1985 Leaf Rip - What a fun set!

Big80s

Hello friends!

All of this talk about 80s unopened has gotten to me. It was the perfect storm today - the wife gone for the day, little-to-no work for me to do, and three boxes of '85 Leaf calling my name. Let me premise this rip by saying - 1985 was the first year I collected cards. I bought '85 Topps like it was going out of style. However, I always loved the way the Donruss set looked. Our local card shops (we actually had three in my hometown of Topeka, KS - I miss the 80s) priced Donruss packs just high enough to keep them out of the price range my weekly allowance could cover. With that said - as I reentered the hobby as an adult - the '85 Donruss set still had a certain appeal for me. The black borders are reminiscent of the '71 Topps set, which I think is arguably one of the most attractive sets of the last 50 years. I have also fallen in love with the Leaf and OPC sets of the 80s, which I think are highly under-appreciated. This set in particular, is less than half the size of it's Donruss counterpart (653 cards vs 259 cards). While smaller in number - it's still packed with firepower containing the Puckett and Clemens rookies, as well as most of the other big name stars and HOF'ers. Let's rip...






It's just a great looking set, in my opinion. And though I'm a proud American - I think the Maple Leaf in the top left hand corner is an attractive touch.



Had to post a shot of this card - such a sharp looking image of two 80s baseball icons.





Thanks for letting me share, guys!

mygotta

5 Clemens in one box?!? Thats a hot box! Nice rip and they look nice. I only opened one box of 85 Leaf and I think I only ended with one each of Puckett and Clemens.

Big80s

<< <i>5 Clemens in one box?!? Thats a hot box! Nice rip and they look nice. I only opened one box of 85 Leaf and I think I only ended with one each of Puckett and Clemens. >>



Sorry - it was three boxes. I only grabbed a shot of the first box, though. But they were still pretty loaded!

Big80s

I wanted to post this one for CPAmike - I actually went though these boxes before I opened them looking for stars on the back of packs, and can across this one...

3BoyzTrading

Nice rip, thanks for sharing!

Big80s

My pleasure - it's fun to have the boards to share this stuff with.

gameusedhoop

<< <i>And though I'm a proud American - I think the Maple Leaf in the top left hand corner is an attractive touch. >>



I don't think it is a maple leaf, at least not one that I've ever seen. I would believe pine cone.

BTW, love the 85 Leaf. Have a set around here somewhere with a PSA 9 Ryan in it. I was 18 when they came out and mine were brought over the border by me personally. If I only had more $$ as a child on those vacations to Canada!

Big80s

<< <i>

<< <i>And though I'm a proud American - I think the Maple Leaf in the top left hand corner is an attractive touch. >>



I don't think it is a maple leaf, at least not one that I've ever seen. I would believe pine cone. >>



Haha - yes, you are correct - definitely note a Maple Leaf. My apologies to both Americans and the Canadians.

jbox

Thanks for sharing. I love this set, along with other 80's Leaf/OPC. I've had the PSA 10 Leaf Puckett on my want list for several years now, but can't seem to track one down. Also, there's something about that R. Henderson that I just love. Someone needs to do this set in all 10's.

jbox

mcadams

Jeff- Thanks for posting the great pictures. I opened a box of 85 leaf from BBCE a few months back and had some success with Puckett and Gooden, although I didn't get any nice Clemens.

Hey Jeff- I am also looking for a nice Dale Murphy from 85 Leaf for my Murphy basic and master registry set. I'd love to buy all your raw Murphy's from your 3 boxes if you want a quick sale. Thx.

Foo3112

Thanks for posting those pictures. I have never really be interested in 1985 Donruss Leaf but whats great about this hobby is that there is something for everyone. BBCE still has boxes of the regular 1985 Donruss and I may pick one of those up soon.

RynoandBo

I like the 1985 Leaf....just wish the reigning NL MVP was included with his base card...Sandberg.

Good stuff and thanks for sharing! Any 10 worthy Sandberg Diamond Kings?

Big80s

<< <i>Good stuff and thanks for sharing! Any 10 worthy Sandberg Diamond Kings? >>



I think I pulled at least one grade-worthy Sandberg DK. But I agree - sadly, the set is missing base cards of Sandberg, Gwynn, Ripken and Mattingly - though it contains Diamond Kings for each of them.

BenG76

Nice looking cards. It looks like you did pretty good.

cpamike

<< <i>I wanted to post this one for CPAmike - I actually went though these boxes before I opened them looking for stars on the back of packs, and can across this one...

>>



See, I am a good influence.

I agree with you Jeff, 1985 Donruss is one of my personal favorites too. It is nice to see the love for OPC and especially Leaf. There are a lot more fans of these Canadian cards than people think. The most important thing is that you had a blast opening those babies up. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing!!!

Big80s

Thank you, Mike! I wanted to make you proud with at least one survivor

Porkins

Wonderful rip and results.

My card collecting history started word for word as yours did: in 1985 with Donruss being a bit outside my price range. This created an affinity for this design that lasts until today.

Thanks for sharing!

DetroitSquirreL

nice looking cards, here in Detroit the shops always had LEAF/OPC around....always loved them...and ripkens?

MintMoondog

Thanks for sharing! I agree totally, I was a 1985 topps maniac (year I graduated Hs), but I really love the 1985DR design. Overtime, I have come to like the Donruss from the 80s more than Topps.

ThoseBackPages

NO GOODENS???????????????

mcadams

<< <i>NO GOODENS???????????????

>>



He's saving those for another thread titled "Crackheads from 85 Leaf."

ThoseBackPages

<< <i>

<< <i>NO GOODENS???????????????

>>



He's saving those for another thread titled "Crackheads from 85 Leaf." >>



ILL TAKE IT!

Big80s

<< <i>

<< <i>NO GOODENS???????????????

>>



He's saving those for another thread titled "Crackheads from 85 Leaf." >>



Well played, Mike!

I hit every big card in the set, but I didn't want to bog you guys down with too many scans. That said - I'm happy to scan all the good ones, if someone's out there to enjoy them!

ThoseBackPages

would love to see the Goodens, if you care to share

Big80s

<< <i>would love to see the Goodens, if you care to share >>



You got it!

ldferg

You won't kill us with scans. Bring it on!!!

tsalems1

1985 Leaf is great stuff. Very difficult product to come by

MBMiller25

Jeff, at first I thought you pulled all those rookies out of one box, I nearly crapped myself. I was thinking to myself, Jeff hit the box of the century. Then I scrolled down. looks like a great rip, I need to partake in some of those.

MisterBungle

More scans!!

Really, we'll say uncle when it's too many, although
I doubt that's going to happen.

~

Big80s

Okay - here's scans of everything I pulled out as potentially gradeable. There were more hits than this - but they either had poor centering or dinged corners. I apologize for the lousy images - as I didn't have time to actually scan everything.

mknez

Looks like a great rip!

BPorter26

Sweet rip, thanks for sharing.

ldferg

You hit the motherlode for centering on these boxes. Congratulations!!!

Nikklos

Thanks for the rip. Love the Henderson. Why on Earth couldn't these companies have put Hendu on a Yankee card by the time these came out?? I remember watching him play for the Yanks the whole of 1985!

stevebay

<< <i>Thanks for the rip. Love the Henderson. Why on Earth couldn't these companies have put Hendu on a Yankee card by the time these came out?? I remember watching him play for the Yanks the whole of 1985! >>



Here is the Rickey from the Highlights set, in a Yankee uniform:

Nikklos

Thanks so much. My heart is healed. I am transported back to a time of lead-off home runs.

Big80s

Thanks for letting me share the rip, guys! It was a great group of boxes. I'm interested to see what sort of grades a few of these pull.

ReggieCleveland

Love that Clemens pack, Jeff. I ripped an 85 Leaf box a little while ago and was lucky enough to get a Clemens showing on back too.

DetroitSquirreL

I could use one of those Ripkens in my collection! Those are very all very cool

ThoseBackPages

NICE!

thanks again for sharing with us!

bigdcards

Great thread, thanks for posting

cpamike

<< <i>Thanks for letting me share the rip, guys! It was a great group of boxes. I'm interested to see what sort of grades a few of these pull. >>



No, thank you Jeff. Always fun even if I don't condone it.