The 1986 baseball card season featured some of the most iconic rookie cards and memorable veterans from what was an exciting year in Major League Baseball. Led by star rookies like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, the 1986 crop of cards highlighted many future Hall of Famers and memorable players from that era.
One of the most coveted and valuable rookie cards from 1986 was that of Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens. Fresh off winning the American League Cy Young Award in his first full season, Clemens’ rookie card from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss were highly sought after. His action shot on the mound made for a very memorable and aesthetically-pleasing first card that captured him in his prime. Clemens went on to have a legendary 24-year career and is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all-time. His 1986 rookie cards still fetch thousands of dollars to this day for high-grade specimens.
Another hugely important rookie card from 1986 was Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds. Regarded as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history, Bonds’ rookie season showed flashes of what was to come as he hit .232 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI in just 46 games. His rookie cards from Topps, Fleer, and Donruss are still highly valuable today given his all-time great career and status as a controversial figure. Bonds would go on to smash the all-time home run record and win a record seven NL MVP awards.
One of the most iconic veterans featured on 1986 cards was New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. Coming off a historic 1985 season where he won the NL Cy Young Award at age 20 and led the Mets to the World Series, “Doc” Gooden was one of the biggest stars in baseball. His action shot on the Topps and Donruss cards truly captured his overpowering fastball and dominance on the mound. Gooden would have another fantastic season in 1986 before injuries slowed his career. His cards remain popular to this day.
Another 1986 card that stands out both for its visual appeal and subject was that of Boston Red Sox star Wade Boggs on Topps. Boggs had put together another excellent season in 1985 where he hit .368, the highest batting average in the AL in 40 years. His sweet swing was immortalized on his 1986 Topps card, which featured a classic Boggs pose from the left side of the plate. Boggs was the model of consistency and his cards were fan favorites for capturing his hitting prowess.
One of the most aesthetically-pleasing 1986 cards was that of Chicago Cubs first baseman Leon Durham on Fleer. With a colorful purple, teal, and pink border backdrop, Durham is shown digging in at the plate with his unique stance. It’s a very eye-catching card design that stood out in the Fleer set that year. Durham was a consistent power hitter for several teams in the 1980s, including the Cubs where he hit a dramatic home run in Game 5 of the 1984 NLCS.
Among the most historically-significant 1986 cards was that of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mario Soto on Donruss. In addition to capturing Soto delivering a pitch, the reverse of the card featured a write-up on the 1985 World Series between the Reds and Kansas City Royals. It provided a nice retrospective on the Fall Classic from the previous year. Soto went on to have a solid career and was part of the “Nasty Boys” bullpen in Cincinnati.
Another Reds player who had a memorable 1986 card was slugging first baseman Nick Esasky on Topps. Nicknamed “Dr. Death” for his intimidating batting stance, Esasky is shown digging in from the left side with his unusual high leg kick. It’s an action-packed card that highlighted Esasky’s prodigious power. He hit over 30 home runs in both 1985 and 1986 for Cincinnati.
1986 also saw the debut of Score brand baseball cards on the hobby scene. One of their most visually-striking early cards was that of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joe Magrane. With a colorful blue, red, and yellow border backdrop, Magrane is shown mid-windup with an over-the-top delivery. It was a unique card design that helped differentiate Score in those early years as they tried to compete with the big three of Topps, Fleer, and Donruss.
The 1986 baseball card season featured many future Hall of Famers and stars in their prime like Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Dwight Gooden. Iconic veterans like Wade Boggs and unique designs on cards of players like Leon Durham and Joe Magrane made 1986 a memorable year. Highlighting great performances and capturing the visual flair of the players, the ’86 crop of cards remains popular with collectors to this day for their historical significance and capturing the talent of that MLB season.
