The 1985 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic releases from the vintage era of the 1980s. While it may not contain household names like the 1952 Mickey Mantle or 1909 Honus Wagner, there are certainly high-value cards collectors seek after from the ’85 set. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most desirable rookie and star player cards that can fetch a pretty penny for investors and fans of the vintage wax.
One of the most well-known and expensive rookie cards from 1985 Topps is Cardinals sensation Vince Coleman. As a rookie, Coleman stole 110 bases which broke the single-season MLB record. His impressive debut made his rookie card very highly sought after over the years. In near mint condition, his #77 card can sell for over $1,000. Another expensive rookie is Padres outfieder Benito Santiago. He was rookie of the year in 1987 and his flashy defense made him a fan favorite. In gem mint condition, his 1985 Topps rookie card #250 has been known to sell for around $800.
Other notable expensive rookie cards include Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser (#212) who would go on to win the Cy Young award in 1988. High grade Hershiser rookies have sold for $500. Indians slugger Cory Snyder’s rookie card (#169) can fetch $300-400 in top shapes as collectors appreciate his prodigious power. Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane’s rookie (#238) has value around $200-300 given his success early in his career. Reds third baseman Nick Esasky’s rookie (#166) sees bids around $150 since he was a prolific power hitter in the latter half of the 1980s.
When it comes to star veterans, perhaps no card equals the value of a gem mint condition Ken Griffey Jr. rookie. Though not technically a rookie since he appeared in other sets in 1981 and 1982, his first Topps issue as a Mariner in 1985 (#312) is the most desirable. High grade PSA 10 examples have sold at auction for astronomical prices north of $20,000. Another huge star with a expensive card is Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela. The Mexican native and Cy Young winner’s 1985 card (#485) in pristine condition can sell for $800-1000.
Other notable star cards include Reds slugger and 1987 MVP Eric Davis (#414) whose elite cards go for $500. Red Sox ace and Cy Young winner Roger Clemens rookie season in 1985 made his card (#384) valuable at $400 PSA 10. Yankees superstar Don Mattingly’s dominant 1985 season (#609) gives his card a price around $300 gem mint. California Angels star Gary Pettis’ eye-catching performance and defense yields a $250 price tag for his ’85 issue (#624). Braves ace and 1985 NL ERA champ Rick Mahler’s card (#410) sees bids at $200 in top grades.
While it may lack some of the all-time legendary rookie cards of the 1950s, the 1985 Topps set offers collectors and investors some highly coveted cards of not only budding rookie stars, but also veterans who were entering their baseball primes. Keys cards like the Griffey, Coleman, Valenzuela, and others make this set one of the most recognizable from the vintage 1980s era. With the popularity of the vintage movement still going strong, prices for high quality examples of these desirable ’85 issues will likely continue their upward trends.
