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1981 Sutter

williplettwilliplett Posts: 471 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I collect the Topps all stars from mid 70's to 81. I had all of my 1981's with the exception of Sutter. That card is tough! Everything I saw raw was OC T/B and L/R. I didn't get anything worth submitting in 3 vending boxes, a wax box, and a cello box. I even bought a couple of racks and cello packs that had Sutter on the back...Nothing!

It was on my Ebay searches and months and months went by without so much as a 7 or 8 coming up for bid. Well, a couple of weeks ago, a 1/1 PSA 10 came up on the Bay from CoolStuffFast in a 10 day auction. It must have just been graded since I periodically checked the pop reports. I set a snipe at $250 and thought I gave myself a fighting chance at winning. I was surprised when I got it for $150. I got the card in the mail last week and it is SWEET! What a way to finish off my 1981 all stars.

Well, a PSA 9 1981 Sutter showed up last week. The auction ended tonight at $89.75! That shocked me for a 9. I would have thought the 1/1 10 premium would have been more than just $60 bucks more.

At any rate, I am happy at getting the 10 for a buck fifty.

Comments

  • ajwajw Posts: 2,281 ✭✭✭
    I always loved those cards when I was a kid. Can you share some scans?
  • cardfan07cardfan07 Posts: 680 ✭✭
    Coolstuff just auctioned off a 1981 Topps Johnny Bench. It finished just south of $300. I remember a couple years ago the 9's were going for that...but as the pops went up, the prices came down. The 10 is currently 1/1.
    Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock player collector
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    willi,
    congrats. are all of your all-stars psa 10? i noticed the sutter as well.

    cardfan,
    seems low on the bench at a 1/1.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • cardfan07cardfan07 Posts: 680 ✭✭
    That's what I thought too. I watched the auction even though I had no intention of bidding. I thought it would have gone for some decent coin. Tough card to find in a 9 (printing and centering are just horrible) and you've still got people doing Bench player sets, Reds fans (I think that's who won the card) and then 81 set.
    Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock player collector
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    looks like psa is getting lenient on the print smudge as well. it was noticeable on the 10 but not very bad.

    i purchased an unopened cello box from coolstuff and was very disappointed in condition and collation. we exchanged some emails. not a card in the entire box that would've yielded a 9 much less a 10...sorry to get OT.

    coolstuff does have some nice 81s on his site. he has a good eye for grading.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • cardfan07cardfan07 Posts: 680 ✭✭
    Yeah, I think they miss sometimes too. I get emails from them all the time where they've got those same cards in 7 or 8 or even lots of 8's. Just like any other big submitter...throw a bunch of cards in for grading and take the 7's and 8s with the 10s.
    Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock player collector
  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭
    I have an unopened '81 T rack box from bbc sitting in my closet. Been there since mid-February. My wife and kids are going to Disneyland tomorrow for the remainder of the week. I am ready for a box break this week! Have several other, early 80's, to open as well. Should be a good week. "Yes, honey I will be working late every day...."
  • bobbybakerivbobbybakeriv Posts: 2,186 ✭✭✭✭
    Very nice Will. I have several more 81 all-stars that I am going to submit soon as well (including a nice Sutter - I'd be happy with a 9 on it for sure!). Bobby
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    la, post some scans.

    yes, the davis is going to the bay.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • williplettwilliplett Posts: 471 ✭✭
    I need to get the Sutter scanned, but I was definitely jazzed getting a 1/1 HOF'er to complete my set. I too was watching that 1981 Bench auction and I thought that the smudge was prominent enough that it would have kept it out of a 10 holder. I have an 8 with absolutley no smudge. As far as eye appeal, I like it better than that 10.

    I was just surprised that the Sutter 9 went for $90 when the 10 went for $150. I am used to seeing a much larger premium on the 10's. I lost out on a Larry Gura 1981 all star 10 this past weekend. The 10 went for $60 something if I recall right. I got my 9 for a fraction of that. I paid $45 for a Reggie Smith 10 when my 9 cost me under 10 bucks.

    Now if I could just upgrade my lousy 1981 Fred Lynn PSA 7! I did pick an PSA 9 81 Goose this weekend. That is an upgrade to the 8 that is currently my set card.
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    i've yet to see a good example of a centered lynn.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • williplettwilliplett Posts: 471 ✭✭
    Ferg, I looked at the pop report and there is one 10 of the Lynn and six 9's. Definitely a tough card. Now, I just need to finish off my 76 and 79 all stars. I picked up a 79 PSA 9 Rick Monday the other week. Larry Bowa, Richie Zisk, and Don Money are all that I have left. I had been looking for a PSA graded Jim Palmer to no avail for awhile. Then, all of the sudden I looked on the Bay and there were 2 9's and 2' 8's listed. I lost out on both of the 9's, but the 8 I got looks good.

    From 1976, I still need the Nettles, Tenace, and Concepcion. I am bidding on a PSA 9 Concepcion right now actually. I have the Morgan in GAI 8.5 that I will crack and re-submit in hopes of getting a 9. It looks nice and should have a good shot.
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,745 ✭✭✭
    i go thru a rack pack of 79t every now and then. i'll be on the lookout for those for you. good luck.


    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • PlayBallPlayBall Posts: 463 ✭✭✭

    Nice pickup! Even though you don't know who sold you the cardimage

    The price for the PSA 10 is not surprising. It isn't that difficult of a card, relative to some others in the set. A 1/1 Stargell went for similar money, and it's about the same in terms of toughness as the Sutter. Plenty of PSA 9 quality cards out there, but not going to bring in much of a profit. This makes the PSA 9 price crazy! If people noticed that auction there will be plenty of Sutter PSA 9's on E-Bay.

    The Bench card is crap. That price was too high for a glorified 9 at best. No exception should be made for that smudge, because it's not on all the cards. Unfortunately, I haven't come across any centered, smudgeless cards.image
    Bernie Carlen



    Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
  • williplettwilliplett Posts: 471 ✭✭
    Yes, It wasn't CoolStuffFast that had the 10, I remembered that sometime after I wrote the post but never changed it.

    From my experience with the 1981 set, that Sutter is indeed a tough card. I told my brother about bidding on the Sutter and he told me that he had a ton of raw ones in "great condition" His memory failed him. He did have a ton of them, but the best of the lot would have been lucky to get a 7.

    I am guessing that more and more Sutters will get graded now that he is going into the HOF. I agree about the 10 Bench, the print smudge should not be overlooked enough to give a card the gem mint grade.
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