1986 Topps

This a list with brief descriptions of Topps sports card products for 1986.

Baseball

Base Set

The 1986 Topps set totals 792 cards and was issued in wax, cello and rack packs or factory sets. Subsets include Pete Rose Tribute, Record Breakers, Turn Back The Clock, All-Stars, Team Leaders, Checklists, and Manager cards. Player cards had a picture in the middle, the upper 1/4 of the background was black (with the rest being white), the team name appeared across the top, the player name appeared across the bottom, and the player's position appeared in a small circle in the corner of the picture. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Traded Set

The Traded set totals 132 cards issued as a factory set and was printed in Ireland on white cardstock. The cards are identical in appearance to the base set except for T-suffixed numbering and are ordered alphabetically by player name. This set includes traded players and managers, and rookie cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy Send-Ins

This set totals 60 cards and was available by mailing in the special offer cards found in 1986 Topps wax packs. The fronts have a glossy player photo while the backs say All-Star Set Collector's Edition and include the players name, team ,and position. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Glossy All-Stars

This set totals 22 cards and was available as an insert in 1986 Topps rack packs. The back says All-Star Game Commemorative Set and includes the players name, position and league. There are 11 cards each for the American and National League All-Star teams. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Mini Leaders

The Mini set includes 66 cards and were available in wax packs. The cards vaguely resemble the base set and featured players that led various statistical categories. Size: 2-5/32 X 3 in.

Topps Super

The Super set is a large size version of the base set totaling 60 cards. The players do not carry their corresponding number from the base set, rather they are renumbered 1-60. Size: 4-7/8 X 6-7/8 in.

Wax Box Cards

The "Box Bottom" cards were featured 4 to a box on the bottom of the wax pack boxes of 1986 Topps of which there were 4 different boxes for a total of 16 cards. They resemble the base cards except for a red top border instead of black and were lettered A-P rather than numbered. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in. when individually cut out.

Parallel Sets

*In 1986 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the Base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets.
*In 1986 O-Pee-Chee printed an identical, save for O-Pee-Chee branding, set with only 396 cards which featured lighter gray cardstock, bilingual English/French backs, and added traded lines on some cards. O-Pee-Chee also printed bilingual versions of the Wax Box Cards.

Retail/Food Issues

These are sets issued by other companies in conjunction with Topps.
*Kay-Bee 33 card box set called Young Heroes of Baseball. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Quaker Granola 33 cards issued with granola bars or mail-in. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.
*Woolworth's 33 card box set. Titled Topps Collectors Series. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Football

Base set

The football set contains 396 cards and was issued wax packs and factory sets. The borders have a football field motif of green with white stripes. Subsets include Record Breakers, league leaders, Super Bowl, checklists, and Team cards. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Box Bottoms

This 4 card set contains team photos of the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, each participant in the NFC and AFC Championship games. Each card was printed on the side of regular issue wax pack boxes. The cards are lettered A-D. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

1000 Yard Club

This set totals 26 cards and were issued as inserts in the football wax packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained convert|1000|yd or more during the season by rushing or receiving. Size: 2-1/2 X 3-1/2 in.

Hockey

References

*Beckett, Dr. James et al (2002). "Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide". Beckett Publications-Dallas, Texas ISBN 1-930692-17-X