The 1986 Donruss baseball card set is considered by many collectors and fans to be one of the most unique and memorable issues in the history of the hobby. Not only did it feature the standard player cards and team sets that collectors had come to expect from Donruss, but it also introduced the innovative concept of the puzzle cards – multi-part cards that could be assembled to form larger images. This gimmick caught on in a big way and helped take the baseball card market by storm in the mid-1980s.
The 1986 Donruss set totaled 792 cards and had the usual assortment of current major leaguers, prospects, managers, and umpires. Some of the biggest star players featured included Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Ozzie Smith, and Mike Schmidt. Rosters included both American and National League teams. The design featured a white border around each photo with the team logo in the bottom left corner. Statistics, career highlights, and fun facts were printed on the reverse.
What truly set the 1986 Donruss issue apart, though, were the puzzle cards. There were 24 total puzzle cards inserted randomly in factory-sealed wax packs. When assembled correctly, they formed four larger 6-piece panoramic images – a baseball field, batter, pitcher on the mound, and catcher behind the plate. Each puzzle card contained a small piece of the overall picture, with slotted edges to ensure proper alignment when joined together.
The puzzle cards were an immediate hit with collectors. Kids enjoyed the challenge of finding all the pieces and putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle. It added an element of mystery, strategy, and fun to the traditional baseball card opening and trading experience. The 3-D scenes they created when fully assembled were also quite impressive for the time. Within a few years, nearly every major card manufacturer copied some form of the puzzle card concept in their own sets.
Some key highlights and notable puzzle cards from the 1986 Donruss issue include:
The most sought-after and valuable puzzle card was #1, which contained the head/shoulders of the batter on the “batter” puzzle. Due to its iconic imagery and being the first card in the set, examples still fetch hundreds of dollars today in top condition.
Other expensive puzzle cards include #724 (batter’s back leg), #492 (catcher’s glove/arm), and #306 (pitcher’s front leg). These pieces are essential to completing their respective puzzles.
Rookie cards of future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz were included as puzzle pieces #14, #374, and #707.
Star players like Clemens, Boggs, and Schmidt received puzzle cards showcasing them – #84, #222, and #648 respectively.
The puzzle cards helped elevate otherwise ordinary player cards into key pieces. For example, journeyman pitcher Dave LaPoint’s card #640 became highly sought to finish the pitcher puzzle.
The puzzles were a challenge to complete, as the 24 total pieces were inserted randomly. It took dedication and trading to hunt down all the parts.
When fully assembled, the panoramic scenes popped off the card in amazing detail. Kids and collectors were mesmerized by the realistic 3D imagery.
The puzzle cards were a major success and became a hugely popular annual tradition for Donruss baseball through the late 1980s and early 90s.
In the years since, the 1986 Donruss puzzle cards have taken on an iconic status. They represented the evolution of baseball cards from mere stickers into an actual collecting hobby. The puzzles sparked creativity, challenged the mind, and brought the cardboard to life in new dimensions. Today, high-grade puzzle sets still command big money from enthusiasts. The 1986 Donruss issue left an indelible mark on the industry and remains one of the most innovative – and fun – releases in the storied history of the baseball card pastime.
