1978 Topps: rank insanity
SOM
Posts: 1,555 ✭✭✭
0
SOM
Posts: 1,555 ✭✭✭
SOM
Posts: 1,555 ✭✭✭
Comments
Guess this isn't the time to focus on that '78 Topps set in PSA 9 that I was contemplating!
Nice link there "unwise" -- I got it!
Dal
Though it seems you can get most commons in PSA 9 for $10 or less on ebay quite a bit. None usually ever exceed $20. Even the Nolan Ryan in PSA 9 is only $400.
Current Sets in Progress:
1956 Topps Master Set PSA 6 or better
1978 Topps PSA 9 or 10
1981 Donruss Golf PSA 9 or 10
1989 Upper Deck PSA 9 or 10
Nolan Ryan Master Set
Pete Rose Master Set
You can usually pick up just about any PSA 9 common card in this set for $10 or less, sometimes way less. Even the stars are affordable, and I have paid less than $40 for PSA 10's. I really have no idea why some people bid like they do - but, where are they when I'm selling PSA 9 commons?
I have been outbid countless times by muskycaptain; I thought he was aggressive when he'd beat me out on a card I bid, say, $30 on. But this? Over $100 for a pop-4 common? He must have money to burn!
Or else, he never suspected he had this kind of "big bucks" of competition. Maybe he was shocked that the hammer price hit so high.
That'll teach him...now maybe I can pick up the cards I need for my 1978 set without him interfering!
It cracks me up how easy you guys think this crap is, yet I think I'm the only one who's finished a set after 1975 primarily through his own submissions. Guy bought his entire 78 set second-hand already slabbed--most of his tough cards came via Frank Smith's dupe pile. I think there was another guy who built 81 Fleer, but you can't compare the cost of product with a 70's topps issue loaded with HOF rookie cards.
Build one from top to bottom and THEN tell me how crazy it is.
dgf
I think slabbing anything after 1980 is weird but hey thats just me.
Loves me some shiny!
It cracks me up how easy you guys think this crap is....
I must be one of those "guys" you are referring to.......but I don't believe anyone said that this "crap" was easy. I think you're taking the above posts a little too personal there.
I believe that the "point" of this thread was how uncommon it was (especially recently) to see a 1978 Topps PSA 9 common go for over $100.
As carew said, to each his own.
DGF - the tone of your post is very inconsistent with how you normally post to these boards. I really enjoy reading your informative posts, especially about the 70's cards....however, this time, I think you took this issue a bit too personal. Have a good cup of coffee and bring back the old DGF!
Let the guy spend the money - that's fine - you just gotta admit, it's unusual for that set, in PSA 9 condition, at this time.
Not trying to begin a flame war, just hope you're doin' OK!
Peace!
Dal
Im somebody who has built a set post 75 entirely from my own submissions and echo your thoughts.I actually submitted a 78 Doyle and sold it about a year ago.I cant remember but it probably went for 100.00+ at the time. Kind of a tough card.Anyways ,I have a 76 set built from my own submissions all PSA 8s with a few 9s. With this set I would sell off the 9s and keep the 8s. Anyways building a set from top to bottom from the 70s is not a walk in the park. I mean it can be done but not with a lot of hard work and hitting the shows and sifting the mud to find the nuggets.It kills me that some people dont realize how challenging it can be.
Some collectors dont have the time to submit their own cards and buy them already slabbed and thats great as well. Its all about having fun.
You have an incredible eye for cards and know the game all to well but remember Castaldi and yourself arent the only ones out there building 70s sets card by card.
Was your car really keyed because of a Bush sticker?
Many don't have the time or resources to assemble a set. For some, when you factor in time to find a card or product breakdown ... either by attending shows or unopened material purchase ... then submit, pay membership dues, shipping and insurance costs (both ways) and factor in immediate gratification, it's worth it to them. EBAY or auction houses are often the only source for these individuals. So, when a fairly scarce card appears they want to make sure they win.
Other factors that push up prices, besides the population, are the known characteristics of a card. Centering is a key factor for me. I have seen many diamond cut or tilted cards in PSA 9 that I wouldn't own. No matter what the pop I'll pass, but some cards are just tough to find a clean example (i.e. '78 Molitor/Trammell RC). However, some also have a very aggressive agenda.
My current project is the '85 Topps Football set (black bordered issue). Even tough they're modern era, the Walter Payton and John Elway cards from this set are very tough. The Payton PSA 9 (no 10s) is 3 of 101 submitted, and the Elway PSA 9 (no 10s) is 27 of 550 submitted. The last (2) Payton PSA 9s were EBAY buy-it-now wins for $300 - Elway sells between $75 - $150.
I wasn't aware that you had reached a registered100% on a post 1975 set. Congratulations. I am keenly aware that Mike and I are not the only ones building 70's sets. If I inferred that through being a pompous ass, I sincerely apologize.
Dallas,
I really didn't take it too personally. However, there is a general tone of these boards at times that I think is disparaging toward a post 1971 collector. The title of the thread was, I believe, "Insanity". Had it been titled "Wow! Expensive common!", that would have been quite different. There is no coffee necessary, though that "8 O'Clock" whole bean in the red bag is really solid--I digress. The threads title was derisive, plain and simple. The link was scripted "unwise"...a clever play on words, but derisive nonetheless.
I personally have not found the Wise exceptionally tough, but clearly others have. I still truly believe that many do not understand how difficult the last 30% of those 70's issues can be. I built 50's sets over and over for years and found them much easier to manage in terms of pure numbers and the ability to locate them. True, if and when Larry Fritsch breaks those twenty cases he's sitting on, Rick Wise will be a slam-dunk, but do you really want to wait until then. I say, if you have the means and it's a card you want/need, pony up and move on. That doesn't make you a nut job. For the record, "Muskycaptain" DOES seem to be a fairly lazy, opportunistic collector, but to each his own.
Thanks for the kind words in your post as well. I also enjoy reading your stuff. Take care and always keep plenty of CS1's on board...you never know what $100 card is lurking in that pack.
dgf
I see your point about the title - you have much more experience than I on the boards. I have not experienced any post-'70 disparagement yet (I'm sure my times a 'comin).
Thank you for your kind words also! And "keep-on keepin-on" with those '70's posts - lotsa wonderful memories for me from those years.
Pass the "red-bag"......
Dal
"Collect What You Like"
i'm building a 78 set that when it's done(if i even decide to slab all the cards) it will be mostly from my own raw finds and subsequent submissions. i hope to aquire at least 200-300 psa 10's for my set. i'm still WAY to early in the process to spend a hundred bucks on a psa 9. a wise man once told me that patience is the key to building a high quality graded set from the 70's, this is the same wise man that has one of the two most impressive 1970's sets on the entire registry.
50's and 60's high grade commons are a totally differant animal as the raw reserve on those issues is very thin.
as i type i have an order at PSA and guess what? i have a rick wise that is a solid psa 10 candidate and if the GRADER OF LOVE smiles on me and it is slabbed as a 10 , look for it on ebay because i know that for 100 bucks i can add at least 2 or 3 other psa 10's to my set. my last 78 topps purchase was a psa 10 phil garner (that looks like an 11) for 20 bucks! if i spend 2 years trying to track down a 78 wise so be it, thats the fun part!
<< <i>as i type i have an order at PSA and guess what? i have a rick wise that is a solid psa 10 candidate and if the GRADER OF LOVE smiles on me and it is slabbed as a 10 , look for it on ebay because i know that for 100 bucks i can add at least 2 or 3 other psa 10's to my set. my last 78 topps purchase was a psa 10 phil garner (that looks like an 11) for 20 bucks! if i spend 2 years trying to track down a 78 wise so be it, thats the fun part! >>
The weird part is even if your Wise pulls a 10, you will be VERY lucky to get $100 for it.
It was simply a commentary on the incredibly high price paid for a card in a set that we've come to expect might fetch far, far less.
I attacked no one. Even my follow-up remarks about competing with muskycaptain were written in an air of humor and satire. Note the emoticon at the posting's conclusion.
Bottom line: I'm jealous that I don't have that darned card!!!
Take care, all!
Nick
My Auctions
Dave S.
Now collecting:
Topps Heritage
1957 Topps BB Ex+-NM
All Yaz Items 7+
Various Red Sox
Did I leave anything out?
<< <i>Bottom line - you do what you gotta do. >>
I think that's the difference between some of us. Some feel you HAVE to do this (shell out big bucks for low value cards) while others will wait for the inevitable increase of supply and population. There's nothing wrong with either approach but know the former comes at a price. Personally, I damn the registry for creating unreasonable demands (and prices) but that's just my ignorant view.
Groucho Marx
I hear ya! Registry or no registry, however, there are cards in my set that I'll step up huge for.
SOM,
Feel the love man. I didn't mean to get so pissy. I just wanted to make a point that the 70's stuff is awfully tough to find really nice.
It's not that hard to find MINT 9's of...but hard to find really nice. BIG HUG! I will find you a Rick Wise.
dgf
I don't think this is an example of a healthy market, its an anomalous case of two collectors willing to pay $100+ for a low pop card. The next one will likely go a little higher than the third bidders bid, and others after that will plummet in price like a rock as the big spenders will have been satisfied. So when all is said and done a card that once garned $100 due to impatience will only get 10%-15% of that after a couple of interations. You can take it to the bank that 4_sharp and DSL will be looking for more of these to bleed those last few dollars out of the 78 Rick Wise card.
Scott J.
It is tough to find certain 70's cards in Mint 9 condition or better (anyone have a 1979 Pete Rose #650 in 9 for me?), and it probably will always be that way, but only if the number of new collectors coming on board outpaces the amount of raw inventory still out there. But, the point of this thread seemed to be how silly it was to pay over $100 for a PSA 9 1978 common, when the typical going price of such an animal is usually below $10, even for the "low pops". Put another 78 PSA 9 Wise up on Ebay, and see how little it garners. Matter of fact, I bet DSL and the like will do just that.
I have a blazing SGC 96 '79 Rose. Mint all day long with pristine surfaces and perfect print quality and registration. LR is within PSA standards, but not 10 caliber. The remainder of the card is all there. Email me if interested,
dgf
I learned that in Writing 101, too: eliminate the adverbs! Serves me right.
No problem, DGF. I read your stuff all the time, and I've never read anything of yours that I would consider trashing of anybody. You always express yourself professionally and you know what you're talking about. HUG accepted. And sure! I'd love a Wise for my set!
But I will not pay over $107 for him.
If anyone is still interested in doing a PSA 9 set from 1978, I have a decent partial set that I am going to be listing on EBAY or for sale privately, is anyone is interested.
My partial set consists of 231 cards. (35) of which are graded PSA 10 as well.
If anyone would be interested in this, please drop me an email.
rruth@comcast.net
Thanks
Rob Ruth
P.S. I also have a decent size PSA 9, 1975 starter set as well
<< <i> It cracks me up how easy you guys think this crap is, yet I think I'm the only one who's finished a set after 1975 primarily through his own submissions. Guy bought his entire 78 set second-hand already slabbed--most of his tough cards came via Frank Smith's dupe pile. I think there was another guy who built 81 Fleer, but you can't compare the cost of product with a 70's topps issue loaded with HOF rookie cards.
Build one from top to bottom and THEN tell me how crazy it is.
dgf >>
Dgf, it seems your info is off a little. When I decided to make the 78's my set of choice, I was lucky enough to hook up with Frank and he gave me a great start, I got around 150-200 of my 78's from the funky one, and none of the tough ones (other than the brett and carew which i upgraded with my own submissions around 3 or 4 times), got around 250 of them on ebay, around 50 of them from mr. abrams and the other 200+ (including almost all of the tough ones, and until recently many of the 1 of 1 9's and 10's) came from my own submissions. Since your so interested in my ebay history, if you checked you would have seen (or maybe not), that i've bought and sold a ton of 78's in 8,9,10. I've sold quite a few starter sets in the 78 set also. I've bought nearly a case of 78 topps vending, 6 or so cello boxes and 2 wax boxes that i've gone through and submitted myself, and you have to go through a ton of those vending boxes to get anything really worthwhile.
The muskycaptain was a major thorn in my side while putting together this set, I'm an impatient kind of guy and it took a good while and a great bit of money to realize that another card WILL come along eventually. You have to realize that at one time, in one night of bidding he paid almost $1000.00 for 3 78 topps commons in psa 9, and that like a fool, i was right there with him. Thats the behavior that brings all the other submitters out of the woodwork, hoping to cash in on the competition. 2 weeks after the apodaca went for over $200, the next one went for $125, the next one $75 and the next under $50, a few weeks ago there where no bids on one at $9.99. It seems almost like it was personal for a time, but since, I've sold him cards and commmunicated with him and he's an o.k. guy. He's also all over the place with his card interests, at times buying cards from the 10s,20s,30s,40s,50s,60s and 70s.
Other than your occasional mis-information, The only problem i have is with your holier than thou attitude that comes across some times concerning your 77 set and how you put it together, i'm sure its a nice set and all and i can appreciate the time and cost to put it together (since i have done the same with the 78's), but if it wasn't for ebay, 3/4's of the sets registered wouldn't be listed. I love the thrill of pulling cards and submitting them and getting the email when they're ready and checking out the grades, but its a heck of a lot cheaper to put it together via ebay and it doesn't lessen the "status" of the set at all.
Anyhoo, just wanted to clarify an incorrect statement.
From one "crazy" 70's builder to another
As it stands, I'm down to only 16 more in 8 or better for my own '78 set! I just got an 8 Stennett back from PSA!
Nick