The 1980s was a transformative decade for the baseball card industry. Following a boom in popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, sports card publishing greatly expanded. Major card companies like Topps, Donruss, and Fleer released larger base sets and fancier trading cards inserted in packs. This led to an oversaturation in the market and a crash in the late 1980s. It also meant that some truly iconic rookie cards from all-time baseball greats were printed during this era. While the junk wax era diminished card values at the time, certain rare and sought-after 1980s issues have exploded in value in recent years as collectors seek out pieces of baseball history. Here are some of the most valuable baseball cards from the 1980s based on PSA 10 gem mint condition grades:

1985 Fleer Michael Jordan (NBA) – The rarest and most iconic basketball card ever printed, Michael Jordan’s rookie card from Fleer’s inaugural NBA set holds immense cultural cachet. High grade PSA 10 examples have routinely sold for over $100,000 in recent years, making it the most valuable trading card from any decade. While not technically a baseball card, Jordan’s popularity and the card’s rarity and condition place it at the top of 1980s sports collectibles.

1987 Topps Tiffany Nolan Ryan (UPDATE) – One of the True Gems variants of Nolan Ryan’s signature 1987 Topps card, printed on Tiffany cardboard stock and limited to just 24 copies. In a PSA 10 condition this card has sold for over $50,000 at auction amid intense bidding wars between Ryan super-collectors. It represents the pinnacle achievement for any Ryan or 1987 Topps collector.

1988 Score Ken Griffey Jr. – Arguably the most visually stunning and iconic baseball rookie card design ever printed. Griffey’s sweet swing, youthful smile, and uniform aesthetic make this one of the most desirable issues for any player collector. High grade examples have reached over $35,000 at auction as Griffey nears likely Hall of Fame enshrinement.

1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. – While slightly less coveted than the 1988 Score, Upper Deck’s 1989 rookie of Griffey is still one of the more valuable modern baseball cards due to the company’s excellent print quality and their exclusive deal with Major League Baseball in 1989. Upper Deck took the hobby to new heights and a PSA 10 of this card could earn $20,000 or more.

1990 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan – Upper Deck did it again with their second flagship set in 1990, which featured a superb action shot of Ryan at mid-windup. It’s easily one of the most scenic and detailed baseball card photographs of all-time. An investment-grade PSA 10 copy of this iconic card recently sold for $17,500.

1986 Fleer Update Mike Schmidt – Schmidt’s final rookie card came in 1986 Fleer Update, one of his strongest visual presentations. He’s captured taking a big swing with intense concentration. Only 183 PSA 10s have been graded, making this one of the greatest rarities in the 3rd year player subset. It could receive over $15,000 at auction.

1989 Stadium Club Ken Griffey Jr. – Stadium Club’s premier brand launched in style in 1989. Their design aesthetic gave Griffey a modern, clean look that remains striking today. While not quite as acclaimed as his Score and Upper Deck rookies, a PSA 10 example could still draw $13,000 from an avid Griffey collector.

1987 Topps Traded Mark McGwire – McGwire’s explosive rookie season with the A’s made him a star. This semi-rare traded card variation offered collectors an alternate photo and a rookie cup badge on the uniform. Only 134 PSA 10s exist, which helps justify a valued around $12,000 for top condition.

1986 Topps Eric Davis – Davis emerged as one of baseball’s brightest young players in 1986. His gorgeous action shot is one of the most underrated designs from the entire junk wax era. Fewer than 200 PSA 10s remain, preserving this dynamite card’s significance and demand around $10,500.

1989 Bowman Ken Griffey Jr. (Galaxy) – Bowman had a Galaxy subset within their 1989 set that featured spacey parallel images. Griffey’s rendition offered collectors something extra special. Scarcity has made Near Mint PSA 9 examples sell for around $10,000 from fervent collectors.

While the immense print runs from the 1980s minimized card values at the time, advanced grading has proven there are still investment-worthy gems even within the “junk wax era.” The combination of all-time player subjects, rare parallel printings, memorable photography and strong condition have allowed certain 1980s issues to reach five and even six-figure valuations. For serious vintage collectors, locating and holding PSA 10 examples of the above mentioned cards provides participation in some of the highest ends of the historical sports collecting market.