One of the most valuable 1985 baseball cards is the Kenny Griffey Jr. rookie card. Considered one of the best rookie cards of all time, the Griffey Jr. rookie in perfect gem mint condition can sell for over $100,000. Even well-worn near mint copies can fetch $1,000 or more due to Griffey’s legendary career and status as a fan favorite. His rookie card remains one of the icons of the 1980s baseball card boom.
Another very valuable 1985 rookie card is Dwight Gooden’s. As one of the brightest young pitching stars of his era, Gooden’s rookie card holds significant nostalgia and historical value. Pristine mint condition Gooden rookies have sold at auction for around $20,000. This is an impressive price for a card that was mass produced during the junk wax era of the mid-1980s. Gooden’s dominant rookie season and talent make this a must-have for collections.
Two other top rookie cards from 1985 that can earn five figures are Bret Saberhagen and Roberto Alomar. Saberhagen followed up his Rookie of the Year award by winning the Cy Young in his first two full MLB seasons. This success spawned great interest in his rookie card, which has reached as high as $8,000 in mint condition. Alomar debuted in 1988 but his cards were released before he played, making 1985 his true rookie set. Now a Hall of Famer mainly for his defensive skills, a pristine Alomar rookie has sold for over $7,000.
Moving beyond rookies, the ultra-rare 1983 Topps Traded Fernando Valenzuela powder blue refractor parallel is arguably the most coveted 1985 card. Only six copies are believed to exist of this incredibly obscure parallel print. In 2017, one mint condition copy achieved a world record price for a vintage baseball card by selling at auction for over $90,000. The extreme rarity and nostalgia surrounding Fernando makes this his most sought-after card issue.
Two other 1985 cards that regularly top $1,000 are the Donruss Ozzie Smith and Topps Don Mattingly traded cards. Known as the best defensive shortstop ever, Smith’s slick fielding made him a fan favorite. His traded card was inserted much less frequently than the base set, giving it a huge scarcity premium. Meanwhile, “Donnie Baseball’s” incredible popularity and talent translated to big values for any special parallels and variations like his traded version. Both cards are icons of the mid-1980s baseball card renaissance.
Rickey Henderson’s Fleer update card also reaches the $1,000 level when pristine. It flaunts his American League MVP and stolen base record season in a memorable photo. Other update and traded versions that perform well are Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, and Cal Ripken Jr. Any key players who had great seasons like these have desirable variants that aficionados love to track down.
Moving into the mid-tier value range between $100-$500 are workhorse starters like Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Rick Sutcliffe. All were established veterans in the mid-80s having strong careers at that point, heightening interest in their cards. Star position players like Andre Dawson, Jack Clark, and Tony Gwynn also ring in within this price bracket depending on condition.
Filling out most complete 1985 sets are the base cards of hall of famers like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Dave Winfield, and Goose Gossage. These remain popular and recognizable stars that round out collections. Well-centered near mint copies of their base commons can still attract $50-100 each.
The most valuable 1985 baseball cards revolve around star rookies like Griffey Jr., Gooden, Saberhagen, and Alomar who all performed magnificently right away. Super-rare parallel inserts like the Valenzuela powder blue also shatter records. Traded, update, and MVP parallel cards for premier players move the needle as well. Condition remains paramount, but nostalgia ensures the best young stars and familiar veterans from the 1985 set consistently retain collector interest and solid returns on investment compared to typical ‘80s wax.
