The 1985 Donruss baseball card set was one of the most popular and memorable issues from the brand during the 1980s. Donruss was one of the “Big 3” card companies of the time along with Topps and Fleer. Their 1985 set showcased another year of star players and rising young talents from across Major League Baseball.
Some key things to know about the 1985 Donruss baseball card set include:
The set contains 524 total cards including base cards, rookie cards, stars, and manager/coach cards. This was a large set compared to previous Donruss issues.
Design and photography was a step up from prior years. Cards featured colorful team logo borders and many sharp action shots of players. The photography gave the cards a modern and exciting look.
Roster included many of the game’s biggest stars from the mid-1980s such as Wade Boggs, George Brett, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt, and Ozzie Smith. This was the era when Don Mattingly, Kirby Puckett, and Roger Clemens were emerging as young stars.
Notable rookie cards included Bret Saberhagen, Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Tom Glavine. These players would go on to have Hall of Fame careers and their ’85 rookies remain highly sought after by collectors today.
The set also featured rookie cards for future stars like Will Clark, Terry Pendleton, and Bob Welch. While not true “rookies”, cards were included for superstars like Nolan Ryan and Reggie Jackson who were still active but nearing the end of their careers.
Checklists, manager/coach cards, and team/league leaders cards added to the set. These non-player cards helped tell the story of baseball in 1985 and provided additional collecting and trade bait opportunities for kids.
Distribution was strong through hobby shops, convenience/grocery stores, and vending machines. This helped Donruss cards remain very accessible and affordable, fueling their popularity among young collectors.
While not quite as valuable as the flagship Topps set in the long run, ’85 Donruss cards retained nostalgia and demand due to the players featured and memories of opening wax packs as a kid.
Some additional details on specific aspects of the 1985 Donruss baseball card set:
Rookie Cards – As mentioned, the rookies of Saberhagen, Larkin, McGwire, and Glavine are the most iconic from the set today. Other notables included Oddibe McDowell, Kal Daniels, Dave Martinez, and reliever Jeff Parrett. These players had varying levels of MLB success but their rookie cards remain a fun part of the ’85 Donruss collection.
Design – The team-colored borders, action shots, and classic Donruss logo made the cards really pop on the rack or in a binder. Close-up headshots were also used effectively to feature the players. Overall it was a clean, colorful look that still holds up aesthetically today.
Parallels – In addition to the base set, Donruss also released “Traded” parallels that featured the same photos but with different team logos for players that switched clubs. These added a layer of complexity for collectors.
Inserts – Multi-player inserts like “Diamond Kings”, “Team Leaders”, and “All-Stars” broke up the monotony and provided collector incentives to try and complete the mini-sets within the larger set.
Availability – The large print run and ubiquitous distribution through various retail outlets ensured the ’85 Donruss cards remained affordable and accessible. This fueled their popularity at the time among the generation of young collectors in the 1980s.
While not the most valuable set in the long run, Donruss’ 1985 baseball card issue represented the pinnacle of the brand’s popularity during the decade. Featuring a who’s who of MLB stars alongside memorable rookie cards, it captured the excitement of baseball in the mid-1980s. The sharp photography and designs gave the cards a timeless look that still resonates with collectors today. For anyone who grew up with Donruss in the 1980s, the 1985 set holds a special place and will forever remind them of the joy of collecting as a kid.
