Awesome Gary Carter 1986 Topps #708 Variation
thekid8
Posts: 1,505 ✭✭✭
I apologize up front if this might be old news but for me this is something that just became known to me last month
While scrolling through some Net54 postings I came across this one https://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=370448&highlight=Gary+Carter questioning Gary Carter’s 1986 Topps #708 card
After reading through it I couldn’t believe that I did not know about this card – 40 years of these bouncing around and never saw this variation. I have added to the Net54 posting but thought that I would create one here in the hopes that the more people that see it might be able to help me find the concrete Proof that PSA would need in order to recognize and grade these variations.
I have sent along all the “proof” so far to PSA and Topps – my emails and their responses are below. If there is a direction that I should pursue let me know.
Thanks
Hello PSA
I am writing to you today in the hopes that you would consider grading and acknowledging a variation that has just popped into my world. I am a huge Gary Carter collector and try to obtain just about everything connected to him. I was recently scrolling the various collectible forums and this unique variation jumped off the threads.
The variation is for the 1986 Topps Gary Carter #708 card
Currently there are 2 versions of this card
The Regular base set #708 with a grey back and NO gloss on the front (103 PSA Graded as of 5-22-2026 @9:40am)
The Tiffany Version # 708 with a white back and gloss on the front (11 PSA Graded as of 5-22-2026 @9:40am)
The # 708 version that I was just made aware of is of a card that is printed on card stock where the back is white similar to the Tiffany style but there is no gloss on the front of the card. It looks like in 1986 Gary Carter worked with Topps to have a version of his #708 card printed for him with the white back and no gloss on the front. He would autograph these cards and send to people who donated to the Leukemia Society of America.
Also the copyright line on the back differs from the Tiffany.
The Tiffany version has the following: © 1986 TOPPS CHEWING GUM, INC.
The “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society” variation version has the same wording as the base card:
E* © 1986 TOPPS CHEWING GUM, INC. PRTD. IN U.S.A.
All of the cards I have seen online have been autographed - not sure if there are cards out there that have not been signed but it could be a possibility
I was able to snag a copy and the images attached are of my cards
The images were taken from my phone – I also used the flash to show the gloss on the Tiffany -- if you need scanned ones let me know_
86-CARTER-708-A.jpg – Fronts of all three versions
Top Left = Base
Middle = Tiffany
Bottom Right = “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society”
86-CARTER-708-B.jpg – Backs of all three versions
Top Left = Base
Middle = Tiffany
Bottom Right = “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society”
86-CARTER-708-C.jpg – Close up Backs of the Tiffany and “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society” version
Left = Tiffany
Right = “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society”
The thread where I first saw this variation
https://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=370448&highlight=Gary+Carter
Within the thread above is great breakdown is here
https://tiffanycards.com/card-sets/topps-tiffany/1986-topps-tiffany
And here is what I feel should be the confirmation on the existence of this variation
below is a Gary Carter/Leukemia commercial that highlights the card
https://youtu.be/R0rf-NbNS0A?si=t4bBiEEJGc5bDDJm
I believe the timing of adding this version is perfect --- its 40 years since the issue of the 1986 Sets and the 40th anniversary of the Mets winning the World Series. Having a “new” find available to collectors would be exciting – ok maybe exciting to me but I feel that having something to chase would be welcome.
Thank You for your consideration
Take Care
Mike Cosgrove
**Good morning Michael
Thank you for submitting this request.
Reviewing the card, there does not appear to be a reliable source to detail how the leukemia version was released. It likely is authentic, but we would need additional information about how and when this was issued before we would be able to accept it for grading. The Tiffany collector in your link is a collector who knows a lot, and so do the Net54 contributors, but we would not be able to accept a card based on that information.
If you are able to find this set mentioned in a publication like the Standard catalog, you are welcome to submit it as a follow up, but with the information we have, we can't accept it as a new set.
Thank you for your patience with our response, and for considering PSA.**
[Contacting Topps was tough as the only allow 1000 characters -- I was hoping that I would be able to follow up with more detail]
Hello Topps
I am looking for some help with a 40 year old variation
The specific card is the Topps 1986 #708 Gary Carter All Star Card. For years I have only known of 2 versions of this card
A. The baseset version which would be with a normal gray back/no gloss front and the copyright line of E* © 1986 TOPPS CHEWING GUM, INC. PRTD. IN U.S.A
B. The Tiffany set version which would be with a white back/gloss front and the copyright line of © 1986 TOPPS CHEWING GUM, INC.
C. Just recently, I have been made aware of another version – it looks like back in 1986 Gary Carter worked with Topps to have a version of his #708 card printed for him with the white back and no gloss front. He would autograph these cards and send to people who donated to the Leukemia Society of America.
Also to note the “Gary Carter/Leukemia Society” variation version has the same copyright wording as the base card: E* © 1986 TOPPS CHEWING GUM, INC. PRTD. IN U.S.A.
I have more to add but limited to 1000 characters_
**Hello Mike,
Thank you for reaching out to Topps Collector Support. Our commitment here is you and I would firstly like to thank you for your custom.
Thank you for contacting Topps and for sharing the details of your research into the 1986 Topps #708 Gary Carter All-Star card. It is always great to hear from collectors who are passionate about the history and nuances of our products.
Unfortunately, due to the age of this release, we do not have access to detailed production records or information regarding potential variations, promotional issues, or special distributions from that era. As a result, we are unable to verify or provide guidance on the existence, origins, or legitimacy of specific card variations from 1986.
We appreciate the information you have shared regarding the different versions of the card and the reported Leukemia Society distribution. However, any further investigation into the card's history would need to be conducted through independent research. Specialist hobby publications, long-time collectors, grading companies, auction archives, and collector forums may be useful resources for gathering additional information and corroborating the details you have uncovered.
We regret that we cannot provide a more definitive answer, but we wish you the best of luck with your research and thank you for your interest in Topps products.
Thank you for being a valued member of the Topps Family.
**
Comments
Amazing detective work. It's very unfortunate Topps appears to be a dead-end.
Interesting research Mike and certainly a card variation I was unaware of.
Unfortunately, PSA's response doesn't surprise me. It doesn't appear they're questioning the card's existence so much as the lack of contemporaneous documentation showing exactly how it was issued and distributed.
After 40 years, that may be difficult to uncover, but if anyone can locate an original Leukemia Society mailing, donation offer, hobby publication reference, or other period documentation, it would strengthen the case considerably.
Have you considered reaching out to Sports Collectors Digest or searching their archives?
PSA specifically mentioned they would need something more substantial than forum discussions, and an article, advertisement, hobby notice, or checklist mention in SCD from 1986–87 might be exactly the type of contemporaneous documentation that could help establish how these cards were distributed.Best of luck with the search—I hope the hobby can eventually document it well enough for recognition.
Best of luck with the search—I hope the hobby can eventually document it well enough for recognition."
Years ago I discovered the 1959 Topps spahn 3 variations. I sent copies to PSA . This was very late 80"s..they called , not wrote, that it had to be listed in Beckett . I lived in Dallas at the time and visited Beckett and got a tour of the company from Mr. Klein. I don't remember his first name. They published the new prices in the large edition but it took a few months . I would contact Beckett .
Any chance of trying to connect with an extended member of the Carter family to ask about checking through archived items that might still be in their possession? Just a thought.
This card is listed in the annual beckett big books under the 1986 Topps blurb. At least in the older 2000s editions.
Neither Topps or PSA are of any help - imagine that!
Erik
Thanks for the help guys!!!
Some nice leads posted here and over in NET54 -- will be shooting off several emails/letters over the next few days.
If you or anyone has some of these old copies would love to see a pic of the 1986 Topps section -- if in print it may just be a key piece to get this recognized.
I mentioned that I picked up the card within the images above and I thought/hoped that I purchased one in the past
Well I did!! --- Here is a the same style card with a nice blue signature -- including the envelope and letter that came with it