The 1985 Sportflics baseball card set showcases the players and teams of Major League Baseball during that season. While not one of the most renowned yearly issues by the brand, the 1985 Sportflics set provides a unique snapshot of the rosters and stars of that baseball year over 35 years ago. With 264 total cards in the standard 1985 set, collectors and historians can look back at the players, teams, and statistics from 1985 through the lens of these cardboard pieces of history.
While the Sportflics brand may not carry the same nostalgic weight for collectors as the classic Topps or Fleer sets of the time, the 1985 Sportflics issue does offer affordable options for fans looking to start a collection centered around that specific season. Card values range significantly based on the player, condition, and more but generally remain attainable for most hobbyists. Let’s take a closer look at some of the notable rookies, stars, and teams featured in the 1985 Sportflics set as well as get an idea of typical current values for various cards from the issue.
One of the top rookie cards from the 1985 Sportflics set is Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Dwight Gooden. As a 20-year old phenom in his first MLB season in 1985, Gooden went 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 268 strikeouts, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award and coming in second in Cy Young voting. Known by the nickname “Doc,” Gooden would go on to have a stellar career and is considered one of the best pitchers of the 1980s. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, Gooden’s rookie card now sells for around $150-200 given his significance and standout rookie season captured in the 1985 Sportflics issue.
Another highly sought after rookie is that of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield. Barfield hit .282 with 24 home runs and 87 RBI in his debut season of 1985, establishing himself as a cornerstone player for the rising Jays. Barfield would play 13 MLB seasons and make three All-Star teams. Like Gooden, Barfield’s rookie card from the 1985 Sportflics set commands a premium, with PSA 10 examples selling in the $100-150 range. Given that Barfield had his best seasons in Toronto combined with the strong nostalgia many collectors have for 1980s Blue Jays teams, his rookie remains a popular and valuable piece from the set.
While rookie cards are often the headliners, stars who were already established by 1985 also boast strong values within the Sportflics issue. One of the most notable is New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden’s teammate, third baseman Keith Hernandez. Hernandez was the reigning National League MVP in 1984 and continued his stellar play in 1985, hitting .310 with 17 home runs and 93 RBI split between the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals that season. In PSA 8-9 Excellent-Mint grades, Hernandez’s common 1985 Sportflics card sells for $15-30 due to his talent, name recognition, and strong career stats and accolades at that point.
Another marquee star and future Hall of Famer featured prominently is Detroit Tigers third baseman and career .285 hitter Darrell Evans. Known for his prodigious power, Evans blasted 31 home runs for the Tigers in 1985 at age 36, showing he still had plenty left in the tank. His 1985 Sportflics card in PSA 8 condition can be obtained for around $10-15 today reflecting his status as an all-time great third baseman and Tigers franchise icon. Evans remains one of the more sought after veteran stars from the ’85 Sportflics issue outside of the true superstars like Mike Schmidt or George Brett.
In terms of team cards, flagship franchises from 1985 carry appropriate premiums decades later. The 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals led by Brett, Saberhagen, and White log PSA 8 values of $15-25 given their championship pedigree and strong Midwest collector interest in the history of the Royals franchise. Similarly, the 1984 NL champion Mets still boasted stars like Gooden, Hernandez, and Strawberry, making their ’85 Sportflics team card around a $10-15 PSA 8 investment. Of course, the most iconic franchise of the era, the 1980s Boston Red Sox led by Boggs, Eckersley, and Clemens, settle in the $10-12 PSA 8 range.
Some other notables from the 1985 Sportflics set include Angels slugger Reggie Jackson pushing $5-8 in PSA 8 as one of the biggest names of the era enjoying a renaissance season in California, Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham at $3-5 PSA 8 as the team’s best power hitter that year, and Seattle Mariners outfielder Alvin Davis reaching the $4-6 range in PSA 8 as the fresh face of the franchise following their initial success. Overall condition is king, but most common Sportflics cards from ’85 settle in the $1-3 range across PSA 7-8 when not featuring a true star player.
While not in the same conversation as the flagship Topps or Fleer sets for 1985, the Sportflics issue provides an affordable and accessible way for collectors to acquire memorable cards from that season spanning both rising young talents and established veteran stars. Prices remain reasonable across the board for PSA 7+ graded examples of common players, with premiums existing for the top rookies and Franchise faces featured. For historians, team builders, or fans simply looking to commemorate baseball in 1985, the 264 card Sportflics set represents an attainable collecting option.
