1981 Donruss Conditions

[ALR-bishop]

Looked at my set and see what you guys mean. Had forgotten how many variations I ended up with for that set

[Mike D.]

1981 gets my vote for worst set design of the 80’s, across the board!

The call-out that 1982 was miles better...just a year later...is spot on and a good observation!

[steve B]

I actually really like 81 Donruss. But then, I tend to like odd things that aren't always popular.

I remember one batch the local card shop had where the collation was the worst I've ever seen or heard of. Each pack included 11 of the same card and 7 random cards. One kid got 11 Yaz cards (Totally amazing just outside Boston!)
Another got 11 of the same checklist.

They stopped selling them and were in the process of sending that whole batch back.

[Harliduck]

I remember opening packs of 81 D back when I was 11, and they seemed like a booby prize. We had a corner store and all they got was Donruss, as kids we were TICKED. Doubles in the packs, the stock felt cheap...it just didn't feel like the real deal.

Fast forward to this summer and I repurchased the set (actually bought all Donruss and Fleer, 81-90, to recapture my youth). Went to put them in a binder and all the memories of crap cards came rushing back. The cuts on some of the cards are ridiculous! I was just laughing as I was bindering this set up. Looking back though the 81 Topps set was so boring, something new was nice. I prefered the 81 Fleer when I was 11...and I had my mom go to another town just to get packs. Good times.

[mortimer brewster]

I remember back in 1981 being excited about a new card release other than Topps. Went to the Local Corner store and bought a whole box (36 packs I think). Opened each pack and to my amazement the only cards were Royals,Yankees or Tigers. I must have had 15 John Wathan cards.

I remember the gum being better than Topps. I did like the back design. nice writeups.

[deweyinthehall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

LO freaking L!!! 3 packs in and I can't stop laughing. For anybody who was around when these came out (I was), I heartily recommend the trip down memory lane.

Funny, I almost bought a box of these out of nostalgia a few weeks ago, waited a bit too long, and the seller jacked the price up 50 bucks (don't blame them at all in this market), and I took it off my watch list.

Would have been awesome if they were all Expos and A's instead of Yankees and Royals, but still, centering and quality control was appalling. Might have ended up with a stack of 99/1 centered Tim Raines Rookies.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

WOW...that brought back memories...getting doubles in the same pack was simply unreal to an 11 year old! But triples? That was undoubtedly the worst box ever. John Wathan, Bill Caudill...that was unreal and entertaining...thanks for the link!

[t_vguy]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvOXhb-9FE

Worst. Box. Ever.

Wow!! LMAO! Now THAT is something! I was cracking up watching that. I don't remember anything like that with '81 Donruss. I will say this; that's a LOT of Reggie Jackson & George Brett cards.