1981 Topps Dan Ainge #180
Dan Ainge · Topps · Base
Player
Dan Ainge
Set
1981 Topps Base Set
Year
1981
Card #
#180
Condition Grade
PSA 4 (VG-EX) to PSA 5 (EX) based on visible centering and edges
Category
Base
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Moderate - Mainly appeals to Boston Celtics fans, Blue Jays completionists, and collectors of 'multi-sport' athletes.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$1.00 - $3.00
Graded Value
PSA 5: $10-15, PSA 6: $20-25, PSA 7: $35-45
Comparable Sales
Ungraded copies with similar centering recently sell for $1-$4. PSA 9 (Mint) copies can reach over $200, but high-grade examples must be perfectly centered, unlike this copy.
Description
A classic 1981 Topps card featuring Dan Ainge as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Known widely as an NBA legend, this card captures his early career as a multi-sport athlete in MLB. The design features a pink border around the player photo, a 'Blue Jays' baseball logo in the lower-left, and a yellow nameplate strip with black text identifying his name and position as Second Base.
Key Features
Cross-over appeal between NBA and MLB collectors; early career baseball card of the future NBA star and executive; iconic 1981 Topps 'hat-less' photography.
Authenticity Indicators
Authentic card stock and 'chip-board' style texture typical of early 1980s Topps. The printing shows the standard dot-matrix pattern in the pink borders. Low risk of counterfeiting due to the card's modest market value. Confidence: High.
Flaws to Note
The card is significantly off-center from left to right (approx. 75/25 or 80/20). There are visible 'fuzzy' edges commonly known as rough cuts from the factory. The bottom right corner shows some minor rounding and whitening.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay is the best platform for a single card of this value. It can be sold using the eBay Standard Envelope for low-cost shipping.
Selling Tips
Due to the off-centering, it is not recommended to grade this card as it would likely receive an 'OC' (Off-Center) qualifier, which hurts value. List it clearly as a 1981 Topps Ainge and use keywords like 'NBA Star' or 'Celtics' to attract basketball collectors interested in his baseball history.