General Forum

This particular "Era" is often referred to by many of us but do we all agree what the years are that bracket this era?  I personally look at it as 1988 to 1998 when there were 5 major companies issuing cards, most companies using several brand names.

What is your definition of the Junk Era?

I refer to this era as the "Boom Era" (or the era of mass-production), which lasted until the start of the subsequent "Bust Era",

The hardcore "Boom Era" years include 1986-1992.  Production actually started picking up between 1984-1985, resulting from skyrocketing collector interest from the development of a stock market mentality caused by the large-scale release of price guides like Beckett Monthly.  These were the years that collectors thought they were going to get rich off of baseball cards, so manufacturers took advantage of collectors by flooding the market with an insane amount of product.  Card prices plummeted like in 1992 like a stock market crash, which lasted through the baseball strike of 1994. An Extended Boom Era could include the years of 1984-1992.  

 The hardcore "Bust Era" years were 1996-2000.  This period was marked by plummeting cards values, smaller card production, and diminishing sales.  Card manufacturers really started to making major changes to entice collectors (i.e. insert and parallel sets).  Wax packs became cellophane packs, which then became foil packs.  Retail prices shot up during this era as a way to recoup losses resulting from lower sales.  The baseball strike of 1994 might not only have signified player dissatisfaction, but also a growing trend of collector/fan dissatifaction that began a couple of years earlier.  By 1996, set sizes dropped to the lowest levels since the mid-1950's as a result of collectors tuning out.  Today, the 1997-1998 Topps factory sets are some of the most expensive Topps sets from the '90s decade because very few were produced.  The HR chase at the end of 1998 signified a turning point (rock bottom) for fans/collectors.  Collectors slowly started coming back to the hobby in 1999, and a Traded set was issued again for the first time since 1995.  Set sizes remained low in 1999 and 2000 until manufacturers actually believed that they could sell product again.  The Bust era was a time period where inserts gained steam as a way to entice collectors.  An Extended Bust era could include the years of 1993-2000.

Although I tend to categorize 1993-1995 with the Bust Era, these were actually transitionary years between the Boom-to-Bust Eras and can categorized with either category as far as I'm concerned.  

I mostly agree with the boom/junk of 86-92. I'd personally add 85 and 93. 85 mostly because I hated the quality of those cards and they seem fairly easy to aquire.  I also have a lot of 93 cards that probably came from collections where they were more than happy to get rid of them.

The  "junk" or "overproduced" years I tend to think of 1985 or 86 to about 1996 or 97.

The modern era 1999 to today seems to be the overabundance of inserts and gimmicks era mixed with the super shortprinted era.

I find it odd that some include1985 and 1986 in the junk era. Having bought many large lots of baseball cards (I mean large as in thousands of cards in one buy), I don't find that there are a lot of 1985 and 1986 cards in people's "junk" piles.1987, especially Topps and Donruss, yes but not so much 1986 and before.

Since I am a Topps Football collector, I'll only provide my opinion for those sets....."Boom Era" (I like that term) 1987-1993. I say that because of production numbers and production quality. I don't think cards from that era are significantly more cheaply made than any earlier release. Some of the 1970 sets have very poor production quality. But I do think the design of the cards during that era retain the "simplicity" of the earlier sets.....just in much larger numbers. 

For me, the 1994 Topps Football set marked a transition to a more modern card with better photo quality, paper stock, and quality control. Throw in the more mature inserts and you have the beginning of modern sets.

Depends on the manufacturer.

Donruss, with the exception of 1984 was always readily available, meaning boxes upon boxes everywhere. 1986 Doruss was a little less available then, but singles have become very available.

Fleer, again, 1984 seems to be the year when things weren't as readily available, especially their debut update set. 1990 Fleer is the epitome of junk, not necessarily "junk wax". (And remember, I love Fleer!)

Topps never really pulled in the reins much but 1987 onward they are almost fully to blame for some forests no longer existing.

Score - always.

Upper Deck - I was about to say to leave 1989 out, but enough of it has surfaced post-1989 to allow me to reconsider.

And all of them go through 1993, maybe even later.

I tend to think 87-93, considering Baseball only. 

I'm in the 87-93 boat as well.  With 1990-91 probably being the pinnacle of it.  Of course, by 1994 most companies had gotten so lazy with their using the same design in every sport.  1996 is when things got in a full upswing, to me.  The basketball draft class played a big part in that.  

I tend to think the term "junk" in reference to the mid 1980s to early 1990s is more about their perceived "value" more than the quality of the cards. In terms of quality of the cards early 1990s cards from all makers are of a better quailty in printing and card stock than cards pre 1986.