Searched Rak Packs and Collation
jraytay
Posts: 142 ✭✭✭
In 1985 I worked weekends at a card shop for fun. I just enjoyed the atmosphere and also enjoyed the customers. The owner paid me in store stock. Back then RakPaks were loosely packaged and could easily be searched by sliding cards slightly to reveal the next card. This is a pak that I received for compensation. Listed for sale for $8 at that time so I picked it out as some pay. When customers showed me how raks could be searched I was pleasantly surprised that it also included a 2nd Puckett. When this was revealed to the owner he would not allow customers to pick out their own Raks. Pack collation could be pretty bad back then. The sequencing of cards was predictable based on what cards were showing on top. Example: If an 85 Topps rak had a Lee Mazzilli showing on top it was 100% guaranteed that the rak included a Mattingly. No need to search. Also learned this from customers. Never got too much into it but found it interesting. The evolvement of how raks were packaged in later years changed the game. Many of the veteran members here know about this but thought to share to some who maybe did not.
Comments
I knew the sequence to find Gregg Jeffries* (Topps 1989) because he was headed to greatness .... hehehe
(I have about 75 cards and at least 50 unopened racks with him.)
I still recall the David Robinson and Michael Jordon sequences in 90 Fleer . The again I think everyone on these boards knows those...?
One caveat they were not 100% accurate, more like around 70-75%, as if the pack contained All-Star, the sequence would shift to another sequence after that.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
We had a non card shop seller who had a business where he sold cards as well. Searched, then sold all his 85 Topps Rak Paks after finding the McGwire's,Puckett's,Clemens.
that is pretty slimy. I bet he didnt stay in business too long once people became wise to his methods
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
He sold the boxes of Raks over the net and to shops out of his area. He avoided local customers. I never gave him any business.
In an alternate universe he could've been Upper Deck's card #1!
D's: 54S,53P,50P,49S,45D+S,44S,43D,41S,40D+S,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 37,38,47,151,193,241,435,570,610,654,655 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
As a lifelong Mets fan, they ran him hard -- and sadly, ran him our of town (he once batted .340+ for STL !).
This is/was a great article (2020) about it all -- wrong place/wrong time:
https://nypost.com/2020/05/23/gregg-jefferies-complicated-mets-failure-looks-different-now/
Jeffries was touted pretty high on the list of Mets prospects. Same as was Dave Magadan. Perfect examples of how not to go overboard in investments for rookie phenom hype.
I seem to recall Mackey Sasser was promoted back then as well
Gen K (more like gen failure for 2/3) Isringhousen, Pulsipher, Wilson - yea the former did have a long career and some solid years as reliever with STL but I can't image anyone being glad they "invested" in any of his cards.
Then you have Álex Escobar ....
never "invest" in any NY Mets Rookie
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
And let's not forget Alex Ochoa and Lastings Milledge
If you play Mets investment rookies on percentages you are absolutely correct. Only exceptions are these 2.
I remember Mackey Sasser at times had what I can only imagine was some sort of nervous tic where he would get stuck pounding the ball back into his mitt before throwing the ball back to the pitcher and of course this was exploited.
I also remember knowing the 1989 Topps Gregg Jeffries rack pack sequence. I think Jay Buhner - another highly touted prospect - was also in that sequence.
I like to occasionally buy/rip some Archives every so often just for the nostalgia of it all and pulled an autograph Magadan. That certainly brought back the ‘what-if’ memories of those times and all the can’t-miss prospects of that era. It’s still floating around here somewhere.
More like Fleetings Milledge
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)