Description
1971 O-Pee-Chee
Jim Palmer #197 1970 A.L. Playoffs Game 3 Baltimore Orioles (EX-MT 6)
Capture a rare piece of Canadian baseball history with this 1971 O-Pee-Chee Jim Palmer #197. This card is a standout from one of the most iconic and condition-sensitive sets ever produced. While the American Topps version is common, this O-Pee-Chee edition was printed in smaller quantities in Canada, making it a "must-have" for vintage enthusiasts looking to complete their 1971 master sets.
The card, titled "Palmer Mows 'Em Down!", commemorates Jim Palmer's dominant performance in Game 3 of the 1970 ALCS against the Minnesota Twins. This victory propelled the Baltimore Orioles toward their World Series sweep. Jim Palmer remains the only pitcher in MLB history to win a World Series game in three different decades, and this card captures the Hall of Famer in his absolute prime.
Collectors prize the 1971 O-Pee-Chee set for its distinctive black borders and its unique horizontal back design. Unlike many other years where OPC mirrored Topps exactly, the 1971 OPC backs feature a vibrant yellow card stock and a horizontal layout that differs significantly from the vertical Topps version. Because it was printed on slightly different stock and often suffered from "rough cuts" at the London, Ontario factory, finding a copy with clean black edges is a significant challenge.
Condition Report:
- Corners: Extremely strong for this series. You can see very light touches on the tips, but they retain much of their original sharpness—a rarity for 1971 stock.
- Edges: The black borders are remarkably clean. There is very minor white "chipping" visible along the top and left edges, which is expected for this set but significantly better than average.
- Centering: Excellent visual appeal. The centering is quite strong, roughly 55/45 to 60/40, avoiding the severe off-centering common in O-Pee-Chee production.
- Surface/Back: The front surface is smooth with deep, saturated blacks. The yellow horizontal back is clean, bright, and features the bilingual (French/English) text and "Printed in Canada" copyright.
Grade Estimate:
EX-MT 6 (A very high floor for this specific set due to the difficult black borders).
EX-MT 6 (A very high floor for this specific set due to the difficult black borders).
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