The 1986 Topps Traded set is one of the most iconic and valuable subsets in the entire history of baseball cards. Issued midway through the 1986 season, Topps Traded featured players who had been traded to new teams since the initial 1986 Topps base set was released in March. While not quite as large as modern day Topps Traded sets which can contain hundreds of cards, the 1986 version still boasted 60 total cards split between two series. This set is highly sought after by collectors not just for its memorable rookie cards, but also because it captures pivotal moments from the 1986 season and represents a unique time capsule from decades past. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout cards from this classic Topps Traded set.
One of the most well-known and valuable 1986 Topps Traded cards is card #T1, featuring Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox. Clemens had just been acquired by the Red Sox in a lopsided trade with the Houston Astros during the 1985 offseason. His debut with Boston in 1986 was nothing short of spectacular as Clemens went 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA and struck out a MLB record 20 batters in a single game. He would go on to win the AL Cy Young Award that year. The Clemens T1 is one of the signature cards from the set and in top graded gem mint condition can sell for thousands of dollars.
Another huge pull from the 1986 Topps Traded set is the Kirby Puckett rookie card, found as card #T53 in the second series. Puckett had just finished a stellar rookie season with the Minnesota Twins in 1984 and was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. His iconic smile and boyish looks made him a fan favorite. High grade Puckett rookies from this set regularly sell for well over $1000. The card also holds extra significance as it was one of the last cards produced featuring Puckett before his career and life were tragically cut short due to glaucoma problems.
Two other tremendous rookie cards found in the 1986 Topps Traded set were those of Mark McGwire (#T30) and Barry Bonds (#T49). McGwire was still in his early days with the Athletics but was already showing his immense power potential. His Traded rookie along with his main set card are must-haves for any McGwire PC. As for Bonds, his Traded rookie captures him at the start of his Pirates career where he won back-to-back NL batting titles in 1985-86. Both of these rookies are extremely valuable, with PSA 10 McGwire and Bonds specimens selling for $5000+ each.
In addition to star rookies, the 1986 Topps Traded set also highlighted many of that season’s biggest trades and player movements. For example, cards #T2 and #T3 feature Don Baylor and Dave LaPoint, who were both part of a July 1986 trade between the Angels and Red Sox. Cards #T22-T24 focus on the June deal that sent Lee Smith from the Cubs to the Red Sox. And cards #T47-T49 highlight the July transaction that involved the Pirates trading Jeff Robinson to the Reds for fellow Traded rookie Barry Bonds. These multi-player trade subsets help transport collectors back to a pivotal moment from MLB’s history.
In terms of rare and valuable vintage cards in general, condition is king. And for the 1986 Topps Traded set in particular, finding high grade gems at the PSA 10 or BGS/SGC 9.5 level can be a major challenge. The cardboard stock was thinner than typical for the time and the design lends itself to surface flaws. But those pristine specimens that have stood the test of time tend to command astronomical prices. Just last year, a PSA 10 Clemens T1 sold for over $13,000. And a BGS 9.5 Kirby Puckett rookie brought in a winning bid north of $6,000. For collectors seeking true Holy Grails, 1986 Topps Traded cards in the most immaculate of conditions fit that title perfectly.
In summarizing why the 1986 Topps Traded set remains such an iconic piece of baseball card history, it effectively captured so many pivotal moments and storylines from that mid-1980s MLB season. Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers, multi-player trade highlights, and capturing career-defining seasons from stars like Clemens, Puckett and others make this set a true time capsule. Even 35+ years later, it continues to be a hugely popular chase for collectors both young and old. Finding high grade examples is a real needle in a haystack proposition, but the rewards for doing so are well worth the effort. The 1986 Topps Traded cards truly represent the pinnacle of what a baseball card subset should accomplish.
