1991 Topps Wally Backman #517
Wally Backman · Topps · Base
Player
Wally Backman
Set
1991 Topps Base
Year
1991
Card #
#517
Condition Grade
PSA 7 (Near Mint). The card exhibits noticeable centering issues, being heavily shifted towards the left border. The bottom-right corner shows slight softening. Surface appears clean of major wax stains common for the era, but general edge wear is visible on the right side.
Category
Base
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low. This is a common card of a non-Hall of Fame player from the peak of the overproduction era. Demand is limited to Phillies team set collectors or Wally Backman enthusiasts.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$0.05 - $0.25
Graded Value
PSA 8: $8.00 - $12.00, PSA 9: $20.00 - $30.00, PSA 10: $60.00 - $80.00 (Note: Grading fees significantly exceed the market value of this specific card).
Comparable Sales
Raw singles typically sell for cents in bulk 'dollar bins' at card shows. Recent eBay individual sales (including shipping) range from $1.25 to $2.00. PSA 10 examples occasionally sell for $50+ to registry collectors, but this specific card would not achieve that grade due to centering.
Description
This 1991 Topps Wally Backman card features the veteran infielder in his Philadelphia Phillies uniform. The card design celebrates Topps' 40th Anniversary with the iconic 'Topps 40 Years of Baseball' logo in the upper left corner. Backman is shown in a classic mid-game pose adjusting his batting gloves, with a clear blue sky and stadium background. The card features the distinct 1991 multi-colored piping border design and the Phillies team name in stylized script at the bottom right.
Key Features
Features the 'Topps 40th Anniversary' commemorative logo. Backman was a key member of the 1986 World Series Champion Mets, though pictured here with the Phillies. This card is part of the massive 'junk wax' era production, making it extremely common but nostalgic for collectors of the period.
Authenticity Indicators
Authenticity Confidence: High. The card exhibits the standard matte cardstock of 1991 Topps, the correct '40 Years' logo details, and the typical dot-matrix printing pattern in the photo. This card is not a target for counterfeiting due to extremely high supply.
Flaws to Note
Significant left-to-right centering bias (approx 70/30). Softening of the bottom right corner. Minor white chipping evident along the vertical right edge of the blue border. Top edge shows slight rough-cut common in 1991 Topps production.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
Best sold in bulk on eBay as part of a Phillies team set or 1991 Topps complete set. Individual sales are best suited for COMC (Check Out My Cards) or as 'fillers' in Sportlots to help collectors complete sets.
Selling Tips
Do not grade this card; the cost of grading ($19+) is many times the value of the card itself. If selling, list it as part of a '1990s Phillies Lot' to save on shipping. Use 'Plain White Envelope' (PWE) shipping for low-value singles to keep the price attractive to buyers.