1981 Jim Rice Cards

Topps #500, Donruss #338, Fleer #222

Jim Rice's Baseball Reference Page

The Topps Card is way too dark, so it is between the Donruss and the Fleer of which is best. Both of them are nice cards, but I will have to go with the Fleer because he is smiling. Something he wasn't portrayed as doing much by the press during his career in Boston.

1981 Steve Renko Cards

Topps #63, Donruss #337, Fleer #231

Steve Renko's Baseball Reference Page

He looks like somewhat of a monster in his Topps card. The Fleer card suffers from bad cropping: the "Red Sox" baseball covers his feet but there is plenty of space by his head. So it is the Donruss card that is his best, classic baseball-card-pitchers-stance.

1981 Jerry Remy Cards

Topps #549, Donruss #215, Fleer #238

Jerry Remy's Baseball Reference Page

Another dugout shot by Topps and another empty stands shot by Donruss. This is getting monotonous! The Fleer card shows good cropping and good action...still a little too dark but acceptable for the times.

1981 Tony Perez Cards

Topps #575, Donruss #334, Fleer #241

Tony Perez's Baseball Reference Page

Had the Topps card been better cropped, it would have made for a nice card. Is there any reason to show all that infield green? What about all that space above his head? The green and the space make up more area than Perez himself. The Fleer card also has too much wasted space. This same photo cropped from his waist up would have looked better on a card. The Donruss card shows the classic batters stance with a backdrop of empty stands (very popular with the Donruss of this year). First prize goes to Donruss.

1981 Fred Lynn Cards

Topps # 720, Donruss #218, Fleer #223

Fred Lynn's Baseball Reference Page

Lynn didn't play for the Red Sox in 1981. He wanted out. I guess he couldn't handle the pressure of playing in Boston. The fans expected him to have a 1975 season every year. If it wasn't for that annoying "A.L. All-Star" banner at the top of the card and that ridiculous hat at the bottom, the Topps card could have been his best. The Donruss card makes him look like he has a sunburn, so it has to be Fleer by default to be his best card of 1981.

1981 Glenn Hoffman Cards

Topps #349, Donruss #95, Fleer #237

Glenn Hoffman's Baseball Reference Page

In his Topps and Donruss cards, he looks like he was in one of those British pop bands of the 1960's. Although the cropping of the photograph could have been better, the nod for his best card of this year is the Fleer (where he doesn't look like a Mod Rocker from the other side of the pond).

1981 Butch Hobson Cards

Topps #595, Donruss #542, Fleer #227

Butch Hobson's Baseball Reference Page

You are probably thinking: "Hey, wait a second. One of those cards is an Angel's card not a Red Sox card!" Well, if he is in a Red Sox uniform, then it is a Red Sox card to me. The funny thing is he was traded along with Rick Burleson and yet Donruss had him listed as a Red Sox (See card here).

The sad part is, the Donruss card is his best this year. The Topps card looks like he is about to have a bowel movement and the Fleer card looks like he is doing the same thing except in a different position.

1981 Carlton Fisk Cards

Topps #480, Donruss #335, Fleer # 224

Carlton Fisk's Baseball Reference Page

Fisk didn't even play for the Red Sox in 1981. With the foolishness about rookie cards, should these last cards in Red Sox uniform be worth more money than his other cards? His Donruss card this year is his best. It has good cropping and he takes up the whole picture. The Topps card with him wearing a jacket makes him look more like a pansy than an "All-Star". The Fleer card has him looking dorky and not at all like a big leaguer. What is he looking at?

1981 Dwight Evans Cards

Topps #275, Donruss #458, Fleer #232

Dwight Evan's Baseball Reference Page

I believe this is the last year that Dewey was clean shaven. He would grow a moustache which I still believe he has till this day. The Topps card has him looking pissed. Maybe at the photographer? The Donruss card doesn't show him having much enthusiasm for having his picture taken. So the Fleer card is his best, although it should have been cropped better without so much empty space above his head. There appears to be only one guy in the visitors dugout in the background. The bat boy perhaps?

1981 Dennis Eckersley Cards

Topps # 620, Donruss #96, Fleer #226

Dennis Eckersley's Baseball Reference Page

Geepers creepers! Look at all that hair! Yet another dugout shot by Topps. Shows real laziness and lack of creativity. The Donruss card makes him look like he is in disguise in a baseball uniform hoping to shake the cops. The Fleer card isn't much better, but he looks a little less sinister, so by default: Fleer is his best card this year.

1981 Jim Dwyer Cards

Topps #184, Donruss #577, Fleer #235

Jim Dwyer's Baseball Reference Page

Fleer is the best card of Dwyer this year. The picture was taken in Fenway Park in what looks like a capacity crowd, which wasn't always the case back in those days. The Donruss card makes his skull look too square and the Topps card makes him look too goofy. The round helmet he wears in the Fleer card gives the illusion that his head isn't square and for that reason alone, it wins the prize for best card of Dwyer for 1981.

1981 Dick Drago Cards

Topps #647, Donruss #336, Fleer #239

Dick Drago's Baseball Reference Page

The best card here is the Donruss, despite its lack of clarity. Notice how Drago takes up the full picture of the card. Compare this to the wasted space above his head in the Fleer card. The Fleer card should have been cropped better, perhaps from his belt to the top of his hat. The dark shadows in the stands do not help the appearance any. The Topps card, he is squinting too much...perhaps hungover from the night before and the sun is bothering him?

1981 Rick Burleson Cards

 Topps #455, Donruss #454, Fleer #225

Rick Burleson's Baseball Reference Page

The best card here is the Donruss. The Topps card shows too much shadow, he is not wearing a hat and the centering of the photo is off. The Fleer card isn't too bad for a portrait shot, although he looks a little too posed. The Donruss shows him out in the field ready for action. The photo is cropped nicely without wasted space.

1981 Tom Burgmeier Cards

Topps #320, Donruss #97,  Fleer #228

Tom Burgmeier's Baseball Reference Page

The best card of the three is the Donruss card. The Topps card could have been enlarge a bit more to fill up the shot better, plus it is somewhat blurry and grainy. The Fleer card, although clearer of the three, doesn't show him as a baseball player. Could just be a guy with a Red Sox jersey and hat for all that we know. But it is nice that the shot was taken at Fenway Park (notice Citgo sign in background) The Donruss has him with a glove and is well centered. It does have a greenish tint to it, but that can be ignored.