The 1971 Topps baseball card release is considered by collectors to be one of the most desirable and valuable sets from the 1970s due to its highly sought after short print cards. Topps released 660 total cards in the 1971 set as part of their standard annual release. Unbeknownst to most collectors at the time, Topps had also produced cards for six major league players in much lower print runs that made them tremendously rare compared to the rest of the set.
These special short print cards would go on to create a frenzy among collectors and drive up the prices of the 1971 Topps set overall. Like many things rare and coveted, the legend and mystique around these scarce cards only added to their appeal over the decades. While the exact print runs have never been fully verified, experts believe the 1971 Topps short prints were limited to approximately 100-250 copies each. To put this in perspective, the standard Issue cards were produced in the millions of copies each.
Some key facts about the elusive 1971 Topps short prints:
The six players whose cards were short printed were Bobby Grich, Thurman Munson, Billy Grabarkewitz, Ken Brett, Bill Melton, and Joe Rudi.
The short printed cards are completely indistinguishable from the standard issue cards at a glance. The only difference was the drastically lower production quantity.
It’s speculated that Topps short printed the cards intentionally as a way to artificially create scarcity and intrigue among collectors even in the early 1970s.
For years, collectors were unaware these variants even existed since they looked identical to the mainstream releases. It wasn’t until the rise of the internet that the short prints were confirmed.
In near mint to mint condition, even the more “common” 1971 short prints like Billy Grabarkewitz and Ken Brett routinely sell for $500-1000+. The keys like Thurman Munson and Bobby Grich can reach $5000+ in top grades.
The precise reason for Topps’ choice of the six short printed players is still debated. Some think it was random, while others believe they targeted young upcoming star players.
When it comes to the individual short printed cards, Thurman Munson’s is arguably the most significant of the group. As the star catcher and captain of the 1970s New York Yankees dynasty, Munson’s untimely death in a plane crash in 1979 only added to the card’s lore and value appreciation over the decades. His 1972 Topps rookie card is also one of the true Holy Grails for Yankee collectors.
In pristine mint condition, Munson’s 1971 short print today can sell for astronomical sums. In 2021, one gem mint PSA 10 copy achieved $28,800 in a public auction. Another PSA 10 example was privately sold for a reported $50,000 figure. Even in an lower mint grade of PSA 8 or 9 condition, they still exchange hands for $5000+ routinely.
The scarcity and demand for this singular baseball card shows no signs of slowing down. As the years pass, fewer high grade copies remain in collectors’ hands versus being locked away in holders or part of collections. Each new generation of collectors appreciates the history and mystique behind Munson’s career and this ultra-rare cardboard slice documenting one of his early seasons even more.
For Bill Melton, his 1971 short print also gains significance both for its rarity and his strong career playing for the Chicago White Sox in the 1960s-70s. While not at the star level of Munson, Melton put together 7 All-Star appearances and182 career home runs over 12 seasons. In PSA Gem Mint 10 grade, his short print has sold for up top $4000 in recent years. Even well-centered PSA 9 copies can reach $1500-2000 prices.
Other notables like Bobby Grich, Joe Rudi and Ken Brett also wield premium value due simply to their statistical standing in the short print fraternity. Grich, a 5-time All-Star second baseman accumulated over 1000 hits and won 4 Gold Gloves during his time with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. In top condition, his 1971 short print has sold at auction for pricing approaching $5000 figures as well.
Joe Rudi achieved 3 World Series rings as an outfielder for the 1970s Oakland A’s dynasty teams. Known for his excellent defense and underrated offensive contributions, his short print also commands $1000-2000 prices in high grades today. Ken Brett’s inclusion is probably the most head-scratching out of the bunch, as he had a more modest career playing for 3 teams over 5 seasons in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Nevertheless, the allure and challenge of owning any one of the exclusive 1971 short prints makes all the versions notable acquisitions.
In the over 50 years since the 1971 Topps set hit the hobby scene, the mystery, legend and tremendous value growth surrounding these six short printed cards has elevated them to the upper echelon of sports memorabilia collecting. With just 100-250 copies believed to exist for each version, finding higher graded specimens in the population becomes increasingly difficult. They stand as some of the most significant and pursued anomalies produced within any yearly set release. For aficionados of 1971 Topps and vintage baseball cards generally, owning even just one example would be considered an enormous feat and prized achievement.
