Set Complete - 1971 Topps Baseball!

 

It's been a year since I started organizing a few of my vintage cards and something that has appeared over and over on my goals was to complete a vintage set.  So I can finally say - YES 1971 IS DONE!  

This is a set I've wanted to complete since I was a young lad and first gazed upon its glorious all black borders.  If I could (and my wife agreed) I would probably create a wall paper of this set to decorate a wall in my office (the 1978 set would be on the opposite wall).

Though I can't say for certain which card I actually acquired first, I do remember it was a Pirate.

 

Probably this guy (or Gene Alley, but I'm going with Steve Blass).  This card is actually an upgrade for the one I originally purchased.

As for first big name players, Brooks Robinson was the only star I had for a long time and because of that this is one of my favorite cards of the set.

Speaking of Brooks, this is another favorite.  There's a whole lot of nothing in this photo.  It almost looks like Robinson is looking for a lost contact lens but the caption says it all.

While putting the set together is a challenge, I did learn a few things.  Like Pete Rose stealing a scene from Chris Short.

And Nolan Ryan making a cameo in Bud Harrelson's card.

I also learned about several variations.  While this one is not listed in PSA or TCDB I'm calling this a variation.

This variation made PSA's list.  Orange/Red helmets.  Kind of quirky, but I'll keep these in the set.

I'm not sure about this one.  PSA lists 3 variations (orange/red helmet and line/no line).  Well I guess technically this is a red helmet no line and red helmet line variation.  But the no line helmet looks kind of orange.  TCDB only lists the line/no line variation.

Neither PSA nor TCDB lists a variation for card #499, but again, I'm calling this a variation. The white/red combo on the left and yellow/red combo on the right.  Hey if an orange/red helmet can be called a variation then this can be too!

Something doesn't look like the other.  See it?  The variations aren't limited to checklists.  

Boots Day gets the airbrush treatment 

Ok technically I guess you could call this a variation, because isn't that what printing errors are?  

I found this blank back Joe Torre while sorting through my 71's.  Some kid probably thought it was a maze and tried to solve for it.

These are the last four cards I needed to complete the set.  When my set needs were getting low I was pushing the BIN button pretty darn quick.

Finally, the set resting comfortably in its new home.

There are of course a few cards I'd like to upgrade (especially the checklists) and there are more variations that I may search for, but for now that can wait.   I'll enjoy this set for a few days until I start hunting for more vintage.  Only 200 more cards to complete both 1970 and 1972!

I'm off to the hunt!  Thanks for reading!