1986 was a monumental year for the baseball card collecting hobby. Topps had dominated the baseball card market for decades but in 1986 they faced new competition from Fleer. Fleer was an established brand in the sports card space but had not previously produced baseball cards. Their entrance as the new competitor shook up the industry.
Topps maintained their standard design of having the player photo on a white background. However, Fleer took a creative risk with their cutting edge “action shot” design. Instead of standard portraits, Fleer featured dynamic action photos of players mid-swing or mid-throw. This gave the 1986 Fleer set a completely different aesthetic compared to any previous baseball card designs. Collectors were drawn in by the fresh new look.
Unfortunately, the quality control during Fleer’s initial baseball card production run left much to be desired. The cardboard stock was much thinner and more prone to damage compared to Topps’ durable cardboard. Also, the printing process Fleer used caused many issues like color variations, poor centering, and blurred photographs. All of these factory defects negatively impacted the condition and presentation of the cards right out of the pack.
As the 1986 Fleer set gained popularity among collectors in subsequent years, the poor quality became more evident. Any signs of wear like edge nicks or corner rounding could drastically downgrade a card’s condition and value. To accurately assess the condition of 1986 Fleer cards, third party grading from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) became very important.
PSA is considered the top authority when it comes to assigning precise numerical grades to trading cards. They use a consistent 1-10 point scale to evaluate factors like centering, corners, edges and surface. A PSA 10 grade, also called a “Gem Mint”, means the card has earned a perfect score and is in absolutely flawless condition. These ultra-rare PSA 10 Fleer rookie cards from 1986 can be worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars depending on the player.
Some of the most iconic and valuable 1986 Fleer rookies to pursue a PSA 10 grade for include Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Barry Bonds, Tom Glavine, and Gary Sheffield. All of these future Hall of Famers have their Fleer rookie cards routinely sell for over $1,000 in PSA 10 condition. Clemens tops the charts at over $15,000 for his pristine 1986 Fleer PSA 10.
Wade Boggs also has a desirable 1986 Fleer rookie in PSA 10 condition. Considered one of the best contact hitters of all time, Boggs’ perfect rookie sits around the $2,000 price point. Another coveted rookie to find in a PSA 10 is Roberto Alomar. His combination of power, speed and Gold Glove defense made him a surefire Hall of Famer. His flawless 1986 Fleer brings anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.
Some pitchers from the 1986 Fleer set can also net big money with a PSA 10 grade. Orel Hershiser earned the card a premium after his dominant 1988 season led to a World Series MVP. In perfect condition, his rookie sells for $1,500-$2,000 range. Another hurler to target is Dwight Gooden. As one of the most dominant early career pitchers ever, Doc’s spotless rookie trades hands for $2,000-$3,000.
Non-rookie cards from the 1986 Fleer set can also earn a high grade premium, especially for star players. A PSA 10 of Don Mattingly’s flagship card can bring in $500-700. Kirby Puckett earns about the same amount for his no-flaw 1986 Fleer in the desireable plastic holder. And for diehard Mets’ fans, a pristine Darryl Strawberry rookie nets around the $400 range.
Professional grading from PSA greatly enhanced the popularity and collector demand for 1986 Fleer baseball cards. Their consistent evaluations gave the condition sensitive set a transparent standard in the competitive trading card market. The ultra-rare PSA 10 1986 Fleer rookies of future Hall of Famers became highly coveted pieces for vintage card collectors. Over thirty years later, immaculate examples still command impressive prices thanks to PSA’s important role in authentication.
