The 1986 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the 1980s. Issued during a golden era of the sport, the ’86 Topps cards captured some of the game’s biggest stars and future Hall of Famers. While not quite as coveted or expensive as some previous years, certain 1986 Topps cards still hold significant value today depending on player, condition, and rarity. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most valuable 1986 Topps baseball cards and what factors influence their current prices.
One of the headlining rookies from the 1986 set is Roger Clemens on card #138. Coming off his breakout 1984 season where he won the AL Rookie of the Year award and started gaining recognition as one of the era’s best pitchers, Clemens’ rookie card is a key piece for any baseball card collection. In near mint to mint condition, ungraded Clemens rookies typically sell for $100-200. Higher graded gems in PSA/BGS 9-10 can reach $500-1000+. Clemens went on to capture 7 Cy Young Awards and pitch until age 43, making his rookie one of the more desirable from the mid-80s.
Another impact rookie from 1986 was Barry Bonds on card #619. Like Clemens, Bonds was already showing signs of a future Hall of Fame career very early on. His powerful left-handed swing and athletic 5-tool ability was evident in his rookie campaign. Ungraded near mint Bonds rookies sell in the $75-150 range. Higher graded PSA/BGS 9s can reach $300-500. Bonds would go on to break the all-time home run record and win a record 7 MVP awards, making his rookie one of the more historically significant.
Two other noteworthy rookies from the ’86 set that have retained value are Dwight Gooden on card #150 and Mark McGwire on card #432. Gooden, nicknamed “Doctor K”, was coming off back-to-back Rookie of the Year and Cy Young award wins in ’84-’85 seasons. His iconic pitching motion and 100mph heat made him a fan favorite. Ungraded near mint Gooden rookies sell for $50-100 while PSA/BGS 9s can reach $250-350. McGwire’s prodigious raw power was evident from the start as well. Ungraded near mint McGwire rookies sell for $40-75 and PSA/BGS 9s reach $150-250. Both players rookie cards remain key pieces for completionists.
In terms of established veterans from 1986, one of the most valuable regular issues is card #1, which features New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden on the front and a career retrospective on the back. As the flagship card of the set depicting the previous year’s Cy Young winner, the #1 Gooden is highly sought after by collectors. In near mint to mint condition, ungraded examples can sell for $150-250. Higher graded PSA/BGS 9-10 examples have reached over $500 with one mint PSA 10 recently selling for nearly $2000.
Another hugely popular veteran card is #145, featuring Boston Red Sox star Wade Boggs. As arguably the best pure hitter of the 1980s and a career .328 hitter, Boggs was one of the true superstars of the era. His cards remain some of the most iconic from the decade. Ungraded near mint Boggs #145 cards sell for $75-150. Higher graded PSA/BGS 9s have reached $300-500. The allure of Boggs’ hitting prowess and his starring role for the Red Sox franchise increase interest in this card.
Two other highly valuable veteran cards include #329 Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros and #566 Ozzie Smith of the St. Louis Cardinals. As two of the biggest stars and future Hall of Famers of the decade, their 1986 Topps issue cards are highly sought after. Near mint to mint ungraded Ryan and Smith cards can reach $100-200. PSA/BGS 9 examples have sold in the $300-600 range. Their enduring popularity and place among the all-time greats at their respective positions make these cards especially collectible.
In addition to star rookies and veterans, 1986 Topps also featured several popular traded players that hold premium value. #94 Kirby Puckett, #331 Don Mattingly, and #511 Darryl Strawberry are some examples. Puckett and Mattingly were huge fan favorites on storied franchises. Strawberry was a budding superstar just starting to hit his prime. Ungraded near mint copies sell for $75-150. PSA/BGS 9 examples reach $250-500 due to their subject’s popularity and the added layer of visual interest as traded players.
When it comes to 1986 Topps, the parallel and insert sets are where the real rarities and high-end value resides. The Glossy Sendbacks parallel set features foil embossed photography and are extremely scarce, especially high graded. The Topps Traded set highlighting intra-set trades is also quite rare in high grade. And the Superstar Special subset highlighting the biggest stars is one of the most coveted inserts. High graded examples of these parallel and insert cards can reach thousands of dollars depending on player and condition. For collectors chasing the true holy grails, these are where the biggest money cards exist from the 1986 Topps baseball release.
While not considered as premier a vintage release as some previous decades, the 1986 Topps baseball card set still features many valuable cards depending on player, condition, and parallel/insert variations. Headlined by star rookies like Clemens, Bonds, Gooden, and McGwire along with veterans Boggs, Ryan, Smith and more, the ’86 set captured a who’s who of players from that era. For dedicated collectors, a complete high grade ’86 Topps set along with the tougher parallels and inserts remains a highly prestigious and potentially lucrative long-term collection goal.
