The 1985 Topps Big baseball card set was one of the most unique and nostalgic releases from Topps in the 1980s. Unlike the standard baseball card size fans were accustomed to, the 1985 Topps Big cards were oversized, measuring approximately 3 1⁄2 inches by 5 inches. They featured full borderless color photos of players on the front with stats and career highlights on the back. The card stock was also thicker than a standard card, giving these pieces a very premium feel in the hands of collectors.
The 1985 Topps Big set consisted of 330 cards and was issued as factory sets in wax packs of 10 cards each. Some of the bigger star players like Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, and Don Mattingly had separate oddball inserts with different photo variations as well. Overall design of the set paid homage to classic 1952 Topps cards with a clean red border and black/white color scheme. Statistics on the back ranged from 1984 highlights to career stats through that season.
When released in 1985, the larger card size was a huge novelty that attracted many collectors. Although production cost of each card was higher for Topps, the markup on wax packs still allowed them to profit well from the Big sets. It helped revitalize the baseball card hobby at a time when junk wax era expansions started diluting the collectibility of standard issues. Prices of 1985 Topps Big wax packs ranged from $1.49 to $2 depending on retailer.
A major factor in the popularity of the 1985 Topps Big set was the roster of future Hall of Famers it encompassed in their prime playing years. Stars like Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, Rickey Henderson, and Dwight Gooden’s rookie card all appeared in the larger format. As many of these players careers progressed and they were inducted into Cooperstown, their Big cards gained retroACTIVE appeal for fans and investors. Terms like “investment quality” became associated with this defining release from the mid 1980s.
One of the more valuable and sought after rookie cards in the 1985 Topps Big set belongs to San Diego Padres pitcher Eric Show. As a 23 year old rookie in 1985, Show went 6-1 with a 2.22 ERA in 19 games for the Padres. His stats presaged a successful career that would see him pitch until 2003. However, Show’s career was cut short due to injury in the early 1990s before he could reach any career milestones. As a result, his 1985 Topps Big rookie remains the most attainable example from an elite player in the set nearly four decades later. Even graded mint condition examples rarely command more than $150-200 today.
Some additional notable rookies in the 1985 Topps Big set included Bret Saberhagen, Skipp Schumaker, and Dwight Gooden’s more common update photo variation after his sensational 1984 season. Gooden’s 1984 Donruss rookies remain his most valuable due to rarity, but his Topps Big rookie maintained strong collector demand as he continued winning and garnering Cy Young awards through the late 1980s decade.
In terms of overall condition and preservation over 36+ years, the larger card size of the 1985 Topps Big set both helped and hindered long term collectibility. While debuting players in the awe-inspiring bigger format attracted legions of fans and speculators, the extra fragility of bigger cardboard also made these pieces more susceptible to post-production damage. Wear along edges from friction in boxes combined with creasing from improper storage methods led to fewer high grade examples surviving to the modern collecting era compared to standard size issues.
For aficionados of iconic 1980s release, a well-kept example from the 1985 Topps Big set remains a can’t miss addition. They showcase a specific period of the hobby that’s difficult to relive, and bridge memories between the traditional 1950s aesthetic and modern statistical cards that followed. Today, complete original sets in mainly very good condition with some gems can surpass $1,000USD based on availability. Single cards for popular future Hall of Famers range from $10-75 depending on player, condition and parallel. Overall the 1985 Topps Big set remains one of the most renowned from the 1980s sports card boom.
The 1985 Topps Big cards were a pioneer oversized baseball card issue that are still treasured by collectors over 35 years later. They captured iconic players from the 1980s at the height of their careers. While wear and damage prevented many examples from maintaining mint grades, the premium larger format cards still hold nostalgia value for fans who remember ripping packs as kids. The set bridges the design stylings of the 1950s-60s with informative stats of modern issues. Rookie cards of Dwight Gooden and Bret Saberhagen along with stars like Mike Schmidt ensure the 1985 Topps Big baseball cards remain a collecting landmark from the industry’s golden age.
