1981 Donruss Conditions

[Harliduck]

I remember opening packs of 81 D back when I was 11, and they seemed like a booby prize. We had a corner store and all they got was Donruss, as kids we were TICKED. Doubles in the packs, the stock felt cheap...it just didn't feel like the real deal.

Fast forward to this summer and I repurchased the set (actually bought all Donruss and Fleer, 81-90, to recapture my youth). Went to put them in a binder and all the memories of crap cards came rushing back. The cuts on some of the cards are ridiculous! I was just laughing as I was bindering this set up. Looking back though the 81 Topps set was so boring, something new was nice. I prefered the 81 Fleer when I was 11...and I had my mom go to another town just to get packs. Good times.

[mortimer brewster]

I remember back in 1981 being excited about a new card release other than Topps. Went to the Local Corner store and bought a whole box (36 packs I think). Opened each pack and to my amazement the only cards were Royals,Yankees or Tigers. I must have had 15 John Wathan cards.

I remember the gum being better than Topps. I did like the back design. nice writeups.

[deweyinthehall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

LO freaking L!!! 3 packs in and I can't stop laughing. For anybody who was around when these came out (I was), I heartily recommend the trip down memory lane.

Funny, I almost bought a box of these out of nostalgia a few weeks ago, waited a bit too long, and the seller jacked the price up 50 bucks (don't blame them at all in this market), and I took it off my watch list.

Would have been awesome if they were all Expos and A's instead of Yankees and Royals, but still, centering and quality control was appalling. Might have ended up with a stack of 99/1 centered Tim Raines Rookies.

[D. Bergin]

1981 Donruss was easily my favorite design of the three big brands................but the collation..........oh my god.

[Chuck9788]

The 1981 Donruss set holds my favorite Tony LaRussa card.

[Mike D.]

Looking at PSA graded #’s for 1981:

Topps: 85,000+

Fleer: 26,000+

Donruss: 17,000+

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

WOW...that brought back memories...getting doubles in the same pack was simply unreal to an 11 year old! But triples? That was undoubtedly the worst box ever. John Wathan, Bill Caudill...that was unreal and entertaining...thanks for the link!

[Chicosbailbonds]

I remember it was the last to come out, think they got their license late. I liked the set (warts and all) since most of the photos were from Chicago. Very few Topps were from Chicago. As a Cubs fan, the first box I opened didn't have a single Cub in it, nor any from #500 on - and thats with 18 cards/pack. The sizes were all over the place on these.

[t_vguy]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

Wow!! LMAO! Now THAT is something! I was cracking up watching that. I don't remember anything like that with '81 Donruss. I will say this; that's a LOT of Reggie Jackson & George Brett cards.

[Kevin]

I was 8 years old and was really into the 1980 Topps. 81 Topps was beautiful with that little cap at the bottom. For some reason, I had about 22 Ed Glynn cards. Dad was a pharmaceutical salesman and I gather he did someone a favor and he brought home boxes and boxes of Donruss and Fleer cards. Of course, over the course of a 3 or 4 years, I opened every pack.

[homerunderby]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I was 8 years old and was really into the 1980 Topps. 81 Topps was beautiful with that little cap at the bottom. For some reason, I had about 22 Ed Glynn cards. Dad was a pharmaceutical salesman and I gather he did someone a favor and he brought home boxes and boxes of Donruss and Fleer cards. Of course, over the course of a 3 or 4 years, I opened every pack.

That makes total sense, Ed Glynn was double printed in 1981 Topps. Along with 65 other cards.