection or just starting a new hobby, junk wax cardboard provides a budget-friendly doorway. Savvy collectors may find rare parallels and errors provide better returns, but the main draws are accessibility and capturing iconic 80s/90s moments for a fraction of previous costs. For those reasons, junk wax baseball cards remain a staple for budget collectors and an inexpensive starting point for set building decades later.
