Are PSA 10 copies of 1981 Topps Magic Johnson & Larry Bird undervalued?

regularp · 07-10-2018, 01:50 PM

Seems like these should carry quite a bit more weight since it's the first solo card for each player and they're a pretty tough grade too.

68 Gems out of 1,740 for Magic; 55 out of 2,262 for Bird.

Magic seems to be in the $300-450 range and Bird in the $650-850 range.

I know they aren't Jordan, but still seems a little odd to me. Maybe I'm out in left field by myself on this one.

GC1980 · 07-10-2018, 02:01 PM

I agree 100%. They are both awesome looking cards too.

LeonfromNC · 07-10-2018, 02:01 PM

Or maybe I should pick them up lol

6celtics33 · 07-10-2018, 02:03 PM

Very undervalued. I’d pay the high end of that for a Bird 9.5 but I haven’t even seen one in years. I look all the time too.

ThoseBackPages · 07-10-2018, 02:30 PM

Yes, PSA 10s are the way to go for sure

Kardbordkrakhed · 07-10-2018, 03:10 PM

I've always thought the 81 Bird and Magic Johnson cards were severely undervalued. Maybe not in PSA 10 necessarily, but definitely in PSA 9. You can get a Bird PSA 9 for under $60. That seems crazy cheap.

danimal875 · 07-10-2018, 03:14 PM

Anything pre Jordan doesn't exist to the Asian market, and they drive the crazy pricing for basketball.

6celtics33 · 07-10-2018, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danimal875

Anything pre Jordan doesn't exist to the Asian market, and they drive the crazy pricing for basketball.

Good point

Murphy8276 · 07-10-2018, 03:32 PM

All 2nd year cards of rookies are undervalued in non-baseball sports IMO.

Look at Jerry Rice and Joe Montana 2nd year cards for instance, or 2nd year of any player outside of Jordan in basketball, or Wayne Gretzky 2nd year cards (still way undervalued considering single digit pops)..etc

GC1980 · 07-10-2018, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy8276

All 2nd year cards of rookies are undervalued in non-baseball sports IMO.

Look at Jerry Rice and Joe Montana 2nd year cards for instance, or 2nd year of any player outside of Jordan in basketball, or Wayne Gretzky 2nd year cards (still way undervalued considering single digit pops)..etc

Hell even the MJ 1987 Fleer (2nd year) is undervalued in my opinion. That card is impossible to find 50/50 centered in both directions. Even the large majority of PSA 10's up for sale are what I would consider OC for the grade. Sells for a fraction of the RC.

CastleBeachCards · 07-10-2018, 03:58 PM

Plus isn't the '87 fleer produced in much less numbers than '86 or '88 and beyond?
Thought I read that somewhere

regularp · 07-10-2018, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy8276

All 2nd year cards of rookies are undervalued in non-baseball sports IMO.

Look at Jerry Rice and Joe Montana 2nd year cards for instance, or 2nd year of any player outside of Jordan in basketball, or Wayne Gretzky 2nd year cards (still way undervalued considering single digit pops)..etc

True, but '81 Topps has the first solo cards for Magic and Bird. I thought that'd give them more of a boost value wise.

NoleinJax · 07-10-2018, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regularp

Seems like these should carry quite a bit more weight since it's the first solo card for each player and they're a pretty tough grade too.

68 Gems out of 1,740 for Magic; 55 out of 2,262 for Bird.

Magic seems to be in the $300-450 range and Bird in the $650-850 range.

I know they aren't Jordan, but still seems a little odd to me. Maybe I'm out in left field by myself on this one.

I thought that a year or more ago and ended up picking a PSA 9 of each for under $100 total.

TarjetasBéisbol · 07-10-2018, 05:32 PM

Very undervalued and should be going up soon.

jpcitylights1 · 07-10-2018, 05:43 PM

Severly undervalued, I've been buying up Bird RC (by himself) PSA 10s for about a year. Still can't believe they are so inexpensive for one of the top 10 players of all time!

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

Boomer105 · 07-10-2018, 07:57 PM

I PC PSA graded RCs and any time a player's "true" RC is a multi-player card (Bird/Magic/Nolan Ryan/Bench/Pete Rose) I opt for the 2nd year card. Pete Rose especially, that 1963 Topps is hideous.

That being said, I do have a 1981 Magic PSA 10, no Bird yet. Who wants to sell me one

cs223406 · 07-10-2018, 08:02 PM

Untitled by cs223406, on Flickr

ThoseBackPages · 07-10-2018, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer105

I PC PSA graded RCs and any time a player's "true" RC is a multi-player card (Bird/Magic/Nolan Ryan/Bench/Pete Rose) I opt for the 2nd year card. Pete Rose especially, that 1963 Topps is hideous.

That being said, I do have a 1981 Magic PSA 10, no Bird yet. Who wants to sell me one

so........ you "dont" then?

Boomer105 · 07-10-2018, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

so........ you "dont" then?

Kardbordkrakhed · 07-10-2018, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer105

I PC PSA graded RCs and any time a player's "true" RC is a multi-player card (Bird/Magic/Nolan Ryan/Bench/Pete Rose) I opt for the 2nd year card. Pete Rose especially, that 1963 Topps is hideous

Couldn't agree more. One of the UGLIEST vintage rookie cards.

ThoseBackPages · 07-10-2018, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer105

"opting for their 2nd year" is not a RC

Boomer105 · 07-10-2018, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

"opting for their 2nd year" is not a RC

you are correct

MJGOAT23 · 07-11-2018, 09:47 AM

81 topps wax is still pretty affordable and the set overall seems to be rather plentiful. You can find lots of 20 or 30 at a time of the stars for sale.

regularp · 08-13-2018, 10:07 PM

Well, I took my own advice and picked up a few with the recent eBay coupons:

The Super Action Bird is an insanely tough grade. Hoping to nab a Magic the next time one becomes available.

Stat Monsters · 08-13-2018, 10:13 PM

I feel the sweet spot of PSA/BGS Graded 5 - 8 are solid investments for a good return % later on, without breaking the bank to acquire of most of the 1980-81 Topps Baskeball Magic/DR J/Bird ultimate Rookie Card, but also of the cards featuring Magic or Bird solo (non-All-Star or Leader cards, 'tho those are still great pick-ups for cheap as solid investments)

I'm a fan of lower graded cards mainly because it's accessible to a large population of collectors. Sure, it's never going to be a "Record Breaking Auction Item" like those high grade cards, but it's a way for most fans to get something they can afford.

07-10-2018, 01:50 PM	#1
regularp Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 6,733	Are PSA 10 copies of 1981 Topps Magic Johnson & Larry Bird undervalued? Seems like these should carry quite a bit more weight since it's the first solo card for each player and they're a pretty tough grade too. 68 Gems out of 1,740 for Magic; 55 out of 2,262 for Bird. Magic seems to be in the $300-450 range and Bird in the $650-850 range. I know they aren't Jordan, but still seems a little odd to me. Maybe I'm out in left field by myself on this one. __________________ Kobe, Miguel Cabrera, Stephen Curry, LeBron and more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/157057403@N02/albums

07-10-2018, 02:30 PM	#5
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 82,906 ThoseBackPages	Yes, PSA 10s are the way to go for sure __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

07-10-2018, 05:32 PM	#14
TarjetasBéisbol Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Back in NOVA! Posts: 10,873	Very undervalued and should be going up soon. __________________ De oppresso liber - RLTW "The Mexicans taught me that trick", "Let me be very clear, crystal clear"

08-13-2018, 10:07 PM	#24
regularp Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 6,733	Well, I took my own advice and picked up a few with the recent eBay coupons: The Super Action Bird is an insanely tough grade. Hoping to nab a Magic the next time one becomes available. __________________ Kobe, Miguel Cabrera, Stephen Curry, LeBron and more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/157057403@N02/albums

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07-10-2018, 02:01 PM	#2
GC1980 Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NYC Posts: 3,918	I agree 100%. They are both awesome looking cards too.

07-10-2018, 02:01 PM	#3
LeonfromNC Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 15,172	Or maybe I should pick them up lol

07-10-2018, 02:03 PM	#4
6celtics33 Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 8,020	Very undervalued. I’d pay the high end of that for a Bird 9.5 but I haven’t even seen one in years. I look all the time too.

07-10-2018, 03:10 PM	#6
Kardbordkrakhed Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 271	I've always thought the 81 Bird and Magic Johnson cards were severely undervalued. Maybe not in PSA 10 necessarily, but definitely in PSA 9. You can get a Bird PSA 9 for under $60. That seems crazy cheap.

07-10-2018, 03:14 PM	#7
danimal875 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 4,935 thunder_cards thundercards	Anything pre Jordan doesn't exist to the Asian market, and they drive the crazy pricing for basketball.

07-10-2018, 03:32 PM	#9
Murphy8276 Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 327 murphy8276	All 2nd year cards of rookies are undervalued in non-baseball sports IMO. Look at Jerry Rice and Joe Montana 2nd year cards for instance, or 2nd year of any player outside of Jordan in basketball, or Wayne Gretzky 2nd year cards (still way undervalued considering single digit pops)..etc

07-10-2018, 03:58 PM	#11
CastleBeachCards Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: St. Clair Shores, Mi Posts: 1,339 castlebeachcards castlebeachcards	Plus isn't the '87 fleer produced in much less numbers than '86 or '88 and beyond? Thought I read that somewhere

07-10-2018, 05:43 PM	#15
jpcitylights1 Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: LA, CA Posts: 606 seller:jpcitylights	Severly undervalued, I've been buying up Bird RC (by himself) PSA 10s for about a year. Still can't believe they are so inexpensive for one of the top 10 players of all time! Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

07-10-2018, 07:57 PM	#16
Boomer105 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 591	I PC PSA graded RCs and any time a player's "true" RC is a multi-player card (Bird/Magic/Nolan Ryan/Bench/Pete Rose) I opt for the 2nd year card. Pete Rose especially, that 1963 Topps is hideous. That being said, I do have a 1981 Magic PSA 10, no Bird yet. Who wants to sell me one

07-10-2018, 08:02 PM	#17
cs223406 Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 801 cschwartz16	Untitled by cs223406, on Flickr

07-11-2018, 09:47 AM	#23
MJGOAT23 Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 2,677 djhoog23	81 topps wax is still pretty affordable and the set overall seems to be rather plentiful. You can find lots of 20 or 30 at a time of the stars for sale.

08-13-2018, 10:13 PM	#25
Stat Monsters Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 2,496	I feel the sweet spot of PSA/BGS Graded 5 - 8 are solid investments for a good return % later on, without breaking the bank to acquire of most of the 1980-81 Topps Baskeball Magic/DR J/Bird ultimate Rookie Card, but also of the cards featuring Magic or Bird solo (non-All-Star or Leader cards, 'tho those are still great pick-ups for cheap as solid investments) I'm a fan of lower graded cards mainly because it's accessible to a large population of collectors. Sure, it's never going to be a "Record Breaking Auction Item" like those high grade cards, but it's a way for most fans to get something they can afford.