The 1986 Sportflix baseball card set featured players from Major League Baseball and was issued during the peak of the junk wax era. While not one of the most prominent releases of that time in terms of production numbers, the set still retains some nostalgic value for collectors from that generation. The shear number of sets produced during the mid-1980s means individual cards from the 1986 Sportflix set generally have very modest monetary worth today.
The 1986 Sportflix set consisted of 422 total cards and was issued by the Sportflix Corporation. Some of the biggest player names included in the set were Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, and Ozzie Smith. Like many of the sets from that era, photography and image quality varied widely from card to card. Some featured colorful action shots while others had rather bland posed portrait photos. The cardboard stock was also rather thin and flimsy, characteristic of the junk wax era in which card manufacturers were pumping out immense numbers of sets.
Almost all of the individual cards from the set are quite common and have little to no resale value in the current trading card market. The vast majority can be had for less than a dollar even in near mint condition. This is largely due to the enormous production numbers during the junk wax era which have led to most 1980s and early 1990s sets being comparatively overproduced. Sportflix itself was the main issuer of sets in 1984 through 1987 and likely printed millions upon millions of cards across multiple sets each year during that span.
While individual commons may have no value, there are some exceptions within the 1986 Sportflix set that can carry higher values depending on condition and demand. Perhaps the most coveted card is the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie which has seen a resurgence of interest in recent years as Griffey’s career and legendary status has grown even post-retirement. High graded examples of the Griffey Jr. rookie in mint or gem mint condition can still fetch anywhere from $10-30 or more based on condition.
Another noteworthy card is the Greg Olson rookie which can draw interest from collectors pursuing Baltimore Orioles sets from that era. Other rookies such as Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Bobby Thigpen also have small collector followings that may raise the value of their cards compared to the true commons. Error cards have also gained cult followings for some sets, so any mistakes on cards within the 1986 Sportflix set could in theory spike collector interest as well – though none are particularly notable.
Beyond rookies and errors, one other category that bucks the low value trend for this set are the “Traded” cards. These featured players who had been involved in trades between the 1986 print date and the start of that Major League Baseball season. As these cards depict players in uniforms they never officially played for, they take on greater statistical oddity and rarity value to specialized collectors. Examples would be cards showing Don Mattingly as a San Diego Padre or Mike Schmidt as a Baltimore Oriole. These trade varieties are quite scarce compared to the base rookies and can attract more attention.
The 1986 Sportflix baseball card set as a whole exemplifies the immense production volumes of the junk wax era which has led to most individual commons being essentially worthless in monetary terms today. There are still various subsets within the release such as star player rookies, errors, and traded variants that maintain enough niche collector interest to lift the values of those specific cards above the rest. With a big name like Ken Griffey Jr. also included, the 1986 Sportflix set will likely stay relevant for collectors pursuing vintage cardboard from that era in baseball history for years to come. But those looking to cash in will probably only find profits in the select higher end chase cards rather than run of the mill commons from the set.
