The 1986 Topps Big Baseball card set was one of the largest and most ambitious releases the company produced during the 1980s. Within the set were cards featuring larger-sized, close-up images of baseball stars printed on thick, glossy stock. Topps produced the Big Baseball cards as a premium insert set within series one of their flagship baseball card release for that year.
The 1986 Topps Big Baseball set totaled 100 cards and featured some of the biggest names in the game at the time. Superstars like Wade Boggs, George Brett, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg, and Ozzie Smith were among those highlighted. Unlike traditional cards that measured approximately 2 1⁄2 inches by 3 1⁄2 inches, the Big cards came in at an oversized 5 inches by 7 inches. This larger size allowed for splendidly detailed headshots that truly captured the likenesses and expressions of the players.
Another notable aspect of the 1986 Topps Big Baseball cards was the stock they were printed on. While standard cardboard was used for typical issues, the Bigs utilized a thicker, glossier paper stock. This gave the images a sharper pop and allowed the colors to really jump off the card. The coated paper also provided a superior level of protection to prevent scuffs or scratches from developing over time. Many collectors still remark on how pristine even well-loved examples from this set remain decades later.
In addition to standalone star rosters like Boggs, Brett, and Dawson, subsets within the 1986 Topps Big Baseball included postseason heroes, Cy Young winners, and Rookie of the Year award recipients. This injected variety into the checklist and highlighted many of the game’s best individual performances from 1985. Rookies like Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Bob Welch made their cardboard debuts in these Big subsets long before they became household names.
Distribution of the 1986 Topps Big Baseball insert set was handled through the traditional wax pack route at first. Hobby boxes came stocked with a scattered assortment of Big cards randomly inserted amid the standard base issues. Later in the year, Topps also offered the massive magnified rosters wrapped in their own small packs to be purchased individually. This dual release strategy helped spread the collectibles far and wide to eager baseball card fans.
Demand for the oversized 1986 Topps Big Baseball cards was tremendous both at the checkout counter and afterwards in the secondary market. Their superior production qualities, all-star and award winner lineups, and sheer novelty factor fused together to create one of the company’s most beloved and enduring modern premium sets. Prices for even commons have held steady despite the35-year time gap. Top graded examples in the high-end population report routinely sell for hundreds or thousands due to their iconic status in the hobby. The 1986 Topps Big Baseball cards truly capitalized on collectors’ appetite for staring star players close up and remain a touchstone release nearly four decades later.
