[4reals]

In my opinion the top10 cards from this time frame (using 10 different players) to be produced (in no particular order) are:

1) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Barry Bonds
2) 1985 Topps Tiffany USA Mark McGwire
3) 1983 Topps Tony Gwynn
4) 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly
5) 1984 Fleer Update Roger Clemens
6) 1984 Fleer Update Kirby Puckett
7) 1986 Topps Traded Tiffany Bo Jackson
8) 1982 Topps Traded Cal Ripken Jr.
9) 1987 Topps Traded Tiffany Greg Maddux
10) 1988 Score Traded Glossy Craig Biggio

Honorable Mention:

1) 1983 Topps Traded Darryl Strawberry
2) 1983 Donruss Wade Boggs
3) 1983 OPC Ryne Sandberg
4) 1987 OPC Barry Bonds
5) 1982 TCMA John Elway "Oneonta Yankees"

The top design from each of the three main companies I believe will be most iconic decades from now are:

1) 1986 Topps
2) 1984 Fleer
3) 1984 Donruss

Memorable cards that don't cost a lot:

1) 1988 Topps Traded USA Jim Abbott
2) 1985 Topps Dwight Gooden
3) 1986 Donruss Jose Canseco
4) 1981 Topps Valenzuela/Scioscia rookie
5) 1987 Topps Bo Jackson Future Star
6) 1988 Score Roberto Alomar
7) 1981 Donruss Rickey Henderson
8) 1987 Donruss Greg Maddux Rated Rookie
9) 1987 Fleer Barry Larkin
10) 1982 Topps Lee Smith

Top Variation Sets:

1) 1982 Topps Blackless
2) 1985 Topps Mini
3) Any Topps Tiffany
4) Any Fleer Glossy
5) 1988 Score Glossy
6) 1984 Nestle
7) 1981 OPC Gray Backs

Top Error Cards:

1) 1987 Opening Day Barry Bonds/Johnny Ray
2) 1981 Topps Borderless
3) 1981 Fleer Craig Nettles
4) 1988 Topps Dwight Gooden AS partial blue missing