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1980 Topps Pepsi-Cola All-Stars

galaxy27galaxy27 Posts: 7,842 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited September 2, 2021 6:15PM in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

apologies in advance for the tl;dr nature of this post, but there's a lot to discuss before i actually get to the cardboard

the backstory (as i know it) for those unfamiliar:

easily one of the most elusive test issues around. back in 1980, Topps and Mike Schechter Associates produced three fully-printed (front and back) prototype sheets for a promotional pitch to Pepsi. no deal was consummated, and two of the three sheets were returned to Topps. the other was carved up, and slowly but surely the individual cards started slithering their way into the open market. operative word being "slowly" -- it took 25 years for these cards to be offloaded en masse. a quarter century, yo. 80T baseball has been my jam since i was 8-years-old, but these cards were nothing more than urban legend because i literally never saw one for the longest time. to date, no more than 5 SGC graded copies per player. many with only 4. and those figures are congruous with the one-sheet theory: 132 cards per sheet/22 cards in the set = 6 raw specimens to potentially be graded. these are 1980 Topps cards on anabolic steroids.

so when it was brought to my attention that the Summer REA was offering up all 22 individually, i started wobbling around like Fred Sanford with fake chest pains talking to anyone -- dead or alive -- who would listen to me. but before i get to the cards i was able to procure, the predominant reason why i created a safe-haven 80T Pepsi thread is for any of my brothers from another mother who might possess these cards. based on what i found in the archives, there are at least two gents who actively roam around these parts and have (or used to have) some of these specimens in their collections. i'm not going to create any pressure by including names, but just know that mi thread es su thread. please, by all means, post the goods and feed my fascination if you so desire. and that includes proof cards that came from the T-vault.

next, i'd be remiss if i didn't touch on a couple of side notes:

REA -- had never dealt with them before in my life. i didn't even have a freaking account until 24 hours prior to the auction being launched. yet.........wait for it.........wait for it..........they shipped my cards prior to depositing my check. who does that? moreover, i literally had these cards in my hands and the funds still had yet to clear my account. but before you think to yourself, well, galaxy27 must be somebody. trust me, i could not be more nobody if i tried...........and my girlfriend will gladly vouch for that. :D but i digress. all of the stories i've read about REA going about their business differently could not be more accurate. not quite sure i would go to those lengths to differentiate myself from the competition, but you catch my drift: very solid outfit.

SGC holders -- i honestly have never given this company a second thought. have never subbed to them, and prior to this week had never even held one of their slabs in my hand. my completely inexperienced opinion about their new holders was always as follows: dark, drab and nondescript. my opinion after the 5 cards below arrived: where have you been all my life? if you have never feasted your eyes on one in person, you should. not only does the color scheme make cards pop like firecrackers, but they look extremely professional in the palm of your hand. i am still blown away.

now for my REA haul, and why:

George Foster -- every time i eviscerated an 80T pack as a punk kid, i was always on the lookout for the "tough-looking guy who plays for the Reds."

Garry Templeton -- highest graded out of 5. i actually had my old man in mind, seeing as he's an STL lifer. i may play the role of the good son and give it to him, but when he finds out that it's Garry Templeton and not Ozzie Smith he may not want it. :D

Paul Molitor -- the cut was a little tight, hence the Auth designation. couldn't have cared less. not only did the eye appeal check the box, but these are quintessential beggars-can't-be-choosers cards.

Robin Yount -- the only thing better than one Brew Crew famer is two. again, the visceral, nanosecond appeal. it exceeded that of the Winfield 9 i was contemplating in its stead.

J.R. Richard -- highest graded out of 4. i was prepared to step inside an octagon for this baseball card........for a very conspicuous reason.

finally, at long last, the cards. if you made it this far, i'll come up with a way to reimburse you for the 5 minutes of your life that you'll never get back. (i included the back of the J.R. so you can see what they look like.)

here's hoping everyone has a great weekend. cheers homies!






you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet

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