Baseball Cards
Junk Wax Era (1986-1992)
The following are all the possible boxes from the Junk Wax era (1986-1992). If you click on any of them it will take you to a page that gives you more details about the sets, inserts, value, etc. I’ll also embed some of my unboxing videos there.
| Topps | Donruss | Fleer | Score | Upper Deck | |
| 1986 | 1986 Topps | 1986 Donruss | 1986 Fleer | n/a | n/a |
| 1987 | 1987 Topps | 1987 Donruss | 1987 Fleer | n/a | n/a |
| 1988 | 1988 Topps | 1988 Donruss | 1988 Fleer | 1988 Score | n/a |
| 1989 | 1989 Topps | 1989 Donruss | 1989 Fleer | 1989 Score | Low & High |
| 1990 | 1990 Topps | 1990 Donruss | 1990 Fleer | 1990 Score | Low & High |
| 1991 | 1991 Topps | Series 1 & 2 | 1991 Fleer | Series 1 & 2 | Low & High |
| 1992 | 1992 Topps | Series 1 & 2 | 1992 Fleer | Series 1 & 2 | Low & High |
I started collecting baseball cards in 1987 when I was eight or nine years old. It started with GPK and 1987 Topps that I could pick up at the local 7-Eleven for 35 or 40 cents a pack.
Now I’m in my 40s and getting back into card collecting after a 30 year hiatus. But rather than collecting modern cards, I’m jumping right back into collecting the same cards I collected as a kid during the junk wax era (1986-1992). These cards don’t have much (or any) monetary value, but there is a lot of sentimental and nostalgic value.
I love reliving a happy part of my childhood every time I open a new (30-year-old) pack of cards. My chase cards back then were Canseco (1987 Topps), Griffey Jr. (1989 Upper Deck), and Bo Jackson… the one where he’s wearing football pads (1990 score). I also loved collecting Ozzie Smith, Nolan Ryan, and Dale Murphy.
What do I chase now?
Junk Was Packs (1980-1989). This was my big chase of 2024 and I have completed the collection.
Junk Wax Boxes (1986-1992). I’m trying to get a box of every type of card I collected then: Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Score, and Upper Deck, from 1987 to 1991. I know those don’t have any value, but when I’m stressed and need a break, opening a packs of Topps is a better choice then downing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.
As of April 2025 I have 24 of 38 total boxes from that era (63%). By the end of 2025 I hope to have 30 total and then I’ll complete the collection in 2026. I’ve spent right around $1,000 for the 24 boxes that I have and estimate the entire collection will cost $2,000.
For basketball I am very close to completing my collection with 12 of the 15 total boxes (as of April 2025). I’m missing 1989-90 Fleer (which costs about $450), 1989-90 NBA Hoops Series 1 ($100), and 1991-92 Skybox Series 2 ($150). I think I can complete this by the end of 2025.
Checklists. But the chase is more than just collecting boxes. When I was a kid I worked towards completing sets. I’m doing that now too and half the fun is creating checklists and deciding what I want to chase. I’m getting PSA slabbed cards of my favorites.
Display. I have a nice case that will hold 35 PSA Graded cards.
Suitcase. The rest of my card collection of
My Baseball Card Collection
- Junk Wax era (1986-92)
- Vintage (anything pre-1986)
- Modern (anything post-1992)
Related projects
