The 1985 Topps baseball card set was the 64th series issued by Topps and featured 660 total cards. It marked a transitionary period for Topps as they introduced several innovations that would later become standard while still retaining aspects of their previous designs. The 1985 set featured many star players and rookie cards that remain iconic to this day.
One of the biggest changes for 1985 was the shift from the classic vertical design Topps had utilized for decades to a new horizontal layout. While the cards themselves were still the standard 3.5 x 2.5 inch size, the visual presentation was altered to have the primary image stretched across the entire front rather than confined to an oval border. This allowed for larger, more impactful action shots. Text was relocated and streamlined as well. The horizontal design became the new industry standard moving forward.
In terms of design elements, the 1985 set retained Topps’ familiar red, white and blue color scheme with stars and stripes motif. The signature border was altered significantly. Rather than the classic thin straight edge frame, 1985 introduced a thicker border with multiple offset layers – an inside white layer framed by a red line followed by a blue external line. Some felt this “busy” border detracted from the photos but it set a precedent for more ornate borders in the future.
As was customary, the reverse of each 1985 Topps card displayed statistics, career highlights and fun facts about the player. The layout and font styles were given a clean, contemporary upgrade compared to past designs. Background colors also varied more between cards rather than the usual solid shades. Topps’ commitment to including detailed player info remained though the presentation was modernized.
Rookie cards in the 1985 set featured several future Hall of Famers and all-time greats: Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, Ozzie Smith, Dave Stewart, and Bret Saberhagen. Gooden’s rookie in particular is one of the most coveted and valuable from the entire decade. Mark McGwire also had a noteworthy rookie season in 1985 before injuries waylaid his early career momentum. All of these rookies would go on to tremendous success and their 1985 Topps cards are highly collectible today.
Veteran star players well-represented in the set included Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Kirby Puckett, and Nolan Ryan. Ryan’s customized Astros card with a sunburst design commemorated his 5,000th career strikeout, achieved in 1985. The diverse Hall of Fame talent captured in their playing primes added to the prestige and interest in the 1985 issue.
While largely overlooked at the time due to being overshadowed by vintage and prized rookie cards, the 1985 Topps design itself has gained appreciation as a transitional period in baseball card aesthetics. It embraced fresh layouts that presaged the horizontal standard while maintaining connections to past decorative styles. Combined with the all-time talent featured, the 1985 set remains a worthwhile vintage issue for collectors even now in the modern era. Later innovations may have outdone it, but 1985 Topps stands out as an important marker in the evolution of the baseball card industry.
