The 1986 Topps baseball card set was the 65th year for Topps baseball card production and featured 660 total cards issued. Some key details and facts about the 1986 Topps baseball card set:

Design: The design featured a white border around each card with the team logo in the bottom left and player’s name and position in the bottom right. The photo took up most of the card with statistics below. It was a classic clean design that Topps had been using for several years.

Rookies: Notable rookies included Roger Clemens (Red Sox), Mark McGwire (A’s), Barry Larkin (Reds), Lenny Dykstra (Phillies), and Wally Joyner (Angels). Clemens and McGwire would go on to have Hall of Fame careers while Larkin was inducted into Cooperstown in 2012.

Short Prints: The 1986 set included several short printed cards that were scarcer in packs than the base cards. Some of the most coveted short prints included Ozzie Smith (#610), Nolan Ryan (#627), and Don Mattingly (#660). These cards hold premium value for collectors.

Variations: A few variations existed in the 1986 set, most notably the photo variation of Ozzie Smith (#610). The regular version showed him batting while the variation captured him fielding. Other variations included Tim Raines (#113) and Mike Schmidt (#330).

Checklists: The set included checklists for the base cards, traded players, and managers/coaches on cards #1-3. These were useful for collectors to keep track of their progress in completing the set.

Traded Players: A total of 30 players who were traded during the 1986 season received new photo/team updates on their cards. Notable traded players included Dave Righetti (Yankees to Red Sox), Lee Smith (Cubs to Red Sox), and Jack Clark (Padres to Cardinals).

Managers/Coaches: For the first time since 1970, Topps issued cards featuring managers and coaches rather than just players. A total of 22 manager/coach cards made up #651-672 in the set. Legendary managers like Sparky Anderson and Dick Williams were featured.

Inserts: Topps included several special insert cards highlighting All-Star teams, league leaders, and playoff performers. The most valuable was likely the Roger Clemens rookie card insert (#646) that featured a special photo from his record 20-strikeout game.

Production: It’s estimated that around 180 million 1986 Topps cards were printed, making it one of the larger print runs of the 1980s. The sheer volume available has kept most base cards from appreciating significantly over the years.

In terms of player selection, the 1986 Topps set covered all the major leaguers as well as plenty of notable minor leaguers. Some big name future Hall of Famers included in the set were Nolan Ryan, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, and Ryne Sandberg. The Cubs and Mets were well represented after their strong 1985 seasons.

Condition is always key when evaluating the value of any vintage baseball card. Near mint to mint 1986 Topps cards in high grades can still be acquired for reasonable prices, usually $1-5 for most stars. The short prints and variations hold more collector interest and demand higher values ranging from $10-100 depending on the player and condition. Of course, gem mint rookies of future superstars like Clemens and McGwire command four-figure prices.

While not quite as iconic as some earlier 1970s sets, the 1986 Topps baseball card release remains a solidly popular vintage issue over 35 years later. The design has stood the test of time and the inclusion of several future Hall of Famers as rookies adds to the set’s historical significance. For collectors, it provides an affordable avenue into the vintage hobby at reasonable prices across most of the 660 cards produced.