The Junk Wax Era: How It All Went Sideways
Between 1987 and 1994, card manufacturers went absolutely feral. Topps, Donruss, Fleer, Upper Deck, Score—you name it, they printed it. And printed it. And printed it some more. The result? A cardboard tsunami known today as the “junk wax era.”
This wasn’t just a little overproduction. We’re talking tens of billions of cards. Every set. Every sport. Every year. If you have a box from that era, there’s a good chance it’s worth less than the gas it took to drive it to the attic.
So… Are They Completely Worthless?
Not entirely. While 95% of junk wax cards are just that—junk—there’s a 5% sliver of redemption. You just need to know what to look for.
1. Rookie Cards That Still Move
Some rookies from the 80s and 90s have survived the value apocalypse:
– 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. #1 — iconic, clean, still sells for solid money in a PSA 10.
– 1993 SP Derek Jeter Foil — PSA 10s are crazy rare thanks to soft foil that scratches if you look at it wrong.
– 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant — not quite “junk wax,” but often lumped in. Big value in high grades.
2. Inserts, Refractors, and Weird Stuff
The 90s were a design fever dream. Die-cuts, holograms, acetate, lenticular motion—if you don’t know what half those words mean, congrats: you weren’t traumatized by 1996 Metal Universe.
Some of these oddball inserts are now grails. Especially Jordans, Kobes, or rare parallels like Atomic Refractors or Credentials.
Yes, junk wax produced gold… you just had to squint.
3. Errors and Variations
Collectors are suckers for chaos. Enter error cards.
Example: the 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken “FF” card, where his bat knob accidentally displayed a delightful piece of profanity. Fleer tried to cover it up with multiple fixes—black box, whiteout, scribble—and created a whole sub-market of variations.
Some versions still go for $100–$400+ graded.
4. Condition Is King
Even a common card can become a decent flip if it’s in elite condition. Why? Because while millions were printed, very few survived with perfect centering, no corner dings, no print lines, etc.
A PSA 10 Griffey Jr. RC is a $1,000 card. A raw one? Maybe $20 on a good day.
If you’re wondering when grading makes sense, read this:
should you grade your cards
Here’s What’s 100% Worthless
Some cards will never rebound. No matter how clean they are, nobody wants them. Examples:
– 1990 Donruss (aka the red plague)
– 1991 Fleer (yellow fever)
– 1990 Topps baseball (yawn city)
– Pro Set football (the dollar store of sports cards)
– SkyBox base from early 90s (cool design, zero value)
Basically, if it doesn’t feature a star, isn’t an insert, and doesn’t have a variation or holo? It’s probably filler.
What Should You Actually Do With Your Cards?
If you’re hoping for a payday, here’s your basic playbook:
– Separate stars, rookies, and inserts
– Toss anything that looks like it came free in a cereal box
– Check eBay SOLD listings, not current listings (because asking $10 ≠ selling for $10)
– Bundle commons by team/player for small lots
– Grade only if the card is rare and high condition
If you want to offload them fast, CardSZN takes consignments. We flip the good stuff, recycle the junk, and let you skip the 4-hour eBay rabbit hole.
When In Doubt… Make It Content
Still sitting on 5,000 cards that won’t sell? Make videos. People love nostalgia.
Start a TikTok roasting your ugliest 1991 Score cards. Or rank the worst airbrushed photos from 1987 Topps. The eyeballs might not pay cash, but they can drive traffic—and that traffic sells product.
The Final Word
Yes, most 80s and 90s cards are glorified mulch. But some aren’t. A few are gems. And in the right condition, or with the right story, even that foil Jordan insert might pay for lunch—maybe even a few dinners.
Either way, don’t toss the box until you’ve checked it properly.
Sometimes nostalgia is just nostalgia. But sometimes… it’s a paycheck.
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