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, 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: 2.5 × 3.5 in. There are two card #141's...The Bob Rodgers card #141 is supposed to be card #171.
Traded Set
The 132 card Traded set, issued in a factory sealed box, 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: 2.5 × 3.5 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: 2.5 × 3.5 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: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
Mini Leaders
The Mini set includes 66 cards and was available in wax packs. The cards vaguely resemble the base set and featured players that led various statistical categories. Size: × 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: × 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: 2.5 × 3.5 in. when individually cut out.
Other sets
Traded Mickey Mantle Bronze Metal replica of his first Topps card available to dealers who purchased a Topps Traded case. Size: 1¼ × 1¾ inches. Gallery of Champions This set is metal replicas of regular issue cards in 1/4 scale of twelve players. There are three variations: aluminum, bronze and silver. The Don Mattingly card has a fourth variation in pewter given to dealers who bought the set. The sets were issued in a velvet lined case. Size: 1¼ × 1¾ inches. Tattoos While there are twenty-four sheets, the set features 192 different players. The player images as well as the other baseball action images can be transferred. Size: 3-7/16 × 14 inches 1½ × 2½ in.. Stickers The full color photos and are numbered on both sides. The back has info about an offer to order a complete 1986 Topps set or win a trip to spring training. There are playoff and World Series subsets. An album was also available to place the stickers in. Size: 2⅛ × 3 inches. 3-D This set was printed on plastic with an embossed player picture. The player's name is across the bottom with the letters of the team name is at the top in a row of baseballs. The backs are blank except for two peel off adhesive strips. Size: 4½ × 6 inches. Super Sample One sample card was produced of the Super set using the Eddie Murray card. The back stated 'Special Collector Sample Actual Product To Have Statistics Printed On White-Board Card Back.' Size: 4⅞ × 6⅞ inches.
Parallel Sets
In 1986 Topps issued Tiffany sets of the Base set and the Traded set in limited quantities only available as Factory sets.
Licensed sets
For the O-Pee-Chee sets that resembled the Topps issue seeList of O-Pee-Chee Sports 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: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
Quaker Granola 33 cards issued with granola bars or mail-in. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
The football set contains 396 cards and was issued in 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: 2.5 × 3.5 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: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
1000 Yard Club
This set totals 26 cards and was issued as inserts in the football wax packs. The 'members of the club' are players who gained or more during the season by rushing or receiving. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
Stickers
This set totals 285 stickers some of which came in pairs. The fronts are white bordered with a shadow box frame while the backs has info printed in brown on white background. There are also two All-Pro foil subsets. An album was available for holding the stickers. Size: × inches
Ice hockey
Base Set
The 1986-87 Topps hockey set totals 198 cards and was issued in wax packs. Below the player photo is the player's name, position, team name and team logo. The backs have career stats and highlights. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
Box Bottoms
This 16-card set appeared as four different 4-card panels on the bottom of wax pack boxes. The cards are lettered A-P. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches individually.
Stickers
This is a 33-card insert set found one per wax pack. Dubbed the 'Hockey Helmet Stickers' there were included 21 stickers of team logos, pucks, and numbers along with 12 All-Star players. The backs are printed in blue and red over white background. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 in.
The popularity of the Garbage Pail Kids prompted Topps to release four more series in 1986 along with several supplemental sets. The numbers of cards issued for the regular series not including variations are: 3rd - 82 cards, 4th - 84 cards, 5th - 80 cards, 6th - 88 cards. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches The other GPK sets issued are the following:
This 99-card set is based on the movie Howard the Duck. There are 75 story cards with movie scenes on front and back. There is also a 22-sticker subset which are numbered but uncaptioned. The remaining two cards are a title card and a checklist. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Labyrinth
Labyrinth Bubble Gum came in plastic bags which featured one of five characters from the John Henson/George Lucas film. The character's name appears in a box next to the illustration on the back of the wrappers. Size: × inches
The wrappers of the Little Shop of Horrors set feature Audrey II declaring it as the 'New Hit Movie'. The set itself contains 44 sticker cards. The first 32 cards tell the story with photos and text. The other 12 cards form a puzzle. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
Snotty Signs
This set features 24 different signs with humorous or gross statements. The signs resemble typical street style designs such as red octagons or yellow triangles and diamonds. Size: " square
Snotty Signs Stickers
Topps issued a second Snotty Signs set this one containing 44 cards in standard size. The cards have 3 stickers on the front, one large and two small. The backs of the cards combine to form a large picture. Size: 2.5 × 3.5 inches
