The 1986 Fleer Update baseball card set is considered one of the most unique and valuable sets from the 1980s. Originally released as a supplement to Fleer’s main 1986 set in August of that year, the Update set contained 54 total cards including rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. While not as iconic as some other classic sets from the era, 1986 Fleer Update cards have steadily gained popularity in recent years due to its scarcity and star power rookie cards. Let’s take a deeper look at the set and valuation of some of its key cards.

At the time of its initial release in 1986, the Update set was not hugely anticipated. Baseball card production was ramping up significantly throughout the 1980s due to new licensing agreements, and top rookies were being broken out into their own special sets more frequently. As such, the Update set flew somewhat under the radar. It contained replacement cards for players whose information or teams had changed since Fleer’s main 1986 run was produced in the spring, as well as rookie cards for the Class of ’86 which had debuted later in the MLB season.

Unlike other sets from ’86 which had print runs exceeding 100 million, it’s estimated that Fleer Update had a very limited production run of approximately 3-5 million total packs. With 54 cards in the set but only two classic rookies driving collector interest at the time in Maddux and Glavine, values remained relatively low well after the set first came out. In the early 2000s as the hobby experienced a renaissance, interest began growing in the set due to its scarcity. Successful eBay auctions of high-grade examples of stars like Maddux helped elevate awareness that this was a overlooked classic in the making.

One of the main reasons 1986 Fleer Update has taken off amongst enthusiasts and investors in recent years is because its two premier rookies went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Greg Maddux is considered one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, winning 4 Cy Young Awards and appearing in 8 National League All-Star games over his 23 year career spent primarily with the Cubs and Braves. His rookie card from the Update set is the true crown jewel, and high grades in the PSA/BGS 9-10 range now routinely sell for $1000+ prices at auction. Even well-centered, sharp examples in a PSA 8 can pull in several hundred dollars.

Tom Glavine is another pillar of consistency from the 1980s-1990s who racked up 305 career wins and 2 Cy Young Awards as a dominant lefty for the Braves. Though not in the same stratosphere as Maddux for individual accolades, Glavine more than deserves his spot in Cooperstown and his Update rookie maintains strong values as well – a PSA 9 brought $531 in a recent auction despite strong population numbers available. Both of these future Hall of Famers were youngsters just breaking into the show in 1986, so their Update rookies represent some of the earliest widely-available cards showing them as big leaguers.

While the Maddux and Glavine rookies are the clear headliners, there are some other notable stars and key cards that hold value from the 1986 Fleer Update set as well. Pitcher Dwight Gooden’s card reflects his dominance in 1985 when he won Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young Award. Even in the midst of a print run decline, his star power kept his card relatively scarce in high grades. A PSA 9 recently sold for $268. Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane had arguably the best rookie season of any pitcher in 1986, and his Update RC maintains value as well with a PSA 9 bringing over $100 last year.

Rookie cards are also present for future all-stars like Barry Larkin, Ellis Burks, and Mark Grace. Lower print run players like Expos pitcher Pascual Perez and Pirates hurler Rick Reuschel have developed strong cult followings that increase demand. The Update set has an air of nostalgia for capturing the tail end of ’80s baseball in vivid colorful designs before the influx of licensed sets in the early ’90s changed the landscape. While finding examples in pristine condition is challenging due to age and handling, 1986 Fleer Update remains an affordable classic for avid collectors to pursue high-grade rookies and stars from. With the steady rise of 1980s set valuations in recent collectibles boom, this overlooked gem appears poised to keep appreciating given its notable RCs and limited original distribution.

While not in the same conversation as flagship ’86 releases from Topps or Donruss, the 1986 Fleer Update baseball card set deserves recognition amongst serious vintage collectors and investors. With a print run of likely under 5 million packs and premier rookie cards of Hall of Famers Maddux and Glavine that have only increased in value over time, Update satisfies that niche 1980s nostalgia itch. Examples chasing the PSA 9-10 pop report elite or featuring scarce lower-printed stars consistently sell for several hundred dollars or more. For a relatively unknown supplementary set from ’86, Fleer Update has come a long way and appears positioned well to maintain relevance in the vintage boom for years to come.