Question About 1981 Topps set

[Basketball B]

Why isn't the complete set more valuable? There are lots of rookie cards in it, and star players. I don't know much about baseball, as basketball cards were my thing. What information can you guys give me about this set?

[MSU Bulldogs]

What rookies? One hall of fame rookie is in the set.

[actionbryan]

Great looking set and I’m sure psa 10 versions of many cards can go for a lot of money, but raw.... which rookies ?

[discodanman45]

The only HOF rookies from that year are the Tim Raines Expos Future Stars and the Harold Baines rookie, which many people consider a fake hall of famer. Not a lot of people collect sets unfortunately. Many collectors like myself just want the rookie cards or HOF players from the sets. I guess if I had to give the Topps cards in order it would be the Tim Raines team RC, Harold Baines RC, Fernando Valenzuela Team RC, Kirk Gibson RC, Rickey Henderson 2nd year card, and Nolan Ryan.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by actionbryan

Great looking set and I’m sure psa 10 versions of many cards can go for a lot of money, but raw.... which rookies ?

Your PSA advertisement isn’t necessary unless you mean to say vintage PSA 10 isn’t always valuable.

1981 was the first year Topps had any competition since the mid ‘50s and was probably produced in greater quantities than the years before it.

Good news is that it’s a set many collectors can afford.

[Giantrobot]

First cards I ever collected, so I’ll always have a soft spot for those little baseball caps.

The Fernando RC was a hot item around the playground in those days. Easily worth a Twinkie or Capri Sun.

[dodgerfanjohn]

It’s mostly an ugly set and as others have said, there is one marginal HOF rookie in Raines and one comepletely undeserving HOF in Baines.

Compare to the years surrounding. 1979 you have Ozzie rookie, 1980 Ricky Henderson, 1982 Ripken, 1983 Sandberg, Boggs, and Gwynn. You are talking some of the most popular players of the 80’s there…really beloved players.

Another factor is the 1981 cards are plentiful in low grade, super tough in high grade. Common sets just aren’t going to be worth much.

Still it’s responsible for one of my favorite pc items

[sbfinley]

Like several stated the set simply lacks Hall of Fame RC power to build popularity, although it does hold a very special place in one collecting community. It is without a doubt the one of the most difficult modern Topps issues to complete signed - and is technically impossible to complete fully signed. While sets like 1987 Topps are more popular with signed set collectors. 1981 Topps is the white whale.

In my estimation there are fewer than 20 signed examples of Remmerswaal (most locked up in signed set collections). The Macko is extremely difficult with less than two dozen examples. Macko died of cancer in 1981. I know of two fully signed copies.

The Mariners Futures stars card is the mythical unicorn. It doesn't exist fully signed. Rick Anderson was extremely difficult and I've only tracked 4 authentic examples. The card also features Rodney Craig who was also a difficult signer and struggled with drug addiction and homelessness for most of his life post baseball. Several years ago one collector was able to secure a copy signed by Anderson and Biercevicz and contacted Craig's sister who agreed to get the card signed for a large fee to go to Craig. Rodney never showed up at his sister's and four days later he was found dead just a few miles away. This card fully signed has never entered the market and makes the quest for signed set collectors - impossible.

[Browns1981]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

The only HOF rookies from that year are the Tim Raines Expos Future Stars and the Harold Baines rookie, which many people consider a fake hall of famer. Not a lot of people collect sets unfortunately. Many collectors like myself just want the rookie cards or HOF players from the sets. I guess if I had to give the Topps cards in order it would be the Tim Raines team RC, Harold Baines RC, Fernando Valenzuela Team RC, Kirk Gibson RC, Rickey Henderson 2nd year card, and Nolan Ryan.

Kirk Gibson's RC is and was a big card.

1981 Topps is one of my favorite designs.

[rcmb3220]

Originally Posted by Basketball B

Why isn't the complete set more valuable? There are lots of rookie cards in it, and star players. I don't know much about baseball, as basketball cards were my thing. What information can you guys give me about this set?

Last I looked, high grade (PSA) cards sell at a premium over other nearby years. Lots of low pop commons and stars. For your run of the mill ungraded sets, there isn’t a rookie like Ripken or Rickey to keep the raw set prices higher.

[Bhenry4]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

Like several stated the set simply lacks Hall of Fame RC power to build popularity, although it does hold a very special place in one collecting community. It is without a doubt the one of the most difficult modern Topps issues to complete signed - and is technically impossible to complete fully signed. While sets like 1987 Topps are more popular with signed set collectors. 1981 Topps is the white whale.

In my estimation there are fewer than 20 signed examples of Remmerswaal (most locked up in signed set collections). The Macko is extremely difficult with less than two dozen examples. Macko died of cancer in 1981. I know of two fully signed copies.

The Mariners Futures stars card is the mythical unicorn. It doesn't exist fully signed. Rick Anderson was extremely difficult and I've only tracked 4 authentic examples. The card also features Rodney Craig who was also a difficult signer and struggled with drug addiction and homelessness for most of his life post baseball. Several years ago one collector was able to secure a copy signed by Anderson and Biercevicz and contacted Craig's sister who agreed to get the card signed for a large fee to go to Craig. Rodney never showed up at his sister's and four days later he was found dead just a few miles away. This card fully signed has never entered the market and makes the quest for signed set collectors - impossible.

Very fascinating, always enjoy reading your posts.

[Giantrobot]

Yeah, great post, sbfinley.

[RL 1953]

Originally Posted by Browns1981

Kirk Gibson's RC is and was a big card.

1981 Topps is one of my favorite designs.

yea, the gibby rookie card can be had for a whopping $3

[AnthonyT]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

To date, no Valenzuela rookie card graded by PSA has been given a 10.

[Browns1981]

Originally Posted by RL 1953

yea, the gibby rookie card can be had for a whopping $3

Nothing in this set is pricy, always assuming highly graded when discussing value.

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by Browns1981

Nothing in this set is pricy, always assuming highly graded when discussing value.

Is there any card with a bigger price spread from psa 8 to 9 to 10?

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by AnthonyT

To date, no Valenzuela rookie card graded by PSA has been given a 10.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a perfectly centered copy. Add in rampant print marks and super susceptible corners and it’s like a perfect storm. Not sure there ever will be a psa 10.

I’ve opened a vending box and there was literally not one 10 in the bunch. I still have a cello box unopened and not one card is perfect with centering usually being the issue.

It’s truly a collectors product. Lots of HOF. Lots of fan favorites. But nothing real valuable except high grade cards and some of the cards scarcely exist in 9’s and 10’s.

[Davidellias]

I wonder if the color palate had anything to do with it?

70-80s cards seemed to all look the same color wise

[Browns1981]

Originally Posted by dodgerfanjohn

Is there any card with a bigger price spread from psa 8 to 9 to 10?

In the 81 set? Probably Fernando if a 10 ever gets graded.

[mfw13]

One of my favorite designs....but kinda like 1956 Topps, it's a set without any really big-name rookies.

But the 1981 subset in 2018 Topps Archives has some great names in it.....and some great cards.

[inaka]

When thinking of the 1981 Topps set, my mind instantly goes to the Henderson card. As a Rickey Henderson collector, I can never get past the photo they used for Rickey’s card in 1981. Ugh. Why oh why. It’s such a terrible photo.



Rickey’s 1980 rookie is iconic, and his 1982 card design and photo is spectacular to me, but 1981? Yikes. Such a let down.

[Davidellias]

81 was a bad year for baseball card photos *points at Fleer*

[Bingbong]

Man, reading this thread makes me want to rip through my unopened vending case ��

[dodgerfanjohn]

Originally Posted by Bingbong

Man, reading this thread makes me want to rip through my unopened vending case ��

Only if you take a shot for every card with 80/20 or worse centering

[discostu]

Originally Posted by Bingbong

Man, reading this thread makes me want to rip through my unopened vending case ��

I opened a cello box of this a few years ago, and it was one of my favorite breaks in years.