The 1986 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable card sets from the 1980s. With 792 total cards in the standard base set release, the 1986 Topps cards provide collectors a snapshot of the players and teams from that season over 35 years ago. While the base cards in lower grades may only be worth a dollar or less individiually today, a complete set in top condition can hold tremendous value.

Some key details on the 1986 Topps set that influence the overall value include:

792 Total Cards: In addition to all the players, the set includes managers, team cards, and record breaker cards. This large base set size was fairly standard for Topps during the 1980s.

Design/Photography: The design transitions to a cleaner look compared to early 1980s sets. Photos tend to be closer cropped on the faces. The yellow borders are iconic of the mid-80s Topps aesthetic.

Rookies of Note: Some top rookies include Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Greg Maddux, andTom Glavine. All of these players went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Rookie cards from star players like these can significantly boost the value of a complete set.

Star Players: Other star players featured include Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett, Rickey Henderson, and Dwight Gooden. Complete sets with BGP (better game used) cards of top stars hold greater appeal to collectors.

Production & Survival Rate: It’s estimated around 300 million cards were originally printed for distribution in packs that year. So while a large print run, survival rates of high grade sets have been impacted by 36 years of wear since production.

Now let’s break down the estimated values for 1986 Topps complete sets based on their graded condition:

PSA/BGS 1 (Gem Mint): A true perfect 10 graded gem mint 1986 Topps set would be the holy grail for collectors. No sets are known to exist at this grade. Estimated value would be well into the 6 figures or more due to the sheer improbability.

PSA/BGS 9-9.5 (Near Mint-Mint): Only a handful of sets are known to exist at these highest NM/M grades. One 9 graded set sold at auction in 2020 for $42,000. Estimated current values for PSA/BGS 9+ sets range between $30,000-$50,000 based on their appeal to serious vintage collectors.

PSA/BGS 8 (Near Mint): A true “N/M” graded 8 set is an extremely difficult find but does come up for sale a few times a year. Sold prices at this grade recently have ranged between $15,000-$25,000 depending on the presence of premimum stars like Clemens and Bonds Rookies.

PSA/BGS 7 (Near Mint): Sets at the lowest “NM” grade of 7 are still quite impressive considering the 36 year time period. Sold prices typically fall in the $8,000-$12,000 range on the major auction sites. This grade represents a nice “display piece” set for advanced collectors.

PSA/BGS 6.5 (Ex-Mt/Mt): Starting to descend from true “near mint” territory, but 6.5 graded sets still have amazing eye appeal and preservation for the age. Values are approximately $4,000-$6,000 based on recent sales depending on the individual card quality within.

PSA/BGS 6 (Excellent): Sets at the lowest grades assigned by the major Third Party Grading companies of “Ex” 6 still make for an impressive complete collection to own. Auction prices have settled in the $2,500-$4,000 range depending on eye appealing qualities of individual cards within the set.

Raw/Ungraded: For sets still housed in the original wax packaging or plastic holding pages without a uniform graded certification, values fall anywhere from $1,500 up to possibly $3,000 for exceptionally well-preserved raw sets. It becomes much more subjective to determine condition and values without grading.

Locating and acquiring a high quality 1986 Topps set nearly complete or certified at the PSA/BGS NM or higher levels will represent an appreciating vintage asset in any serious baseball card collection portfolio. Factors like star rookie content and the individual card condition specifics will determine the small variations in price. But there is no question the 1986 Topps design has become an iconic piece of the original 1980s card boom culture, making complete sets a strong long term investment even at 35+ years after production. With patience and a watchful eye on the major auction sites, finding that high grade 1986 Topps set to check off the bucket list is definitely achievable with some perseverance in the current market.