1969-70 Topps Gus Johnson Baltimore Bullets #21
Gus Johnson · Topps · Base
Player
Gus Johnson
Set
1969-70 Topps Basketball
Year
1969
Card #
#21
Condition Grade
PSA 1.5 - 2 (Fair to Good)
Category
Base
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate-Strong
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$15 - $25
Graded Value
PSA 1: $10-15, PSA 2: $25-35, PSA 3: $45-55
Comparable Sales
Recent sales for raw specimens of this card with similar creasing and wear range from $12 to $22. PSA 2 (Good) specimens typically sell for $30-$40, while a PSA 1 (Poor) might fetch $10-$15. High-grade (PSA 8) copies of this card can exceed $400, illustrating the sharp price curve based on condition.
Description
Vintage 1969-70 Topps 'Tallboy' basketball card featuring Baltimore Bullets forward Gus Johnson. This oversized card features an iconic photograph of Johnson in his red Baltimore Bullets uniform set against a vibrant yellow oval background. The card includes historical line-drawing illustrations of basketball players in the corners and bold 'BALTIMORE' text along the bottom footer. The tall format is distinctive of this specific vintage era of Topps basketball production.
Key Features
Hall of Fame player (inducted 2010), iconic 'Tallboy' design (2-1/2" by 4-11/16"), high demand for 1969-70 Topps basketball as it was the first major basketball set since 1961, featured in the Baltimore Bullets franchise history.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity Confidence: High. The specific wear patterns, card stock texture, and halftone printing patterns are consistent with late 1960s Topps cardboard. The oversized dimensions are correct for this set. This card is not as commonly faked as the Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) or Wilt Chamberlain from this same set.
Flaws to Note
Significant surface creasing is visible on the top-left corner and lower center area. Noted corner rounding on all four corners. Moderate edge wear and chipping along the right-hand border. Top-bottom centering is slightly off. The creases will significantly limit the technical grade to the Fair/Good (1.5-2) range even if the colors remain bright.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the premier platform for this type of vintage card. Other options include specialized vintage Facebook groups or MySlabs if graded. High-end auction houses are usually reserved for high-grade specimens (PSA 7+) of this card.
Selling Tips
Due to the visible creases, grading this specific card may not yield a positive return on investment after fees. Sell it raw as a 'Honest Vintage Collector's Grade' card. Ensure you photograph the creases at an angle so the buyer can see the depth of the surface damage. Use keywords 'Tall Boy', 'HOF', 'Baltimore Bullets', and 'Vintage Basketball' in the title.