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My Unopened Baseball Collection

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  • 19591959 Posts: 626 ✭✭✭

    I have a 1984 Topps rack box. Every pack has an All Star card on front , 1st compartment. Is this normal? NO stars on any of the packs showing. Frankinstein box???i

  • That's a pretty cool looking version of the box for cardboard headers!

    I have one like Kevin's and haven't been able to find another one for my collection anywhere. Like Kevin said these are all super hard to find. Half to see some fellow collectors of 83!

  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Kevin/Jeremy,
    Do your boxes actually say "1983" on them anywhere? Or are they reused from another year?

    Kevin,
    I hear ya. Some pieces I won't ever sell. Most aren't very expensive, I just don't see them come up for sale very often. That said, I am seeing more stuff come up, like the long rack boxes for 82D & 83D. I bought mine a while back and only saw them pop up once every few years. But I have seen more in past year. Guess most people have a price point that they are willing to sell at.

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    @1959 said:
    I have a 1984 Topps rack box. Every pack has an All Star card on front , 1st compartment. Is this normal? NO stars on any of the packs showing. Frankinstein box???i

    Hi,
    Yes, that is normal. A glossy 1983 All Star card in the first cell of the rack was standard approach with Topps beginning in 1984. Not getting a star on top is a bit unusual given the number of HOFERs in that set.

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • tulsaboytulsaboy Posts: 285 ✭✭✭

    @NJ80sBBC said:
    Kevin/Jeremy,
    Do your boxes actually say "1983" on them anywhere? Or are they reused from another year?

    Kevin,
    I hear ya. Some pieces I won't ever sell. Most aren't very expensive, I just don't see them come up for sale very often. That said, I am seeing more stuff come up, like the long rack boxes for 82D & 83D. I bought mine a while back and only saw them pop up once every few years. But I have seen more in past year. Guess most people have a price point that they are willing to sell at.

    The boxes were reused from 1982 leftover stock. Just like the headers themselves. If you look at your headers, they should show a 1982 copyright date on them. On the bottom of both my cardboard header box and my plastic header 1983 box, the copyright is 1982. I don't believe, based on what I know and have been told by other, smarter collectors than me, that Topps made any rack boxes that have a 1983 copyright date on the bottom.
    kevin

  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    I have not posted in this thread in a while as we decided to get back into the construction project here, which means my unopened went back into totes as the work resumes on the Card room.

    But the cardboard gods have smiled down on me and I was able to score one of my true white whales. I started collecting in 1987 and Fleer was extremely scarce around me. It was a luxury to get a pack or 2, so when I returned to the hobby in 2011, I gravitated toward these packs and boxes more than any other. The sleek design and incredible nostalgia factor made it one of my favorite targets to collect (and rip). I have tried to collect at least one of each package that was offered.

    20 box wax case
    16 box cello case
    6 box wax case
    3 box rack case

    And obviously plenty of wax, cello, rack boxes as well. The real mystery to me was the red rack packs that were a Toys R Us exclusive. I searched high and low for any signs of how they were packaged and always came up empty. Well, mystery was recently solved and I was able to secure a case in nearly perfect condition. While not the most valuable of issues and probably not as cool to most, this is my favorite item in my entire collection. The best part of the hobby for me is all of the variety of 80s unopened. Landing a piece like this is truly white whale event for me. Hope some of you recognize the case and stand in the pics. I know that Chris mentioned to me that he recalled seeing on in Toys R Us in 87.

    John

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭



    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Those displays are awesome! And part of what looks like an equally awesome room! Congrats!

    I don’t own the 88-90 Donruss counter displays, I think I need to
    Bite the bullet at some point, they are too damn pretty to not own!

    John

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • bobbybakerivbobbybakeriv Posts: 2,186 ✭✭✭✭

    Great collections, gents! Love them...if only :)

  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow John...that is the exact 1987 Fleer display I remember standing in front of in Toys ‘R Us back in 1987. My grandpa was with me and bought me 4 racks that day. Amazing looking display...congrats! I have never seen one since.

    CountDouglas - that 1985 Donruss counter display is SICK! I have never seen a full one of those either. I have a couple each of the 1986-1989, but now am jealous of that awesome 1985. Didn’t know the wax packs were oriented sideways. Thanks for sharing the photo!!

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,437 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @NJ80sBBC I need to say it again, that Fleer Floor Stand Display is a very cool item! I understand why it would be the favorite item in your collection. I believe it would also be my favorite item if one resided in my own collection. I believe only those that experienced the thrill of chasing 1987 Fleer firsthand have that nostalgia burnt deep in the recesses of their memory, that even now, finding, buying, opening, or even just looking at 1987 Fleer brings those memories flooding back. People that don't have those kind of memories of 87 Fleer just kinda shrug. But believe me, I know exactly how you felt once you landed that case! Congratulations, again! So cool!

    @jordangretzkyfan Thanks! I detailed how I acquired it when I posted about it in one of the monthly threads (maybe August?). I had been searching for both a 1985 and 1986 display, but literally ended up with the 1985 display by complete accident.

    Donruss reused the same 1985 display box for the 1986 counter display, using a different divider inside the display and then just slapping some stickers that said 86 over the 85 on the outside of the box, as well as stickers covering the count of 108 packs with 144 packs. I was purchasing a "factory sealed case of 2 1986 Donruss counter displays" from an auction that I won on eBay. I figured I'd display one 1986 Donruss case, and then have an extra case for some pandemic ripping entertainment.

    Turns out, while the outside case box was marked as if it contained 1986 Donruss inside, it wasn't actually "factory sealed", and could tell that immediately. When I opened the case and removed the first 1986 display on top, the glue had failed on the stickers on the outside of that box, and they had fallen off, and the box said 1985 on it. I opened the display, and it was indeed 1986 Donruss inside that one. I pulled the second display out, and it also said 1985 on the outside, but when I opened it, to my surprise and delight, it was indeed 1985 Donruss!

    I don't know the circumstances of how the seller came to acquire the case, but clearly didn't investigate the item too deeply before selling it. Anyway, I killed 2 birds with one stone for my collection, and it couldn't have worked out any better, even though I didn't actually end up with the item I thought I was getting at the time of purchase.

  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great story on the 1985 Donruss display case. Always fun when an error turns out in your favor. That is the only one I have seen before. I completely understand the passion you and John have for the displays from that era. They evoke such strong childhood memories of the thrill of seeing a stand of cards while you kill time waiting for your mom to finish shopping. The “mix and match” cases had so many possible combinations of ways you could kindly plead for scoring one extra pack for being a good kid that week 🤣

  • balco758balco758 Posts: 1,392 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I’m in awe looking at ~25 boxes of 1983 T boxes. To think you could have acquired those just a few years ago for $5,000 and now it’s worth $25,000. Awesome work!

  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    John,

    While 5 years later than your sweet 1987 Fleer display, thought you might get a kick out of this one. Man the 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensations were on FIRE 🔥 when they came out. Never saw a display in the stores back then, but had to have this since I am a Frank Thomas junkie.

  • Webb63Webb63 Posts: 131 ✭✭✭

    Love the 70s cellos! What years?

  • 19541954 Posts: 2,898 ✭✭✭

    wow. Thanks for sharing the photos of your awesome collection.

    Looking for high grade rookie cards and unopened boxes/cases
  • 76collector76collector Posts: 986 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I love the way you all display your cards too ! Gives me lots of ideas. And with a potential tighter lockdown, maybe I will actually have time to do it. hanging the rack packs just like at the store, is really cool, IMO

    I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid.
    Collecting:
    post world war II HOF rookie
    76 topps gem mint 10 commons 9 stars
    Arenado purple refractors(Rockies) Red (Cardinals)
    successful deals with Keevan, Grote15, 1954, mbogoman
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    @jordangretzkyfan said:
    John,

    While 5 years later than your sweet 1987 Fleer display, thought you might get a kick out of this one. Man the 1992 Fleer Rookie Sensations were on FIRE 🔥 when they came out. Never saw a display in the stores back then, but had to have this since I am a Frank Thomas junkie.

    That is one awesome display case of 1992 goodness right there! By 1992 I made the hugely regrettable decision to quit cards. I have seen quite a few people post about 1992 Fleer, it was clearly coveted. Like you have said before, it really is all about the connections we make back to the past. That’s what makes this hobby so awesome. How lucky are all of us that we get to be like kids, collecting cards all over again??

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Hope everyone enjoyed the holidayFirst phase construction on cardroom is complete. Now the fun part begins - the setup. I’m 2 days in and having a blast. Finally getting the whole collection into one room. I will share some progress pics along the way. The main wall of the room is straight up shelves. Deeper bottoms shelves for bigger items.

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Loving the start John...simply amazing! Those 1984 Fleer racks are SICK! The Mattingly and Strawberry from that set are iconic. Are those (2) 1982 Donruss rack boxes I see there along side all those wax boxes?

  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks Chris! Like you, I’m a huge fan of 84F and the clear racks are the coolest of the packs. I don’t understand why the 84 and 85 rack boxes are so difficult to find, yet 86 and up are extremely accessible.

    You have a good eye, those are rack boxes. Wish I got more of those too, very fun item. The packaging to me is just as much fun as the cards and the 80s had a ton of variation.

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • Can't wait to see you drop in your 83 collection to those shelves! Looks fantastic already.

  • GansetttimeGansetttime Posts: 232 ✭✭✭

    @NJ80sBBC said:
    Thanks Chris! Like you, I’m a huge fan of 84F and the clear racks are the coolest of the packs. I don’t understand why the 84 and 85 rack boxes are so difficult to find, yet 86 and up are extremely accessible.

    You have a good eye, those are rack boxes. Wish I got more of those too, very fun item. The packaging to me is just as much fun as the cards and the 80s had a ton of variation.

    '84 Fleer, especially racks, is very undervalued. Wish I had picked up some years ago, but quantities were nowhere available. Fortunate to grab vending. Heck, wax and cello are tough too. Very jealous of your stash!

  • RoflesRofles Posts: 753 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome! Can’t wait to see your updates!

  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks Jeremy, 1983 is coming out this week. This whole project is like piecing together a puzzle!

    Completely agree with you Gansett, 100%, 84F is undervalued. For a while it was selling at a significant premium to Topps, but now it seems they are close to parity for wax. Outside of the racks I didn’t buy very much, which is a big regret.

    Thanks Rofles, sharing our collections is such a big part of this forum!

    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Hi Everyone,

    Been a while since I added to this thread. I have been working on the Card room on weekends when I’m not pulled in 5 different directions by my little ones. A modest update for today.

    I started collecting in 1987 and we would travel to a Card shop that had 1987 Donruss packs for a buck a piece. I have so many great memories of this set and when I got back into collecting in 2011, I made sure to load up on boxes and packs and also rip a ton of this product with buddies over the years. That said, I’ve been buying here and there ever since and amassed a solid collection with some nice variety.

    I also added the 1987Leaf stash to this dedicated section of the room. Funny, these were totally substandard to their Donruss cousins in my collecting circle as a kid. A lot has changed since then as 87L has gotten very popular given its short check list relative to 87D while still featuring all of the main stars. It’s also a condition nightmare.




    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Now that is one good looking stash of 87D and 87L! That has always been one of my favorite rips too. Maddux, Bo, McGwire Rated Rookies coupled with Bonds, Larkin, Cone and Brown RCs. Add in all the amazing prospects like Sierra, Greenwell, Kruk, Joyner and Mitchell. That is what childhood memories are made of. Love the setup. You and I could combine efforts for one epic rip party my friend! Nice counter display cases by the way! The pop ups from that year are classic.

  • GroceryRackPackGroceryRackPack Posts: 3,203 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @hamilton989 said:




    Hi,
    Very nice on the 80 BBCE Rack.

  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭

    Well, that was a fun thread to catch up on. Great stuff, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :*

  • LarkinCollectorLarkinCollector Posts: 8,975 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @NJ80sBBC said:
    A lot has changed since then as 87L has gotten very popular given its short check list relative to 87D while still featuring all of the main stars.

    They might have missed a key HOF RC ;)

  • billwaltonsbeardbillwaltonsbeard Posts: 3,748 ✭✭✭✭

    that double Elway rack is insane

  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,629 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Awesome collection, congrats.

    Respectfully be careful with your setup. The one rack looks top heavy. I only comment because one day I heard a loud crash and went into my closet to find a mess. For no apparent reason a similar rack decided to tip over and unfortunately I had a significant portion of opened stuff that went everywhere. It was so depressing I didn't tackle cleaning it all up for months.

    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
  • JWBlueJWBlue Posts: 489 ✭✭✭
    edited December 19, 2020 2:55PM

    @NJ80sBBC said:

  • NJ80sBBCNJ80sBBC Posts: 739 ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks everyone for indulging me. It’s not the premium product that many have here, but it’s what brings me right back. I spent the better part of the day digging out the 86 and 87 Fleer collection.


    Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,451 ✭✭✭✭✭

    John,

    That is a sight to behold. I completely agree that 1987 and 1984 were the best Fleer designs of the 80s. The simplicity of each and the fact they were so darn hard to find as a kid is why they will always be among my favorites. Racks are nearly impossible to find these days let alone a sealed box. Sweet collection my friend!

    Chris

  • GansetttimeGansetttime Posts: 232 ✭✭✭

    Wow, very impressed. 1984 Fleer product is underrated, and in my opinion the least produced from that year of all manufacturers.
    Ironically the racks you pictured were readily available as a kid for me at all local grocery stores, more so than Topps. Donruss was never seen at retail, only dealers at shows seemed to have it.
    I had started building a pristine raw set from scratch with packs and boxes of all sorts from BBCE years ago when supply and prices were reasonable. I am close to finishing the set, unfortunately by buying pack fresh singles here and there, rather than opening more of my stock.
    Thanks for the share!

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