You probably have a stack of 1980s cards sitting in a shoebox somewhere. If you grew up watching the Houston Astros or later listening to his commentary on Cubs or Rangers broadcasts, there is a high chance a few Jim Deshaies cards are buried in there.
Most people assume cards from the "Junk Wax" era—roughly 1986 to 1993—are worthless. Honestly, for the most part, they aren't wrong. But when it comes to the Jim Deshaies baseball card value, the story is a bit more nuanced than just "it's worth a nickel."
JD was a workhorse. He set a major league record by striking out the first eight batters of a game in 1986. That kind of history gives his cards a specific niche in the hobby, even if he isn't a Hall of Famer like Nolan Ryan or Jeff Bagwell.
The Reality of the Market
Most Jim Deshaies cards you'll find in a common bin or a garage sale are worth between $0.10 and $0.50. That is the hard truth. Because companies like Topps, Donruss, and Fleer printed millions of copies during his peak years, the supply simply dwarfs the demand.
However, "common" doesn't mean "valueless" if you know what to look for. Collectors who are building team sets or "Record Breaker" subsets still hunt for these. If you have a raw 1987 Topps #167 or a 1988 Score #354, you're looking at pocket change. But the market shifts dramatically when you move into the world of high-grade slabs and rare parallels.
Why Some Deshaies Cards Sell for $50+
Condition is everything. A 1987 Topps Jim Deshaies card is basically paper kindling in "Good" condition. But a PSA 10 (Gem Mint) copy? That’s a different game.
Because those black-bordered 1987 Topps cards show chips and wear if you even breathe on them, finding a perfect one is actually quite difficult. Recent data shows that a PSA 10 1987 Topps #167 can fetch over $100 from a registry collector.
Then you have the "white whales" of the era:
- 1991 Topps Desert Shield #782: These were sent to troops during the Gulf War. They feature a small gold foil palm tree logo. A Jim Deshaies Desert Shield card is a genuine rarity, often selling for $30 to $60 even in modest condition.
- Topps Tiffany Editions: Between 1984 and 1991, Topps released limited "Tiffany" factory sets with a high-gloss finish and better card stock. A 1987 Topps Tiffany #167 or #2 (Record Breaker) is worth significantly more than the base version.
- 1986 Fleer Update #U-35: This is widely considered his "XRC" or extended rookie card. In high grade, it maintains a steady following among Astros completists.
Identifying the Key Cards
If you're digging through a collection, these are the Jim Deshaies cards that actually have a pulse in the 2026 market:
- 1985 TCMA Columbus Clippers #23: This is a minor league card. It’s significantly rarer than his major league releases. If it’s clean, it’s a $10-$15 card raw.
- 1986 Donruss "The Rookies" #34: Another early appearance. It’s part of a boxed set, so condition is usually better, but it’s still a staple for any JD collector.
- 1987 Topps #2 (Record Breaker): Commemorates his strikeout record. It’s iconic for Astros fans.
- 1991 Topps Tiffany #782: Hard to find, easy to overlook if you don't know the difference in gloss.
The "Junk Wax" Misconception
People love to say that 1990 Donruss or 1991 Fleer is garbage. Kinda true. But there's a growing movement of "nostalgia collectors." These are folks in their 40s and 50s who finally have the disposable income to buy the "perfect" versions of the cards they owned as kids.
👉 See also: Super Bowl Locations List Future: Why Your City Might (or Might Not) Be Next
This has created a weird price floor. While an ungraded 1990 Leaf #168 Jim Deshaies is worth pennies, the cost of grading a card is now roughly $15 to $25. No one is going to spend $20 to grade a $0.10 card unless they are certain it's a 10. Consequently, "Pop 1" or low-population graded cards of Jim Deshaies can see bidding wars simply because they are the only ones on the market.
What Really Happened with the 1987 Topps Error?
You might hear rumors of "error cards" driving up the Jim Deshaies baseball card value. Most of these are "uncorrected errors" (UE) or "printing freckles" that don't actually add value.
The 1987 Topps set is notorious for print defects. Unless an error is specifically recognized by a major price guide like Beckett—such as a missing name or a completely wrong back—it’s usually just a damaged card in the eyes of a serious collector. Don't get fooled by eBay listings titled "L@@K RARE ERROR" for $500. Those are almost always scams.
👉 See also: Seahawks vs Bears 2024: What Most People Get Wrong About That Defensive Slog
Actionable Steps for Sellers
If you find yourself holding a stack of Jim Deshaies cards, don't rush to list them individually. You'll lose money on shipping and fees.
Instead, look at the corners. Are they sharp enough to poke a finger? Is the image perfectly centered? If the answer is no, keep them for the memories. If the answer is yes, and it’s a Tiffany, Desert Shield, or 1987 Topps Record Breaker, it might be worth the $20 to get it graded by PSA or SGC.
For most collectors, the best way to move these is in a "Team Lot." Selling 20 different Jim Deshaies cards as a bundle to a Houston Astros fan is usually more successful than trying to hawk a single 1989 Upper Deck #76 for a dollar.
📖 Related: SF Giants Game Time: Why Timing Your Trip to Oracle Park is More Than Just a Schedule Check
Check the back of your 1991 Topps cards specifically for that Desert Shield logo. It’s the easiest way to turn a "common" card into a legitimate piece of hobby history.