It was one of the first cards that I ran into while I was flipping through my stack of 1981 Donruss cards, which I know make up a complete set, but they still aren't quite sorted out. For whatever reason, I do not really associate manager cards with Donruss. However, the first year I really got into the Donruss cards was 1988 with the blue plaid set. Before then, I would get a pack or two a summer. Of course, I have filled in the earlier Donruss sets in more recent years. I wasn't even collecting yet in 1981.
Few things I like about the LaRussa card:
- Is that a White Sox batting jersey from the early eighties?
- Tony retired in 2011 and I am not sure that his hair style changed at all in 30 years of managing. Just a little bit of grey.
- Like almost every 1981 Donruss card the picture in this card was taken in Comiskey. You can sort of make out the pinwheel fireworks things on the scoreboard.
- LaRussa is in the 1981 Topps set as the White Sox manager, but the managers in that set were in a tiny box on the top of the team card. Makes me want to give this card the unofficial title of being the first manager card of the Hall of Famer.