1981: Topps, Donruss or Fleer?

[bk400]

I've rediscovered some love for cards from these three sets. Which 1981 set was the most popular when they were first issued, and which are most popular now among collectors?

[deweyinthehall]

Where I was, central CT, it seemed there was more Fleer to be found than Donruss, and that's when you could find either. Most places I'd buy cards all they had was Topps.

I remember as a 14 year old thinking Fleer was clearly the better product - Donruss seemed flimsy and the backs looked weird. At the time, I don't think I knew anything about all the errors each set had, although I heard about the Fleer Nettles very early on.

I can clearly remember thinking that as long as there was Topps, why would anyone buy anything else? And who needs THREE sets each year anyway? Seems like overkill.

How naive I was.

[jp1216]

Amongst my 2nd grade buddies, 1981 was an weird year to collect/trade compared to the year prior. Topps (to us) was still king but that didn't stop kids from showing up to trade, play and sort with the new 'oddball' companies.

I acquired a few but focused on Topps. I remember cards like Fernando and Cal (in '82) having their own cards vs the Topps Future Stars examples. I didn't think they'd last.

I also remember being the kid that traded away 81s for 'old' 1980 cards. Back then (and still today), I like that set better.

[Exhibitman]

In the San Fernando Valley, Fleer was the hot one because of the error cards. I remember chasing down Craig Nettles and to this day enjoy all of the wrong caption superstars. Topps was...Topps. Boring and kinda uggo. Donruss simply wasn't around at retail. No market penetration. I didn't get any of those packs until I went to NYC for a visit. One pack had several of the same card in it.

[angolajones]

If my memory is correct, I think Donruss had the best gum for that year. It was softer than Topps. But it may have been Fleer.

As to which set, I think Topps had the better product in 81 although Fleer and Donruss caught up quickly in the next few years.

[bk400]

The Topps cards feel a bit nicer in hand to me also, but the Donruss and Fleer sets avoided the Future Stars, multi-player cards that Topps seemed to really like. I was surprised that 1981 Tim Raines Topps rookie commands such a large premium to the 1981 Donruss (single player), which to me is clearly a better looking card.

[PittOhio]

Grew up in NE Ohio and did not have a problem finding any of the companies. Donruss was the strangest, it took quite a while for their “last series” cards to be in any of the boxes. Then all of a sudden a box would only include their last series. The other strange thing was getting maybe 15-20 cards in a pack. I never got less than I was supposed to but would sometimes get way more cards than I was supposed to. The third strange thing was getting multiple cards of the same player in a pack. I recall getting packs with numerous Mike Schmidt’s and Pete Rose’s and it was a pack with way too many cards. I still have way too many 81 Fleer and Donruss sets and cards.