Which of these junk wax sets do you like and why?

[Jayworld]

I had stopped collecting new/modern cards after 1984, but of those you have listed, the 1987 Donruss is the best looking from a design perspective with the black boarders. I personally don't like cards in which the subject extends beyond the border of the picture, which is why I never thought the 1989 Fleer cards were attractive. Of course, this is all from a graphic design perspective and has nothing to do with the actual player contents of each set. In fact, that's generally how I made my decision in the early 1980s of which set to collect once Donruss and Fleer entered the market; i.e. I collected the 1981 Fleer and 1982 Donruss.

[ALR-bishop]

Of those listed, 89 Fleer. As Ben noted the Ripken and Johnson variants are fun and there a few others as well

[slinger23]

I have always been fond of three of the set you mentioned: 1986 Donruss, 1987 Donruss and 1990 Score. Let me start with 1986 Donruss, obviously Canseco was the key but there are decent second tier rookies like McGriff and O'Neill included and plus I never found these in stores were I grew up. As far as the 1987 Donruss, I remember buying packs and rack packs at Eckerd's Drug Store. Solid rookie collection with Bonds, Jackson, McGwire (technically not a RC), and Maddux. I both hated and loved the black borders but centering on that set drives me nuts. I have always been a big fan of the 1990 Score set with its simplistic approach of the green, red and blue borders for the majority of the set and the last 44 cards or so were treated with the white borders that included the extremely popular Bo Jackson B/W card. That card and the Frank Thomas card were the ones to get. Too bad production was out of control but I do have fun thumbing thru some of those sets as it is my "time capsule" to go back in time. Good times. 1990 Score as my pick with the other two sets runner-up.

[Iwantmorecards77]

My first choice would be 1987 Donruss. As a rookie collector - this set is loaded! Maddux, Bonds, Palmiero, Cone, Brown, Moyer, Clark, Larkin, Bo, etc. Fun, inexpensive box to rip.

Then, 1986 Donruss. The iconic (for 1980's) Canseco rookie, along with McGriff, O'Niell and more.

1989 Fleer is a fun set too (though not the greatest design.) The Griffey rookie and the variations. Bought a box on eBay a couple of years ago - pulled 2 Griffeys and the Ripken FF. Good times!

Inexpensive boxes - not huge value - but I wouldn't consider them junk! (Though I realize many do.)

...always liked the design of the earlier Score sets.

[bswhiten]

I would vote 87 Donruss. The Bo and Maddux rated rookies out of that set are two of my favorite cards. They are certainly tough to get in mint condition with those black borders though.

[JoeDfan]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Of those listed, 89 Fleer. As Ben noted the Ripken and Johnson variants are fun and there a few others as well

+1

[pokerplyr80]

If I was going to break a box from the group you mentioned it would be 87 donruss for sure because of all the rookies someone else mentioned.