Need advice from 1987 Topps guys.

BillBob

I just dug out a wax box that I received as a birthday present back in 87 and decided to open all the packs. Could anyone tell me which cards might be worth getting graded? I pulled a Bonds and a Ripkin which I will get graded, but I was wondering about any others. I noticed that Mattingly's go for about $30 on eBay in a 10. I pulled a couple of those so I might give them a try. What about Rose (393), Surhoff, Reggie, Clemens All-Star, other All-Stars, etc.

I would need to remove some 1960 (6s or 7s) cards from my submission to make room, so I only want to submit those cards in demand/ hard to come by in high grade.

Thanks to any and all feedback I can get.

Bill

WinPitcher

I would think off the top of my head that Boggs, Schmidt, Ryan, Clemens, McGwire, Rose and etc. basically the type of card that player set collectors go for. Im sure I missed some but that is the theory that I would go by. Also look at the pop reports and see what others have been getting graded, that should tell you somthing about the demand for such cards. I do not think many are building a complete reg set for that year. Some team sets maybe.

softparade

Palmeiro, Larkin too and after that its slim pickins. Unless you are doing a team set, fav. player ,etc. Grade what moves you!

ctsoxfan

I remember a guy last year graded a ton of this stuff - and many here laughed at the notion of grading anything from perhaps the single most overproduced set of all time. But, he did okay on some of the 10's - Bonds of course, Clemens, and I think Nolan Ryan. But, if it doesn't pull a 10, forget about it.

Axtell

Going to be a crapshoot, I suppose.

Like was posted, if its not a 10, then you're going to be hard pressed selling off 9s for more than the grading fee.

WinPitcher

...........And the difference between a nine and ten is???


50/50 centering?

Twinsthreepeat

If you decided to send in Puckett and get a 10 (none to date) let me know, would be most interested in it.

mudflap02

Nolan Ryan 10s from the 1987 set now command prices as high as $15 on ebay, just so you know. There are a few of them floating around out there. Like Bob Barker would say, "Help control the graded Ryan population, check the pop repoorts before you submit."

jaxxr

As a set registry participant in the rare and elusive 1987 Topps BB, I feel able to comment.

Almost all who collect, are in need of treatment by qualified professionals. l feel the more recent the set , the more that help is needed. But hey, we collect what we like, don't we ? Regardless of what true vintage only guys might feel of our mental shortcomings.

The 87s are not all that easy due to the "woodgrain-like" borders. There is a fair amount of RCs, Superstars, Leader cards, and turn back the clock cards, which may become desirable. Bo Jackson is always popular. Submit cards only having a good shot at a 10, 9s may not get grade fees back.

Despite a very large production of these beauties, they are not always going to be sharp. Quality control was somewhat lax due to the glut made. Storage and handling of cases and boxes were not done with real care as most thought this year was a bust. A PSA 10 of any HOFer, even from 1987 should usually go up in value over time, it may be longer than you hope , but should happen.

As the collector base gets older the time span of the mid to late 80s becomes more interesting to many. The current price allows many starting collectors to plunge into graded cards via that era. 15 or 20 years ago the 1971 set was not very sought after, or costly, so who knows ?

Wabittwax

Nice Pete Rose cards are always worthy of submitting, regardless of year and type. Here's one of my latest Pete Rose cards on EBay:

Pete Rose

Buccaneer

<< <i>As the collector base gets older the time span of the mid to late 80s becomes more interesting to many. The current price allows many starting collectors to plunge into graded cards via that era. 15 or 20 years ago the 1971 set was not very sought after, or costly, so who knows ? >>



There is something very wrong with this paragraph but I can't articulate it. [walks away speechless]

downgoesfrazier

Steve,
Try.


dgf

CON40

Despite a very large production of these beauties, they are not always going to be sharp. Quality control was somewhat lax due to the glut made. Storage and handling of cases and boxes were not done with real care as most thought this year was a bust.

This statement is not entirely true... around 1989-1991, the '87 Topps set was the most desirable of the 3 issued and was valued in the $40-$50 range... of course, this was back in the day when cards of Kal Daniels, Dave Magadan, Bo Jackson, Bobby Bonilla, Mike Greenwell, and Greg Swindell were getting premiums.

onlychild

Just collect anything that you admire. Who cares what the value is, unless you are just interesting in selling. If that is the case, then you are not a collector.

Collections are not always about value. They are about "your" personal satisfaction. I can tell you this because I have some vintage PSA sets and a 1987 graded set (although not Topps) with a mix of grades. It has little value...but I like it.

If you want to put together an 87 topps set, then do it. Who cares if they are not all 10's. Lower grades although may be limited on a resale, can be just as nice to look at.

Kevin

Buccaneer

<< <i>Just collect anything that you admire. Who cares what the value is, unless you are just interesting in selling. If that is the case, then you are not a collector.

Collections are not always about value. They are about "your" personal satisfaction. I can tell you this because I have some vintage PSA sets and a 1987 graded set (although not Topps) with a mix of grades. It has little value...but I like it.

If you want to put together an 87 topps set, then do it. Who cares if they are not all 10's. Lower grades although may be limited on a resale, can be just as nice to look at.

Kevin >>



I agree but I would argue that it doesn't (shouldn't?) be a graded set in order to have legitimacy. I have about 7-8 87T sets and half of them I made myself back then. If you feel any of the cards in the set are nice, why would you pay the price to have it in a plastic slab? I much prefer, esp. for a modern set like the 87T, to have the cards in a sheet so they can be easily looked at instead of stacked plastic slabs in a large box. If one gets away from the silly notion that a set HAVE to be all graded, then the issue of prices or collector vs. investor wouldn't come up.

dgf: It's something about supply and demand, isn't it?

downgoesfrazier

Steve,
Supply and demand is always correct. I'm not sure I understand your point, however, as relates to this thread. Is it that 1987 Topps is plentiful and therefore undesirable? I get that. I'm not so sure that anyone who would look at my 1987 topps set would call those cards plentiful. After 100,000 rack-fresh cards I'm only 1/3 way there. I require perfection for my tastes. That said, anyone can enjoy any set in any grade that smokes their sausage, but these and many other "plentiful" issues are not always as simple as they appear if you want 'em special. An EX/MT set of 53 Topps would be--and was-- far easier for me to finish than my 86 or 87 Topps sets in perfect. It's all about what floats your boat and I like "special" condition cards.
dgf

onlychild

<< <i>It's all about what floats your boat >>



Well said!

I did the same with my 87 set...searched many sets for perfection. As with most cards, you may find that your idea of perfection and the graders idea are far different.



<< <i>doesn't (shouldn't?) be a graded set in order to have legitimacy >>



Legitimacy is in the eyes of the beholder (or card holder). Collectors are not always driven by value. Keep in mind be it a 52 mantle or an 89 Jackson...it's all just cardboard.

Kevin

WinPitcher

The original question was that he wanted to submit those cards that were "in demand and hard to come by"

We then as usual went off in 20 different tangents.

I stand by my first post that (w/o looking at pop reports) that Player collector cards would be best (in this case)

DGF is certaintly correct when he states that one can go through thousands of these cards before finding gems. I opened at least 40 cases of this stuff and can assure anyone and everyone that each case was different. Once in a while you would find a gem case but for the most part they were average. Add the fact in that almost 20 years has now gone by and the cases that held crisp gem mint cardes are few and far between. I will sy this though 87 were a heck of alot better then 88 and 89 quality wise. At least the cases I busted back then were.

Edited for typo

calleocho

I usually do not agree with Buc but im with him on this one.

Grading really doesnt add anything but weight to a 87 topps set.

calleocho

Buccaneer

dgf: The point wasn't so much about the 87T but the statement that it will become just as popular as the 71T have become...in time.

On the 87T (or any modern set), if you think that a card is perfect (and I know that it takes some digging to find one), why waste $5-8 plus $2-3 for S/H/I on getting it slabbed? I would be just as impressed with it in a One Touch or even a Top Loader.

downgoesfrazier

Buc,
I understand. That makes sense. Yes, the 87's will not be as popular as 71's in all probability. Your statement of the "point" of grading a 1987 topps set could really apply to any card from any year. Unless the set was facing impending sale where the buyer required it (for a fee) I don't know why anyone would bother grading their cards anymore other than display or protection. Authentication, at this point, as well as subjective grading have proven to be false senses of security and random at best.

dgf

Buccaneer

dgf, you know I agree with you but I guess I have not reached the point where the authenticity and accuracy of a graded vintage star card give me a false sense of security. I'm hoping that there will always be some intrinsic value in grading (or have graded) vintage stars.

jaxxr

Regarding the comparison of 1971 Topps BB to 1987 Topps BB, as thought of about 20 years back....

I did say " so who knows ? "

I certainly don't.

Who knew that cards would become widely collected and somewhat valuable, 50 years ago ?
Who knew the hobby would become so popular as to inspire a National Convention ?
Who knew prices guides would evolve and their existence would help promote cards and their values?
Who knew that card grading would ever become nearly as popular as coin grading ?
Who knew the internet would create a big market for sportscards and price evaluation.

Whether I collect PSA copies of 1987 Topps or not, I am probably nuts. That fact merely confirms the notion.
Is an 86 collector nuts ? quite likely. How about 82, probably, but not as much. 1977 ? maybe. 1973 ? could be. 1968 ? not really insane. 1962 ? just odd. 1956 ? silly only. 1952 ? almost rational. And so on.

There are 1989 UD sets, 1999 Bowmans, and their like on the registry, are these guys nuts ? Do people who grade commons have any economical sense ? Is there any justification to save raw, slabbed, or reprinted pieces of cardboard which have pictures of sport players on them ?

WHO KNOWS ??

Buccaneer

jaxxr, I think you would have to give some credit to us old-timers. Over 20 years ago, I worked in a card store and bought/sold at major shows in SoCal...and most importantly, learned from those that had been in the business since the 1970s (like Lew Lipset, Kit Young, Al Rosen, Nelson Katz, Dave Shore, to name a few).

jaxxr

I would very much give credit or praise to all early collectors, for their knowledge, grit, and love of the hobby. Never could this great hobby exist as it is today without them.

I still believe none of them had a crystal ball, or could predict events like graded cards' acceptance and popularity, or the coming of the internet as a sportcard haven or just about any incident I mentioned in the prior post. Most of them were probably surprised when Burdick's Card Catalog came out, and likely again when Beckett started their yearly, and then monthly price guides.

My point was, that most future events,........ sportcard values, stock market, rainfall, etc., may be calculated, wished for, or whatever, but can never be known for SURE.

So perhaps the 1987 Topps BB set, graded or raw, will become a classic in 20 years, maybe 40 years, possibly never, but really, who knows ?

downgoesfrazier

Jax,
It's a classic to me right now! I love that set!


dgf

softparade

DGF, I love the 87 set too. I have at least 15,000 of these in my attic

DaBigHurt

1987 Topps in very high grade are almost impossible to find. I would suggest you just buy the ones already graded by PSA to be sure you get the 10s you're looking for. The chances of you finding 1987 Topps is pretty slim. To find some raw ultra highgrade? Almost no chance. Stick to buying already slabbed specimens.

ldferg

i opened 2 rack packs and sent in 4 cards of stars pulled. here are the results:

1987 TOPPS 735 RICKEY HENDERSON 9
1987 TOPPS 687 ALAN TRAMMELL 9
1987 TOPPS 425 TOM SEAVER 10
1987 TOPPS 300 REGGIE JACKSON 9