Post Your Pack Collection
frankhardy
Posts: 8,098 ✭✭✭✭✭
Back in approximately 2004, I started keeping a Topps "wax" pack from every year and every series. I started going backwards with a goal to get an authentic unopened wax pack back to my birth year of 1975. I remember starting it around 2004 because for some strange reason I remember someone pulling a Thomas Jefferson autographed card from a 2004 pack that sold for several thousand dollars.
My current wax pack collection consists of 1975 through 2020 Topps Series 1 (every series and Traded / Update). My 1975 Topps is a GAI 7.5. Each pack from 1976 - 1992 came directly from Steve Hart at BBCE with the only exceptions being a few pack variations.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago in 2018....I got the idea to expand my pack collection with cello and rack packs. My cello and rack pack collection starts in 1981. I wanted all of my cellos and racks to show stars on the front up to the years that is difficult to see through. I also have the same thing with Cardinals players, but they are not shown here.
I'll start with an overview picture.
You can click on each picture to get a larger view.
Shane
Comments
I'll continue here with my wax packs.
1975 Topps GAI 7.5
1976 Topps BBCE
1977 Topps BBCE
1978 Topps BBCE
1979 Topps BBCE
1980 Topps BBCE
1981 Topps BBCE
1982 Topps BBCE
1983 Topps BBCE
1983 Topps (test wrapper) BBCE
1984 Topps BBCE
1985 Topps BBCE
1985 Topps (no year wrapper variation) from Ebay
1985 Topps Traded from former Topps employee's son
1986 Topps BBCE
1987 Topps BBCE
1988 Topps BBCE
1989 Topps BBCE
1989 Topps (cellophane wrapper) BBCE
1989 Topps (crimped plastic wrapper) from Ebay
1990 Topps BBCE
1990 Topps (crimped plastic wrapper) from Ebay
1990 Topps Traded BBCE
1991 Topps from Ebay
1991 Topps (cellophane wrapper) BBCE
1991 Topps (crimped plastic wrapper) from Ebay
1991 Topps Traded BBCE
1992 Topps BBCE
The rest are from a number of sources including retail outlets, sealed boxes, Ebay, etc.
Shane
Cello Packs
1981 Topps Joe Morgan front
1982 Topps Cal Ripken Jr front (deemed authentic by Steve Hart)
1983 Topps Wade Boggs front (cracked out of PSA 8 holder)
1984 Topps Nolan Ryan front and Cal Ripken back (cracked out of GAI 9 holder)
1985 Topps Mark McGwire front (deemed authentic by Steve Hart)
1986 Topps Don Mattingly front
1987 Topps Mark McGwire front
1988 Topps Mark McGwire front
1989 Topps Mark McGwire front
1990 Topps Mark McGwire front
1991 Topps Frank Thomas front
1992 Topps Jim Thome front
1993 Topps Series 1 Tony Gwynn front and Ken Griffey Jr back
1993 Topps Series 2 Randy Johnson back
1981 Topps Super Bazooka Rod Carew front (deemed authentic by Steve Hart)
2007 Topps Mickey Mantle front
2008 Topps Justin Morneau front and Trevor Hoffman back
K-Mart cello / hanger packs.
1989 Topps Don Mattingly front
1990 Topps Ken Griffey Jr front
Shane
Next is what I call large packs (one pouch). Also known as hanger packs.
1988 Topps (37 cards; Nolan Ryan front)
1989 Topps (39 cards; Barry Larkin front)
1990 Topps (43 cards; Nolan Ryan HL front)
1991 Topps (40 cards; Ken Griffey, Jr AS front)
1992 Topps (41 cards; 1 gold; Frank Thomas)
1993 Topps Series 1 (41 cards; 5 gold)
1993 Topps Series 1 (18 cards; 2 gold; alternate colors; Frank Thomas front)
1993 Topps Series 2 (41 cards; 5 gold; Jim Thome back)
1993 Topps Series 2 (18 cards; 2 gold; alternate colors; Rickey Henderson back)
1994 Topps Series 1 (29 cards; 4 gold)
1994 Topps Series 1 (15 cards; 2 gold)
1994 Topps Series 2 (29 cards; 4 gold)
1994 Topps Series 2 (15 cards; 2 gold)
1995 Topps Series 1 (23 cards; 2 Spectra Light)
1995 Topps Series 2 (20 cards; 2 Spectra Light)
1996 Topps Series 1 (41 cards; Randy Johnson front)
1996 Topps Series 1 (17 cards)
1996 Topps Series 2 (41 cards)
1996 Topps Series 2 (17 cards)
1997 Topps Series 1 (40 cards; Mike Piazza HL back)
1997 Topps Series 2 (40 cards)
2006 Topps Series 1 & 2 (Roger Clemens front)
2007 Topps (22 cards; Jeter/Abreu front; Albert Pujols back)
2008 Topps (22 cards; Tom Glavine front)
2009 Topps (22 cards) (picture coming; just purchased; not received yet)
Shane
Next is what I call jumbo packs (two pouches).
1987 Topps (100 cards; 1 glossy; Mark McGwire front)
1988 Topps (90 cards; 1 glossy; Tony Gwynn front; Mark McGwire glossy front)
1989 Topps (100 cards; 1 glossy; Don Mattingly front)
1990 Topps (106 cards; 2 glossy; Ken Griffey, Jr back)
1991 Topps (100 cards; Chipper Jones front)
1992 Topps (90 cards)
1993 Topps Series 1 (74 cards; 6 gold)
1993 Topps Series 2 (74 cards; 6 gold)
1994 Topps Series 1 (56 cards; 5 gold; Lee Smith front; Ryne Sandberg back)
1994 Topps Series 2 (56 cards; 5 gold)
1995 Topps Series 1 (36 cards; 3 Spectra Light; Jim Edmonds front)
1995 Topps Series 2 (33 cards; 3 Spectra Light)
Shane
Rack Packs
I am having a difficult time finding a 1995 Topps Series 2 rack pack. I can't even confirm is one exists. Any help on the existence or finding one would be appreciated.
1981 Topps (Nolan Ryan front middle; BBCE sealed)
1982 Topps (Cal Ripken front right; BBCE sealed)
1983 Topps (Tony Gwynn RC front middle; BBCE sealed)
1984 Topps (Don Mattingly RC front middle; BBCE sealed)
1985 Topps (Mark McGwire RC front middle; BBCE sealed)
1986 Topps (Don Mattingly front middle)
1987 Topps (Mark McGwire front right; Ripken glossy front left; Mattingly AS back)
1988 Topps (Mark McGwire front middle)
1989 Topps (Mark McGwire front middle)
1990 Topps (Nolan Ryan HL front left)
1991 Topps (Ken Griffey, Jr front middle)
1992 Topps (John Smoltz front left; Sammy Sosa front right; Jim Thome back)
1993 Topps Series 1 (3 gold)
1993 Topps Series 2 (3 gold)
1994 Topps Series 1 (3 gold; Mark McGwire back)
1994 Topps Series 2 (3 gold; Hank Aaron front right)
1995 Topps Series 1 (2 Spectra Light; Barry Bonds LL)
1995 Topps Series 2 (don't have and can't confirm existence)
2006 Topps Series (1) (Chipper Jones Braves Team front right; Albert Pujols back)
2006 Topps Series 2 (Ken Griffey, Jr front middle)
2007 Topps Series 1 (Mickey Mantle front middle; Roy Halladay insert front left)
2007 Topps Series 2 (Alex Rodriguez front middle)
Shane
K-Mart blister packs.
1989 Topps (100 cards; 1 batting leaders; Wade Boggs BL front middle; Tony Gwynn front right)
1990 Topps (100 cards; 1 batting leaders; Ken Griffey, Jr front right)
Shane
Please click on pictures above to see larger picture.
Shane
Nice collection. Thanks for sharing.
I found it interesting to see an authenticated 1984 rack pack with Mattingly showing in the center cell. Personally, I can't say that I've ever had him show up anywhere but in the far right cell. If I would have seen this as a random loose pack, without authentication, being sold on eBay, I would have just kept scrolling.
Nice stuff man! I'll post up some pics of mine here in a bit....
83, 84, and 85 baseball and especially football are not subject to the same strict collation patterns as previous Topps sets and future top sets. While the Mattingly appears on the far right panel probably 95% of the time for 1984 topps racks, it does sometimes appear on the center panel. Big cards from 1984 Topps football are totally unpredictable and can appear on any panel. I added a picture below. Notice how on the 1984 football rack, the Elway card is on two separate back panels. You can learn more about this at collecktion.com
Just got a message from Joe @AlanAllen and he is sending me a 1995 Topps Series 2 Rack Pack. Very much appreciated, Joe!
Shane
Way to go Joe!
Topps really just gave up in the wrapper department throughout the 80s! I have saved empty wrappers since 1978 mostly, but the only sealed packs (99% at least) I have in my collection feature Garvey cards on top. I have a hard time not opening them otherwise.
One of my favorites. 72 Series 1/2 rack with Mays on back and Martin flipping the bird on top.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I have actually got wax wrappers from 1991 down to 1962 to go with all of my complete sets. I need to post those.
Shane
my days of collecting unopened are largely a thing of the past, but there are remnants
i still love me some racks with the original price sticker affixed
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
Packs are made to be opened. How can you enjoy an unopened pack of cards?
I like how those racks had price stickers just to save 10-cents off the cover price. I wonder if it was worth having to buy the stickers and paying someone to stick them.
Starting lineups were made to be opened and played with. Stamps are made to be licked and sent through the mail. 1986 Fleer Sticker Michael Jordan sticker cards were made to be peeled and stuck to something. 1968 Topps Action All Star stickers were also made to be peeled and stuck in something. 1968 Topps Punchouts were made to be torn apart at the perforations and poked out for a game. 1964 Topps Tatoos were made to be moistened and transferred to a kids arm.
I enjoy unopened packs for the very reason you stated that they can't be enjoyed. Because they were intended to be opened that makes them more scarce than just the opened cards. It's not like the only thing I collect is unopened packs. That wouldn't make much sense. But as an addendum to my collection I really enjoy seeing a nice rack pack with a star showing on the front or a nice run of basic Topps wax packs.
Shane
Have you seen my site, collecktion.com? If you like unopened rack packs with stars showing, you'll love this.
No, I have not. I will check it out!
Shane
Wow! Those are some amazing packs, my friend!
Shane
For unopened collectors, the cards in their original packaging are more appealing than opening the pack. As exciting as that may be, with unopened prices continuing to soar, it is an exercise in foolishness to expect any kind of return, financially.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.