1978 Topps Bill Lee #254
Bill Lee · Topps · Base
Player
Bill Lee
Set
1978 Topps Base Set
Year
1978
Card #
#254
Condition Grade
PSA 3 (VG) - Noted issues: Centering is shifted significantly to the right (approx 75/25), bottom-left corner shows soft rounding and paper loss/fraying, edges show chipping, and surface has visible black ink speckling on the white borders.
Category
Base
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate - Popular among Red Sox team collectors and fans of vintage 'characters' of the game, but abundant supply limits high competition.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.50 - $1.50
Graded Value
PSA 7: $10-15, PSA 8: $25-35, PSA 9: $80-100. (Note: Graded value for a PSA 3 is lower than the cost of grading fees).
Comparable Sales
Recent eBay sales for raw copies of this card in similar condition range from $0.99 to $2.00 including shipping. PSA 8 copies have recently sold for approximately $28.00.
Description
Featured is a 1978 Topps baseball card of Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill 'Spaceman' Lee. The card features the classic 1978 design with two-toned banners and a curved inner frame. Lee is shown in a follow-through pitching motion wearing the classic Red Sox home white uniform and cap. The card has a clean image but exhibits typical vintage wear including corner softening and centering issues common for this set.
Key Features
Features the eccentric and fan-favorite 'Spaceman' Bill Lee; Iconic 1978 Topps design; Classic Boston Red Sox memorabilia piece.
Authenticity Indicators
Authentic 1978 Topps stock with appropriate cardboard grain and color saturation. Confidence: High. This card is not commonly counterfeited due to low market value.
Flaws to Note
Significant right-side centering bias; dinged and rounded bottom-left corner; minor edge wear; small printing defects (black ink dots) in the white margins.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as part of a lot or low-cost PWE listing), COMC (Check Out My Cards), or local card shop bulk bins.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card, as the cost of grading far exceeds the market value of the card in this condition. Use 'Plain White Envelope' (PWE) shipping to keep costs low for the buyer. List with keywords like 'Boston Red Sox', 'Vintage', and 'Spaceman'.