The 1985 Fleer baseball card set was unique in the hobby for several reasons. It marked Fleer’s return to the baseball card market after an absence of several years. The set also featured some of the game’s biggest stars and future Hall of Famers. While not the most valuable set from the 1980s, several cards from the 1985 Fleer issue have stood the test of time due to the players featured and their significance in baseball history.
One of the top cards from the 1985 Fleer set is the Roger Clemens rookie card. Clemens would go on to win a record seven Cy Young Awards and is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time. His rookie card from the 1985 Fleer set is one of the most sought after in the entire hobby. In high grade, PSA 10 condition, unopened examples of Clemens’ rookie have sold for over $100,000 at auction. Even lower graded copies in the PSA 8-9 range can still fetch thousands. The Clemens rookie is iconic not just due to his playing career accomplishments, but also because it was Fleer’s return to the baseball card market and featured one of the game’s all-time great hurlers.
Another highly valuable card is Dwight Gooden’s rookie. Gooden, nicknamed “Doc,” burst onto the scene in 1984 and won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award. His rookie card in the 1985 Fleer set showcased Gooden during his dominant early years with the New York Mets. In top PSA 10 condition, unopened Gooden rookies have sold for well over $10,000 at auction. Even lower graded copies still carry value in the thousands due to his importance as a star player in the 1980s and his Hall of Fame caliber career. Like Clemens, Gooden’s rookie holds added significance as being from Fleer’s return set and capturing one of the decade’s top pitchers in his early playing days.
Staying with the theme of star pitchers, Don Mattingly’s rookie card from the 1985 Fleer issue is also highly coveted. Mattingly was the 1984 American League MVP and had established himself as one of baseball’s best hitters for the New York Yankees. His rookie card shows Mattingly during his peak years in the late 1980s. High grade PSA 10 Mattingly rookies have reached over $5,000 at auction. Even well-centered PSA 8 or 9 copies can sell for $1,000 or more. Mattingly’s card remains popular due to his status as a fan favorite, six-time All-Star, and nine-time Gold Glove winner during his Hall of Fame caliber career spent entirely with the Yankees.
In addition to star rookie cards, the 1985 Fleer set featured several other notable veterans and future Hall of Famers. One of the standout cards is that of Wade Boggs. Boggs had already established himself as one of baseball’s best hitters by 1985 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. His card shows him during his batting title winning days. High grade Boggs cards have sold for over $1,000 due to his prolific 3,000 hit career and status as a five-time batting champ. Another star third baseman featured is George Brett. By 1985, Brett had already won three batting titles and was a seven-time All-Star for the Kansas City Royals. His card remains popular with Royals fans and fetches $500-1000 in top condition.
Two other Hall of Fame position players included are Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith. Sandberg’s 1985 Fleer card captured him during the early years of his stellar career with the Chicago Cubs. He would go on to be named the 1984 NL MVP. High grade Sandberg rookies have sold for over $1,000. Meanwhile, Ozzie Smith’s defensive wizardry with the St. Louis Cardinals was already well established in 1985. The “Wizard of Oz” won a Gold Glove every year from 1978 to 1996. His card remains one of the set’s most iconic due to his highlight reel plays at shortstop. PSA 10 Smith cards have topped $500.
While rookie cards and stars drive the bulk of the value, there are also several other notable 1985 Fleer cards worth mentioning. Future 300 game winner Jack Morris’ card remains popular with Detroit Tigers fans. Cincinnati Reds star pitcher Mario Soto’s card captured him during the peak of his career in the mid-1980s. Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham’s card brings back memories of the team’s division contending years. And San Diego Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn’s issue commemorated the start of his brilliant career at the top of the batting leaderboards.
While not the most valuable 1980s set overall, the 1985 Fleer baseball card release remains historically significant and contains several highly coveted rookie cards and veterans. Stars like Clemens, Gooden, Mattingly, Boggs, Brett, Sandberg, and Smith anchored the set and made for memorable inclusions. The cards captured many of the decade’s greatest players during their prime playing years. As a result, top examples from the 1985 Fleer set will always be in high demand with collectors due to the talent featured and the nostalgia they provoke from the 1980s era of baseball. The return of Fleer that year after a brief absence also adds to the set’s lasting intrigue and collectability decades later.
