The 1986 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic releases in the entire hobby. It marked the 25th anniversary of Topps’ hugely popular baseball card product and featured special silver foil logos and design elements to commemorate the milestone. The 1986 set also stands out for featuring some of the all-time greats of the game like Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, and Rickey Henderson on the cards.
Given the vintage status and star power of the 1986 Topps set, it’s no surprise that the cards remain in high demand both graded and ungraded over 30 years later. Collectors are constantly on the hunt for well-centered examples to add to their collections. With PSA and BGS population reports showing a limited number of high graded 1986 Topps cards, many collectors are also scoping out prospects in the raw, PSA ungraded market.
Holding a 1986 Topps card ungraded presents an opportunity. With careful examination and some luck, someone may uncover a true gem hiding within the plain white borders. Getting a card professionally graded is also a gamble, as there is no guarantee what final grade may be assigned. Going the ungraded route removes that uncertainty and allows collectors to make their own initial assessment.
There are a few key factors to look at when evaluating 1986 Topps cards with an eye toward eventual PSA grading:
Centering – Centering is hugely important for any vintage card to achieve top PSA grades. Take a close look at all four borders and see if they are evenly cut. Major off-centering could limit a card’s pop to PSA 8 or lower.
Corners – Sharp, undamaged corners are critical. Even minor nicks or dings here can drag a grade down. Use a magnifying glass to inspect for flaws.
Edges – The edges should be smooth and not show signs of fraying, bends, or other damage over time. Look closely along all sides.
Surface – Scan the entire surface very carefully under bright light for any flaws, scratches, stains or other marks that could dock points. Even hairlines are magnified under grading scrutiny.
Eye Appeal – Take into account the overall look and feel. How “clean” and appealing does the card appear visually? Strong eye appeal can boost weaker technical attributes.
Of course, centering tends to be the great equalizer. A card with sharp corners but off-centering may have trouble breaking PSA 8, no matter how flawless the surface. Conversely, a perfectly cut gem with one minor flaw can still earn PSA 9 if centering carries the day.
Another factor with 1986 Topps is the silver foil elements on the design. Over the decades, these have shown a propensity to peel, crackle or discolor on some examples. Ideally a card would have fully intact foil accents to satisfy the white glove treatment of PSA grading.
Some of the true blue chip 1986 Topps rookie and star cards to scout for in ungraded form include Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and, of course, Ken Griffey Jr. High quality versions of these could net five-figure returns from PSA if submitted and graded at the top level.
More common hall of famers like Wade Boggs, Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield remain quite affordable yet present breakout potential as well. Condition is still king here, but a properly graded PSA/BGS gem of a card featuring a member of the 3,000 hit club would command major collector interest.
The 1986 Topps set has retained incredible nostalgia and lasting appeal over the decades. For those active in the vintage baseball card market, hunting raw copies is one way to get involved in the excitement of discovery and potentially uncover a future high grade blue chipper before anyone else. Careful examination and due diligence are essential to pinpointing true hidden gems within the stack of ungraded cardboard waiting to tell their story under critical PSA review. With the right card in the right condition, it could result in a highly valuable graded trophy for any collector’s collection.
