The 1985 Donruss baseball card set was the third release from the fledgling brand that was looking to challenge the dominance of Topps in the baseball card market. Donruss debuted in 1981 and released sets through the late 1980s and early 1990s before losing the MLB license to Upper Deck. The 1985 Donruss set showcased another innovative design and featured some of the biggest stars and top rookies from that MLB season.
The design of the 1985 Donruss cards stood out from previous years. The fronts featured a blue and white color scheme with the team logo prominently displayed at the top along with the player’s name and position. Statistics from the previous season were included on the bottom along with the “D” logo. Perhaps the most notable design element was the player’s photo taking up nearly the entire front of the card from the nameplate down. This large vibrant photo gave collectors an up-close look at their favorite players.
On the back, Donruss continued with their signature style which included a blue and white border surrounding the player’s stats, bio, and career highlights. One interesting tidbit included was the player’s handedness which is not always noted on baseball cards. The backs also featured coupons that could be redeemed for future Donruss packs, boxes or other merchandise. The 1985 design was clean and focused on high quality photos to really showcase each player in the set.
The 585-card base set included a who’s who of stars from 1985 like Dwight Gooden, Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Don Mattingly. Rookies featured that year included Will Clark, Barry Larkin, and Mark McGwire. The set also had “Traded” variations that pictured players on their new teams if they were dealt mid-season like Gary Carter with the Mets and Len Dykstra with the Phillies. Other inserts in the 1985 Donruss release included Team Leaders, League Leaders, and a 50th Anniversary subset honoring greats from baseball’s past.
When it comes to the biggest stars, the flagship rookie cards from the 1985 Donruss set that hold immense value today are Will Clark, Barry Larkin, and Mark McGwire. In high grade, their rookie cards can fetch thousands of dollars. But the true blue-chip card (and one of the most iconic in the entire hobby) is the Roger Clemens rookie. Clemens would go on to become one of the greatest pitchers of all-time, capturing 7 Cy Young Awards and amassing over 4,000 strikeouts in a 24-year career. His legendary status is reflected in the price of his 1985 Donruss rookie, with PSA 10 Gem Mint examples selling for well into the five-figure range.
Another huge star featured prominently in the 1985 Donruss set is Dwight Gooden. As a 20-year old phenom in 1985, Gooden went 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts to capture the NL Cy Young Award. His dominant season and “Doctor K” persona made him one of the most popular players in baseball during the mid-1980s. High-grade versions of Gooden’s main rookie card from his breakout 1985 Topps set have even eclipsed the $100,000 mark. While not quite as valuable as the Topps RC, Gooden’s equally impressive rookie from the 1985 Donruss set still fetches thousands in top condition.
In addition to star rookies, the 1985 Donruss set also contained what would become iconic cards for already established legends. Players like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, and Don Mattingly were entering their baseball primes in 1985. Their cards from that year’s Donruss set remain some of the most sought after and visually striking issues for those all-time great players. For Hall of Famers and fan-favorite veterans, high grades of their 1985 Donruss cards can sell for hundreds or even thousands depending on the player.
When it was released in 1985, the Donruss brand was still looking to gain widespread popularity and market share against the industry giant Topps. The set took some innovative strides forward with its photography-forward design that really highlighted each player. While it didn’t surpass Topps that year, the 1985 Donruss release gained more collectors and established some of the set’s most valuable rookie cards ever. Over 35 years later, cards from that vintage Donruss set remain a staple in collections and are some of the most iconic representations of baseball’s biggest stars from the 1980s.
