The 1986 Topps chewing gum baseball card set was the 65th year for Topps to produce baseball cards and included cards for players from the American and National Leagues. Some key things to know about the 1986 Topps set include:
The 1986 set included 792 total cards and featured players and managers from all 26 Major League Baseball teams at the time. Some of the biggest stars featured included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Mike Schmidt. The design of the cards paid homage to the early Topps sets from the 1950s and 1960s with a simple white border and team logo at the bottom. On the front of each card was a color photo of the player in action along with their name, team, and position.
On the back of each card, stats from the previous season were provided along with a brief career recap. One unique aspect of the 1986 set was the inclusion of “Traded” cards, which notified collectors when a player had switched teams in the offseason. For example, Don Baylor received cards for both the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets since he was traded from one to the other prior to the 1986 season.
The 1986 Topps set marked several career milestones for legendary players. For Hank Aaron, it was his final card as he retired after the 1985 season with 755 career home runs, still the all-time record. For Nolan Ryan, his 1986 Topps card commemorated his reaching his 5000th career strikeout. And for Pete Rose, it was one of his last cards before being banned from baseball amid gambling allegations in 1989.
In addition to current players, the 1986 Topps set also included retired players and managers in the “Topps All-Time Fan Favorites” subset. This subset featured 25 cards honoring legends of the game like Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Yogi Berra. The design of these cards mimicked the look of early 1950s Topps issues to pay tribute to baseball’s storied past.
The 1986 Topps set also included several innovative promotional subsets. “Famous Feats” highlighted unique career achievements of players. “Topps All-Stars” showcased the best statistical seasons. And “Traded” subset notified collectors of player transactions over the 1985-86 offseason. Rookies featured included Barry Larkin, Tom Glavine, and Mark McGwire in their rookie cards before they went on to Hall of Fame careers.
The 1986 Topps set had a print run estimated between 600-650 million series one packs. This massive production led to the cards having relatively low values today compared to some vintage sets. Star rookies, key traded cards, and especially the Babe Ruth “All-Time Fan Favorite” card still command premium prices from collectors. The design elements like the simple borders, team logos, and classic photography also make the 1986 issue a favorite of collectors seeking mid-80s cardboard.
While not quite as iconic or valuable as some of the early 1950s Topps issues, the 1986 Topps baseball card set remains an important release that captured the sport during one of the most exciting eras of baseball history. Featuring final cards for legends like Aaron and Ryan alongside rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, the 1986 set provides a unique snapshot of baseball during the transition between eras. Over 35 years later, the affordable vintage cards remain popular with collectors both young and old looking to build their baseball collections.
