The 1986 Donruss baseball card set is considered by many collectors and enthusiasts to be one of the top releases in the entire vintage Donruss era that spanned from 1981 to 1998. The 1986 Donruss set broke the mold from the basic and sparse designs of earlier Donruss issues by introducing vibrant color photography, fun and creative action shots, along with several innovative inserts and parallels that added to the excitement of the release.
Some key aspects that added to the popularity of the 1986 Donruss set include:
Full color action photography on the base cards for the first time, moving away from the simple black and white or grayscale images of the past. This gave each player card a dynamic new look that was a great upgrade.
Fun photography themes like “Heads Up” shots where a player is mid-swing or catch without a batting helmet on. Or “Feet First” slide shots added some creative energy to the designs.
Expanded rookie and star player profiles on the backs highlighted stats and career notes in a fun and engaging way.
Popular inserts like “First Pitch” which were oversized cards featuring a different player on the front for each team.
Included coveted parallels inserts like “Brilliant”, “Superstar Spectrum” and “Refractor Spectrum” that showed the technology innovation Donruss was bringing to cards.
Iconic design elements like the large “D” logo and team wordmarks integrated with the photography stood out on shelves compared to competitors.
With these new design elements in play, the 1986 Donruss set checklist and roster of included players contributed to its strong collector appeal as well. Some highlights of the included players and their corresponding cards that increased interest:
Rookie cards for future Hall of Famers like Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine that are still highly sought after today.
The inclusion of 465 total players, one of the highest player counts of any ’80s era set, meant more stars were featured.
Power hitters like Mike Schmidt, Darryl Strawberry and Andre Dawson had highly collectible featured cards.
Young superstars like Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden and Wally Joyner had early star cards people wanted.
Top performers from 1985 like Don Mattingly and Vince Coleman that kept the excitement of the prior season alive.
Team checklist coverage was extensive with players from all 26 MLB clubs at the time included.
When it came to production and printing quality, the 1986 Donruss set maintained the high standards the brand was known for. Here are some key points on how Donruss ensured the cards remained prized possessions for collectors:
Card stock was of very high quality, thick without being flimsy like some other brands. This helped the color pop visually.
Coating and finishes on parallel and rare cards added a true premium feel worthy of their scarcity.
Centering, cut quality and lack of print lines/defects was top notch for the majority of the release.
Tight quality control meant replacements could be requested via the Donruss customer service hotline if issues arose.
Distribution was carefully managed by Donruss to sports card shops, hobby stores and major retailers to avoid surpluses.
In the years since its original 1986 release, the legacy and collecting popularity of the set have only grown stronger. Factors that have contributed to its lasting appeal include:
Iconic rookie cards of Hall of Famers like Clemens, Maddux and Glavine that hold immense long term value.
Strong investment returns, as ’86 Donruss graded gem mint 10 rookies have appreciated greatly since the ’80s boom.
Nostalgia for the vivid colorful photography and innovative designs of the era.
Highly collectible parallels like Refractors and Brilliant insert sets that are coveted by inser collectors.
Regular inclusion in sports card price guides, magazines and websites ensuring awareness remains high.
Representation in books, documentaries talking about the ‘golden age’ of cards in the ’80s and ’90s.
Annual auctions at major card conventions seeing record prices paid for ’86 Donruss stars like Strawberry and Gooden.
In the end, the unparalleled fun, color and variety the 1986 Donruss baseball card set brought opened the doors for the brand to truly take off. It showed collectors, investors and the hobby as a whole what innovative designs, quality and spotlighting of top players could achieve. Over 35 years later, the1986 Donruss release is remembered as one of the true icons of the vintage sports card boom era of the 1980s. Its legacy and collectibility seems certain to endure for generations to come.
