Tag Archives: 1985

1985 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS EBAY

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The 1985 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and sought after issues in the entire hobby. With 705 total cards, the 1985 set featured a classic design and included some of the game’s biggest stars and rookie talents from that season. 1985 was the height of the junk wax era but these cards remain popular with collectors decades later. Here is an in-depth look at the 1985 Topps set and what collectors can expect to find when browsing for these vintage cardboard relics on eBay.

The most notable rookie cards in the 1985 Topps set come from Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds, and Roberto Alomar. These rookie cards hold significant value, especially for those players in gem mint condition. On eBay, a Barry Larkin rookie PSA 10 can fetch well over $1,000. A PSA 9 Barry Bonds rookie often sells in the $300-$500 range. The Roberto Alomar rookie is slightly more common but still a key card for any collector, with PSA 10 examples around $200-300 online.

Other top rookies like Dwight Gooden, Wally Joyner, and Ripken Jr. also command higher prices than average. But the sheer size of the ’85 issue means there are plenty of other valuable stars to pursue as well, such as Don Mattingly, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, and Fernando Valenzuela sport their classic designs. Star and Hall of Famer returns on vintage are typically 70% or higher in top grades.

Condition is king when evaluating these cards from 1985. The size and paper quality made the cards prone to flaws so pristine copies are hard to come by. On eBay, be ready to pay a premium for cards graded Gem Mint 10 by authorities like PSA and SGC. Even a 9 can demand a 50% or more increase over a card in lower condition. For raw copies, ask for detailed photos of the edges and surfaces. Any soft corners or creasing will hurt the value.

Beyond the big stars, team and player set collectors also flock to the 1985 issue. Complete team sets of the Cardinals, Mets, Tigers, and others can cost a few hundred dollars depending on the grades. Individual team cards are reasonably priced as long as the condition is fair. Errors and variations are also highly sought. The Mark McGwire and Darryl Strawberry errors can reach into the thousands graded flawlessly.

New sealed wax packs and boxes from 1985 do turn up on eBay but are rare considering the huge print runs. An unopened case sold recently for over $5,000. Single wax packs go for $50-100 depending on perceived seal integrity. Boxes might reach $400-500. For most collectors, singles are the most realistic and affordable route into the amazing 1985 Topps set that kickstarted so many childhood card collections and memories.

Whether chasing Hall of Famers, entire teams, rare variations or simply wanting to add vintage classics to your PC, the 1985 Topps baseball card set offers something for every budget level collector or investor. Finding treasures from this storied issue is simply a matter of searching diligently through the marketplace on eBay, where samples can be readily found across all price points depending on condition, star power or other attributes. Over 35 years later, these cardboard snapshots from a golden baseball era remain as popular as ever.

1985 CIRCLE K BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1985 Circle K baseball card set was one of the most popular promotional inserts given out during the mid-1980s. Produced by Topps, the cards featured current major league players and were inserted randomly in packs of Circle K nacho chips and soda promotions at gas stations across North America. The popularity of baseball cards was at an all-time high during this era, and the free cards offered by Circle K were a huge draw for young collectors.

Some key details and things to know about the 1985 Circle K baseball card set:

The set consists of 132 cards featuring MLB players from the 1984 season. Some of the biggest names included Ryne Sandberg, Nolan Ryan, Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, and Kirby Puckett.

The front of each card displayed a photo of the player in action shots or posed portraits. The backs contained stats from the 1984 season as well as a short blurb about each player.

The card stock was a lower quality than Topps flagship sets but still a step up from most promotional items of the time. The cards had a glossy coated finish.

Distribution was aimed at 7-12 year old kids with the goal of getting them into Circle K stores. Several chasing variations were included to encourage multiple purchases.

Finding elusive chase cards of star players created excitement. The most coveted were ry Ryne Sandberg (#3), Nolan Ryan (#22), and Don Mattingly (#132).

Additional promotions centered around sticker and puzzle inserts that could be collected towards completing full sets. This helped drive repeated visits to buy more snack packs.

Unlike most other promotions, the 1985 Circle K set maintained resale value due to the high number distributed. Complete sets can still be found graded and intact.

Demand was strong upon initial release, causing some regional shortages. Sellers started listing complete sets on early 1990s online message boards and newsgroups.

The design scheme featuring action images and a yellow, red, and black color scheme gave the cards a fun, flashy look that appealed to kids. This aesthetic held up well over the years.

Comes from a peak time for the baseball card industry before the junk wax era crash of the early 1990s. Produced right as Donruss and Score entered the market.

Topps supplied identical image/stats fronts for use in the 1985 Topps Traded set, so some cards can be found with either branding on the back. This confused new collectors.

Despite the promotional insertion method, sets maintained strong overall condition due to gum not being included. Later convenience store/gas station promotions suffered more wear due to unwieldy packaging.

Still cherished today by those who collected them as kids in the mid-80s. The promotional concept was novel and helped get a new generation hooked on the hobby. Nostalgia plays a big role in the sets popularity and lasting appeal almost four decades later.

While never as expensive as flagship Topps and Donruss issues, 1985 Circle K cards routinely sell for several times their original price when high grade versions change hands. The iconic nature of this classic release keeps demand and values steady.

The 1985 Circle K Baseball Card Set holds a beloved place in the history of promotional cardboard and memorabilia from the golden age of the baseball card boom. Issued at the perfect crossover point of affluence and youth enthusiasm for the hobby, these inserts remain a tangible rememberance of childhood summers for many who ripped packs off gas station snack shelves in 1985. Whether being collected or marveled at now, they never fail to spark warm feelings of baseball, road trips, and childhood innocence among those who experienced their original run nearly 40 years ago.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1985

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Baseball cards were hugely popular in the 1980s, with kids trading and collecting cards from packs bought at stores. The 1985 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic from that decade. Let’s take a deep dive into what cards were worth in 1985 according to price guides from that era and analyze how values have changed since.

One of the most well-known price guides from 1985 was The Sport Americana Baseball Card Price Guide. This guide provided estimated values for cards in different conditions, such as mint, excellent, very good, good, and poor. According to this price guide, the most valuable common cards from the 1985 Topps set in mint condition were:

Roger Clemens: $3
Dwight Gooden: $2.50
Don Mattingly: $2
Ryne Sandberg: $1.50
Ozzie Smith: $1.25

Rookie cards and stars from the 1980s held much of the value. Older legends from the 1960s were also highly sought after. Some examples of high values from other sets in the 1985 price guide included:

1966 Hank Aaron rookie: $50 mint
1964 Mickey Mantle: $25 mint
1968 Willie Mays: $15 mint
1959 Roberto Clemente rookie: $12 mint
1971 Reggie Jackson rookie: $10 mint

Of course, the most valuable baseball cards were the true gems such as legendary rookies from the 1950s. In the 1985 guide, cards like the following commanded premium prices:

1952 Mickey Mantle rookie: $500 mint
1954 Willie Mays rookie: $250 mint
1956 Sandy Koufax rookie: $150 mint
1957 Hank Aaron rookie: $100 mint
1958 Ernie Banks rookie: $75 mint

Naturally, as time went on, condition was critical to hold or increase a card’s value. This is why the price guide provided estimated values for cards in various states of preservation. A mint card could be worth 5-10 times as much as one graded as “poor.”

Now, fast forwarding to today in 2022, how have baseball card values, especially from 1985, changed over the past 37 years? Here are the current estimated prices for some of the top cards from 1985 and other eras based on sales data from platforms like PWCC and eBay:

1985 Roger Clemens: $10-15 mint
1985 Dwight Gooden: $8-12 mint
1985 Don Mattingly: $6-10 mint
1985 Ryne Sandberg: $4-8 mint
1985 Ozzie Smith: $3-6 mint

As for the older legends, prices have risen significantly:

1966 Hank Aaron rookie: $2,000-3,000 mint
1964 Mickey Mantle: $1,000-1,500 mint
1968 Willie Mays: $500-800 mint
1959 Roberto Clemente rookie: $400-600 mint
1971 Reggie Jackson rookie: $300-500 mint

And the true vintage gems command astronomical prices today:

1952 Mickey Mantle rookie: $2-4 million mint
1954 Willie Mays rookie: $600,000-1 million mint
1956 Sandy Koufax rookie: $150,000-250,000 mint
1957 Hank Aaron rookie: $50,000-100,000 mint
1958 Ernie Banks rookie: $30,000-50,000 mint

While 1985 cards have increased modestly in value, the greatest appreciation has been seen in vintage cards from the 1950s and 1960s. Rookie cards and stars from the early days of Topps dominate the high-end market today. Condition remains paramount, with a mint classic card being worth 100 times more than a worn copy. Baseball cards have proven to be a great long-term investment over the past 37 years since the 1985 price guide.

1985 TOPPS SUPER BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1985 Topps Super Baseball set was a unique and innovative sports card release from Topps during the mid-1980s. At a time when most card sets featured the same standard dimension and design from year to year, Topps broke the mold in 1985 with Super-sized cards that stood out from the pack.

Measuring a whopping 3 1/2 inches by 5 inches each, the 1985 Topps Super cards were significantly larger than the typical 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch dimensions that had been the standard for decades. This made for cards with over 50% more surface area to include graphics, photos and statistics. Along with the increased physical size, the Super cards also featured die-cut outlines and innovative multi-layer designs unlike anything seen before in baseball cards.

Inside packs and boxes of 1985 Topps, collectors found both the traditional smaller cards as well as these Supers scattered throughout. In total, there were 80 larger Super cards produced that year which captured some of baseball’s biggest stars and best moments from the 1984 season. Some of the featured players included Ryne Sandberg, Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, Roberto Alomar and Ricky Henderson. Iconic teams like the 1984 Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres who won their divisions that year were also highlighted.

In addition to larger photos and more stats, the Super cards introduced a distinctive embedded layer under the thin protective film on top. This secondary layer contained additional imagery, facts or highlights that were only revealed by tilting the card at different angles in the light. Some innovative designs also incorporated die-cut windows or openings in the card stock itself to peek at bonus content underneath. This lent an entire new element of interactivity and discovery for collectors examining their Super collection.

While initially popular with collectors excited by the novelty, the unconventional large size and multi-layered designs of the 1985 Topps Super cards did prove challenging from a practical standpoint. They did not fit as easily into traditional card storing systems like sheets, boxes and albums designed around the long-standing smaller dimensions. The extra layers and die-cuts increased the risk of damage from creasing or penetrating the card over time compared to the basic single thick stock of typical issues.

As the 1980s progressed, Topps attempted several more Super-sized large format issues in 1986 and 1987, but they ultimately proved to be a passing fad rather than revolutionizing the mainstream of the baseball card market. The 1985 Topps Super set remains an influential early experiment that pushed creative boundaries and showcased Topps’ willingness to break from the norms to attract collectors looking for something fresh and different during the heyday of the original sportscard boom era. Today, high quality preserved examples from the unique 1985 Topps Super release remain a nostalgic novelty prize for collectors and a distinctive chapter in the history of baseball cards.

MOST EXPENSIVE 1985 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1985 Topps baseball card set marked a turning point in the hobby. With stars like Don Mattingly, Dwight Gooden, and Cal Ripken Jr. hitting their primes, 1985 Topps cards featured some of the biggest names in the game during the peak of the trading card boom era. Not surprisingly, the most coveted and valuable rookie and star cards from the ’85 Topps set have grown tremendously in desirability and price over the past 30+ years.

Perhaps the most famous and iconic card from the 1985 Topps set is the rookie card of New York Mets phenom Dwight Gooden. Known simply as “Doc,” Gooden burst onto the scene in 1984, winning Rookie of the Year and setting MLB records with a mind-boggling 276 strikeouts. His stellar rookie campaign was followed by an even better 1985 season where he won 24 games and the NL Cy Young award while leading the Mets to a World Series title.

All of this success and hype as arguably the best young pitcher in baseball was perfectly captured on Gooden’s ’85 Topps rookie card. Features a classic headshot of the young fireballer with his bold staring gaze, blue and orange Mets colors popping in the background. In gem mint condition, Gooden’s rookie card has shattered records, selling for over $100,000 at auction multiple times in recent years. Even well-centered, sharp near-mint copies can fetch $10,000+.

Another uber-valuable rookie card from the 1985 Topps set belongs to Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, known as “The Big Hurt” due to his mammoth home runs. Thomas broke in with the White Sox in 1990 and immediately established himself as one of the game’s most feared power hitters. He would go on to have a Hall of Fame career hitting over 500 homers while capturing two MVP awards.

Thomas’ rookie card features him in the familiar White Sox uniform from his early years. High-grade copies in mint condition have recently sold for $50,000+, a staggering price for a non-“Gem Mint PSA 10” baseball card. Even well-centered near-mint copies can sell for $5,000 or more due to his proven superstar career and the card’s bright White Sox colors and design which have endured for decades.

While Gooden and Thomas laid claim to two of the most valuable rookie cards, other stars nearly eclipsed them including Don Mattingly’s iconic card. The smooth-swinging Yankee first baseman was on his way to six straight All-Star appearances and an MVP award in 1985 while capturing the hearts of fans nationwide with his effortless lefty swing.

His ’85 Topps card is one of the most aesthetically pleasing from the entire set, with Mattingly’s wide smile popping against the classic Yankee pinstripes. High-grade copies have sold for up to $30,000 but more commonly trade hands in the $10-15K range. Even well-centered near-mint copies command $3-5K due to his legend and status as one of the game’s most beloved performers.

Baltimore Oriole superstar Cal Ripken Jr also debuted in the memorable 1985 Topps set. While he didn’t achieve true superstardom until a few years later, Ripken put the hobby on notice by breaking in with the O’s in 1981 at a very young age. His rookie card presents a clean-shaven Ripken crouched in the Orioles’ away gray jersey with classic high socks.

Graded mint copies have sold at auction for $20,000+, but more average near-mint or excellent-mint copies trade for $5-10K. Like Mattingly, Ripken broke numerous records and forged an incredible career at shortstop that has cemented him as one of the sport’s all-time greats. His enduring popularity keeps demand high for this early card from a player who broke in as a teenager but went on to even greater heights in the years that followed.

While the four future Hall of Famers above eclipse their peers in terms of raw auction prices, there are other highly coveted and valuable stars featured prominently in the ’85 Topps set as well. Cardinals superstar Jack Clark smashes a laser home run on his card, the perfect encapsulation of his prodigious raw power that made him a perennial 30+ homer slugger. High-grade Clark rookies can net $5,000.

In the same mold, Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco poses with his classic muscled physique on his rookie, perfectly foreshadowing his 40/40 history-making 1986 season. Look for a gem mint Canseco to clear $4,000. And don’t sleep on Yankees ace Dave Righetti’s card, which shoots upwards of $4,000 for a pristine copy as well due to his dominant seasons as New York’s stopper in the mid-80s.

Beyond the starring rookies and all-stars, certain uncommon parallels and inserts from the vast 792-card 1985 Topps set also hold huge appeal. The elusive “Traded” parallel subset features members of notable trades from 1984, including Gary Ward (Cal/Tor) and Lee Lacy (Hou/Cin). These scarce parallel cards can reach $1,000 in mint condition. And who could forget fan-favorite oddballs like strikeout leader cards or the elusive Manager cards that spotted the likes of Whitey Herzog and Bill Virdon? High-grade variants from these subsets have been six figures.

In the over 35 years since their original release, the allure and mystique around the most coveted cards from the iconic 1985 Topps baseball set has grown exponentially. Names like Gooden, Thomas, Mattingly, Ripken Jr and others not only graced the cards but went on to cemented legendary big league careers. For collectors, these classic rookie cards and stars’ earliest Topps issues represent tangible nostalgia from a golden era of the hobby during the sport’s mid-80s peak. As a result, condition-sensitive seven-figure prices may be realized for true pristine gems from this remembered cardboard keystone in the years ahead.

The 1985 Topps baseball card set holds a hallowed place in the hearts of collectors due to the all-time great players, rookie stars, and nostalgia from the peak era it captures. Cards like Gooden, Thomas, Mattingly, and Ripken Jr.’s rookies have become arguably the most desirable and investment-worthy cardboard in the entire collecting universe. After 35+ years, prices have grown exponentially due to the proven excellence of these players’ careers and the set’s status as a true touchstone of the hobby. For these reasons, ’85 Topps will always be remembered as truly the greatest and most valuable set of the modern trading card era.

TOPPS 1985 BASEBALL CARDS

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The Topps 1985 baseball card set was a major release that commemorated the midpoint of a memorable decade in Major League Baseball. Issued at the height of the card collecting boom in the 1980s, the 1985 Topps cards featured photos and stats for all big league players from the 1984 season. They remained popular with collectors for years and retain significant nostalgic value even today for those who grew up with the cards.

1984 had been a memorable season that saw the Detroit Tigers win the World Series, led by future Hall of Famers Alan Trammell and Jack Morris. Topps photographers captured images of all the stars from that campaign and beyond, preserving the iconic players and teams of the era for collectors. The set totaled 700 cards as usual for Topps standard releases at the time. Several popular subsets and special cards added to the appeal.

Noteworthy rookies included future stars like Dwight Gooden, Ozzie Smith, and Kirby Puckett. Gooden in particular was one of the top pitching prospects in memory and living up to incredible hype with an outstanding debut season for the New York Mets. His striking rookie card and monster stats made it a highly sought-after piece for collectors even before his Hall of Fame career played out.

Some of the most visually striking cards came from Topps’ Traded set, which featured players who had been traded or dealt in the offseason. These cards usually pictured players in the uniforms of their new teams prior to the upcoming 1985 season. Star exchanges like Rickey Henderson going from the Oakland A’s to the New York Mets were captured here. There was also the traditional Team Leaders subset showcasing the top performers in key stats from the past season.

Another popular insert was the All-Star Card subset. This highlighted one player from each major league franchise who had been selected to the 1984 MLB All-Star Game. Signing on these cards further increased their desirability. The League Leaders cards spotlighted the statistical champs from ’84 in categories like batting average, home runs, RBIs, wins, saves and more. These subsets within the base set added diverse angles for collectors to pursue.

Condition issues have been relatively kinder to the 1985 release versus some other vintage offerings. The basic production values were sturdy without many problematic oddball stock quirks that could cause problems. Toploaders and sleeves were not as widely used at the time of course but sufficiently cared for examples still look fairly crisp nearly 40 years later. Centering, ink blotches or surface issues are much less daunting grading factors compared to sets from the 1960s bubble gum era.

Beyond the flagship Topps offering, competitors Donruss and Fleer issued their own 1985 baseball card sets as well to compete for collectors. However, Topps remained the definitive must-have for serious players due to its superior distribution and variety of chase cards. The brand had gained an established stronghold on the market that kept it as the sport’s iconic trading card issuer year after year.

Another factor was price – for under $1 per pack, Topps delivered more bang for your buck than rivals charging a premium. Considering the popularity of the cards as affordable entertainment for kids, availability and pricing held tremendous weight. Budget-minded collectors could more easily complete the Topps flagship set of 700+ versus the higher-priced competitors with fewer cards.

Today, the 1985 Topps set is one of the most memorable and prized of the entire 1980s run for good reason. Its historical juncture captured some iconic players and teams on the rise or in their primes. Pristine gem mint 10 examples of stars like Gooden and Henderson easily fetch hundreds on the resale market. PSA and BGS have graded thousands of these vintage cards over the decades as the surviving supply has largely been lovingly preserved. The designs and photos evoke the pure fun and nostalgia many felt flipping through their collections as kids in the bubble era. As a finely crafted piece of baseball memorabilia and American pop culture history, the 1985 Topps release endures strongly.Here is an 18,000+ character piece on Topps 1985 baseball cards:

The Topps baseball card set released in 1985 marked a turning point in the hobby. Production had peaked in the early 1980s and the industry was going through major changes that would affect card designs and collections for decades to come.

Released in March 1985, the Topps set included 792 total cards. This included photos of 756 major and minor league players, manager and coach cards, a record 18 league leaders cards highlighting top single-season stats, Team Leaders cards showing the best players for each franchise, and specialty cards like Future Stars and All-Starsubsets.

The design aesthetic embraced a simple and clean look compared to some of the more ornate sets from earlier in the decade. A solid color banner ran across the top with the team logo and player’s name printed in white text. Statistics appeared on the rear along with the standard “In Action” photos. Paper stock and graininess were improvements over some 1980s issues as production quality was a renewed focus.

1985 also marked the final set where every MLB team was included before exhibition and teams were trimmed starting in 1986. Notable rookies in the set included Barry Bonds, Wally Joyner, Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and more who all went on to Hall of Fame careers. Stars of the day like Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt, and Roger Clemens graced the cards in the primes of their playing days.

Upper Deck, which would revolutionize the industry starting in 1989, had not yet entered the scene. But the seeds of change were being sown as collectors began demanding more premium products with enhanced photography and autographs. Exclusive licensing deals between the MLBPA and card manufacturers also shifted the businessmodel going forward.

The ’85 set is still prized by collectors today for its historical significance in marking a transitional period. Complete sets in pristine near-mint or better condition still command high prices on the secondary market. Top rookie cards like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire from this issue routinely trade for thousands of dollars in top grades when they surface at auction.

Supply and demand dynamics impact pricing as well. The huge production numbers from the early 1980s mean sets from that era aren’t as scarce. But the ’85 Topps cards also pre-dated the collector boom of the late 80s/90s when significantly fewer boxes were opened, making pristine copies harder to find intact today.

In the mid-1980s, the baseball card landscape was evolving quickly on multiple fronts. Two key NBA licenses were lost in 1984 and 1985 putting financial stress on Topps. Corporate lawsuits between the sports card companies also played out publicly. Retail outlets had vast overstocks they needed to clear out after the speculation frenzy died down.

The 1985 Topps offering captures a watershed moment when changes in player contracts, licensing deals, and new competition from companies like Fleer and Donruss were beginning to challenge Topps’ long-held monopoly. Rather than cashing in on fads or gimmicks, the set took a simplified aesthetic approach. It demonstrated Topps’ enduring ability to produce a complete MLB snapshot for collectors through times of transition.

As one of the final standard “setup” issues before multi-player cards and oddball parallels proliferated hobby in the ’90s boom, the ’85 set retains a straightforward charm. Its roster freeze-framed a who’s who of stars and future Hall of Famers in that snapshot of the game. Simply put, it was the last classic Topps MLB set produced under the old model before business realities ushered in major evolutions across the board. Today it continues to be recognized as one of the storied annual issues in the company’s long and illustrious run as the industry’s gold standard.

The 1985 Topps baseball card set stands out for documenting a period of change within the sport card industry. It captured the tail end of Topps’ baseball monopoly before new competitors like Fleer and innovative products from Upper Deck disrupted the market. Rookies like Bonds and McGwire added to the set’s nostalgia while veterans exemplified the era. Simple design embraced the basics at a transitional time. Scarcity, condition and historical context make complete ’85 Topps sets highly valuable collector items decades later. It serves as a reminder of how quickly the industry evolved after hitting its commercial peak in the early 1980s.

BASEBALL CARDS FROM 1985

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Baseball cards from 1985 provide a fascinating snapshot of the game during a transitional period. The 1985 baseball season was marked by several notable events and featured future Hall of Famers still in their prime. Let’s take a deeper look at the baseball card landscape and key happenings from 1985.

The 1985 baseball season saw Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees lead the American League with a .324 batting average as he continued his rise to stardom. Meanwhile, in the National League, Willie McGee of the St. Louis Cardinals captured the batting title at .353. Looking through 1985 baseball cards, you’ll find Mattingly and McGee prominently featured as they were two of the game’s top hitters that year. Other offensive standouts prominently featured in the 1985 baseball card crop included Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs, who slammed 49 home runs and stole 50 bases on his way to being named NL MVP.

Defensively, Ozzie Smith of the Cardinals continued to dazzle at shortstop and was among the most coveted players in 1985 card sets. Smith’s defensive wizardry, which he flaunted on highlight reels all season long, made him a fan favorite. On the mound, Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets emerged as the most dominant pitcher in baseball. Gooden, just 20 years old in 1985, went 24-4 with a sparkling 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts to earn NL Cy Young honors. His rookie card from 1984 remains one of the most valuable of all time.

Some of the more prominent card manufacturers in 1985 included Topps, Donruss, Fleer and Score. Topps reigned supreme and continued to produce the most widely distributed and desired baseball cards during this era. Their 1985 set featured the usual design elements fans had come to expect, including player photos on the front with stats on the back. Donruss offered a more colorful and graphic design compared to Topps. Fleer and Score tried to keep pace but lacked Topps’ distribution strength.

The mid-1980s marked the peak of the baseball card bubble before the market crashed. Cards were hot commodities that could be collected and traded much like stocks. The 1985 cards reflected this boom period, with manufacturers pumping out inserts, parallels and oddball sets to feed the frenzy. Topps even produced the short-printed “Traded” series that was almost impossible to pull from packs but highly sought after. The overproduction of cards during this time would ultimately lead to a collapse in values.

1985 was an eventful season in terms of franchise relocations and ballpark changes. The Oakland Athletics moved from Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum to a new stadium in Oakland, the RingCentral Coliseum. The San Diego Padres left old San Diego Stadium for the brand new Jack Murphy Stadium, which would later be renamed Qualcomm Stadium. The Texas Rangers also debuted a new stadium, opening The Ballpark in Arlington, now known as Globe Life Field. These stadium changes are reflected on 1985 baseball cards through unique photo-variations showing players in their new ballpark environments.

Some other notable events from the 1985 season included Pete Rose of the Reds getting his 4,000th career hit and Tony Gwynn having a breakout season for the Padres, hitting .351 in his second full year. Future Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and George Brett were still in the twilight of their careers but among the most popular players featured. The 1985 World Series saw the Kansas City Royals defeat the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three, capturing their first championship. Bret Saberhagen was named World Series MVP.

In summary, 1985 baseball cards provide a fascinating look back at the game during a boom period. Stars like Gooden, Mattingly, and McGee were featured prominently as they dominated on the field. Icons like Smith, Rose, and Brett remained highly coveted veterans. The mid-80s also saw franchise moves and stadium debuts that are reflected in unique photographic variations. While overproduction would later crash the market, 1985 cards captured a special time when the hobby was at its peak of popularity. For collectors and fans of 80s baseball, cards from 1985 continue to be a fun way to reminisce about the season and players.

TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 1985

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Topps baseball cards were a huge part of the hobby in 1985. The iconic brand released several different standard and specialty sets that year that baseball card collectors far and wide scrambled to collect. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most noteworthy Topps card releases from 1985 and the key details collectors should know.

The standard 1985 Topps baseball card set numbered 660 cards as usual. This set stands out for several reasons. First, it marked Don Mattingly’s first Topps rookie card after winning the American League batting title and Rookie of the Year award in 1984 with the Yankees. Mattingly’s popular rookie jumped in value dramatically over the years. Second, it contained the final cards for several all-time great players like Gaylord Perry, Willie McCovey, Bill Madlock and Vida Blue, who all retired after 1984. It was also the last Topps set to feature current players’ signatures on every card.

In addition to the base set, Topps released several specialty subsets in 1985 that added to the excitement. One was the ’75 Topps Tribute’ subset honoring the 10-year anniversary of the iconic 1975 Topps design. It featured 25 player cards recreating the ’75 look including Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Rod Carew. Another was ‘Topps All-Stars’ which presented 25 career highlights of stars in a vertical photo format including Mike Schmidt’s 500th home run. ‘Topps Traded’ also debuted in 1985 with 81 black-bordered traded player cards after midseason transactions.

The highlight of the 1985 Topps offerings was undoubtedly the ‘Topps Traded & Rookies’ insert set. Included one per pack on a special gray card, it featured rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Barry Larkin, Rickey Henderson, Dwight Gooden and Andy Van Slyke. Mark McGwire’s rookie from this set is among the most coveted and expensive of his career. The ‘Traded & Rookies’ cards brought another layer of excitement to the hobby with their elusive short prints and highly-sought rookie stars.

Topps also issued several innovative specialty sets beyond the standard. ‘Topps Super Spectaculars’ was an oddball set of players in unique posed action or portrait shots on larger 3 1/2 x 5 inches mini cards. ‘Topps Laser’ used an embossed foil process on player and team logos. And ‘Topps Sticker Materials’ inserted 5 foil sticker cards per pack depicting team logos and player images. Topps even tried their hand at non-sport cards with ‘Topps Traxx’, a 125-card set featuring locomotives, boats and other vehicles licensed from Ideal Toy Company.

Perhaps the most iconic Topps release of 1985 though was the much-anticipated ‘Topps Tiffany’. Only 3,000 sets were printed on high-quality card stock with a regal blueish gray border and wrapper. Each serialized 100-card set contained a autographed photo of Don Mattingly and proved extremely scarce. Still sealed Tiffany sets from 1985 today sell for thousands.

While it disappeared after 1985, ‘Topps ProCards’ experimented as the first MLB-licensed Pro Set brand. Its simple red design featured MLBPA logos and was popular at the time. Upper Deck would rise to prominence later but Topps dominated the baseball card landscape in 1985 with these amazing standard and insert sets that are still fondly remembered by collectors today. Key rookies, final cards and innovative approaches made the 1985 Topps offerings a true high point in the company’s rich history.

In summary, 1985 was a banner year for Topps baseball cards that featured many iconic and pioneering releases. From the standard set to inserts like ‘Traded & Rookies’ and premium editions such as ‘Topps Tiffany,’ Topps pushed the hobby to new creative heights. Legendary rookies, final cards and innovative concepts made the 1985 Topps offerings truly special and memorable for collectors. Even decades later, cards from 1985 Topps sets remain highly collectible and help tell the stories of that generation of baseball greats.

1985 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET

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The 1985 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable complete sets from the golden era of the 1980s. Issued annually by Topps, the 1985 edition marked the 54th year of production for the popular trading card brand. The set consists of 792 total cards including base cards, manager cards, and special insert cards. It features all 26 Major League Baseball teams from 1984 along with retired legends and rookie stars.

Some key things to know about the 1985 Topps complete set include:

Design: The design featured a simple team logo at the top with the player’s name and position below. Statistics from the 1984 season were included on the back. The border was colored to match each team. This basic yet classic design scheme remained largely unchanged for Topps sets throughout the 1980s.

Roster: All teams included their full 25-man active roster as of opening day 1985. Notable rookies included Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Roger Clemens. Legendary players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax received “retired” cards as well.

Short Prints: The set included several short printed cards that were much harder to find in packs than the base cards. Some of the key short prints were Don Mattingly’s base card, Nolan Ryan’s Astros card, and Ozzie Smith’s Cardinals card. These scarce cards are highly valuable to collectors today.

Star Cards: Players like Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, Dwight Gooden, and Kirby Puckett had some of the most visually striking and desirable cards in the set due to their on-field success and popularity. Their mint condition rookie or star cards can fetch thousands today.

Insert Cards: In addition to the base roster, the 1985 set included 22 special “Traded” cards showing players who were dealt to new teams mid-season in 1984. Highlights included Dave Parker, Rick Sutcliffe, and Gary Ward.

Managers: As was customary, Topps issued cards featuring all 26 big league managers from 1984, including legends Sparky Anderson, Whitey Herzog, and Dick Williams.

Checklist Card: The traditional checklist card was #770, serving as a guide for collectors to ensure they obtained all other cards in the set. This is a key card for any complete 1985 Topps collection.

Upon its release, the 1985 set was sold in wax packs, factory sets, and rack packs at stores across America and abroad. While production numbers were high overall, demand was huge among the collector base of young boys in the 1980s. As a result, many of the star cards and short prints were pulled early and have remained scarce ever since.

Grading and preservation became much more common for sports cards starting in the late 1980s as the hobby really took off. As a result, high-grade copies of key 1985 rookie and star cards are extremely difficult to acquire. Even in EX-MT condition, complete sets with several highly graded cards can fetch thousands of dollars today. Pristine mint sets in the 9.0-10.0 BGS or PSA range regularly sell for $5,000 or more when they surface at auction.

For advanced collectors, assembling a true gem mint 1985 Topps set in the highest available grades is considered a true achievement and can take years to complete through careful hunting, patience, and deep pockets. Subsets of just the star rookie cards or select teams can also carry substantial value.

The lasting popularity, design simplicity, and abundance of stars have kept the 1985 Topps baseball card set firmly entrenched as one of the most iconic issues from the golden era. Its widespread distribution also means examples remain obtainable for most collectors, whether seeking affordable common cards, key stars, or the elusive quest of attaining a pristine graded complete set. Over 35 years later, the 1985 Topps cards retain their nostalgic appeal and strong collectible demand.

1985 TOPPS BASEBALL VALUABLE CARDS

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The 1985 Topps baseball card set is highly sought after by collectors due to several scarce and valuable rookie cards that were issued that year. The 1985 set marked Topps’ 32nd year of producing baseball cards and contains 792 total cards issued in wax packs, boxes, and factory sets. Several key rookie cards from the 1985 season, including the debuts of Hall of Famers and all-time great players, make certain cards from this set extremely valuable today.

One of the most coveted and expensive 1985 Topps cards is the Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card. Ripken went on to have a Hall of Fame career primarily with the Baltimore Orioles, winning two American League MVP awards and being regarded as one of the most durable players ever. His rookie card, which depicts him batting from the left side, has a photo negative variation that is the key to its high value. Graded gem mint PSA 10 examples of Ripken’s 1985 Topps rookie card routinely sell for well over $10,000. Even lower graded copies still command prices in the hundreds to low thousands.

Dwight Gooden’s rookie card from the 1985 set is another extremely valuable issue due to his dominance as a power pitcher very early in his career. Gooden won both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young award in 1984 and is pictured on his Topps rookie wearing a New York Mets uniform. Higher graded PSA 10 versions of Gooden’s 1985 Topps rookie have broken the $10,000 price barrier as well due to his great success right out of the gate. Like Ripken, even lower quality Gooden rookie cards still hold value for collectors and flippers.

While not a true rookie card since he debuted in 1984, the Don Mattingly 1985 Topps card marked his first appearance in the regular Topps flagship set. Mattingly went on to have a fine career mainly with the Yankees and won the American League MVP award in 1985. His iconic photo and later superstar status make this one of the most notable cards from the 1985 run. High grade Mattingly rookies can reach $4,000-$5,000 depending on condition.

Another highly valued rookie from 1985 was skater Ozzie Smith of the San Diego Padres. Known by the nickname “The Wizard” for his incredible defensive skills at shortstop, Smith enjoyed a long Hall of Fame career. His 1985 Topps rookie card usually sells in the $2,000-$3,000 range for top PSA 10 quality. Even lower graded versions still demand four-figure sums.

While the above mentioned rookies lead the pack, there are some other key 1985 Topps player cards that can surpass $1,000 depending on condition for the true star players of the era. Cardinals first baseman Keith Hernandez and Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz both have iconic rookies from this issue that sell well above 1k for pristine specimens. Star veterans like Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mario Soto and Houston Astros outfielder Jose Cruz have popular issue cards in demand from the 1985 set.

The 1985 Topps set overall remains a very collectible vintage release for baseball fans. While the flagship rookie cards dominate the high-end prices, there are also notable short prints and error variants that can significantly boost the values of regular player cards too. For example, the Steve Carlton short print error card where the player photo is shifted left is quite valuable and collectible. Even run-of-the-mill common cards for iconic players of the time period still retain demand and nostalgia appeal for investors and aficionados of the era. This set marked the true beginning of desirable rookie cards that hold value for modern collectors. Examples can still regularly be found in bargain boxes and group lots to this day as well.

The 1985 Topps baseball card set remains a highly coveted vintage release due to the appearance of several future Hall of Fame rookie cards like Cal Ripken Jr., Dwight Gooden, and Ozzie Smith. These debut cards routinely command huge premiums over other issues when pristine specimens surface. While other star players like Don Mattingly and Keith Hernandez have valuable issue cards too, the true blue chip rookie cards dominate the highest prices for this classic Topps set from over 35 years ago. The longevity of value retention for these iconic cardboard issue cards from 1985 is a true testament to how powerful and nostalgic sports collecting can be as a whole.