1981 RC Cola Baseball Stars
 

I saw this on another forum and was wondering if anyone here had ever heard of these.

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Checklist.cfm/sid/176581

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images...11332793Fr.jpg
https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images...11332793Bk.jpg

I am a bit skeptical unless someone else can confirm this is a legit set because the above Carew would seem to be taken near the same time at his 1984 Donruss card. Also, I looked at Trammell cards on comc.com and couldn't find him with orange gloves and eye black before his 1988 cards. I didn't really see anything obviously off with any other cards.

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images...11332787Fr.jpg

I bought one from teamsets4u, Al Oliver. I personally think they are customs, but I liked the design and didn't see them offered anywhere else, so for a buck or two, it was worth it.

Would have bought Carewe if he had one at the time. Too bad no Garvey. Would have made sense if they were 1981.

Have never seen these. Am surprised a 1981 set wouldn't include Garvey though. Maybe that's why I don't remember it as a kid.

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I agree with the thought that these are (pretty nice looking) customs. Mike Schmidt still had the big hair in the 1980/1981 period, while his photo looks much more circa 1986.

Attachment 371094

Attachment 371098

I think these are custom cards as well. I have the Jeff Reardon and the card stock and printing scream modern not 1981.

After looking for information I have found that the RC logo is wrong on the cards, there was no crown used on the logo at the time. Coca Cola had a set out that year and I don't think they would have been to happy with MLB allowing a competitor to release a set at the same time even back in 1981. And then I found this list which may or may not be complete. https://www.cardboardconnection.com/...-look-baseball

They definitely have a nice 80s feel to them with the colors and the RC connection. I think it is a nice tribute to what could have been. They are still not seemingly plentiful either, which adds to the mystery. If they are fantasy pieces, someone did it right.

Is this a real set?

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That's the question! My vote is NO.

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Well no wonder PSA does not want to grade many oddball sets for fear that they be customs like this one....