August 6, 2015: Sports & Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2015
Topps couldn’t have anticipated the kind of dramatic change that the arrival of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would mean to the NBA but the Brooklyn-based behemoth found a cool way to commemorate the moment anyway, producing the most unique and occasionally perplexing basketball issue in the company’s history. With 176 cards comprising a full set, the issue was set apart by an intriguing three-panel format, with three perforated “cards” comprising each of the 176 standard-size cards in the issue. This meant multiple cards of many of the biggest names in the game, in this instance meaning the treasured Rookies of Bird and Johnson, found in different configurations. This offering is in simply superb condition, Near-Mint to Mint, with super color and gloss and a remarkably consistent presentation of one of the more-important basketball issues that Topps ever produced. The coveted Bird/Erving/Magic RC was graded PSA 6. Multiple Rookies of Bird and Magic would seem ample, but the list of first-year standouts is even greater: Richardson, Cheeks, Cartwright, Rollins, Cooper and Moncrief.
1980-81 Topps Basketball High-Grade Complete Set (176)
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