Topps George Bush card?

pandrews

Does anybody remember a card that Topps put out (i think 1990?) of George H.W. Bush in his Yale University uniform? How was that card distributed? Anybody got one to sell?

AlanAllen

I've seen them, but I don't know how they were distributed. They have the same design as 1990 Topps baseball, and if memory serves there were only 100-ish made. I remember seeing one at the 1998 National for $1000.

Joe

pandrews

<< <i>I've seen them, but I don't know how they were distributed. They have the same design as 1990 Topps baseball, and if memory serves there were only 100-ish made. I remember seeing one at the 1998 National for $1000.

Joe >>



*ouch*.. i'm not willing to pay a $grand, but I still want one.. i see that there is a PSA 8 in the pop report..

edited to say - PS: Thanks for the info!

purelyPSA

I thought they were made specifically for Bush, kind of like the '73 Topps Broadcaster card they made for Joe Garagiola.

AlanAllen

That sounds right Steve. I remember hearing that before.

Joe

RedHeart54

I think I read about this in People magazine (of all places). Topps apparently made 100 of the cards specifically for George Bush in 1990. A dealer found one of the cards in a pack. After Topps found out, I think they tried to sue him for possession of stolen property. If that wasn't enough, another guy tried to sue the dealer because the dealer supposedly offered to sell him the card for 15 cents. I don't know what happened in the end but I'm betting the PSA 8 in the pop report is the same card.

bobsbbcards

Sorry the card is not for sale, but I just wanted to post pictures of the front and back so people would know what the card looks like. I have only seen one copy for sale ever. Good luck!

Stone193

Nice card Bob.
Champs?
Mike

bobsbbcards

Yep, Champs. I prefer them for all my grading needs.

Actually, I bought this on eBay back in 2000 (or so). Couldn't afford to be picky and wait for George in a PSA or SGC slab. A quick check through google shows them to still be in existence (Link). At the time I bought it, they were not necessarily a "red flag" company.

Bob

RedRomad275

Cool card....odd grading company...but then again there popping up everywhere now

pandrews

Cool card! Thanks for sharing the picture with us.. ARGHH.. even though i'll probably never own one, I can still wish!

AlanAllen

Bob,
Do you mind sharing with us what you paid for the card?

Joe

pandrews

and how you obtained it??

srs1a

Champs was a small outfit out of Rhode Island, I believe. They showed up pretty early...not long after SGC, if my memory serves me correctly. They did on-site grading at a local shop a number of years ago, and, as far as I could tell, were legit (inspected carefully for alterations), but we about a full grade easier than PSA or SGC. I believe that they have now disappeared from the face of the earth -- from time to time, you do see some of their cards on eBAY...and I always take a look at them. I think that there may be some good deals inside of their plastic.

bobsbbcards

The card cost me $75 on eBay about 4 years ago (the only way I can remember when I bought it is to place it in context of other things that I bought, and I know it was about a year before 2001 Topps Heritage). Card was listed in Beckett (not Standard Catalog) at the time of purchase, but there was still no price listed (lack of sales data). If I remember correctly, there were only two or three bidders.

AlanAllen

Nice pickup Bob, that was a steal. It probably would have gone for much more raw, ironically.

Joe

pandrews

<< <i>The card cost me $75 on eBay about 4 years ago (the only way I can remember when I bought it is to place it in context of other things that I bought, and I know it was about a year before 2001 Topps Heritage). Card was listed in Beckett (not Standard Catalog) at the time of purchase, but there was still no price listed (lack of sales data). If I remember correctly, there were only two or three bidders. >>



arrgghh!! if you ever want some profit, let me know!

bishop

Slightly damaged one just sold on e-bay for $ 2000. Item description purported to recite the distribution "hsitory" of these cards

zef204

There was another Bush set produced called "Bush League." There were 20-30 cards in thhe set and they were cartoon like. Anyone have any info on these?

RedHeart54

1990 George Bush

This card looks like it's been through a WAR!

tedh111

I have a freind who is not a collector that has two of them.. Her dad was an elevator operator for toppsfrom the 80's to the 90's. Shes also has some other cool stuff such as 70's and 80's unopened packs... the original pictures that were used to make cards and some other cool stuff.... She is keeping it all for a rainy day.

bobsbbcards

I'm pretty sure that the high bidder for the beat-to-heck Bush card is Keith Olbermann (merkle923). His initial bid was around $1,000 but he must have decided he REALLY wanted the card and jacked it up to at least $2K to hit the reserve. My opinion (FWIW) is that we won't see this card selling for that much quite a while.

If I were your friend, I'd contact the underbidder today and try for a private deal. With the underbidder seemingly willing to pay above $1,000, her rainy day might have just arrived.

Bob

zef204

I would bet that is Olbermann or some other celebrity.

705 feedbacks recieved
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MODEL EBAYER!

doncherry

<< <i>I would bet that is Olbermann or some other celebrity.

705 feedbacks recieved
3 left for others.

MODEL EBAYER! >>



Unusual buy by olbermann