1985 Topps Football...

downgoesfrazier · December 14, 2003 1:58PM

Is awesome! I'm just starting the building of complete sets 1977-mid 80's and really dig these 85 football. I can't say that my experience with this wax box was all that great, but the dozen set-worthy cards I pulled were awesome looking! Ozzie Newsome Rocks!!! I only had one box and I've actually had the thing since HIGH-SCHOOL! It has moved with me half a dozen times and I always think "someday, I'll crack this open"...someday was tonight. I'm still in the middle of a massive '82 football vending spree (a handful of boxes from four cases) and I needed a break from that card design. WOW did I get it! I think I'm going to get pretty serious pretty quick on this set. I need a diversion from '77's while redsoxjeff puts himself in the poorhouse. Anybody out there with any tips for the beginner on this one? Your input would be most appreciated as I don't know what the heck I'm doing as far as product goes. Were there factory sets, racks, grocery paks? Who should I contact with expertise, etc. Thanks!

dgf

purelyPSA · December 14, 2003 2:16PM

That's easy. Racks are the best for finding Mint 9s because the black chips so easily, and drop Carlos Aponte a line if you need insight, because he's the man there.

achtey · December 14, 2003 5:30PM

I also love this set. It's one of the sets that I grew up with and I really enjoy the black borders. At one point I had 3 moon rookies which were cool looking to me. Congrats on your box break and I wish you luck with your pulls.

Josh

Wayne8348 · December 14, 2003 10:37PM

dgf.

I've been working on that set for a few months now. Here is the results of my last submission which was a wax box I bought in Chicago.

85 topps results

Use 4133780 and 47712 zip code.

I was disappointed in the number of 8's but at least the Moon came back a 9. I have a lot of duplicates in 8's and a few in 9's if you're interested.

Wayne

carkim · December 15, 2003 4:55AM

dfg,

The 1985 football is a wonderful black boarder set and the horizontal cards look amazing. If you are looking for the best way to build this set, I would suggest staying away from wax packs. My experience has been that wax pack cards were a touch O/C and had more corner dings, wax stains, and bends then rack packs. However, for bests results try vending boxes (I got mine from Mark Murphy and the box was a beauty). If I remember correctly I pulled only 20 O/C cards from the box. As usual the ends of the vending box had damage cards but not as much as early 70’s vending boxes.

Metal Mike is also a good resource for this set.

Good Luck,

Carlos

theBobs · December 15, 2003 5:19AM

Wayne,

Thanks for sharing your submission results. Those cards are amazing in high grade. I am glad you decided to finally go after this set.

NHLfightguy · December 15, 2003 7:42AM

Dgf, I've busted some of this product and really like this year. I had my best luck in getting 9 type material in the couple of grocery packs I opened. I haven't sent any in for grading as of yet though, but do own a few 9's from ebay. I was warned not to buy them, but overall the cards were nicer from them than wax or cello. I do have that year on my 2004 registry get started set. I can't imagine pulling a 10 from this stuff, it's hard to believe there are over 70 + in 10 holders, a recent explosion bosted this #......................

helionaut · December 15, 2003 8:23AM

1985 would be the year I pick if I was going to do modern football. You don't have any RCs quite the scale of Rice, Marino or Elway, but you do get the still-underrated Warren Moon, and it's by far my favorite design of the decade. When they are nice they are VERY nice. I acquired a couple 9s in trying to decide if I wanted to do it, and I'm keeping them. I also bought a couple cello packs, but they turned out to be not as nice. I don't know how lenient the graders might be, but every card had a touched corner, or flaky edge, or some print flaw that was noticeable at first glance, so that pretty much rules them out as 9s, and that's the only way I'd want to go. Very small sample, I know, but unopened stuff is, as usual, hit and miss.

Noname · December 15, 2003 9:39AM

That set and the 1986 set are the best looking football sets of the 1980's. It's a shame that Topps did not do better with the other sets.

jackstraw · December 15, 2003 9:53AM

i like the rack red's and have a beautiful dickerson. i would be interested in a regular dickerson or an 84 blue dickerson? been a long time since i have seen one. come on frazier go buy a rack case and hook me up and why your at it buy a wax case of 85 fleer football. moon rookie W/ a rare appearance of earl campbell and a great looking marino.

downgoesfrazier · December 15, 2003 11:24AM

Guys,
Thanks a lot for your input. I'm glad I'm not alone in diggin' these things. I can't imagine a better looking modern football set. The colors are blazing! Carlos, I'm going to take your advice and try a few different vendors from a few different sources and see if I find the bomb. As I said, the wax box wasn't real strong (likely 30-40 PSA 9's) but only about a dozen set-worthy cards. I love the fact that you can post on virtually any card-related topic and get expert feedback within a day. I'll be assembling this set in high-grade and keep it as raw as possible. I won't have any graded, but I'll bid if a card I need comes in a holder...thanks again guys!

dgf

Wayne8348 · December 15, 2003 12:32PM

dgf,

The wax box I broke was in excellent condition, the corners were not damaged in the least, and very few cards were oc. I only got 9 psa 9's out of the box. I would recommend www.cheapwax4u.com. He seals every box with shrinkwrap so that the packs don't move around and damage the cards inside. Everyone says he is very trustworthy.

Wayne

downgoesfrazier · December 15, 2003 1:52PM

Hey Guys,

Just thought I'd chime in again. As I eluded to, I'm getting into the '85's so I've been surfing around tonight. Steve Hart (Baseball Card Exchange), the hobby's finest--bar none--has a MINT VENDING case of 1985 Topps Football!!! Vending is always a sensitive source for cards as you really need to trust who you purchase them from. These are going to be as fresh as they get and you can actually be 100% certain they are UNSEARCHED!!! Their web-site is baseballcardexchange.com if anyone is interested. I'll grab a couple of boxes and I urge you guys to do the same. I'd buy more but my '77 habit...
Anyway, I always kill when I buy case-fresh vending from these guys. Let's get on 'em and compare stories in a couple of weeks...

dgf

downgoesfrazier · December 16, 2003 1:04AM

Correct Website Address...

bbcexchange.com

Sorry guys, brain cramp!

dgf

Lothar52 · December 16, 2003 3:08AM

hey dgf,

i bought about 5 cello boxes of 85 topps bout 4 years ago for 100 a box. I opened one and got what is now a SGC 96 marino card!!! I have 4 boxes left and broke there seal to see if i could find any cellos with a marino, moon, or elway on the front...i found one with a nice moon on the front!!!! i still have the 4 cello boxes, and soon will be busting them open to put together the set. I started collecting football in 1986 and put that set and 2 1987s together before i started growing out of collecting. as of right now i have a psa 9 84 marino, a sgc 96 85 marino, a sgc 96 86 marino and a psa 9 87 marino.

at any rate....my point for posting is dont forget CELLO BOXES!!!! i bought my 5 celo boxes off JJJ4825 for 100 a shot. I had no interest in building the set back in 99....just wanted to pull a nice marino and elway ( the elway i got is graded an 8). When i go home for christmas break from school im going to check out the rest of the 85s from that first box...i may have a set as we speak from one cello box...i do remember pulling all the major cards at least once...with 2 8 montana's as well.

loth

Lothar52 · December 18, 2003 11:26AM

punt!!

jackstraw · December 18, 2003 12:01PM

lothar,
i would be interested in any mint graded(PSA,SGC) or raw dickersons(RB,LL,TC,REG) and slater?

BobS · December 18, 2003 9:17PM

Trivia time - without looking at a Beckett, how is "Dolphins" spelled on one of the Marino cards?

Edited to add: it's the record breaker card.

jackstraw · December 19, 2003 11:52AM

Dophins.
what do i win?

Lothar52 · December 28, 2003 11:45AM

hi guys..i just went home and looked at the rest of the cards from my cello box.....appartenly i was very luckily...i dont see very many more MINT 85 topps football cards from that box. i did get 310 of 396 cards for the set from one cello box for those interested..anybody got any commons i can use to fill the rest of the set???

ryan

Down Goes Frazier...did u open a cello or wax pack box????

BobS · December 28, 2003 9:21PM

Ryan -

Send me a wantlist to finish off your set. I have a bunch left over from when I opened them and built a set or two in '85. Also have some nice ones from some recently opened racks.

robasmith@mail.com

NHLfightguy · June 21, 2004 12:32PM

Anybody else have any recent luck busting this stuff. I broke about 10 packs, few grocery rack packs and couple cello. I didn't get jack as far as worth grading. DGF if you got between 30-40 9 material out of one box, count yourself one lucky sob. This is a great set and has really picked up interest. I even registered a set. At one time there were only a handful of sets in the registry, now at 15 and growing. What happened to Metal Mike he was at one time the godfather in 85 topps football now he's nowhere to be seen????

Lothar52 · June 21, 2004 2:18PM

I got 4 unopened cello boxes still....no reason to open if i can build the rest of the set from single card pickups...ill prolly keep the cellos unopened for another 20 years (2005 they are 20 yrs old..unbelieveable)

loth

at the time registery was not up ....best purchase i ever made i think

sixdart · June 21, 2004 3:37PM

Break them open and submit ... the buyers are waiting!

metalmike20 · June 21, 2004 10:03PM

The "godfather" of 85 football, I'm not sure about that one....

I've been away for almost 4 months due to my job and was blown away on how many 85 sets have popped up!!! All I can say is 85's are very tough!!! After I sold off my set last year I've still been sending in a few handfuls here and there and it's been a struggle to find high grade's. 30-40 psa-9's out of one box is definately a gift, nice job

FIGHTGUY,

I would tend to shy away from the grocery cellos, those were packaged much tighter than regular cellos and most of the cards will have corner wear. I've always done really well with vending (if you can find it) and regular cello packs. I've had a couple of factory sets that the cards just blew me away, they looked like they were just made yesterday! But those are almost non-existent anymore.

Just a quick note, I've opened around 8 cello boxes, 6 vending, 3 factory sets, and 4 wax boxes and they have only yielded around 400 9's, 18 10's and a bunch of 8's!!!

Sixdart,
Nice job on your set, I see it's coming along quite nicely!!

And here is my shameless plug, I'll have around 30-40 85 psa-9's up on ebay in a week or two!

Mike

sixdart · June 22, 2004 12:09AM

Mike,

Can you e-mail or PM me a list?

Thanks,

Marcus

NHLfightguy · June 22, 2004 9:18AM

Anybody know if C Allen has his set registered. I got to believe the rider collection may sneak up on MOSH by the end of the year. If CA registers his set , it might be 3 horse race and down the strech they come.......With MOSH the early leader fadin fast and up comes the rider collection to try to beat him on the outside, but out of nowhere CA nips them both at the wire,..

metalmike20 · June 22, 2004 10:05AM

Chris's set has yet to be put on the registry, as far as I know. He has put together a very nice set so far, even a few 10's in there. It's going to be fun to watch this set over the next year, good luck to all!!

Mike

sixdart · June 22, 2004 1:09PM

From what I can tell, Chris C Allen has been assembling this set within the last year? I've done well (lucky) in my first 4 months at 48% complete. However, this is only because the PSA 9 and 10 population has doubled in that same span. The break up of Wayne's set and Andrew's set made some tough cards available.

Museum of Sports History is starting to get serious on this set. They've placed some formidable bids on low population PSA 9s.

NHLfightguy,

How serious are you on starting this set? I see that you have listed a set. Do you know Chris C Allen?

Thanks,

Marcus

GoSoxBoSox · June 22, 2004 9:21PM

edited to kill

dude · June 23, 2004 3:21AM

I love this set too. I have a dozen PSA 9 star cards in my personal collection.

If anyone is interested, I have some cards for sale on eBay.

sixdart · June 23, 2004 3:51AM

Dan,

Do you have the Walter Payton PSA 9?

Bkritz · June 23, 2004 4:00AM

Anyone that needs a nice NM-MT or better complete set (minus Marino and Marino/Montana leader) of 85 Topps, just email me. I have 100 of them. I pulled and submitted some to psa but there are more 9s in the sets for sure. Delivered, sets (without these two cards) would be $35. Just email me at briankritz@aol.com

First come, first serve. I just cannot deal with this volume. You should be satisfied.

Paypal, money orders and checks are great.

I sell on ebay as bkritz and am a power seller.

AlanAllen · June 23, 2004 6:16AM

Brian is a top-notch dealer, and that sounds like a good price. Probably not a bad idea for you guys collecting the set.

Joe

dude · June 23, 2004 6:22AM

sixdart -- Sorry. I don't have one for my collection nor an extra for sale.

sixdart · June 23, 2004 7:24AM

Be careful of Brian ... he'll hook you! He's like a card (drug) dealer.

Gives you a small sample/taste at first.

NHLfightguy · June 23, 2004 9:45AM

sixdart.....I'm just slowly picking away at the set. I got few more cards to add here soon. Got a couple boxes in route, hope to find a few to submit...i don't chris, i just see him bidding on 85's all the time...I see dsl has 10 common out right now..

1985 Topps Football...

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