These are the Hall of Fame Player Cards and Rookies from the “Junk Wax Era” of 1986-1994 that I have in my Raw Card Baseball Collection.

I’ll be perfectly honest, I don’t watch baseball… When I started collecting in the 70s, I watched a lot of baseball. I can’t explain the reasoning other than it’s hard for me to stay checked into a baseball game anymore unless it’s just really, really, excited. With this being the case, I honestly have lost track of most modern era baseball players and really couldn’t tell you much about any of them anymore. I do however have memories of a lot of players that were active during the “junk wax era” of 1986 throug 1994.

I have a lot of people ask me which cards do I focus on with my baseball collection and my usual response is typically.. players that are either in the hall of fame, should be in the hall of fame. I also will typically add rookie cards or special cards from time to time for players that might not be in the hall of fame but who might bring a good return. These are the baseball players that I have in my collection & online store. These players all had cards in production during the “junk wax” era that I grew up collecting in from 1986-1994.

Hall of Fame Players (1986-1994)

• Roberto Alomar
• Jeff Bagwell
• Craig Biggio
• Wade Boggs
• Barry Bonds
• George Brett
• Gary Carter
• Roger Clemens
• Andre Dawson
• Dennis Eckersley
• Carlton Fisk
• Tom Glavine
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Tony Gwynn
• Rickey Henderson
• Keith Hernandez
• Reggie Jackson
• Derek Jeter
• Randy Johnson
• Chipper Jones
• Barry Larkin
• Greg Maddux
• Edgar Martinez
• Fred McGriff
• Paul Molitor
• Eddie Murray
• Mike Piazza
• Kirby Puckett
• Tim Raines
• Cal Ripken Jr.
• Mariano Rivera
• Ivan Rodriguez
• Nolan Ryan
• Ryne Sandberg
• Ozzie Smith
• Frank Thomas
• Jim Thome
• Larry Walker
• Matt Williams
• Dave Winfield
• Robin Yount

Players Not in Hall of Fame

These are some of the players that I also have in my collection that are not currently in the Hall of Fame. Some of these guys should be but aren’t because of the PED scandals, etc. They are still highly popular and collectible though.

• Jose Canseco
• Barry Bonds
• Sammy Sosa
• Mark McGwire
• Pete Rose
• Don Mattingly
• Dwight Gooden
• Darryl Strawberry
• Bo Jackson
• Derek Jeter

In addition to the hall of famers listed above, here’s a listing of some of the top rookie cards released during the “junk wax era” that are definitely worth hanging onto and even have graded if they are in good condition:

• 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson Rookie Card — #482
• 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr. Rookie Card — #98T
• 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn Rookie Card — #482
• 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens Rookie Card — #U-27
• 1985 Topps Team USA Mark McGwire Rookie Card — #401
• 1986 Topps Traded Bo Jackson Rookie Card — #50T
• 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux Rookie Card — #36
• 1987 Topps Barry Bonds Rookie Card — #320
• 1987 Topps Tiffany Barry Bonds Rookie Card — #320
• 1988 Score Traded Craig Biggio Rookie Card — #103T
• 1988 Topps Tom Glavine Rookie Card — #779
• 1989 Donruss John Smoltz Rookie Card — #642
• 1989 Fleer Randy Johnson Marlboro Error Card — #381
• 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card — #1
• 1990 Leaf Frank Thomas Rookie Card — #300
• 1990 Leaf Larry Walker Rookie Card — #325
• 1990 Topps Frank Thomas “No Name on Front” Error Rookie Card — #414
• 1991 Bowman Chipper Jones Rookie Card — #569
• 1991 Stadium Club Jeff Bagwell Rookie Card — #388
• 1991 Topps Chipper Jones Rookie Card — #333
• 1991 Topps Desert Shield Chipper Jones Rookie Card — #333
• 1991 Topps Jim Thome Rookie Card — #68
• 1992 Bowman Mariano Rivera Rookie Card — #302
• 1992 Bowman Mike Piazza Rookie Card — #461
• 1993 SP Foil Derek Jeter Rookie Card — #279
• 1994 SP Alex Rodriguez Foil Rookie Card — #15