The 1986 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the modern era. The 1986 season was a memorable one with several historical moments and the cards captured many of the game’s biggest stars at the peak of their careers. While there are many standout cards from the set, here are some that stand out as being among the best and most desirable from the 1986 Topps baseball card collection.
One of the true holy grail cards from the 1986 set is the Roger Clemens rookie card. Clemens had just begun to emerge as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers in 1986, his first full season in the majors. His rookie card from Topps is the first widely available card showing Clemens in a Boston Red Sox uniform. It perfectly captures the start of what would become a legendary career for the Rocket. In top graded condition, Clemens’ rookie now sells for thousands of dollars, a true indicator of just how desirable a card it is for collectors.
Another huge star whose rookie card appears in the 1986 Topps set is Barry Bonds. Like Clemens, Bonds was just starting to scratch the surface of his Hall of Fame potential in 1986, his second season in the bigs. Bonds’ rookie card shows him as a Pittsburgh Pirate and is one of the most iconic baseball cards of the late 80s. In high grade, the Bonds rookie can demand over $10,000 due to his all-time great career and the card’s iconic status. It’s a truly valuable piece of memorabilia tracing the start of Bond’s amazing run.
Staying in Pittsburgh, one of the set’s most visually striking cards is the Andy Van Slyke card. On a black and white photo, Van Slyke is shown diving spectacularly for a catch in the outfield. The dramatic action shot combined with the unique black and white photo make this one of the 1986 set’s true “poster cards.” It captures a great defensive play and Van Slyke was also a solid offensive player, making this card appealing from both an aesthetic and player standpoint.
Shifting to the National League champions from 1986, the New York Mets were well represented with several star players that have valuable cards from the set. One of the best is the Dwight Gooden rookie card. As the staff ace who led the Mets’ staff during their World Series run, Gooden’s rookie perfectly captures Doctor K at the start of his stellar career. The card shows Gooden’s overpowering potential and like the Clemens rookie, it is one of the most important rookie cards from the entire 1980s. In high grade, a Gooden rookie can sell for thousands.
Another Mets star with an iconic 1986 card is Darryl Strawberry. Strawberry’s powerful swing and athleticism made him a fan favorite on those 1980s Mets teams. His card shows him in the middle of an explosive home run swing. It portrays Strawberry at the height of his abilities before injuries slowed him down. Even in lower grades, the Strawberry card remains a key piece for any Mets or 1980s collection due to his importance to the franchise at that time.
Moving to the American League, one of the most visually stunning cards from 1986 is the Don Mattingly card. On a brilliant blue and white photo, Mattingly is pictured in the middle of his smooth, effortless swing that helped him win the 1986 AL batting title. The card is made even more valuable by the fact that it was Mattingly’s first card showing him as the Yankees’ captain after taking over for Dave Winfield. Mattingly was also coming off an MVP season so this card captures him at the absolute peak of his powers.
Rounding out the best, another American League star with a valuable 1986 card is Rickey Henderson. Like Strawberry, Henderson’s card depicts him in the middle of an all-out sprint around the bases. It perfectly captures the blazing speed that made Henderson a singular offensive force for the Oakland A’s and one of the game’s all-time great leadoff hitters. Henderson’s card portrays him in the middle of one of his many stolen base attempts. It’s among the most exciting and memorable cards from the entire set.
While the 1986 Topps set featured over 700 total cards, these represent some of the most iconic, valuable, and memorable individual cards. They captured future Hall of Famers and superstars at the peaks of their early careers. Factors like rookie cards, action shots, team importance, and the players’ eventual legacies have made these particular 1986 cards especially desirable for collectors over 35 years later. The set as a whole is a wonderful time capsule of 1980s baseball that contains many stories still being told today through the vintage cards it produced.
