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WHAT ARE JUNK WAX BASEBALL CARDS

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Junk wax baseball cards refer to the mass-produced collectible baseball cards that were produced and released in enormous numbers from the mid-1980s until the early 1990s. This time period marked a huge boom in the sports card industry as modern production and printing techniques allowed card manufacturers like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss to mass produce cards at unprecedented levels.

The overproduction and saturation of the market led to a glut of cards being released that has resulted in most from this era having very little value today. Hence, they became commonly referred to as “junk wax” cards. During the junk wax era, card companies were focused more on continuing to sign new licensing deals and pumping out as many new card designs, sets, and variations as possible rather than paying attention to issues like scarcity, quality control, or the longterm collectibility of the cards.

Some key indicators that point to why junk wax baseball cards have ended up being less desirable from a collector standpoint include the sheer number of cards released during this time. For example, in 1989 Topps released 792 different baseball cards as part of its flagship set alone. This was more than double the amount from just a few years prior. Card quality suffered and many print runs were sloppy with issues like poor centering, color variations, and printing errors being fairly common among junk wax era cards.

Perhaps the biggest reason these cards have lost value was simply overproduction and an inability by the card companies to properly gauge consumer demand. Print runs during the junk wax era often numbered in the hundreds of millions or even billions of individual cards for some of the bigger sets. With so many of certain cards available, there was no perceived scarcity to help maintain interest. Upper Deck came along in 1989 and is considered by many the end of the junk wax era as they adopted stricter quality controls and much smaller print runs.

Some key sets that exemplified the junk wax era and are still quite plentiful today include 1987 Topps, 1988 Donruss, 1989 Upper Deck, 1990 Score, and 1991 Fleer. Ripping open unopened boxes or packs from this period almost always results in rows of very familiar and easily obtained players. Superstar sluggers like Ken Griffey Jr. or Barry Bonds that were rookies during this era can often be obtained for just a dollar or even less depending on the specific card.

The economics of the trading card business also contributed greatly to the problems associated with junk wax. Distribution deals with retailers often involved “stickers” or sealed case bonuses being thrown in as marketing incentives. This served to further saturate the market as stores would rip these bonus boxes open and put even more individual packs on shelves. The rise of discount outlets like Walmart creating a race to the bottom on prices also did not help with long term collectibility.

While the junk wax era created a collectibles bubble that burst, there are still some cards that appreciate in value or have withstood the test of time. Rare error variations, special parallel or autographed versions, and outstanding rookie cards of all-time greats like Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera are examples of singles that maintain collector interest despite coming from otherwise junk wax sets. For the most part, boxes or stacks of unopened 1988 Fleer, 1991 Score, or 1990 Upper Deck packs will not yield big profit potential like earlier and later eras in the history of baseball card production. Thanks to the sheer abundance produced, junk wax cards remain aptly named as being of far lesser collector interest and value today compared to most other baseball cards.

The junk wax era from the mid-1980s to early 1990s represented the peak of an unsustainable sports card boom brought on by new technology and licenses. Massive overproduction far exceeding fan demand resulted in most baseball cards from this period having very little resale value today. While an interesting time capsule of players and designs, junk wax cards are generally only of interest to specialized collectors rather than being a mainstream set worth high premiums like issues produced pre-1986 or post-1991.

WHAT IS THE JUNK WAX ERA OF BASEBALL CARDS

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The junk wax era refers to the boom in baseball card production between 1987-1994 when the baseball card industry greatly overproduced cards, lowering their values. During this era, card manufacturers would mass produce cards with the assumption that demand would keep up. This ultimately led to an oversupply of cards in the marketplace that were essentially worthless compared to older and more scarce vintage cards.

The junk wax era began in 1987 when sports card company Fleer was able to sign a licensing deal with Major League Baseball, breaking the monopoly Topps had long held on official MLB cards. This opened the door for much larger production runs by multiple companies all seeking to cash in on the booming baseball card market. In the late 1980s, interest in collecting sports cards was at an all-time high, fueled by the rising prices vintage cards were fetching. Meanwhile, companies like Donruss and Score also entered the baseball card market around this time, further increasing production.

Card manufacturers would sign multi-year contracts with MLB and players’ unions that gave them rights to produce massive numbers of cards each year. For example, in 1987 Topps’ contract allowed them to produce over 1 billion total cards over a five-year period. Donruss and Score also had deals allowing hundreds of millions of cards to be made annually. Producers would then err on the side of overproduction to try and meet what they thought was insatiable demand.

While interest was high in the late 80s, demand could not keep pace with the unfettered increases in baseball card output. Sets from 1987-1991 featured basic uniform shot cardboard cards that had no long-term appeal to collectors. By 1991, the bubble had already started to burst as production kept skyrocketing but interest began to level off. Companies like Score and Donruss went out of business due to overproduction while Fleer and Topps fire-sold excess inventory overseas.

Two key factors accelerated the junk wax crash. In 1992, baseball went through an offseason marked by a labor dispute that led to salary arbitration and free agency being limited. Interest in the game waned some that year. Another issue was the rise of expensive limited premium hobby boxes in the early 90s that contained rare parallel or autograph “hits.” These stole consumer dollars that may have otherwise gone to regular wax packs and boxes.

Through the early 90s, overproduction created a massive worldwide surplus of modern baseball cards with little intrinsic value. By 1994, the market was irretrievably flooded with readily available mainstream cards. Sets like 1993 Upper Deck, 1994 Stadium Club, and 1994 Pinnacle had print runs numbering in the billions. Stores had trouble even unloading wax boxes and rack packs at deep discounts. The junk wax era crash devastated the sports card industry and left many late 80s/early 90s cards nearly worthless compared to their cover prices.

It took years for trust in the baseball card market to be regained after the junk wax era, as speculators and investors were left burned. PSA/BGS grading also started taking off at this time, allowing collectors to independently verify condition and authenticity of older vintage cards they were putting significant money into. Today, most junk wax era cardboard holds little value and is not widely collected. Rare error cards, short prints, or stars’ rookie cards from this period can still attract attention from niche collectors. Unchecked overproduction and busted consumer speculation defined the rise and fall of the junk wax era in the late 80s/early 90s trading card market.

WHAT IS THE JUNK ERA OF BASEBALL CARDS

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In the mid-1980s, the baseball card industry was booming as collecting gained mainstream popularity. People of all ages were fascinated with trying to build complete sets from the various card companies like Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. Seeing the profit potential, card manufacturers dramatically increased production totals to meet the growing demand. They went overboard in their pursuit of profit.

From 1987 to 1991, the yearly production of baseball cards skyrocketed. In 1986, around 1 billion baseball cards were produced total by all companies. But just a year later in 1987, total production soared to around 4 billion cards. Fleer produced 1.8 billion cards for its 1987 set alone, which was more than 10 times the amount of any previous release. And this boom in production continued every year, with 1988 seeing 3.7 billion cards, 1989 seeing 3.5 billion, 1990 seeing 4.2 billion, and 1991 seeing over 7 billion cards produced.

On the surface, the increased production yielded profits in the short term for card companies. With enormous print runs, the cards were mass produced on cheaper pulp paper with less vibrant photos and no logos or licenses from the MLBPA. This meant the companies’ costs were lower and demand seemed insatiable at the time, so investors were making big money.

This unprecedented influx of new cardboard greatly diluted the market. More kids had opportunities to complete the common sets each year without trading much at all. And with so many cards being produced, individual cards became less valuable and collecting as a hobby started to decline. Even though it’s estimated around 8 – 10 billion cards were produced and sold in total during the boom, the market was completely saturated.

As the early 1990s went on, it became increasingly apparent the baseball card market bubble had burst. With so many virtually identical cards in circulation, people lost interest in buying pack after pack or box after box to find stars. What was once a robust trading industry between kids became a game of dealing in bulk common duplicates. The perception of cards as an investment also dwindled as new issues provided no scarcity. This crash devastated the sports collecting industry for years.

By 1991, the card bubble had officially popped. Retailers were stuck with massive inventories of unsold product. Many stores purged their shelves by selling wax boxes containing entire uncracked wax packs for just a few dollars in clearance sales. Even that wasn’t enough to move all the excess inventory. Millions upon millions of unopened packs and boxes ended up in thrift stores, dollar stores, and dumped in landfills across America.

Many major retailers like Walmart and Kmart pulled baseball cards from their shelves altogether after suffering big losses. The sports card industry as a whole lost around 80% of its total market value between 1991-1993. Topps lost around $60 million in 1990-1991 alone and was forced to downsize its baseball card operation dramatically. Fleer went bankrupt in 1991 amid massive unsold inventory.

It took the baseball card market nearly the entire 1990s to recover from the aftermath of the junk wax era boom. Strict production limits were imposed for companies like Topps going forward. Rare parallel and short printed “chase” cards were introduced in the late 90s to recreate some scarcity. Slowly but surely, collectors rediscovered the hobby. Today vintage wax from the late 80s boom still fills attics and shelves nationwide, a sobering reminder of the once overinflated market.

While it brought short term profits, the 1980s junk wax era boom created an enormous bubble that spectacularly burst. Card companies got greedy and diluted the market beyond repair through mass saturation. It decimated the industry and left a generation of kids with mountains of virtually worthless cardboard. Production is still controlled closely today as a direct response to the market lesson of those bubble years. The junk wax era is a cautionary tale about how fast profits can be made and lost.

HOW TO SELL JUNK WAX BASEBALL CARDS

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The late 1980s and early 1990s was the peak of the baseball card market, known as the “junk wax era”, when billions of cards were produced and distributed. While most cards from this era hold very little monetary value today, there are still some ways you can make a few dollars off your old cardboard collections.

The first step is to go through your boxes or binders of cards and sort them by player and year. Make stacks for rookie cards, stars, and any others that might have recognizable names from that era. Then, do some online research to see if any carry a premium price due to scarce print runs, autographs, or special parallels. Sites like SportsCardPrices.net can give you a general sense of current average market values for individual cards.

Don’t get too excited though – most common Junk Wax era cards are worth just pennies. The mass production killed their scarcity and drove prices into the dirt. Still, there may be a few diamonds in the rough. Rookie cards for emerging stars like Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, or Chipper Jones could fetch $5-20 depending on condition. Super rare promo or error variants could be worth significantly more.

Once you’ve identified any higher end individual cards, it’s time to start listing them for sale online. eBay is generally the best marketplace for trading sports cards due to its large buyer base. Take high quality photos showcasing the front and back of each premium card. Be sure to accurately represent any flaws in the scans. Then, research “sold” listings of similar cards to determine a fair starting price. You may opt for a fixed price or auction format depending on rarity and demand.

When describing your listings, include as many relevant search keywords as possible like player name, team, set, and year to maximize visibility. Ship cards safely in a rigid toploader inside a penny sleeve, then packaged between two sturdy pieces of cardboard for protection in a bubble mailer or box. That way they’ll arrive in the condition sold. Offer combined shipping discounts on multiple purchases too.

The bulk of your Junk Wax cards though will only appeal to theme collectors or those looking to fill out sets at bargain rates. To sell these efficiently, your best options are group lots on eBay, or listing them with online trading card companies that specialize in bulk transactions.

On eBay, assemble common cards by year, team or set into themed lots of 50-100 pieces. Again, focus on complete descriptions and keyword optimization. Pricing is a balance – high enough to be worth your while but low enough to entice buyers cleaning out their collections. $10-50 per lot depending on size is reasonable.

Websites like COMC.com (Cardboard Connection) and TCDB.com let you list thousands of cards at once, paying you periodically based on completed sales. They handle all shipping and customer service. A small listing fee applies but it’s extremely hands-off and can move bulk lots much faster than individually selling on eBay.

With some sorting, research and creative marketing, there’s still an opportunity to put those old boxes of baseball cards to work for you financially. With the nostalgia factor and rising prices in the industry overall, someone will want what you have, no matter how intrinsically “junky” the wax era material may be. It just takes the right buyer and a little effort on your part to find them. So get cracking – there could be cash in those cardboards!

WHAT TO DO WITH JUNK BASEBALL CARDS

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One of the first options to consider is whether any of the cards have collector value, even if they appear to be in poor condition. Sometimes cards from older sets that are not in mint condition can still be worth something to collectors who are willing to accept cards with flaws. It’s worth taking the time to carefully look through the cards, even those in terrible shape, and check recent sales prices online for any rare or valuable cards that may be present. You never know when an otherwise “junk” card could be worth $5, $10 or more due to its players, year, or other factors affecting demand.

If after closely examining the cards there appear to be no cards with any collector interest or monetary value, even considering their condition, then the next best option is to donate them to organizations that can potentially put them to good use even if they are worn or damaged. Baseball card trade and collector shops may accept donations of bulk common cards to use for their redemption programs where customers can trade in dozens of common cards to receive packs, boxes or singles in return. While the shop benefits from the donated cards, this allows the cards to remain circulating among collectors rather than being thrown away.

Local children’s hospitals, youth centers, baseball leagues or baseball card collector clubs are other good options to consider donating junk cards to. Even though the cards themselves may have no resale value, they can still provide enjoyment and entertainment for young collectors, patients or organization members who will appreciate them regardless of condition. Donating the cards ensures they see new life benefiting others rather than being trashed. It’s a good way to potentially encourage future collectors too. Most donation locations will even provide a receipt for tax deduction purposes.

If donation is not feasible, another environmentally-friendly option is to creatively reuse or repurpose the junk cards rather than throwing them in the trash. Ideas include cutting out player photos to make a scrapbook or display, using card fronts/backs as decoration by laminating and mounting on wood, or crafting them into mosaics, frames or unique works of art. The sticky backs could be reused by covering with contact paper to make personalized gift tags, labels or bookmarks. There is potential to get creative and upcycle the cards into new usable items rather than waste.

As a last resort if none of the higher purpose options are suitable, at minimum the cards can be properly recycled rather than trashed. Make sure to check what type of paper waste and number of different recycling facilities accept in your local area, as procedures vary by location. Removing any non-paper wrappers or accessories first is recommended. Paying attention to proper recycling ensures the cards avoid the landfill and are reprocessed into new paper products instead. Responsible recycling should always be considered over throwing items directly in the trash.

Junk baseball cards have multiple higher purpose options rather than simply being discarded. With some effort, even cards in terrible condition may have value to collectors, charities or creative reuse/repurposing projects. Donating, upcycling or properly recycling provides the most environmentally-sound approaches if the cards truly appear to be “junk” quality. Taking the time to consider these alternatives means old baseball cards can avoid the trash and potentially bring enjoyment to others for years to come.

BASEBALL CARDS JUNK WAX ERA

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The junk wax era was a period in baseball card history from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s that was marked by an overproduction of cards which greatly devalued the entire hobby. The overabundance of cards produced during this time has led collectors to refer to them as “junk wax” as the cards held very little value.

The junk wax era was fueled by the rise of mass production and an attempt by card manufacturers to capitalize on the boom in popularity the hobby experienced in the late 1970s and early 1980s following the release of the iconic 1975 Topps set featuring a rookie card of Hall of Famer George Brett. In the early 1980s, the baseball card market was still relatively small with the main producers being Topps and Fleer who released one or two sets per year. As the decade progressed more and more companies entered the market seeking to cash in on the popularity.

One of the first signs of trouble came in 1981 when Donruss entered the market as the first serious competitor to Topps and Fleer. They released green-bordered cards that were of much lower quality paper and printing. This kicked off a trend of declining physical standards that would continue throughout the junk wax era. Then in 1982, Major League Baseball granted licenses to produce cards not just to Topps as they had for decades but also to Fleer and Donruss which opened the floodgates. Suddenly there were multiple producers all competing for consumers and retailers shelf space.

In the mid-1980s, production exploded. In 1985 alone, Topps released 9 different sets including the flagship set as well as oddball issues like Traded and Update sets. Fleer and Donruss also released numerous sets. Meanwhile, smaller producers like Leaf and Score entered the fray. And it wasn’t just standard size cards anymore, as producers released sets in various shapes and sizes from “minis” to giant photo cards. The quality continued to decline as well, with thin cardboard stock and murky photos becoming commonplace. Retailers, looking to make room on shelves for all the new product, began heavily discounting older wax packs and boxes.

Perhaps the most egregious example came in 1989 when Topps, Fleer, and Donruss each produced a record high of 17 different sets between them, flooding the market with over 7,000 different baseball cards. The glut was such that cards were practically being given away. It got to the point that producers had to resort to gimmicks to move product like oddball parallel sets, autograph and memorabilia cards, and oddball materials like plastic and wood. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the emergence of sets featuring die-cut, foil stamped, or embossed cards that lacked substance or true collector value.

This overproduction had the effect of saturating the market and completely devaluing the entire hobby. Young collectors in the 1980s eagerly ripped open packs in search of stars only to find their allowances wasted on piles upon piles of virtually worthless cardboard. The glut eroded any sense of scarcity which had been a driving force behind the hobby. Boxes of unopened wax packs from the junk wax era can be found for just a few dollars as there is virtually no demand.

It wasn’t until the late 1990s that the hobby began to recover. Two main factors helped revive baseball cards – the players’ strike that wiped out the 1994 World Series drew fans back to their card collections, while the internet allowed collectors to better organize and researchers helped identify the true gems from the junk wax era. It took time to undo the damage of the prior decade when the bottom fell out of the entire industry due to unchecked overproduction during the junk wax era. The boom had gone bust, leaving a generation of collectors disillusioned.

In the end, the junk wax era serves as an important lesson about speculation and the free market. When left unchecked, mass production can devalue and destroy even something as iconic to American culture as baseball cards. It took nearly 20 years for the hobby to fully recover from the bubble of the 1980s as quality and scarcity were restored. While cards from that era hold little intrinsic value, they remain an important historical artifact showing the pitfalls that can occur when profit motive supersedes all other considerations in a collectibles market.

JUNK ERA BASEBALL CARDS COLLAGE

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The junk era of baseball cards refers to the period from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s when many new card manufacturers entered the market, resulting in an overproduction of low quality cards. With so much new competition, card companies raced to mass produce as many new sets as possible each year in order to stay afloat. This led to the nickname “junk wax era” as many of these new mass produced cards ended up in the junk boxes and dumpsters once the baseball card bubble popped in the early 1990s.

While the oversaturation of new junk era sets devalued individual cards from this period, it also created a unique opportunity for creative collectors. With so many duplicate common cards being pulled from packs, hobbyists began experimenting by combining these excess cards in new artistic presentations – namely baseball card collages. Simple at first, collages allowed collectors to showcase their duplicate junk wax era collections in a visually appealing scrapbook-style layout.

Some of the earliest collages consisted of arranging common duplicate cards sequentially by team, player number, or even color coordinated layouts. This provided a fun alternative to straight team sets which now anyone could easily acquire with full rosters. Collages incorporated themes like all Star players from a certain season, greatest hits of Ken Griffey Jr., or even silly mock baseball cards for famous actors or musicians. With so much creative freedom, collage styles grew more elaborate over time.

Advanced collage artists experimented with intricate die-cuts, embossing, unique layering techniques, and other embellishments that transformed ordinary duplicate junk era cards into true collector works of art. Clever themes like the seven sins or elements incorporated symbolic visuals alongside relevant players. Collages began utilizing the entire card surface with additional elements like drawn or printed pictures glued alongside. Significant events from a player’s career were portrayed through carefully arranged narrative collages.

As collaging grew in popularity, specialty card companies capitalized by releasing pre-made collage sets. These introduced collectors to new potential arrangements while saving time. By the late 1980s, ready-made themed collages evolved to include aesthetic die-cuts, rare translucent “window” cards revealing layers below, and other premium production aspects far beyond a simple scrapbook page. Top set makers made boxed collage collections focal points of their annual release schedules alongside traditional sets.

Conventions and national card shows in the late junk era ballooned with elaborate customs collages entering competition categories for prizes. Complex multi-tiered collages were meticulously crafted to tell entire career biographies or reimagine baseball history through creative fictional scenarios. Ambitious collage artists collaborated to produce truly massive collages spanning multiple sheets. Creative collaging became a true art form pushing the boundaries of how junk wax cards could be presented.

The heyday of collaging began to recede as interest waned in junk era “wax” and sets became scarcer, though creative arrangements never entirely disappeared. Today collectors seeking the nostalgic cardboard fix of their childhoods have rediscovered the artistic possibilities in compiling unique personalized collages. Websites provide digital templates for thematic collages while trade forums facilitate duplicate swaps to fuel new projects. Though short-lived fads come and go, applying creativity through medium like collaging ensures the hobby lives on.

While collaging rose from necessity born of overproduction, it forged a new artistic outlet cherished by collectors. Taking common cardboard and elevating it to new heights showed ingenuity and imagination could still shine through challenging eras. The junk wax period lives on in memory largely through beautifully crafted collages capturing nostalgia through novel presentations. Though looked down upon at their peak, today’s collectors appreciate how resourcefulness maintained enjoyment of the pastime despite trying circumstances. And so collaging’s legacy stands as a reminder that creativity transforms what many see as trash into treasured works of collector art.

MOST VALUABLE BASEBALL CARDS FROM THE JUNK WAX ERA

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The junk wax era of baseball cards ran from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s and was a time when the sports card market was flooded with product. The overabundant production led to sharply declining values for the base cards of the time. Even in the midst of the junk wax era, there were still some legendary rookie cards and special parallels that have proven to retain or gain value over time. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable baseball cards from this era despite coming from otherwise “junk wax” sets.

One of the most well-known and valuable cards from the junk wax era is the Ken Griffey Jr. upper deck rookie card from 1989. Upper Deck shattered the sports card market when it was introduced in 1989 by using higher quality card stock and photographs. Griffey was one of the biggest young stars in baseball at the time and his iconic swinging pose made this one of the most sought-after rookie cards ever. Even with the massive production run of Upper Deck in 1989, Griffey rookies have continued to gain value over the decades. Near mint copies now sell for thousands of dollars and a perfect graded 10 can fetch over $100,000, making it one of the highest valued modern baseball cards.

While Griffey’s rookie led the way, there were other prosperous rookies from the junk wax era as well. The Chipper Jones 1991 Upper Deck rookie card has proven to be extremely valuable long term. Jones had a hall of fame career and the card captured his early promise. High graded versions can sell for over $1,000. The Derek Jeter 1996 Upper Deck rookie, the first card featuring the future Yankees captain and ambassador of the game, has also held on to strong long term demand. Even with a printing of over 1 million copies, mint Jeter rookies trade hands for $100-500 regularly.

Rookies weren’t the only drivers of value from this period. Special parallel and autographed cards provided collectibles within the releases that rose above the junk status of base cards. The Frank Thomas 1991 Fleer insert “The Franchise” remains a highly coveted card showing the power hitting Blue Jay. Low numbered parallel versions can sell for thousands. The Barry Bonds 1990 Bowman Chrome parallel refractor is a true gem of the era printed in only 100 copies. In a PSA 10 gem mint, one recently sold for over $20,000, proving the scarcity andBonds’ talent translated to lasting collector demand.

Flagship sets also had short printed chase cards that demonstrated junk wax sets still had treasures. The Alex Rodriguez 1996 Bowman Chrome rookie refractor parallel was limited to just 26 copies and recently one of the few remaining Mint condition examples changed hands for over $34,000. The Ken Griffey Jr. 1990 Upper Deck Hologram, with a print run under 100, has realized prices into the five-figure range as well. Autographed rookie cards provided an alternate collectible even in the midst of massive production levels. Tons of young stars signed for the flagship brands which created a market within the market for signed variants that hold value today.

While the huge supplies of basecards dragged short term values of the era down, history has shown there were still cards crafted of sturdier stock. Rookies and short prints of future Hall of Famers like Griffey, Bonds, Jones, and Jeter found dedicated long term collectors willing to pay a premium. Even in the midst of overproduction, the junk wax era still yielded gems that shine as bright as any era in the collecting world. For today’s investors, values may never reach the stratospheric levels seen in the pre-junk wax golden age, but there are still finds within the 1980s and 90s boom that have proven rewards for those who look below the surface of the “junk.”

JUNK WAX ERA BASEBALL CARDS

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The junk wax era in baseball card collecting spans roughly from 1987 through the early 1990s. This era got its name due to the overproduction of baseball cards during this time period, which greatly devalued the entire hobby.

Production numbers went through the roof during the late 1980s as companies like Fleer, Donruss, Score, and Upper Deck all got into the baseball card business. The demand from collectors was simply not there to support the massive amounts of cards being printed. This caused a massive bubble in the baseball card market that would eventually burst.

In 1987, Fleer produced around 1.8 billion cards for its flagship set. Donruss and Topps also issued cards in the billions that same year. As production climbed higher and higher each subsequent year, it became clear that sets from this era would be relatively worthless long-term since so many examples existed.

One factor that led to the spike in card production was the entry of new brands like Donruss, Score, and Upper Deck into the baseball card market in the late 1980s. These companies sought to compete with industry leaders Topps and Fleer by offering flashier designs and novel promotion techniques.

The ensuing rights battles between the established companies and new upstarts only led to increased production as each vied for shelf space at retail stores. Market saturation soon occurred as demand couldn’t keep pace with the rising tidal wave of cardboard.

Another major issue was that packs from 1987 through the early 1990s contained far more cards than in previous decades. A typical pack from the 1970s or earlier might have held 5 cards. But junk wax era packs ballooned to include 18-36 cards apiece. This was disastrous for the long-term collectibility of the sets.

Promotions by manufacturers also contributed to the overproduction problem. Sets from Donruss, for example, were sold in rack packs holding hundreds of commons instead of traditional wax packs. Upper Deck teamed with McDonald’s for an ill-advised worldwide distribution that ended up burying the hobby.

As a result of the increased production, finding mint condition Junk Wax cards in collection is relatively easy today. Prices for unopened packs and boxes from this era are nominal compared to previous decades as well. Almost no individual player cards hold significant value unless it’s a true superstar or a short-print parallel variation.

Rookie cards from the late 1980s that were once highly-regarded, such as Ken Griffey Jr. or Barry Bonds, sell for just a fraction of their peak prices from the 1990s as huge reserves still exist. Mass producing cards hurt the traditional scarcity and collectibility that the hobby was founded upon.

The Junk Wax era is also cherished by some collectors who enjoy reliving their childhoods or building full junk wax sets at bargain prices. And the abundance has allowed for innovations like autograph relic redemption programs by manufacturers targeting this age group. Upper Deck even released specialsubsets to boost flagging later junk wax series.

In hindsight, it’s easy to criticize the decisions made by card companies during the 80s boom. But at the time, huge profits seemed justifiable given growing popularity. Eventually the market did self-correct after the crash of the early 1990s, leading to more responsible production practices resuming around 1995.

While short-lived, the Junk Wax era left an indelible mark on the baseball card collecting world. Its legacy endures as a cautionary tale about unchecked commercialization damaging a beloved hobby. But it also remains a nostalgic period for those who were kids during the time, amassing mountainous collections on a shoestring budget. Despite being cheap and plentiful now, cards from 1987 to 1994 still hold special memories for many enthusiasts.

The overproduction of baseball cards from 1987 to the early 1990s greatly devalued the entire hobby and created a massive bubble that eventually burst. But the Junk Wax era also made assembling complete sets more affordable and left an important lesson about responsible stewardship of a collecting community. Its impact, both positive and negative, still resonates with enthusiasts today.

JUNK WAX BASEBALL CARDS FOR SALE

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The late 1980s and early 1990s saw an unprecedented surge in baseball card production and speculation, driven by the sport’s exploding popularity and new printing technologies that allowed for stunning photo-realistic cardboard. The floods of new issues also severely diluted the scarcity and drove down values of even the most iconic players and sets from that era. These so-called “junk wax” cards are now widely available in penny boxes and bargain bins for collectors looking to fill out theirwant lists on a tight budget or start a collection without breaking the bank.

The main culprits behind the junk wax era were the dominant companies Donruss and Fleer. In 1989 alone, Donruss produced a mind-boggling 1.8 billion cards while Fleer wasn’t far behind at 1.5 billion. Sets from this era like Donruss’ “Diamond Kings,” Fleer’s “Ultra,” and Score’s “Black Gold” featuring high gloss foil treatments were designed more as pieces of colorful cardboard than true collectibles. With print runs numbered in the millions or more for star players, these cards lost scarcity and therefore value almost immediately.

This glut of available cardboard from the junk wax era opened the door for many modern collectors. Prices for even the biggest 80s and 90s star rookies or inserts have remained very budget-friendly compared to their predecessors. Complete sets from Topps, Donruss, Fleer and more can be had on the secondary market for just pennies per card. This makes junk wax an ideal starting point for those looking to fill out team and player collections inexpensively. While reseller sites are abundant for junk wax, local card shows will offer the best in-person browsing experience and haggling opportunities.

Some examples of sets that exemplify the junk wax concept include Donruss’ 1989 flagship issue. With astronomical print runs in the billions, even rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine can be found for under $1 in played condition. 1989 Fleer and Score are also emblematic of this era, plastering photos of stars on cards that were clearly mass produced. Junk wax collectors may also want to target sets from brands like Stadium Club, Ultra, Pinnacle and ProCards that were pumping out cards by the truckload.

Not all junk wax should be discarded – there are still gems to be found with enough digging. Rare gold parallels, coveted serial numbered inserts, and error cards can pop up worth far more than their facial value. The 1991 Topps Traded set is a good example, housing short printed parallels of Chipper Jones, Moises Alou and others that command higher prices. Savvy collectors may also notice that even common junk wax rookies of all-time greats like Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Barry Bonds are starting to creep back up in value as those 1980s/1990s generations age into serious collection.

While many view junk wax as the dark era of mass production ruining scarcity and values, their extreme availability makes them an affordable doorway into set and player collection building. One man’s junk is another’s treasure, and budding or budget-minded collectors would be wise to scour the surplus of 90s cardboard still available before prices recover any further with nostalgia. Resellers will practically give away complete junk wax sets, making it an inexpensive opportunity to acquire iconic 80s and 90s cards that tell the story of that larger-than-life era in MLB history. Just don’t expect high returns if trying to flip bulk junk wax lots for profit.

The junk wax era opened the floodgates for modern collectors. While stars and inserts from that era will likely never regain the scarcity and value of their predecessors, their extreme availability makes sets featuring flagship players surprisingly affordable to acquire. Whether it’s filling out a team, player collection or just starting a new hobby, junk wax cardboard provides a budget-friendly doorway. Savvy collectors may find rare parallels and errors provide better returns, but the main draws are accessibility and capturing iconic 80s/90s moments for a fraction of previous costs. For those reasons, junk wax baseball cards remain a staple for budget collectors and an inexpensive starting point for set building decades later.