The 1986 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic releases from the golden era of baseball cards in the 1980s. While it may not be the most sought after year overall, it features several cards that have become extremely valuable for collectors. Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most expensive gems from the 1986 Topps set.
One of the most notable rookies featured is slugger Mark McGwire’s rookie card. As the #383 card in the set, McGwire’s rookie card was relatively easy to pull from packs as a kid. It has skyrocketed in value in recent decades. This is largely due to McGwire breaking the single season home run record in 1998, then later admitting to steroid use. In pristine mint condition, a 1986 Topps McGwire rookie in a PSA 10 grade routinely sells for over $15,000 today. Even well-centered near mint copies in PSA 8 or 9 condition can fetch $3,000-$5,000.
McGwire’s accomplishments and controversies are a big reason for the card’s demand. But another key factor is that 1986 Topps had a large print run so there are fewer high grade copies left around compared to other rookie cards from less widely produced sets. The combination of McGwire’s fame and the card’s rising scarcity makes it the most valuable from the ’86 Topps set by a wide margin.
While no other rookie comes close to matching McGwire’s value, some notable pitchers’ first cards have also climbed significantly in price. One is Dwight Gooden’s cardboard debut, the #181 card. As one of the most hyped rookie pitchers ever after winning Rookie of the Year in 1984 and the Cy Young in 1985, Gooden’s first Topps issue is a beloved piece of memorabilia for Mets fans. Near mint PSA 8 versions can sell for around $2,000 today. Meanwhile, a PSA 10 mint Gooden rookie would likely fetch over $5,000 at auction among serious collectors.
Another coveted rookie pitcher in the set is David Cone’s #344 card. Despite suffering injuries that slowed his early career, Cone went on to win 194 games over 18 seasons and five World Series titles. His dominance in the late 90s as a Yankees ace added to his first card’s appeal. A PSA 8 David Cone rookie generally sells in the $800-1,200 range now. It’s not as pricey as Gooden’s yet, but certain condition pop report stats indicate it could appreciate faster long term since higher grade Cone rookies seem to be rarer finds.
Moving beyond rookies, some veteran superstars from the 1986 set have also maintained strong collector interest and value over time. One is Nolan Ryan’s #139 card, featuring the legend mid-windup for the Astros. While not his true rookie, it’s one of the most visually dramatic and memorable cards in the entire set. Pristine PSA 10 examples have sold for over $1,000. But Ryan cards in any grade hold value considering how iconic he remains as baseball’s all-time strikeout king.
Another perennial all-time great, Wade Boggs, possesses a valuable card from the ’86 set as well. His #454 Red Sox issue picturing Boggs at bat has remained popular. Near mint PSA 8 copies in strong demand routinely trade hands for $500-700. That’s likely due to Boggs’ elite career numbers, memorable RBI Baseball video game cover, and long tenure in Boston cementing his stature among collectors. Condition matters highly for Boggs cards, accounting for the price gap with lower grades.
Rookies and future Hall of Famers understandably drive most of the value in the 1986 Topps set. There are a couple unique circumstances resulting in individual common cards achieving tremendous prices as well. One example is Bob Horner’s #642 issue, which has sold for over $6,000 in high grade. The reason? It featured an unintended printing error showing Horner in an Expos uniform despite being traded to the Cardinals a year prior. Quirks like this demonstrate how anomalies can flip otherwise pedestrian cards into six-figure items.
An even curiouser situation surrounds Bill Gullickson’s #153 card from the set. With no real accolades to drive it normally, this card has still achieved over $2,000 sales. The bizarre backstory is that several Gullickson family members and friends obtained thousands of 1986 Topps wax packs directly from the printer within the first year of the cards releasing. This cache of cards included over 1,000 PSA 10 Gullickson rookies. With so few believed to exist officially outside that group, a strange scarcity was artificially created around this random card. It shows how rumors and lore can spike even singular issues at times.
While 1986 Topps may lack the singular absolutely blue chip rookie or superstar cards of select other releases, it consistently produces affordable stars and surprises for collectors. Cards like McGwire, Gooden, Cone, Ryan and Boggs might have relatively lower PSA 10 price tags than comparable players’ rookie cards elsewhere. But their availability across all conditions retains residual appeal. Factors like rarity quirks, legends cementing, and individual nostalgia ensure particular pieces from the ’86 set like Horner and Gullickson still hold bizarre intrigue as well. It serves as a reminder for collectors to watch conditions, histories and stories rather than just chase only the costliest Hall of Famers.
