1981: Topps, Donruss or Fleer?

[Harliduck]

Thirty miles north of Seattle and the two c-stores where I was used to buying my cards only carried Donruss. As an 11 year old, I was ticked. I bought a few boxes and remember all the doubles in the same pack, and I also remember there were multiple cards of the stars, like Pete Rose and Reggie, and for some reason I hated that.

Made my mom look elsewhere for Topps and she found some and bought me enough packs until I completed the set. Topps was still king. I couldn't find Fleer anywhere and had heard about all the errors. I remember buying the complete set at the card shop in 82 and bummed that I didn't get one error.

Those two c-stores sold 81 Donruss for like two more years to get rid of all that wax no kids wanted. I reluctantly bought enough to put a set together. I think the stores were scorned as I could never find Donruss again locally for years, had to get complete sets at the shop in Edmonds each year (great Christmas presents). 82 and after Fleer and Topps were everywhere...