1985 Topps Baseball: McGwire, Mattingly and Hall of Famers
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When you think of 1980s baseball cards, you most likely envision a card from the 1985 Topps set. With its distinctive design and colorful imagery, it remains one of the most recognizable card designs ever produced. The 1985 set sits in a unique era, neither part of the junk wax explosion nor the more short-printed vintage era, yet its cards continue to have massive appeal for collectors. With legends like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Kirby Puckett, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, and Don Mattingly featured throughout, collectors have chased these for decades. So how do these cards stack up today in terms of value and PSA Pop counts?
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THE ROOKIES
Mark McGwire Card #401
PSA Pop Count: 65,993
PSA 10's: 307 (Current Value $4,000)
PSA 9's: 7,420 (Current Value $125)
Roger Clemens Card #181
PSA Pop Count: 35,132
PSA 10's: 385 (Current Value $2,800)
PSA 9's: 9,307 (Current Value $62)
Kirby Puckett Card #536
PSA Pop Count: 17,905
PSA 10's: 558 (Current Value $1,500)
PSA 9's: 4,675 (Current Value $60)
Most collectors, young and old, have held one of these cards at some point in their collecting journey, especially those over 30. Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, and Kirby Puckett were household names that dominated the 1980s and early 1990s heyday of Major League Baseball. All three consistently performed at MVP/Cy Young caliber levels and were regular fixtures on teams that competed at a World Series caliber level.
These three cards have been graded by PSA more than 125,000 times combined. Finding an affordable PSA slab in the low- to mid-grade range is relatively easy at local card shops or collectibles shows. Gem Mint PSA examples, however, are much harder to find. Chipping, print defects, and centering were major issues for this set. As a result, PSA 10 values for each of these cards now sit in the low- to mid-4-figure range, with McGwire standing out as both the most valuable, around $4,000, and the rarest, with only 307 PSA 10s in existence.
The Legends of '85 Topps
Nolan Ryan Card #760
PSA Pop Count: 4,509
PSA 10's: 279 (Current Value $600)
PSA 9's: 1091 (Current Value $55)
Don Mattingly Card #665
PSA Pop Count: 3,236
PSA 10's: 128 (Current Value $865)
PSA 9's: 844 (Current Value $35)
Cal Ripken Card #30
PSA Pop Count: 2,232
PSA 10's: 96 (Current Value $550)
PSA 9's: 505 (Current Value $25)
The 1985 Topps set also features cards of several all-time greats from the era, including Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, and Cal Ripken. Collector demand for PSA 10 copies of this card has driven the total number of graded examples for these players to nearly 10,000, with roughly 500 earning PSA 10 grades. The releativly low number of PSA 10s has helped push values higher, with Mattingly leading the group at approximitely $865.
In addition to those three, the set contains 43 other current Hall of Famers. Notable names include George Brett, Carlton Fisk, Robin Yount, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Mike Schmidt, Joe Morgan, Tony Gwynn, and Wade Boggs. As the years go on, that number is likely to grow even further. Given the enduring popularity of collecting Topps base cards of Hall of Famers, especially those in PSA 10 condition, these cards are well positioned to see continued value increase.
What does the Future Hold for '85 Topps?
In 2026, collectors have access to data on these cards that simply didn't exist 25 years ago, let alone five. PSA 10s from this set are exceptionally tough, with Gem Mint population rates for players like McGwire and Clemens sitting at or below a 1% gem rate. When you factor in similarly low gem rates for the set's 46 Hall of Famers, you're left with a compelling combination of scarcity, iconic eye appeal, and a deep checklist of legendary players. It will be fascinating to see whether additional PSA 10s continue to surface in pop counts and on the secondary market.
P. Arvin Parker is a lifelong collector of all things sports and pop culture. He is a Minnesotan, a Veteran, and an Ojibwe man who lives and dies by all things Minnesota. After spending the last 20 years working in the mental health field, he has reignited his love for collecting. His passion for the hobby centers on the people and stories of the world of collectibles.