The 1986 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most valuable sets from the 1980s. While it may not boast the star power of other classic sets like 1975 or 1976, the ’86 Topps set holds iconic rookie cards and hall of famers that continue to excite collectors over 30 years later. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the top highlights from the 1986 checklist and what makes certain cards from this set so desirable and valuables among vintage baseball card investors.
The biggest star and most coveted card from the ’86 Topps set is without question the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. Widely considered one of the best all-around players of his generation, Griffey was a rookie sensation for the Seattle Mariners in 1986 after being drafted number one overall the previous year. His smooth left-handed swing and gold glove caliber defense made him an instant fan favorite. The Griffey Jr. rookie took the hobby by storm and his iconic smiling face on the card only added to its appeal. In pristine mint condition, the Griffey Jr. rookie has sold for well over $10,000 and remains one of the most expensive cards from the entire 1980s era.
Another very notable and valuable rookie card from 1986 Topps is Roger Clemens’ debut. After winning the AL Cy Young award in 1986 with a 24-4 record and league leading 2.48 ERA for the Boston Red Sox, Clemens established himself as one of baseball’s best right-handed pitchers. He would go on to win 6 more Cy Youngs and pitch until he was 43 years old. The Clemens rookie is highly sought after by both Red Sox and card collectors in general. High grade copies in the BGS or PSA 9-10 range can easily exceed $1,000.
While rookie cards of future all-time greats like Griffey and Clemens lead the desirability charts, the ’86 Topps set also features iconic cards of already established Hall of Famers. Perhaps the most well known is the Kirby Puckett card found at the #454 position in the set. Puckett was in his baseball prime with the Twins in 1986 and would help lead them to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. His fun loving persona and will to win made him a fan favorite as well. High grade Puckett’s from ’86 have broken the $4,000 mark before.
Another star player highlighted in the 1986 checklist is Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees. Having won the AL batting title in ’84 and ’85, Mattingly cemented himself as one of the game’s best all around hitters throughout the 1980s. His smooth lefty swing and Gold Glove skills at first base made him a perennial MVP candidate. The Mattingly is plentiful in the ’86 Topps set but high grades in the PSA/BGS 8-10 range can still fetch $300-500 due to his Yankee popularity and Hall of Fame resume.
Rickey Henderson’s first Topps card can be found at the #450 position. While not technically a rookie card since Henderson had played parts of ’79 and ’80 seasons prior, his ’86 is considered his true rookie by most. Henderson would go on to break Lou Brock’s stolen base record and prove to be the greatest leadoff hitter and base stealer in MLB history. In pristine condition, the Rickey Henderson has eclipsed the $1,000 mark before and remains extremely desirable for Oakland A’s and card collectors alike.
The 1986 Topps set also features dozens of other stars throughout, including future Hall of Famers like Wade Boggs, Dennis Eckersley, and Ozzie Smith. Overall set completion has become quite challenging over the decades since the original production run. In higher numbered population reports like PSA 10, there are often only 1 or no examples known to exist of certain cards. This scarcity has only strengthened demand over the long term for many key ’86s.
While the rookie cards and Hall of Famers certainly drive the highest prices, savvy vintage collectors also appreciate the ’86 Topps set forcontaining many integral players from championship teams of the era. This includes pitchers like Rick Rhoden and Bob Tewksbury of the ’85 Kansas City Royals and players like Steve Sax, Pedro Guerrero, and Mike Scioscia who were part of the ’88 World Series winning L.A. Dodgers. High grades of stars tied to historic championship rosters can often fetch several hundred dollars as well.
The 1986 Topps baseball card set maintains an elite status among collectors and investors due to its perfect storm of all-time great rookie debuts, established superstars, and champions from the 1980s. While mass produced sets from the early 90s onward saw explosive increases, the ’86 Topps set had a fairly conservative original print run by today’s standards. This has kept supply low on many key cards like the Griffey and Clemens rookies even after 35+ years. As long as the players featured continue to be revered and new collectors become interested in the vintage era, demand for high quality ’86s is unlikely to disappear. The combination of iconic stars, championships, and scarcity will ensure the 1986 Topps set remains one of the most investment-worthy sets from the entire 1980s era for years to come.
