1985 Topps - Part 1

1985 Topps is the best Topps set of the 80s. I have mentioned the terrible color choices Topps paired with teams in earlier sets. In '83 they did a little better, usually getting one of the two colors right. They used one accent color for the '84s, and they successfully matched it to the team (Hooray!). But in 1985, Topps not only got a two color match, their design and photography was top notch. Look at these simple beauties.

Leading off, Tony Gwynn sports flip-up shades (sadly, you can see the chew in his cheek, a habit that eventually led to his death of salivary gland cancer). Below, Cal Ripken, and Rickey Henderson are looking good. Athletics fans finally get what they deserve with the vibrant yellow and green combination. Sharp!

They aren't without their problems though. You can see from most of the cards I posted that they are prone to mis-cuts and poor centering. Also, comparing the Tigers cards in the next post, the ink levels are not always uniform. On one of the grading sites they assert that the '85s are the toughest of the 80s sets to find in mint condition.