1991 Topps Tom Runnells (Manager) #784
Tom Runnells · Topps · Base Card (Manager)
Player
Tom Runnells
Set
1991 Topps Baseball Series 2
Year
1991
Card #
#784
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint) - Estimated. Centering is visibly shifted toward the left and bottom borders. The right edge shows some minor roughness/fraying, and there is a noticeable surface glare/dimple near the player's right shoulder.
Category
Base Card (Manager)
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low. This is considered a 'common' card from one of the highest production years in hobby history. Demand is limited to set collectors or Expos completionists.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.05 - $0.25
Graded Value
PSA 8: $5.00 - $10.00; PSA 9: $15.00 - $20.00; PSA 10: $40.00 - $60.00 (Note: Grading costs far exceed the market value of this specific card).
Comparable Sales
Recent eBay sales show individual 1991 Topps commons selling for approximately $0.99 with free shipping (which results in a loss for the seller after fees/postage). PSA 10 examples of mid-tier players from this set occasionally reach $30-$50, but a manager card like Runnells rarely commands a premium.
Description
This 1991 Topps baseball card features Montreal Expos manager Tom Runnells. The card displays the iconic 'Topps 40 Years of Baseball' logo in the upper left corner. Runnells is pictured in the classic red Expos uniform and hat against a purple-toned background. The bottom banner identifies him as 'MGR' with his name in a red box, adjacent to the grey 'Expos' team logo banner.
Key Features
Includes the 40th Anniversary Topps logo. Part of the 'Junk Wax Era' mass-production period. Features Tom Runnells during his brief tenure as the Montreal Expos manager (1991-1992).
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence in authenticity. The cardboard stock is the standard brown/grey recycled pulp used by Topps in 1991. The color registration and dot-matrix patterns in the border colors are consistent with period-correct printing. These cards are not targeted by counterfeiters due to their high production numbers and low individual value.
Flaws to Note
Significant left-to-right centering issues (heavily weighted to the left). Bottom border is thinner than top border. Softening on the bottom-right corner. Minor surface scratches visible under the light reflection. General 'fuzzy' edges common for Topps card stock of this era.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Best sold as part of a complete 1991 Topps set or in a large bulk lot on eBay. Individual sales are rarely profitable due to shipping costs. Could be placed in a '10 cent bin' at a local card show.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card, as the grading fee will be 100x the card's actual market value. If selling, list it as part of a team set or a 'Junk Wax' manager lot. For shipping, a Plain White Envelope (PWE) is the only cost-effective method for a card of this value.