The 1986 Topps Traded baseball card set was released by Topps midway through the 1986 MLB season as a supplement to their flagship 1986 Topps baseball card set. At the time, Topps Traded sets were a relatively new concept, having only been issued annually since 1981. The 1986 Topps Traded set stands out as one of the most iconic and valuable of the Traded sets due to several notable factors.
As with all Topps Traded releases, the 1986 version contained cards of players who had been traded or were new to teams since the initial 1986 Topps series was issued in March. This allowed for cards of players to be included reflecting their new teams for that season. One of the biggest trades preceding the ’86 Traded release was the blockbuster deal between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox on February 11, 1986 that sent veteran pitchers Rick Aguilera and Calvin Schiraldi to Boston in exchange for fellow hurlers Ed Whitson and Bob Ojeda.
Both Aguilera and Schiraldi received cards in the Traded set showing them with the Red Sox, while Whitson and Ojeda got cards depicting them with the Mets. Another major trade featured was the June 2nd deal between the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees that sent catcher Ron Hassey to the Cubs for pitcher Ray Fontenot. Fontenot and Hassey each received new team cards as well. In total, the 1986 Topps Traded checklist included over 100 players, making it one of the largest releases at the time.
While roster updates were the primary purpose of Topps Traded sets each year, the 1986 version stands out for also being the first Traded release to include special “Traded” parallel photo variations of selected star players. These parallel versions showed the same photo but with a distinctive “Traded” stamp over the image. Some of the biggest star names who received these “Traded” parallels included Ryne Sandberg, Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, and Roger Clemens. These parallel cards instantly became some of the most desired chase cards for collectors.
The rarity and star power associated with these “Traded” parallels have made 1986 Topps Traded one of the most valuable vintage sets to collect. In near-mint condition, a regular base card from the set in 1986 would sell for around $1-2. Today mint condition examples of the star “Traded” parallels can fetch thousands. A PSA 10 graded Roger Clemens “Traded” parallel recently sold for over $4,000. Even regular base cards for the set’s biggest stars in top condition can sell for $50-100 now due to strong collector demand.
Beyond the star rookies and parallels, the 1986 Topps Traded set also included several unique photographic variations that added to its appeal. For example, the cards for pitchers Bob Tewksbury and Tom Candiotti featured alternate action photos not seen in the base 1986 Topps set. The checklist included rookie cards for future Hall of Famers such as Roger Clemens, Barry Larkin, and Mark McGwire in their early MLB seasons. Collectors enjoyed chasing these photographic variations and rookie cards alongside the star “Traded” parallels.
When issued in 1986, the Topps Traded set retailed for $1.50 per pack with 12 cards inside (compared to $0.75 for standard Topps packs). While originally a niche product beyond the flagship set, strong early collector interest helped cement Topps Traded as an annual tradition. For the 1986 edition in particular, its unprecedented star parallels and photo variations gave the release a special cache that still holds value today over 35 years later. Whether chasing rookie stars, unique action shots, or the ultra-rare “Traded” inserts, 1986 Topps Traded remains one of the most beloved and valuable vintage baseball card sets for collectors of the 1980s era.
