The 1986 Donruss baseball card set marked one of the biggest transitions in the industry as the company introduced rookie cards featuring future Hall of Famers like Barry Bonds and Gregg Maddux. While the set overall is not considered one of Donruss’ most desirable due to production numbers in the billions, there are still some extremely valuable gems to be found for collectors. Let’s take a look at some of the most valuable 1986 Donruss cards:

Barry Bonds Rookie Card (#107)

Widely considered the highest valued card from the 1986 Donruss set, Barry Bonds’ rookie is one of the true holy grails for collectors from the junk wax era. Bonds would go on to have one of the greatest careers in MLB history and is baseball’s all-time home run leader. Even though his rookie was mass produced, high grade examples still fetch huge sums. A PSA 10 gem mint copy recently sold for over $30,000, showing the ongoing demand for one of the sport’s true superstars. Lower graded versions still sell strongly as well considering he is regularly in the discussion for greatest player ever.

Gregg Maddux Rookie Card (#389)

Much like Bonds, Maddux went on to have a Hall of Fame career and is considered one of the best pitchers in history. His impeccable control and consistency led to four Cy Young awards. While his 1986 Donruss rookie isn’t quite as sought after as Bonds, high grade copies still carry significant value. A PSA 10 recently brought in over $15,000, showing that top conditioned examples still demand big money from collectors. Even PSA 8s can sell for well over $1,000 showing there is an audience for Maddux collectors at various price points.

Tom Glavine Rookie Card (#480)

The third top pitcher from the 1986 set, Glavine falls just behind Maddux and Bonds in terms of desired rookies. He became a dominant starter who won two Cy Young awards of his own for the Atlanta Braves. While his Donruss rookie doesn’t command the same prices as the two above, mint condition copies are still quite valuable, with a PSA 10 recently selling for $6,700. Even well-centered PSA 8 copies can reach $500-1000 depending on the market. He remains one of the more popular pitcher cards from the junk wax era.

Wade Boggs (#11)

One of the true batting stars of the 1980s, Boggs made his name with the Boston Red Sox, winning five batting titles. His defensive skills at third base were such that he earned a spot on the MLB All-Century Team. Boggs’ 1986 Donruss isn’t considered a true “rookie” since he had been in the league since 1982, but high grades are still highly sought after by collectors. A PSA 10 recently brought over $4,000, showing his enduring popularity. Even mid-grade copies in the PSA 7-8 range can sell for $100-300 depending on conditions.

Roger Clemens (#145)

Similar to Boggs, Clemens’ 1986 Donruss isn’t a true rookie as he debuted in 1984, but he had career as one of the most dominant pitchers of all-time. “The Rocket” won seven Cy Young awards and holds many pitching records that may never be broken. His 1986 card shows him in a Boston Red Sox uniform and high grades remain quite valuable. A PSA 10 recently sold for over $3,000 continuing strong demand. Even well-centered PSA 8s routinely sell for $400-500 showing his staying power with collectors.

Kirby Puckett (#437)

The 1986 Donruss set marks Puckett’s true rookie card debut and collectors still love his iconic image locking in for the Minnesota Twins. Puckett went on to an outstanding career winning six straight Gold Gloves and was a key part of Minnesota’s World Series wins in 1987 and 1991. Condition sensitive like many other key rookies, a PSA 10 recently brought over $2,200. Well-centered PSA 8s still command $300-500 thanks to his enduring fanbase in Minnesota.

Dwight Gooden (#79)

Better known for his iconic 1984 Topps rookie, Gooden’s 1986 Donruss still holds plenty of value considering he was already one of the game’s biggest stars after winning the 1985 Cy Young award. The “Doctor K” years were brief but captivating early in his career. Top graded versions remain quite rare with only a handful in PSA 10 known to exist. Even low pop PSA 9s can still sell for well over $1000 showing the demand from Mets collectors.

Ozzie Smith (#381)

Known as the best defensive shortstop in MLB history who helped revolutionize the position, Ozzie Smith remains a fan-favorite. While his 1980 Bowman is the true rookie, collectors still love his fun 1986 Donruss issue which captured him in the prime of his Cardinals career. PSA 10s have reached over $1,500 recently as true high grades are exceedingly rare in the tough to grade designs of the ’86 set. Well-centered PSA 8s trade between $300-600.

While the 1986 Donruss set suffers from massive production overall making most common cards barely worth a dollar, there are still several rookie cards and stars that command huge prices from dedicated collectors. Bonds remains the undisputed king, with Maddux, Glavine and the likes of Boggs, Clemens, Puckett and Smith holding significant remaining value as well. It remains one of the more iconic sets of the sports card boom era of the 1980s. Top graded gems are prized possessions for vintage collectors even decades later.