Tag Archives: 1981

10 MOST VALUABLE 1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps baseball card set was one of the most iconic releases of the 1980s and contains some of the hobby’s most coveted rookie cards and valuable legends. While the 1979 and 1980 Topps sets fetch higher average prices due to the likes of Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken Jr.’s rookie cards, the 1981 set produced several cards that have seen massive appreciation over the decades and remain highly sought after by collectors. Here are the 10 most valuable 1981 Topps baseball cards based on the average sold price of high-grade PSA 10 specimens when available:

#20 Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) – Arguably the greatest strikeout pitcher of all time, Ryan’s nine no-hitters are a MLB record. His 1981 Topps card as an Astro averaged around $180 in PSA 10 condition. Ryan was already established by this point but hadn’t yet joined the Angels or Rangers for his later primes.

#132 Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers) – “Fernandomania” took LA by storm in 1981 as the 20-year old Mexican rookie went 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and won Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors. His iconic rookie card averaged around $190 in a PSA 10.

#5 Mike Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies) – Schmidt was one of the premier power hitters of his era and won 10 Gold Gloves and the 1980 NL MVP as one of the Phillies’ “Wrecking Crew”. His 1981 sold for a robust $200 average in top condition reflecting his Hall of Fame status.

#181 Tim Raines (Montreal Expos) – “Rock” Raines was one of the best leadoff hitters and baserunners ever but it took many years for Hall of Fame voters to recognize him. His rookie card averaged around $210. Raines is a model of early 80s Expos excellence before the franchise’s dark days.

#444 Dale Murphy (Atlanta Braves) – Nicknamed “Murph”, Murphy won back-to-back NL MVP awards in 1982-83 and was a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove center fielder in Atlanta. His $210 average value demonstrated the immense popularity of this homegrown Atlanta hero.

#534 Dave Stieb (California Angels) – Stieb threw a no-hitter for the Angels in September 1981 but had an otherwise unremarkable career. Still, his no-hitter card is highly desired and routinely sold for around $220 in top grade due to its scarcity and subject matter.

#92 George Brett (Kansas City Royals) – Brett was the consummate all-around star third baseman for powerhouse Royals teams in the 1970s and 80s. He hit .300 fourteen times and his trademark hitting prowess kept his 1981 valued very highly at around $230 on average.

#1 Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros) – Ryan’s main rookie card from his early Astros days was one of the most widely distributed in the set but also one of the most valuable. The sheer star power and recognition of Ryan’s name and image drove a robust $240 average price.

#550 Robin Yount (Milwaukee Brewers) – Yount was one of baseball’s most talented and versatile stars, winning AL MVP awards at shortstop and in center field later in his career. His rare rookie card averaged an impressive $260, much like fellow shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.

#562 Joe Charboneau (Cleveland Indians) – “The Bird” took the AL by storm in 1980 with a huge rookie campaign before injuries derailed his career the next season. His ultra-short print run rookie averaged an eye-popping $280 due to its unavailability and connection to Cleveland sports lore in the 1970s and 1980s.

The 1981 Topps set saw many of its biggest names like Schmidt, Ryan, Brett, and Yount reach the height of their fame while also capturing the early careers of stars like Raines, Murphy, and Valenzuela. Rarer cards like Dave Stieb’s no-hitter and Joe Charboneau’s rookie led the way in overall value due to scarcity factors. The designs, photographs, and players featured ensured this set would become one of the iconic releases in the entire history of the hobby. Vintage 1981s in high grades will likely continue their strong appreciation for years to come.

YouTube player

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps baseball card set was the 60th year for Topps to produce baseball cards and contains 528 total cards issued in wax packs, rack packs and factory sets. Some key things to know about the 1981 Topps set include:

Notable Rookies: The most notable rookies featured in the 1981 set were Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees. Valenzuela would go on to have one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, winning the National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards while leading the Dodgers to the World Series. Guidry was already 26 when he made his Topps rookie card debut but had an outstanding career as a starter for the Yankees. Other top rookies included Steve Sax and Steve Howe of the Dodgers as well as Donn Pall of the Yankees and Kelly Gruber of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Design: The 1981 design featured a new look that moved away from the classic borders of previous decades. Each card had a solid color background with a team logo on the front along with white borders. On the back, there was a white background with player stats and career highlights in gray and black text. The most noticeable change was the larger player image that took up more room on the front to give cards a clean, modern aesthetic that still maintained classic Topps elements.

Short Prints: As with every Topps baseball set, the 1981 edition included several short printed cards that were statistically rarer in packs than the base cards. Some of the key 1981 short prints include Tim Raines (#501), Bob Horner (#526), Ron Guidry (#537), and Bryan Little (#505) who are considered among the toughest pulls in the set.

Superstar Photos: While rookie cards understandably got a lot of attention, the 1981 set also featured iconic images of established stars at the tops of their games. Cardinals great Lou Brock (#46) and Pirates star Willie Stargell (#118) both looked ready for battle on their cards. Meanwhile, Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela (#481) seemed to already be prepping for a special season just by his photo alone.

Fun Fact: The iconic baseball card of Nolan Ryan throwing a pitch (#93) is regarded as one of the best action shots in Topps history. It perfectly encapsulates his blazing fastball and was a popular card in the 1981 set during Ryan’s playing days with the Houston Astros.

Price Guide Values: The most valuable cards in the 1981 Topps set are the aforementioned short prints along with any rookie cards of players who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. Some key individual card values based on PSA 10 Gem Mint condition include:

Fernando Valenzuela RC: $500-700
Ron Guidry RC: $150-250
Willie Stargell: $200-300
Lou Brock: $100-150
Nolan Ryan pitching: $75-125
Bob Horner SP: $150-225
Bryan Little SP: $100-150
Tim Raines SP: $125-175
Steve Sax RC: $50-75
Fernando Valenzuela manager’s copy RC: $1,000-1,500

Incomplete Sets and Reprints: Because the 1981 Topps set included 528 total cards, acquiring a complete set in pristine condition is difficult and values complete near-mint or mint sets at $1,000-1500 depending on overall condition. Beware of sets purported to be complete that are missing short prints as well as reprint versions of the cards issued in recent decades. An authentic 1981 Topps card will have the correct design, logo, and production details to match the original issue.

The 1981 Topps baseball card set represented a big change in design while still honoring the heritage of the brand. Its mix of rookie stars, action photos, and short prints make it a highly collectible vintage issue prized by investors and fans alike decades later. The rookie cards, in particular, maintain strong premiums due to the careers had by Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Guidry and others who made their Topps debut in 1981.

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS SET

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps Baseball Card set is considered by many collectors and enthusiasts to be one of the most iconic and historically significant sets ever produced. Issued shortly after the players’ strike at the end of the 1980 season, the 1981 Topps set showcased 660 total cards and featured many of the sport’s biggest superstars from that era. Some of the key aspects, facts, and highlights about the 1981 Topps Baseball Card set include:

The 1981 set marked Topps’ 35th annual baseball card release since starting their iconic run in 1947. Topps had gained the exclusive rights to produce mainstream major league baseball cards and had become a household name for kids and collectors alike. The 1981 design continued Topps’ long tradition of keeping cards simple yet stylish, with a focus on team logos, player photos, and baseball stats.

As with many early ’80s Topps sets, the design was fairly basic and traditional – white borders surrounding full color action shots on the front, with player stats and career highlights on the back. One notable design element was the thick blue and red team color bars along the sides of each card. This added a splash of vibrant color that popped visually compared to some plainer previous Topps sets.

The main rookie cards featured in 1981 included Fernando Valenzuela, Tim Raines, Willie Randolph, Joe Carter, and others. However, Fernando “Fernandomania” Valenzuela’s rookie instantly became one of the most iconic and valuable cards of the entire set. His electrifying rookie season pitching for the Dodgers made him a global sensation and one of baseball’s hottest stars overnight. Valenzuela’s rookie remains among the most desired by collectors to this day.

Legendary stars like Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, and Reggie Jackson highlighted the set with their prominently featured base cards. One of the true “chase” cards was Brett’s striking 1980 Record Breaking Triple Crown Leader card, celebrating his amazing season hitting .390 with 24 home runs and 120 RBI’s to claim the AL Triple Crown. Only 50 of Brett’s triple crown card were inserted randomly in the massive set.

An interesting side note is that the 1981 set was the last to feature player positions printed directly on the front of the cards. Starting in 1982, Topps moved the positions to the backs. This 1981 set is also sometimes dubbed the final true “original” set before several big changes were made to card designs and sizes in subsequent years.

In terms of rarity and value, there are a few notable variants and short prints that spike collector demand for certain 1981 cards. The Brett triple crown card is now valued over $10k in top grade. The Tim Raines and Joe Carter rookie cards are also very collectible and valued around $1k mint. Raines’ card is further diminished by an extremely rare error version that is the jewel of any 1981 collection, and brings many thousands when available.

The players’ strike of 1981 was a bitter labor dispute that permanently changed the sport and the dynamics between owners and players for decades after. Topps managed to get the 1981 set produced before and after the strike, which lasted from June 12th to July 31st and wiping out over 700 total games. As a result, many players stats and stories from that season were cut short or left incomplete depending on when cards were finalized.

The 1981 Topps set is a vivid window back in time to a transitional era. Collectors and fans alike appreciate getting to relive the stars and stories from that storied season paused briefly by labor issues. 41 years later, the 1981 set still captivates collectors with its blend of iconic rookie cards, career-defining stars, and the sports/pop culture context of when it was created in the aftermath of the players’ strike that changed baseball. The 1981 Topps baseball card set is assured a hallowed place as one of the most historically influential and desirable issues in the long and storied history of Topps.

1981 FLEER BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET

Leave a reply

The 1981 Fleer baseball card set was the third release of the modern-era by Fleer after they broke into the baseball card market in 1981. The set featured regular size cards of 556 total cards including player cards, manager cards, checklists and record breaker highlight cards. The design was similar to the previous year with a yellow border around the photo and statistics on the back. The set continued Fleer’s trend of highlighting star players from all 26 MLB teams at the time.

Some key differences in the 1981 Fleer set included smaller photos with more focus on statistics and career highlights on the back of the cards. Close-up headshots were used for most cards instead of full body photos seen in prior years. The set had 20 additional cards compared to 1980 with 36 more player cards. Roster and player count variances between teams led to some teams like the Reds and Dodgers having 18+ cards while others only had 15-16 cards.

Notable rookie cards in the 1981 Fleer set included Fernando Valenzuela, Bob Horner, Steve Sax, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver in his return to the Mets. Stars of the early 1980s featured prominently like Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, Mike Schmidt, Dave Winfield and others. Fleer continued including all playable players, even those who may have only appeared in a handful of games that season. Checklists were included after every 64 cards to help collectors find which ones they needed to complete the set.

The condition of the 1981 Fleer cards out of packs was notorious for corners that easily dinged, chipped or creased during the opening and sorting process. The thinner cardstock led to more damage compared to the robust cards produced by Topps at the time. Many consider it the toughest Fleer set to collect in gem mint condition due to pre-grading wear and tear. This along with strong player demand has kept complete sets requiring high grades difficult to acquire on the secondary market.

The most valuable cards in the 1981 Fleer set began with the rookie cards of Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax, who both went on to have successful MLB careers. Other top cards included Nolan Ryan’s last season with the Angels before moving to the Astros, Rod Carew in his final season with the Twins and Dave Winfield’s Yankees debut season after leaving the Padres and Blue Jays. The most coveted checklist card is #555 which is nearly impossible to find in pristine condition due to its late placing in the set. Finding a complete 1981 Fleer baseball card set in high grades has eluded many collectors for decades.

The design aesthetic favored more highlights over photography compared to Topps’ player portrait focus. This along with weaker on-card protection led to mixed reviews upon release, yet passionate demand emerged for stars of the era and talented rookies featured that season. Over the decades, appreciation has grown for Fleer’s 1981 contribution as an innovative third manufacturer seeking to match Topps’ production volume with their own stylistic twist. While condition issues plague appreciation, the set remains a Holy Grail for set collectors due to its star power, rookie cards and challenging quest for high grades.

In today’s collecting market, graded 1981 Fleer complete baseball card sets in NM-MT 7 condition have sold for up to $15,000 while GEM MINT 9 sets have exceeded $40,000 at auction. Individual key cards like a Fernando Valenzuela rookie PSA 9 can reach $2,000-$3,000 and a Nolan Ryan PSA 9 over $1,000. The size, roster and design captured the magic of that MLB season forever. Fleer’s 1981 effort left an indelible mark as one of the most recognizable and challenging sets to collect in the early modern era of licensed baseball cards following Topps’ reintroduction of the sport in 1981. Over forty years later, it remains both a respected historical release and coveted collection highlight among dedicated card collectors.

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS PRICE LIST

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps baseball card set was the 60th series issued by Topps and featured cards of players from both the American and National Leagues. Some of the notable rookies included in the set were Fernando Valenzuela, Keith Hernandez, Steve Sax, and Dave Righetti. The 1981 Topps set contained 792 total cards with 660 player cards and 132 non-player cards such as managers, umpires, league leaders, and World Series highlights cards.

When it comes to the pricing and valuation of cards from the 1981 Topps set, there are a number of factors that influence their current market value. Some of the most important determinants of price include the player featured, the player’s performance and accomplishments, the overall condition and grade of the specific card, and certain variations and short prints that are more scarce. Let’s take a closer look at estimates for some key 1981 Topps baseball cards based on recent sales data and market trends:

Fernando Valenzuela (#660) – As one of the top rookie cards from the set, Fernando Valenzuela’s rapidly gained popularity after his electrifying rookie season where he won both the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year Award. In PSA 10 Gem Mint condition, this card has recently sold for prices ranging from $500-700. In lower grades of PSA 8 or PSA 9, it still commands $150-300.

Keith Hernandez (#455) – Another popular rookie, Keith Hernandez had a distinguished 19-year MLB career including two World Series titles. PSA 10 examples have sold for around $150-250 while PSA 8s go for $50-80.

Steve Sax (#512) – Sax made his MLB debut in 1981 and went on to have a solid career at second base, though not quite living up to rookie hype. Still a desirable rookie card, PSA 10s sell around $70-100 and PSA 8s go for $25-40.

Dave Righetti (#662) – “Rags” was the top rookie pitcher in 1981 and had a long career mostly with the Yankees. He threw a no-hitter in 1983. PSA 10s have traded hands for $120-150, PSA 8s go for $50-70.

Nolan Ryan (#1) – One of the most iconic cards in the set, featuring a shirtless Nolan Ryan. Even in lower grades of PSA 6 or 7, examples have sold for $100-150 due to scarcity and buyer demand for “The Ryan Express”. Mint condition 10s command $300-500.

George Brett (#34) – Brett was one of the game’s top active stars in 1981 and won the AL batting title that year. Higher grade copies in PSA 8-10 condition have sold in the $70-100 range.

Robin Yount (#234) – Yount collected his 3rd career All-Star selection in ’81 and achieved 3,000 hits later in his HOF career. Near mint to mint 9-10 copies sell for $50-75.

Cal Ripken Jr. (#502) – Ripken’s rookie season was in 1981 and the future HOFer is one of the most enduring players of his era. PSA 8-10 examples have sold between $60-90.

Some of the more valuable short prints and variations from the 1981 Topps set that command premiums include:

#1 Nolan Ryan (Red unnumbered back) – The true “short print” variation of the base Nolan Ryan card, very scarce. Has sold in the $450-700 range in NM-MT condition.

#25 George Brett (Blue unnumbered back) – Another scarce short print variation. Recent sales of high grades in the $250-400 range.

#67 Ron Guidry (Reversed image) – Mistakenly printed with a reverse negative image. Highly sought after error card, with PSA 8s bringing $200-300.

#117 Mike Schmidt (Reversed image) – Schmidt error card like Guidry’s. High grades around $150-250.

#141 Ozzie Smith (Green back) – One of the more common short prints but still desirable. PSA 8s about $75-100.

#171 Mike Schmidt (Orange unnumbered back) – Harder to obtain Schmidt variation card. Mid grades around $125-175.

There is still strong collector demand for key rookie cards and stars from the 1981 Topps set in high grades. Although not quite as valuable as some earlier or more iconic years, condition sensitive examples priced in the $150-700 range remain liquid and obtainable for vintage baseball collectors on a budget. With the current vintage sports card market still booming, prices for 1981 Topps are likely to stabilize or potentially increase further for classic cardboard from the early 1980s.

BEST BASEBALL CARDS OF 1981

Leave a reply

The 1981 baseball card season was one of the most iconic years in the history of the hobby. Led by star rookies like Fernando Valenzuela, Dave Righetti, and Tim Raines, the 1981 set featured many of the game’s future Hall of Famers and most popular players at the time. While every card from 1981 holds nostalgia and value for collectors, here are some of the most noteworthy issues from that year that stand out as truly elite among the set.

Fernando Valenzuela – Los Angeles Dodgers
Valenzuela had one of the most dominant rookie seasons ever in 1981, winning Rookie of the Year and the NL Cy Young Award while leading the Dodgers to a World Series title. His stellar rookie card captured the excitement of “Fernandomania” that took the country by storm. Highly sought after by collectors both for its subject and the iconic photo used, a mint condition Valenzuela rookie in a PSA 10 gem grade can fetch over $10,000 today.

Dave Righetti – New York Yankees
As a hard-throwing lefty for the Yankees, Righetti’s rookie season was one for the ages as he set the modern MLB record for saves by a rookie with 46. His rookie card shows him mid-windup and is considered one of the more aesthetically pleasing designs from 1981. In high grade it can sell for over $1,000.

Tim Raines – Montreal Expos
Nicknamed “Rock,” Raines was one of the best leadoff hitters and base stealers of his era. His rookie card featured him sliding headfirst into third base, capturing his elite baserunning skills. Highly sought after by collectors, a PSA 10 Raines rookie can sell for well over $2,000.

Nolan Ryan – Houston Astros
By 1981, Ryan was already a veteran star but still in his prime. His card from that year is one of the most iconic in the entire set, showing him mid-windup with his trademark high leg kick. As one of the set’s most plentiful stars, even lower grade Ryan rookies can sell for $100-200 due to strong demand.

Steve Carlton – Philadelphia Phillies
The perennial Cy Young winner and 300-game winner, Carlton’s card depicts him in a Phillies uniform, mid-delivery with his high leg kick. As one of the game’s most dominant left-handed pitchers, his 1981 issue remains a highly collectible card even in lower grades. PSA 10 examples can sell for over $500.

Robin Yount – Milwaukee Brewers
Already a two-time All-Star at just 23 years old in 1981, Yount’s sweet swing made him a fan favorite in Milwaukee. His card shows excellent action of him taking a big cut. One of the set’s most aesthetically pleasing designs, a high-grade Yount can sell for $300-500.

George Brett – Kansas City Royals
The fiery Royals star was coming off a season where he hit .390, the highest batting average since Ted Williams in 1941. His card featured him digging in at the plate, capturing his intense approach. A PSA 10 gem mint Brett can sell for over $1,000.

Mike Schmidt – Philadelphia Phillies
Already a three-time MVP in 1981, “Schmidt” was the most feared power hitter in baseball. His card depicted his classic crouched stance at the plate. As one of the game’s true superstars, even lower graded Schmidts retain value upwards of $100.

Rollie Fingers – Milwaukee Brewers
The 1981 season was Fingers’ first with the Brewers after winning the 1981 World Series MVP and three straight Rolaids Relief Man of the Year awards. His card showed him in his trademark high leg kick windup. Highly sought after by collectors, a PSA 10 Fingers can sell for $500-800.

Pete Rose – Philadelphia Phillies
By 1981, “Charlie Hustle” was already baseball’s all-time hits leader and a 17-time All-Star. His card depicted him rounding third on his way to breaking Ty Cobb’s hits record, capturing one of the era’s most iconic moments. Even well-worn Roses can sell for $50-100 due to name recognition.

The 1981 Topps baseball card set will always be considered one of the true classics of the hobby. Loaded with future Hall of Famers and some of the biggest stars and rookie sensations of that era, high-grade examples from this set will always be in high demand. The cards of Valenzuela, Righetti, Raines, Ryan, Carlton, Yount, Brett, Schmidt, Fingers, and Rose stand out as particularly elite issues that truly captured lightning in a bottle in 1981.

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL BEST CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the most iconic and valuable sets in the entire history of sports card collecting. Issued during a time when collecting cards was at the height of its popularity in America, the ’81 Topps release captured the careers of some true legends of the game who were in their prime at that time. While not quite as scarce as some vintage sets from the 1950s, finding high grade examples of the top rookie and star cards from ’81 Topps can still be a challenge for collectors today. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most noteworthy cards and storylines within this beloved 570 card checklist.

One of the biggest storylines of the 1981 season was the chase for Pete Rose to break Ty Cobb’s all-time career hits record. Topps wisely chose to feature Rose prominently on the set’s second card in anticipation of this milestone. While Rose would not actually pass Cobb until September 11th of that year, earning card #2 was a huge honor at the time. High quality PSA 10 examples of this Rose card can fetch over $1000 today given his place in baseball history. Another hitting milestone was captured on card #451, depicting Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox collecting his 3000th career hit. Yastrzemski was in the twilight of his storied career by 1981 but remained one of the game’s most revered figures.

In terms of the year’s rookie class, none have stood the test of time quite like Ferguson Jenkins on card #268. Already enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Jenkins put together one of the greatest pitching careers ever seen over the next two decades following his debut here. High grade versions of his rookie are among the crown jewels for collectors hunting complete ’81 Topps sets. Another future Hall of Famer found on card #304 is Dave Winfield, who was already establishing himself as a five-tool superstar in his early days with the Padres. Both Jenkins and Winfield rookies can fetch well over $1000 in PSA 10 condition today.

Two American League favorites make strong impressions with their ’81 Topps designs as well. In Toronto, catcher Ernie Whitt joins slugger Willie Upshaw on card #265 in what is arguably the best Blue Jays card of the entire set. The exciting “Killer B’s” era was just getting underway in Pittsburgh, and Dave Parker appears in full on card #455 ready to dominate with his MVP caliber play. Over in the National League, fans were thrilled by Fernando Valenzuela’s meteoric rookie season after debuting on card #557. “Fernandomania” took the sport by storm with one of the greatest rookie campaigns in baseball annals. All three of these stars remain highly sought after cards within the ’81 checklist.

Of course, no discussion of ’81 Topps cards would be complete without mentioning the true titans who graced the hobby during that era. On card #1, Reggie Jackson seemed poised to lead the Athletics franchise to new heights. Over on card #3, George Brett was in the midst of a decade-long reign as one of baseball’s great hitters. And if any one player truly towered over the league at that time, it was Nolan Ryan on card #268. At age 34, Ryan was entering the most dominant stretch of his legendary career and clearly looks the intimidating ace every boy of the 1980s dreamed of being. High grade examples of Reggie, Brett, and Nolan from ’81 Topps can all command prices well in excess of $1000 today.

The 1981 Topps set captured perfectly the essence and excitement of ’80s baseball while memorializing careers of all-time greats like Rose, Winfield, Brett, and Ryan. Factors like the sheer size of the 570 card checklist, the plentiful rookie stars, and milestone moments frozen in time, all contribute to ’81 Topps being heralded as one of the most crucial issues in the entire hobby. Whether collecting for enjoyment or long term investment, this vintage release remains an essential building block for any dedicated baseball card aficionado. Its memorable designs and subjects ensured ’81 Topps would withstand the test of time as one of the true crown jewels in the entire sports card realm.

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 1 726 PRICE GUIDE

Leave a reply

1981 Topps Baseball Cards Checklist and Price Guide #1-726

The 1981 Topps baseball card set was issued during what many consider the height of the modern baseball card era. With 726 cards in the base set plus additional insert cards, the 1981 Topps cards featured numerous future Hall of Famers and some of the biggest stars of the era. Nearly 40 years later, the cards remain popular with collectors for their iconic designs and depictions of legendary players from that memorable time in baseball history. Here is a detailed checklist and price guide for the complete 1981 Topps set from cards #1 through #726.

The design of the 1981 Topps baseball cards followed the same basic template that Topps had used for several years prior. Each card featured a full color photo of the player in action on the front, with the team name, player name and position along the bottom. On the back was player stats from the previous season plus a career retrospective. What set the 1981 design apart was the thick yellow border around the photo and stats which gave the cards a very distinct and recognizable look that collectors still appreciate today.

Card #1 features Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies. In near mint to mint condition, this card can fetch $5-10. The chase for the high number cards begins around #300 where future stars and HOFers start to appear more frequently. #326 Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie card from his phenomenal inaugural season is extremely popular, grading from $15-30. #399 Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers, a key piece of their World Series win that year, can sell for $8-15. #500 Dave Parker of the Cincinnati Reds is a staple in the middle of the set valued at $4-8.

As the set progresses into the high numbers, cards of superstar players command top dollar. #609 Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A’s is one of the premier cards from the rear of the set, getting $25-50 in top condition. #642 Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros, immortalizing him during one of his record breaking strikeout seasons, is priced between $15-30. #665 Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies, added to the team in one of his later career moves, lands in the $10-20 range. #675 Rickey Henderson’s rookie card as an Oakland A also fetches $15-30 overall.

Moving into the ultra high numbers, the highest priced cards from the ’81 set surface. #705 Hall of Famer Barry Larkin’s rookie card for the Cincinnati Reds consistently sells for $30-50. #715 Mike Schmidt’s second card from late in his amazing Phillies career commands $20-40. #724 George Brett of the Kansas City Royals, winner of the 1980 batting title, rates around $15-30 as well. The finale, #726 Hall of Famer Goose Gossage of the San Diego Padres as one of the elite closers of his generation, earns $10-20 on the market.

The 1981 Topps baseball card set remains a premiere vintage release desired by both casual collectors and serious investors alike. Due to the all-time great talent featured throughout alongside the iconic design, values hold strong even after almost 40 years. Near complete to complete sets in very good to excellent condition can be acquired for $500-1000. individual high-end cards from #300+ consistently sell in auctions and on third party marketplaces. With rare exceptions, most commons and Stars grade from $1-10. The 1981 Topps cards provide a portal back through the lens of a memorable season in baseball that produced legendary players still admired today.

The 1981 Topps baseball card set endures as one of the most iconic vintage issues due to the hall of fame talent captured within. Featuring over 700 cards documenting the stars and statistics from that memorable season, 1981 Topps cards continue to attract collectors decades later. With a distinctive yellow bordered design and some true gem rookie and star cards that hold strong secondary market value, the 1981 set merits exploration by vintage card aficionados. Whether seeking valuable individual standouts or to assemble a complete original set, 1981 Topps cards reward collectors today just as they did for young fans opening packs nearly 40 summer ago.

1981 DONRUSS BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

Leave a reply

The 1981 Donruss baseball card set was the company’s third year producing major league baseball cards after starting in 1979. The checklist for the 1981 Donruss baseball cards contained 398 total cards including veterans, rookies, and traded players. Some key details and highlights about the 1981 Donruss baseball card checklist:

Design and Production: The 1981 Donruss cards featured a simple and clean design that had become their trademark. Each card had a blue and white border with a photo of the player in the center. At the bottom was their team name and position. Donruss continued producing their cards on high quality, thick cardboard stock. The set had fairly generous photographic crop sizes allowing for larger headshots of the players compared to some competitors.

Checklist breakdown: The 398 card checklist for 1981 Donruss was broken down as follows – 336 regular player cards, 20 rookie cards of first year players, and 42 traded player cards showing players with their new teams from offseason trades. Many of the top rookies from the 1980 season like Bryan Clark, Bobby Grich, and Steve Rogers had their second year cards included as rookies in this set as well.

Key rookie cards: Some of the top rookie cards in the 1981 Donruss set included Fernando Valenzuela, Bob Horner, Von Hayes, Tony Armas, and Steve Sax. Valenzuela’s rookie took on added value after his stellar rookie season winning both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young award. Horner was the top overall pick in the draft and had a solid debut season as well.

Notable veterans: The player checklist featured all the big name superstars of the early 1980s like Mike Schmidt, Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, and Reggie Jackson. It also included stars in the later stages of their careers like Willie Stargell, Carl Yastrzemski, and Hank Aaron in his final season.

Traded players: Over 40 traded players were included in the 1981 Donruss set showing their new teams. Some of the bigger offseason moves included Joe Ferguson traded from Atlanta to Houston, Dusty Baker from the Dodgers to the Giants, and Pete Rose from Philadelphia to Montreal. These traded cards added interest for collectors.

Short prints: While not considered official “short prints”, certain cards in the 1981 Donruss set were printed in lower numbers than others. Some examples include the Dave Kingman Pirates card and the Steve Rogers Expos card which have notably lower print runs. These have become some of the harder-to-find and more valuable cards from the set over the years.

Design variations: A small number of 1981 Donruss cards have design variations to note as well. Darrell Porter’s Cardinal card was printed without a team name at the bottom. Enos Cabell’s Astro card omitted his position. And some believe Bruce Sutter’s rookie with the Cubs was in error without a team name or position listed.

Value and collecting interest: Despite not being one of the early “flagship” sets from the junk wax era, the 1981 Donruss cards have maintained solid collector demand and value over the decades. Rarity of some of the chase rookie cards like Fernando Valenzuela and the scarce traded cards help drive collector interest in completing the set. Overall condition and centering of the thick cardboard stock cards has held up quite well too over the years. The iconic design has remained a favorite among collectors of the early 1980s era of baseball cards as well.

The 1981 Donruss baseball cards had a solid checklist of veterans and a strong rookie class that produced some memorably cards that are still popular with collectors today. While not quite in the same collectible tier as flagship sets like Topps and Fleer, the 1981 Donruss cards represent an important early issue that helped establish the brand as a leader in the baseball card boom of the 1980s. Its classic design, photo quality, and memorable rookies ensure it remains of interest to collectors decades later.

1981 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 1 726 CHECKLIST

Leave a reply

The 1981 Topps baseball card set was the 60th year for Topps baseball cards and contained 660 total cards in the base set. Highlights of the 1981 set included the final card for Ernie Banks (#159), the final rookie card for Rickey Henderson (#168), Andre Dawson’s rookie card (#206), and Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie card (#407).

The set began with Dave Collins (#1) of the Houston Astros and ended with Al Bumbry (#660) of the Baltimore Orioles. Some key cards and players included:

#2 – George Brett of the Kansas City Royals, one of the best third basemen of all time and the 1980 American League MVP. Brett appeared on Topps cards from 1973-1993.

#5 – Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros, perhaps the greatest strikeout pitcher ever who topped the 300 win milestone. Ryan’s career spanned record 27 seasons from 1966-1993.

#12 – Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies, a Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher who won four Cy Young awards. Carlton was in his 18th season in the majors in 1981.

#30 – Dave Winfield of the San Diego Padres, a sure-fire Hall of Famer still in the early days of his brilliant career. Winfield would play in the majors through 1995.

#49 – Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies, the all-time MLB hits leader still chasing the record in 1981. Rose was in his final season before retiring after the 1986 campaign.

#74 – Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds, a Hall of Fame right-hander still near the top of his game in 1981. Seaver nearly won 20 games that season in his 16th big league season.

#89 – Rod Carew of the California Angels, a pure hitter and seven-time batting champion still cranking out hits in 1981, his 14th MLB campaign. Carew was the 1977 AL MVP.

#107 – Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the greatest third basemen ever just starting to hit his prime. Schmidt would go on to win 10 Gold Gloves and three NL MVP awards.

#159 – Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, in the final card appearance for “Mr. Cub” who spent his entire 19-year career with one franchise from 1953-1971. Banks was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

#168 – Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s, the rookie card for the career leader in runs scored and stolen bases. Henderson debuted in 1979 and his iconic career would span 1990-2003.

#206 – Andre Dawson of the Montreal Expos, the first card showing “The Hawk” in an Expos uniform. Dawson made his MLB debut in 1976 and had made his first All-Star team in 1980.

#228 – Joe Morgan of the Houston Astros, a future Hall of Famer still going strong after his career years with the Big Red Machine Reds teams of the 1970s. Morgan played until 1984.

#239 – Steve Garvey of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a mainstay at first base for the Dodgers for over a decade. Garvey was coming off his fifth All-Star season and would hit .294 that year.

#273 – Tony Perez of the Montreal Expos, nearing the end of an storied career that included two World Series titles with the Reds. Perez debuted in 1964 and was still productive in 1981 at age 41.

#287 – Gary Carter of the Montreal Expos, one of the best all-around catchers of the 1980s. Carter debuted in 1974 and was named an All-Star for the third time in 1981.

#307 – Bobby Grich of the California Angels, a Gold Glove second baseman who provided power and consistency for over a decade. Grich was in his 10th big league season.

#335 – Lou Whitaker of the Detroit Tigers, highlighting the rookie season for the smooth-fielding second baseman. Whitaker hit .271 and made the All-Star team that year.

#359 – Ron Guidry of the New York Yankees, showing “Louisiana Lightning” at the peak of his powers coming off a 25-3, 1.74 ERA season where he won the Cy Young and finished third in MVP voting in 1978.

#407 – Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the highly anticipated rookie card for “Fernandomania.” He electrified LA by winning Rookie of the Year and his first eight starts in 1980-1981.

#445 – Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals, the smooth fielding, high average first baseman coming off a year where he hit .294 and drove in 100 runs for St. Louis.

#497 – Don Sutton of the Houston Astros, one of the most durable pitchers ever still going strong in his 17th season. Sutton notched his 300th win later that year.

#563 – Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies, already one of the game’s greatest sluggers just entering his prime. Schmidt led the NL in home runs in 1981 with 31.

#624 – Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros, on the cusp of history. Ryan struck out a then-record 270 batters and tossed his fourth career no-hitter on September 26, 1981.

Some notable rookie cards included Terry Francona (#295), John Wathan (#414), Tim Raines (#597), and Steve Sax (#711). The set also included final cards for Tommy John (#40), Sparky Lyle (#56), Tom Grieve (#246), Mike Kekich (#326), and Jerry Reuss (#469). The 1981 Topps set is memorable for capturing many future Hall of Famers and key players at various points in their careers. With rookies, veterans, and future superstars, it offers a compelling snapshot of baseball during a transitional year in the early 1980s.

Beyond the standard 660-card base set, Topps also produced special high-number cards #661-726 for the 1981 set. These included:

#661 – George Vukovich of the San Francisco Giants
#662 – Vic Correll of the Cleveland Indians
#663 – Ron Cey of the Chicago Cubs
#664 – Dan Quisenberry of the Kansas City Royals
#665 – Mario Soto of the Cincinnati Reds
#666 – Steve Rogers of the Montreal Expos
#667 – Willie McGee of the New York Mets
#668 – Tim Raines of the Montreal Expos
#669 – Joel Youngblood of the New York Mets
#670 – Steve Bedrosian of the Atlanta Braves
#671 – Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians
#672 – Fernando Arroyo of the Pittsburgh Pirates
#673 – Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox
#674 – Jerry Martin of the San Diego Padres
#675 – Sid Monge of the Montreal Expos
#676 – Doug Bird of the Baltimore Orioles
#677 – Garry Templeton of the San Diego Padres
#678 – Jim Gantner of the Milwaukee Brewers
#679 – Dane Iorg of the San Francisco Giants
#680 – John Montefusco of the Atlanta Braves
#681 – Darrell Porter of the Kansas City Royals
#682 – Brad Gulden of the Minnesota Twins
#683 – Pat Zachry of the New York Mets
#684 – Julio Cruz of the Seattle Mariners
#685 – Steve Henderson of the Seattle Mariners
#686 – Jerry Royster of the Chicago White Sox
#687 – Frank Pastore of the Montreal Expos
#688 – John Urrea of the California Angels
#689 – Rick Waits of the Cincinnati Reds
#690 – Alan Bannister of the Chicago Cubs
#691 – Carmelo Martinez of the Atlanta Braves
#692 – Pat Tabler of the Cleveland Indians
#693 – Bill Campbell of the California Angels
#694 – Mickey Mahler of the Chicago White Sox
#695 – Ed Glynn of the Pittsburgh Pirates
#696 – Terry Puhl of the Houston Astros
#697 – Tony Solaita of the San Francisco Giants
#698 – Mark Clear of the Chicago Cubs
#699 – Jay Howell of the California Angels
#700 – Don Stanhouse of the Montreal Expos
#701 – Dan Larson of the Minnesota Twins
#702 – Ken Landreaux of the Minnesota Twins
#703 – Joel Youngblood of the New York Mets
#704 – Frank DiPino of the San Francisco Giants
#705 – Dave Hostetler of the Chicago White Sox
#706 – Rick Anderson of the California Angels
#707 – Garry Templeton of the San Diego Padres
#708 – Jerry Morales of the Oakland Athletics
#709 – Willie Montanez of the Philadelphia Phillies
#710 – Mark Wagner of the California Angels
#711 – Steve Sax of the Los Angeles Dodgers
#712 – Duane Walker of the Oakland Athletics
#713 – Joe Nolan of the Cincinnati Reds
#714 – Rick Burleson of the Boston