Unopend box pricing...

Axtell

I've been doing some searches through both bbcexchange and bbckid's inventory and prices, and have run into some curiosities.

1984 donruss vs. 1985 donruss wax boxes:

The 1984 set has rookie cards of Joe Carter and Don Mattingly...2 solid players, but hardly eye openers, and this box sells for $140-$150.
The 1985 set has rookie cards of Kirby Puckett and Roger Clemens....1 HoF'er, the other will be a first ballot, and this box sells for about $100.

I know both puckett and clemens have 1984 fleer update cards...but wouldn't logic dictate that the 1985 box be worth more?

yankeeno7

Axtell
I would agree except there is this belief that 1984 Donruss was the rare of the rare. It's mystique seems to drive that price more than anything. I guess that is the law of price and demand.
1985 is also great because it has two different Pete Rose cards...one on the Reds and one on the Expos. Plus, those tough black borders...possibly another reason 1984 may be more popular.

Stone193

Ax
Great question. I'm going to take a shot at this? The 84D inventory has dropped drastically over the years and is still over priced but there's just so low these guys want to go with respect to a loss. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the guys have boxes that they paid more than the going rate right now.
Does this make any sense? The 84D boxes used to go over 300$ if memory serves...or more? And as scarce as people may seem to think it is, there's still guys who have product to sell.

your friend
Mike

edit: grammar

ctsoxfan

Remember back in 1984 when Donruss baseball was so "scarce"? The Mattingly RC was a hundred dollar card, and everyone was going crazy for this set. It still has some legs twenty years later, but I can't believe all the unopened you can still find of this "rare" issue. And, I agree, I would rather rip an 1985 Donruss box today (primarily for the Clemens card).

Stone193

Of interest with respect to Clemens will be the 85T set - the McGwire drove the set and the Clemens was an afterthought - expect that to flip flop - I fear you won't be able to give McGwire away in a few years - just glad I bought mine when they were going for 12 bucks a card!

your friend
Mike

mudflap02

I remember that for Christmas in 1988, I got 5 baseball cards in one box for my main present. They were a 1968 Ryan, a 1969 Ryan, and one each of the Mattingly rookies. I was as happy as..... well a kid on Christmas morning. I couldn't have told you a thing about centering, edges, or surface. I knew that the Ryans were a little beat up, but who cares - they were mine. I also got 2 wax boxes of 89 Score that my dad had somehow found at a gas station- it blew my mind. Without a doubt my best Christmas ever, and probably why I spend as much on cards as I do on rent now.

Axtell

I know what you mean about the centering, edges, etc.

Back in 1985 I was just 14, still a kid, and I took care of my cards, but I loved them too, which meant hand collated sets, then collating them into team sets, back into numerical sets, etc etc.

My first batch of PSA cards was a group of these 'rarer' cards (clemens rookies, mcgwire, boggs rookies), and needless to say, I was astounded at the results. Not so much in a bad way, but it was truly eye opening (as I am sure most of us are when we first send submissions in).

I'll never part with those cards...hell I even have my 1971 munson that came back a 4 that I remember my mom buying me when I was like 10 at a card show...good memories which I will never part with.

I have my PSA graded cards that I ripped out of packs that maybe didn't grade the highest, but are the closest to my heart...and I'll never give those cards up.

kingraider75

Mattingly is a Yankee, that's probably has a great deal to do with the pricing I think. He might get into the Hall in a few years, especially if the steriods continue to plague the recent HR surge.