VINTAGE MEMORABILIA BY TOM DiGIANDOMENICO
Collecting '71 Topps Black Borders
Due to the lack of quality cards and limited quantities produced, the 1971 Topps Baseball set is the absolute challenge for classic set builders. Because the black obverse borders are easily scratched and damaged, finding '71 Topps cards in mint condition can be tougher than landing the rarest of today's inserts.
Collectors were also far less condition conscious in the '70s. As youths, we often wrapped elastics around
stacks of baseball cards stuffed into a shoebox, fraying the edges and chipping the corners. Because of
substandard printing technologies many of the cards were cut off-center, while scuff marks and fading are
quite noticeable.
Unscrupulous dealers have been known to touch up the black borders with felt tip pens. You can often detect such coloring by holding the card under a bright light.
Released in different series during the summer of '71, 44 cards in the final series were printed at a 50% lower quantity than the other 66. These shorter printed cards carry an "SP" designation in price guides. The most
sought-after "SP" cards feature Rich Allen (#650), Sparky Anderson (#688), and Luis Aparicio (#740), each
selling for $40. The Aparicio draws extra attention because it is an error card.
The top rookie in the set is Steve Garvey (#341, selling for $30, as much as $75 in graded condition), listed
as a third baseman for the Dodgers. The series also includes rookie cards of Dusty Baker/Don Baylor, (#709, $80), Dave Concepcion (#14, $15), George Foster (#276, $8), and Bert Blyleven (#26, $4-$8). Because the set is condition-sensitive, the prices of these rookie cards are somewhat inflated. The set also includes Ernie Banks (#525 $50) pictured in his last card as an active player.
Also in 1971, Topps became somewhat innovative for the time period by introducing game-action shots on
many card fronts. A favorite among collectors is the horizontal Thurman Munson card (#5, $18) picturing an
Oakland A's player diving into Munson at home plate as the Yankees catcher makes the tag.
Checklists from this set pose their own unique challenge. In addition to the usual condition problem, finding
vintage checklists that haven't been marked is more difficult than finding mint rookies from this set. As a
result, these common cards are selling for $7.
If you are motivated by the thrill of the chase and have some money to spend, try collecting the '71 Topps
set, which lists for $2,000 in mint condition.
