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What If... 80/81 Bkball wasn't 3 card panels??

shu4040shu4040 Posts: 982 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
what if topps issued a normal set then...

- We wouldn't have the famed Magic/Bird/Dr. J card?

- BUT we'd have single rookie cards of both Magic and Bird?

Personally, as much as I love the idea of our existing magic/bird/dr. j card, thoughts of a real rookie bird or magic psa 10 is pretty cool, and probably more appealing to me.

what do you think?

Comments

  • DboneesqDboneesq Posts: 18,219 ✭✭
    I'm going to say more appealing and more expensive. However, the expensive part may not be the case, as more people may have collected the set if it were a "normal" set. IIRC, most people did not like the idea of three card panels and did not aggressively collect the set.
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  • baz518baz518 Posts: 1,252 ✭✭✭✭
    Love that set, my favorite basketball set for sure. Reminds me of 78 baseball too, which is a plus!

    So I'd keep it as is.... 3-card panels.
  • PM770PM770 Posts: 320 ✭✭


    << <i>I'm going to say more appealing and more expensive. However, the expensive part may not be the case, as more people may have collected the set if it were a "normal" set. IIRC, most people did not like the idea of three card panels and did not aggressively collect the set. >>



    +1. I completed the 79-80 set (first set I ever completed BTW, only 132 cards), but only bought two packs of 80-81. IMO the worst idea/design for a set ever. Nothing else is even close enough to be second place. Certainly more appealing if they had their own cards.

  • vintagefunvintagefun Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭
    That's a question that's long burned my mind. The way the 2 ended up linked throughout their careers, I think it's cool that they share a card...and with Dr. J.

    However, I very much wish they each had their own RC.

    The other What If on 80's BK is...

    What if Topps kept going on BK after the 81/82 season? 86 Fleer wouldn't be that great anymore, but 84 Topps might be.
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  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The other What If on 80's BK is...

    What if Topps kept going on BK after the 81/82 season? 86 Fleer wouldn't be that great anymore, but 84 Topps might be. >>


    +1, those 85 Star cards would probably be worth a lot less as well.
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  • markmacmarkmac Posts: 412 ✭✭✭
    I like the card as it is. Not much different than rookie baseball cards with more than one player on them. ( I know the Dr. J. Not being a rookie hurts the similarity). I think it's cool that two of probably the three greatest players share a rookie card. Can you imagine any other sport being able to do that? Can you imagine the popularity of a Mays/Mantle rookie or a Ryan/Seaver. Aaron/Clemente. DiMaggio/Williams. Wilt/Russell. Yaz/McCovey. Just trying to think of a rookie panel that would match Bird/Magic.
  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,607 ✭✭✭✭
    The Bird/Magic rookie card is one of my favorites of all time. I'm very happy Topps decided to go that route.
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • wronglegwrongleg Posts: 441 ✭✭
    I must have liked the individual card concept as I tore my panels apart as a 12 year old. Oops.
  • stevebaystevebay Posts: 289 ✭✭✭
    Hi,

    Sorry, may be a stupid question and perhaps asked before on the threads.

    Since these cards were meant to be "torn", would PSA ever grade the cards individually? It would thus be about the same size as the T206's in the slab.


    image
  • yankeeno7yankeeno7 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭
    3 card panel that could be perforated apart was a TERRIBLE idea of Topps. Of course, we notice that Topps never did the main set like that ever again. I know it holds nostalgia for us that grew up during that time but still, it was a TERRIBLE idea. Just like the coin rub offs on the 80-81 Hockey.
  • shu4040shu4040 Posts: 982 ✭✭✭
    "What if Topps kept going on BK after the 81/82 season? 86 Fleer wouldn't be that great anymore, but 84 Topps might be "


    You know what the story would be now from everyone? "I paid $30 for mattingly rookies and coulda bought jordans for $1 by the hundreds instead!"
  • jmoran19jmoran19 Posts: 1,620 ✭✭✭


    << <i>3 card panel that could be perforated apart was a TERRIBLE idea of Topps >>



    The 1971 trios are the best basketball cards Topps ever did IMO

    Current obsession, all things Topps 1969 - 1972

  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭


    << <i>What if Topps kept going on BK after the 81/82 season? 86 Fleer wouldn't be that great anymore, but 84 Topps might be. >>



    The '93 Archives box is a fun one imo and I recommend people check that set out if they wish the '80s topps bk existed. It's junk era and I think every box will most likely yeild a full set. Or you can just get the set cheap.
    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
  • ClockworkAngelClockworkAngel Posts: 1,994 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The Bird/Magic rookie card is one of my favorites of all time. I'm very happy Topps decided to go that route. >>



    I agree.

    I also agree that it was an awful idea at the time. How and why would kids store the little cards that size? Would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that decision.

    But now, in this day and age of collecting, that card has become a top 5 favorite of mine all-time. It's iconic and one of those that happened by accident. No one could have predicted they would both be 2 of the top 5 basketball players all-time. Well, with Dr. J , we have 3 players in the top 5 on one card. 2 of which are rookie cards.
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  • rtimmerrtimmer Posts: 1,347 ✭✭✭✭
    At the time one of the worst card ideas ever but oh how things have changed and now because of one card the set is viewed as one of the best ever. There are lone Magic and Bird cards in the set too which adds to the confusion and allure for me of the set. And the pack collation makes my favorite collectable ever the rare bird/magic bottom.
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  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭


    << <i>The Bird/Magic rookie card is one of my favorites of all time. I'm very happy Topps decided to go that route. >>



    +1.

    While I don't collect or follow the basketball market, this is the second card that comes to mind for me, after Jordan's. Were they to have separate rookie cards, for me, I don't think either would be as iconic individually.

    Kudos to Topps for trying something new... innovative designs wasn't exactly their strong suit, especially in times where they had no competition.

    Snorto~
  • cardbendercardbender Posts: 1,831 ✭✭


    << <i>3 card panel that could be perforated apart was a TERRIBLE idea of Topps. Of course, we notice that Topps never did the main set like that ever again. I know it holds nostalgia for us that grew up during that time but still, it was a TERRIBLE idea. Just like the coin rub offs on the 80-81 Hockey. >>



    I couldn't agree more. This is the ONLY Topps Basketball set I don't like or collect.

    The three card panel set worked for the '71 Stickers insert set with it's jet black borders, but for a complete year set, it's just awful.
    Topps at their all-time laziest. No wonder they lost their contract with the NBAPA over licensing cards, or
    they simply decided not to continue to produce them due to poor sales. Their lame design's really contributed
    to them leaving the Hoops card market for the next decade.
  • dontippetdontippet Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭✭
    If they had been individual, whose card would be more valuable nowadays, Magic or Bird?
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  • BPorter26BPorter26 Posts: 3,499 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>If they had been individual, whose card would be more valuable nowadays, Magic or Bird? >>



    That's a great question. I would lean towards Larry Legend.
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  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>If they had been individual, whose card would be more valuable nowadays, Magic or Bird? >>



    That's a great question. I would lean towards Larry Legend. >>


    +1
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  • dontippetdontippet Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭✭
    Really? I'm thinking different. I would vote for Magic and personally, I thought the answer was pretty obvious. My reason for picking Magic is because I think he was more marketable and has more of a presence even today. The AIDS topic may have some to do with that since it has kept him in the spotlight somewhat. If I asked my wife who these gentlemen were, I would guess she would know Magic before she would know Bird.
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  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm not a Bird fan, personally, but the successful coaching/executive career on top of his playing ability tips the balance in his favor in my book.
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