1971 Topps - Set Complete!

[jingram058]

It isn't pretty to look at, and won't win any "Best of Show" awards, but I just finished my 1971 Topps set. I have been trying to figure out which set to complete from the years I collected from wax packs as a kid. I went with 1971 because I have been sitting on a big pile of them for a long time (since the 1990s) and a huge lot suddenly fell into my lap the other day. Nice thing is there are only a few duplicates, because I had almost all of series 1 through 4, and the cards I recently acquired were series 5 and 6, the so-called semi and high numbers. I think the 1971 Topps set is great looking. The black fronts make the color photography really pop, and the green backs, while they only have minimal stats, complement the card fronts.

[quitcrab]

Congrats ! I have always liked the 71 Topps.
That high number series is tough to obtain.

[tjenkins]

Congrats on a awesome set. I am also doing the same thing. I am completing the 1971 set from my childhood wax buying days. I found out I am about 140 cards short of completion, so now I start the completion process. I would say my condition is very similar to yours. If you have doubles to move I may be interested. Today I actually come up with numbers I need. Again congrats on a very cool set.

[Kevin]

Fun accomplishment. Congratulations...

[jimmer77]

I too have completed this set, and agree it's one of my favorite sets, along with the 65 topps set.

[butchie_t]

It is a beautiful set. Congratulations in the quest.

Cheers,

Butch

[ALR-bishop]

Congrats, James. Wonderful set, and Topps continued to issue off beat related baseball profducts in 71 as well....Greatest Moments, Tattoos, Scratch Offs, Coins, Supers, the fantasy 71 Winners and the enigmatic unissued Rookie Artist Proofs

[Elberson]

Congrats…….fun set!!!

[jingram058]

Thanks everyone! I just finished sorting them out, #1 to #752, in 9 pocket pages. I wound up with the grand total of 16 leftover duplicates, all in pretty horrendous condition. I might re-sort them by teams and subsets, but that's might, as it will take time to do that.

[Harliduck]

Congrats! Not an easy set to complete, no matter what the condition is. Hell of an accomplishment!



When I initially built my 71's, I started with a decent lot...most cards were VG-EX and I like my sets to be EX or better. No creases, decent corners, no ink...with centering just having to show some white on the edges, so nothing too bad, but purists on centering would be upgrading a few cards...

With that said, the goal was completion and went the best I could at EX moving forward. Once I was done, which took a while with those high numbers and the sheer volume of cards (1972, I'm talking to YOU), I was super happy. NOW...for the last 5 years or so...about every month or so I grab a couple beers, pull out the set...and look to upgrade to EX or better cards on cards that could be upgraded. Now my set is EX plus...over time...and beautiful. I've enjoyed the process and in little chunks, have made the set what I really want. I love doing that to all my sets...keeps the drive alive...

[JollyElm]

Way to go!!!!!

Completionists rule!!!!

The 1971 set is the epitome of something that can only be appreciated as you get older. As a kid, those cards were a nightmare due to the 'insta-whiting' of the corners and edges. If you looked at them wrong, the black would start wearing away.
Had Zeppelin playing too loudly on your stereo? The black would be flaking off onto the floor, turning the borders white. Everyone had ugly, disregarded, toss away stacks of 1971s in their shoeboxes.

But then you start getting older and protecting your cards better, eliminating the pernicious erosion of those guys...and what happens?? You see how utterly cool the set is with those action shots and the black borders adding incredible richness to the color photographs, and you become hooked forevermore!!!

For me, that set just suddenly went from zero to hero one day.

[mikemb]

Congats on completing the set.

As a 14 year old in 1971, my cousin and I were excited about the action shots and that the world series cards were in full color. We could care less about the borders..

Mike

[Balticfox]

Wow! Getting all 752 cards is quite the feat.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Wow! Getting all 752 cards is quite the feat.

Minus a few, I had been sitting on most of series #1 through #4 since the 1990s. Any time I made trades, or foolishly sold cards, I held onto them. I figured some day I would complete the set. Well, a couple of weeks ago someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse...all of series #5 and #6, 524 to 752, at a ridiculous price, and because he had many extras to get rid of (they're all gone now), all of my missing numbers numbers. I wound up with 16 extras or duplicates that I am mailing out tomorrow to a dear friend of mine in Tennessee. It feels really good to have this set, even if it is low grade. It only took me 4 decades to put it together!

[DHogan]

Congratulations on completing your set. I'm within 16 cards of completing my set in near mint condition. I had hoped to pick up a few cards at the Boston show this weekend. But, radiation treatment side effects are still kicking my butt.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by DHogan

Congratulations on completing your set. I'm within 16 cards of completing my set in near mint condition. I had hoped to pick up a few cards at the Boston show this weekend. But, radiation treatment side effects are still kicking my butt.

I'm praying for you, sir, that those side effects will go away.

[UKCardGuy]

Congrats James. It's a great set. I still have 141 more to complete my 1971 Topps set.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by jingram058

It feels really good to have this set, even if it is low grade. It only took me 4 decades to put it together!

And now it'll take just another four decades to upgrade every card up to the condition of the best you currently have!

[CardBoredom]

Congratulations on completing such a fantastic set.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Well done, James. I'm all over the place personally. Sets? Singles? Graded? Ungraded? What you've done here is very cool. The totality of a complete set somehow makes up for condition issues IMO.

[Elberson]

What’s next lol

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Elberson

What’s next lol

I'm not altogether sure. Maybe 1954 Topps because I have all the stars and big money cards from that set, and it's only what? 250 cards?

[DHogan]

Originally Posted by jingram058

I'm praying for you, sir, that those side effects will go away.

Thank you. The doctors said that they would go away.

[bmattioli]

Nice achievement and great set to complete.. I can remember the kid across the street from me growing up with an unopened box he got for his birthday. It was beautiful.. I have a partial set.. someday maybe..

[Zach Wheat]

As others have said, nice accomplishment no matter what condition.

[LEHR]

Congratulations on the completion.

IMO the 1971 Topps set is the best baseball set of the decade.

[MBH65]

Congrats on completing the set! That 1971 set has always been my personal favorite.

[jingram058]

Card #543, Yankees team card. Is Mickey Mantle in that team photo? The photo on my card is very out of focus.

[mortimer brewster]

I started collecting this set in 1991. Only 65 more to go! at my current pace should finish around the year 2050.

[bobw]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Card #543, Yankees team card. Is Mickey Mantle in that team photo? The photo on my card is very out of focus.

Mantle is in the first row, second from the right....

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by mortimer brewster

I started collecting this set in 1991. Only 65 more to go! at my current pace should finish around the year 2050.

That's also the year I may wind up collecting.Thereafter I'll just sit back and bask in the treasures I've accumulated over the years.

[drmiraculous]

Congrats! Its a great set to put together, I enjoyed it a lot, had no idea some of those obscure rando players would be so tough but thats part of the fun!

[jchcollins]

Congrats, James.

1971 is the only vintage set I've ever completed, because I bought one already in that state a couple of years back. Just a deal I couldn't refuse. My generic / piece them together from scratch instincts suck, apparently. So while I am working on other sets (1956 Topps, 1972...) it remains to be seen whether or not I have the stamina or wherewithal to actually get there on my own.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Congrats, James.

1971 is the only vintage set I've ever completed, because I bought one already in that state a couple of years back. Just a deal I couldn't refuse. My generic / piece them together from scratch instincts suck, apparently. So while I am working on other sets (1956 Topps, 1972...) it remains to be seen whether or not I have the stamina or wherewithal to actually get there on my own.

Thanks, John. Your 1971 story is great. I was sitting on most of series 1 through 4, albeit dog eared, for years, then beater 5 and 6 came out of nowhere. An offer I couldn't refuse. It won't win any awards, but I sure do enjoy having this set. It actually feels like a hobby.

[Bigdaddy]

Congratulations on a very nice set. I just love the action photos - Munson, Rudy May, Nolan Ryan, Brooksie, etc. Just exceptional photography and a clean design. And don't forget the 'bonus' photo bombs on Vada Pinson (Thurman Munson), Chris Short (Pete Rose), Bud Harrelson (Nolan Ryan), Joe Morgan (Jerry Grote), Tommie Agee (Joe Morgan), etc.

[Tom S.]

Way to go James!

What was the last card you needed to finish your set? When I completed my 1971 raw set, it was the Willie Mays.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Tom S.

Way to go James!

What was the last card you needed to finish your set? When I completed my 1971 raw set, it was the Willie Mays.

I was carrying around series 1 through 4 for years. One I really wanted and just never got until recently was Johnny Bench.