Pages

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

1986 Topps Traded

Set size: 132 cards

Front Design: A color photo is surrounded by a border that is black on the top 1/4 and white on the rest. The team name appears in the thick top black border in a team color, the player's name is on the bottom white border, and his position is in a circle positioned over the photo.

Back Design: The red backs contain a black and white box similar in design to the front of the card, with the player's name and vitals and card number. The majority of the back contains the player's complete major league statistics and usually a very short biography or career highlights.

Parallels and Similars: The Traded set follows the same design as the regular issue, except for a T suffix in the card number. A parallel Tiffany set, with a glossy finish, was printed to 5000 copies.

Distribution: Cards were issued in complete set form through hobby dealers.

Thoughts: Continuing a look at '80s set design, the 1986 Topps set is very uninspired. I don't like most of the 1980s Topps designs, and this is most likely my least-favorite set. The black borders chip very easily, and the gray cardboard dulls the image. The set checklist is filled with a strong rookie crop, led by Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, and Bo Jackson. You don't have to like them to appreciate their importance in this set in the early 1990s.

Additional Images: card back:

No comments:

Post a Comment