most desirable OPC baseball card

craig44

with the recent thread on OPC baseball, I got to thinking. Which is the single most desirable OPC card? here are just a few options, there are, of course, many more

60's Mantles
60's Clemente
65 morgan
68 Bryan
70 munson
72 fisk
73 schmidt
75 brett
75 young
83 Gwynn
87 Bonds

as for me, I will take the 68 Ryan rookie.

emar

Someone else agrees w/you.
Previous sale 10/2020 was $2100

craig44

15K is a solid price for sure!!!

82FootballWaxMemorys

I still do not get why 70's O-Pee-Chee are valued less than Topps and 80's are equal or higher?

Some of the 60's and 70 O-Pee-Chee populations in PSA9 or higher are very very tiny and 80's there much higher. Logic would dictate the 80's cards being less desired but not the case.

Decently centered, decently cut 1970's O-Pee-Chee compared to Topps are truly scarce. Regardless what the current hobby state is, I'll pick them up at current going rate compared to Topps and see what happens.

For me the 1973 Willie Mays is my personal O-Pee-Chee key, 1979 Munson is second.

emar

10 years ago, I reluctantly bought Murray OPC for about $200. Topps was around $300.
Most recent OPC 9 sold for $2k.
I think we'll continue to see a trend to the more rare variations.

jayhawke

I would include Venezuela cards in the rare variations that really haven’t participated in this card boom.

1951WheatiesPremium

Kepper19

@1951WheatiesPremium said:

oh wow -- I didn't know the backs of the 71's were different than their Topps counterparts

blurryface

olb31

AN FYI, the most difficult "out of a pack" card of MIckey Mantle to obtain in the history of Mickey Mantles are the two OPC cards from 1966 and 1967, with 1967 being the most difficult. (i am not counting the venezuelan cards).

1966 opc 216 have been graded. 3 PSA 9's and no 10's (venezuela 87 graded, one 7 and 4 6's.
1967 opc 138 have been graded. 18 8's no 9's no 10's) (Venezuela 48 graded, one 7 one 6.

1966 topps 10,000 have been graded by psa
1967 topps 8,500 have been graded by PSA

1966CUDA

"oh wow -- I didn't know the backs of the 71's were different than their Topps counterparts"

I think the 1971 backs are WAY better than the Topps!!

balco758

Had to share my fav OPC.

bobsbbcards

80sOPC

Those 75 OPC's are ridiculous.

craig44

they really are. the colors are so vibrant compared to the regular topps

daltex

I'm partial to the 1974 Aaron retrospectives myself, but I haven't been able to pick up nice copies.

detroitfan2

Maybe not the most valuable OPC, but I was always fascinated by this card when I was in my collecting prime as a youth (image stolen from ebay):

stevegarveyfan

I don't think this is at the top of the heap, but this is one that I sold in May of 2020, and I think it's gorgeous.

Stone193

Hiya David

How you been? Your dad?

The favorite of my collection?

74OPC Winfield RC

jay0791

Just the fact that OPC are often not in nice condition and much scarcer make the very collectible.
Love those Ryan's. I would say those 2 and the Munson's (71 & 70) would be my favorites.
I just love 1971's and am trying to do reasonably priced Yankees.
I have a binder full of raw Yankees from 1972 to 1980.
The backs are all different from Topps.
I also agree that the Venezuelan cards are even more collectible.

OPCBaseballObsessed

What a great question. When I started buying these, I started selecting personal favorites to accumulate with an eye to "upgrading" each time, and start selling off the lower graded examples.

Each of these are something special whether difficult to find in NM condition or things affecting the super short supply/growing demand: 1965 Rose, 1965 Mantle WS, 1966 Koufax, 1966 Palmer, 1969 Bench, 1970 R. Jackson, 1971 Rusty Staub high no, 1971 Munson, 1972 Clemente WS, 1973 Clemente, 1973 ATG HR Ldrs, 1974 Aaron, 1974 Mays WS, 1975 Rose, 1975 Yaz, 1976 WS Reds Win, 1976 Aaron #660.

Here are photos of a few of these. Parts of a large vintage OPC collection will be included in the Heritage Auctions starting tomm through the end of May.

I would highly, highly recommend serious post 1960 collectors to buy whatever star cards you can find, raw, graded or otherwise. There is going to be some serious movement on these once the big buyers discover the same-year print runs were 2-3% of corresponding topps issues, with quality control issues, and the graded population of the early and "full set" OPC is right at 2% of Topps.

I have a lot of information on the 1965-1980 issues so feel free to pop me a question. Some of the pictured cards will be sold in those Heritage Auctions.

1951WheatiesPremium

These OPC threads have been educational for me; I have followed the threads a while now and I felt like these were both pretty nice examples…

redlegs

My favorite. Centered and a Pop 1.

brad31

Do not own one but would love to someday. 1937 O-Pee-Chee Bob Feller Rookie.

jimq

Mine certainly isn't the most valuable or most desirable, but it's most desirable to me. My favorite baseball memories as a 10 year old Pirates fan was Clemente in the 1971 series. It's a POP 3 , none better, but it's not really worth anything. (Somebody here once offered me $25) It's nothing like the nice cards above, but it's mine and I like it!

Goldenage

It’s not really even close.
1973 OPC #1.
Check the POP report.
Many would pay through the nose for the best one. Many want it.

DotStore

I only have a few graded OPC cards. This is one of my favorites

WalkinDude

Pop 10

Browns1981

@jimq said:
Mine certainly isn't the most valuable or most desirable, but it's most desirable to me. My favorite baseball memories as a 10 year old Pirates fan was Clemente in the 1971 series. It's a POP 3 , none better, but it's not really worth anything. (Somebody here once offered me $25) It's nothing like the nice cards above, but it's mine and I like it!

Would you take $26?

jimq

I hate to out this one in case anybody was watching, I know how valuable this one is but I figured somebody here could really use this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275253277519?hash=item40165fb34f:g:FrEAAOSwrVNh~Z7p

1972 OPC Hank Aaron in action #300 PSA 7+ nm centered on front

OPCBaseballObsessed

Jimq I have to disagree with you on the Clemente WS card. His regular card from that year is blah and his action card from that season is not near the quality photo of that one. I have 3-4 of that very card and yours is a beaut, the combination of centering and less edge softness is a very rare combination on an already difficult card. I'd love to have it. I'd pay 200.00 if you ever decide to sell.

flcardtrader

@jimq said:
I hate to out this one in case anybody was watching, I know how valuable this one is but I figured somebody here could really use this

1972 OPC Hank Aaron in action #300 PSA 7+ nm centered on front

I absolutely love the well loved crease between Hank and Aaron.

OMG, this one is a NM blazer! (/sarcasm)