The 1986 Fleer baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues in the entire hobby. While it lacked the star power and rookie cards of some other years, there are still several highly sought after cards that can fetch big money today if graded and preserved in mint condition. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most valuable 1986 Fleer baseball cards everyone should be on the lookout for.
The biggest star and most valuable card from the 1986 Fleer set is undeniably the Kirby Puckett rookie card. As one of the true superstars of his era who led the Minnesota Twins to two World Series titles in the late 80s/early 90s, Kirby Puckett went on to have a Hall of Fame career. His rookie card, due to his fame and on-field accomplishments, is understandably the crown jewel of the 1986 Fleer set. In a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade, Puckett’s rookie recently sold for over $92,000 at auction, showing it has cemented itself as a true icon in the hobby. Even lower graded examples still command prices well into the thousands.
Another extremely valuable card, albeit for more unfortunate reasons, is the Roger Clemens rookie card. Like Puckett, Clemens would become one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, winning seven Cy Young awards over a monster 24 year career. His legacy was tarnished with steroid allegations later in life. As one of the true greats of the game with a dark cloud now looming, his rookie has taken on greater significance and value for collectors. In a PSA 10 perfect grade, it has sold for nearly $30,000 before. More attainable PSA 9s still sell for around $5,000-$10,000 depending on market conditions.
Interestingly, while not considered a true rookie card since he played in 1984, the Dwight Gooden card from 1986 Fleer is also highly coveted. As one of the most dominant pitchers of the late 80s winning the Cy Young in 1985 as a mere 20 year old, “Dr. K” was the apple of every collector’s eye. Gooden mania was in full effect during this time period. Although he struggled with injuries and personal issues later, his prowess and fame on the mound make this one of the most iconic single cards from the set. High grade examples have topped $10,000 before from motivated collectors.
Another star pitcher who many were high on coming into 1986 was Bob Welch of the Oakland A’s. While injuries hindered a potential Hall of Fame career, Welch was coming off a 27 win season in ’83 and named All-Star in ’85. His card has considerable presence in the set and has likely gained value due its relative scarcity compared to the superstars. PSA 10 Bob Welch rookies have topped $4,000 before, with most graded 9s selling in the $600-$1,000 range depending on conditions.
Probably the single rarest card from 1986 Fleer is the Mike Schmidt future stars subset card. As a legendary third baseman who would go on to be enshrined in Cooperstown, Schmidt’s allure has only grown since retirement. His Future Stars card was oddly omitted from many early print runs of the base set, making high grade examples incredibly difficult to come by. Past PSA 10 sales have exceeded $6,000, signaling its potent cache with collectors. Even lesser graded versions still fetch big “condition scarce” premiums due to their rarity within the set.
Continuing with condition sensitive stars, a vintage Don Mattingly rookie (technically his second year but first prominent card) can also be quite valuable in pristine unused shape. As arguably the most complete pure hitter of the 1980’s, Mattingly mania ran deep during his Yankees heyday. High grade `86 Fleers in PSA 9-10 range have topped $4,000 before when opportunity struck. His popularity enduring well after retirement sustains strength in this particular issue.
Lastly, while certainly not in the same galaxy of fame as the headliners above, Brad Lesley’s rookie holds a special place among completists and `80s Orioles fans alike. The third overall draft pick and top pitching prospect coming into 1986 had all the hype. Arm issues ruined his career before it started. Today this serves to significantly increase conditions scarcity while nostalgia fuels premiums amongst Baltimore fans. PSA 10 Brad Lesley rookies have reached $1,500 before, though $500-800 is a typical range today.
While the 1986 Fleer set lacked some of the true “holy grail” rookie cards of other years, it still launched the careers of future stars Puckett, Clemens, Gooden, Mattingly and others whose iconography has driven values sky high for their freshly mint rookie issues. Condition is king as always, with high grade examples of the heavy hitter cards such as Puckett, Clemens and Schmidt future stars routinely commanding four figures or more. For keen collectors, locating pristine versions of these or relatively obscure but seminal cards like the Brad Lesley rookie can yield handsome long term returns in this historical release.
