The 1986 Donruss Highlights baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable issues from the junk wax era of the late 1980s. While the glut of mass produced cards from that time period has led to most common examples being worth just a dollar or two, there are still some real gems that can fetch huge prices due to the player featured or particular variations. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most valuable 1986 Donruss Highlights cards that collectors seek out.
One of the true blue chip ’86 Donruss rookies is the Ken Griffey Jr. card. Even in low grades, Griffey’s rookie consistently sells for well over $100 due to his iconic status as one of the great players of his generation. High grade specimens with a PSA or BGS grade of 9+ can reach upwards of $1000-2000 or more. The Griffey rookie is always in high demand and will likely retain its value for years to come as one of the definitive pieces for any collection.
Randy Johnson’s rookie card is another hugely coveted ’86 Donruss issue despite Johnson having dual rookie options between Donruss and Fleer that year. Low end PSA 8 examples can go for $200-500, with higher grades pushing over $1000. Johnson’s fierce dominance as a left-handed flamethrower and eventual Hall of Fame induction makes his rookies logical targets for advanced collectors.
While not a true rookie, collectors also greatly desire the Larry Walker card from 1986 Donruss Highlights. Walker had come up the previous year but ’86 Donruss featured one of his nicer early career images. High grade PSA 10 examples have topped $500-1000 at auction due to Walker’s underrated offensive prowess and Gold Glove caliber defense. His career .965 OPS makes him a very underrated player historically.
Those looking to really splash out big money have the option of pursuing the fabled Ken Griffey Sr. 1981 Fleer error card that was mistakenly placed into 1986 Donruss packs instead. Only a handful are known to exist and they represent one of the true crown jewels for error card enthusiasts. Prices start well into the thousands even for low grade copies and top PSA specimens have reached astronomical sums like $100K plus at auction.
Two other fairly high end ’86 Donruss cards that regularly sell in the $200-500 range are the Don Mattingly and Roger Clemens issues. Both went on to have Hall of Fame careers and remain popular players to this day. Clemens’ reputation has taken a hit due to PED controversies late in his career but talented pitchers will always find buyers. Mattingly endured numerous injuries but is still revered by Yankees devotees for his grit and clutch hitting prowess prior to his early retirement.
For those seeking specific variations, there are also opportunities with parallel and differently cut 1986 Donruss Highlights cards. The rare black border parallel versions of the main rookie stars Griffey, Johnson, and Walker can surpass $1000 depending on condition factors. Blockbuster and horizontally wider “tallboy” cutting errors that show portions of additional cards are also highly desired by more advanced collectors looking for true oddball material. These outliers from the standard release format tend to fetch high auction prices from passionate variation hunters.
When it comes to chasing true unopened 1986 Donruss wax, the picture is much different than with sealed cards from the overproduced 1990s. Boxes in average condition still command $200-500 with prices heavily influenced by overall appeal and state of packaging. Factory sealed cases can easily sell for well over $1000 due to rarity compared to the produced numbers of similar era sets like 1987 Topps, 1988 Donruss, etc. The thrill of potentially containing a phenomenal Griffey or Johnson rookie still excites the imagination of people who enjoy the nostalgia of the junk wax era.
While the 1986 Donruss Highlights set as a whole lacks huge monetary value for the average common cards, there are still numerous individual standouts that maintain, and in some cases increase in desirability and price over time. Names like Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and Larry Walker leading the way as true rookie powerhouse cards that any collection would benefit from owning. Add in outliers like errors or parallels and you have the potential for extreme high end value as well. The 1986 Donruss brand endures as one of the most iconic of the period.
