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1978 Topps baseball collectors

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  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yeah I saw that yesterday... WTF lol

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭

    @softparade said:

    @bobsbbcards said:
    (shameless spam) I'm still looking for 62 '78 Topps PSA 8's (or cheap 9's) if anyone can help. (end shameless spam)

    I have tons of raw that will pull 8's

    Me too, but since the 8’s I need price out around $3.00 or less apiece, grading them makes no sense.

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,691 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love the 78 set. I've been working on it on and off for past 10 years in PSA 8 or better grade. Finally at about 60% complete. I know it's largely a waste of money to self-submit but I still love opening packs and sending cards in every now and then.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 28, 2018 7:13PM

    @grote15 said:
    Love the 78 set. I've been working on it on and off for past 10 years in PSA 8 or better grade. Finally at about 60% complete. I know it's largely a waste of money to self-submit but I still love opening packs and sending cards in every now and then.

    I got into grading 78's just before it was an obvious loss to self submit majority 9's and hopeful 10's. That was over a decade ago.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 28, 2018 7:11PM

    @bobsbbcards said:

    @softparade said:

    @bobsbbcards said:
    (shameless spam) I'm still looking for 62 '78 Topps PSA 8's (or cheap 9's) if anyone can help. (end shameless spam)

    I have tons of raw that will pull 8's

    Me too, but since the 8’s I need price out around $3.00 or less apiece, grading them makes no sense.

    The hobby really doesn't make much sense to begin with :D
    If this was about the bottom line for me I'd have been gone long ago.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @grote15 said:
    I know it's largely a waste of money to self-submit but I still love opening packs and sending cards in every now and then.

    Me too. But I figure if you send in a really nice batch you usually score a few 10s which offset the marginal return on all the 9s.

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    And I rarely open packs but it was quite fun pulling this card from a lower grade pack I opened. I thought it had an outside shot at a 10 which would have been a big hit. It ended up a 9 of course.

  • 81 Topps Guy81 Topps Guy Posts: 228 ✭✭✭

    The $10 for shipping he’s charging is more than the card is worth.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Maybe the bottom left corner / edge kept this nicely centered Rivers form being a 10? How is the back?

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,691 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PaulMaul said:

    @grote15 said:
    I know it's largely a waste of money to self-submit but I still love opening packs and sending cards in every now and then.

    Me too. But I figure if you send in a really nice batch you usually score a few 10s which offset the marginal return on all the 9s.

    @PaulMaul said:

    @grote15 said:
    I know it's largely a waste of money to self-submit but I still love opening packs and sending cards in every now and then.

    Me too. But I figure if you send in a really nice batch you usually score a few 10s which offset the marginal return on all the 9s.

    That's been my strategy throughout.

    I also prefer a self-submitted 9 over a purchased one in most cases as I know mine are all strong for the grade having screened them prior to submission.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭

    For those of you who self submit '78 or '79 commons expecting 9's, reach out to me when they come back 8's. I'll buy them to offset part of your grading fee. :)

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November 30, 2018 8:30AM

    @bobsbbcards said:
    For those of you who self submit '78 or '79 commons expecting 9's, reach out to me when they come back 8's. I'll buy them to offset part of your grading fee. :)

    I was looking last night at my subs from 2005 from a rack case and a couple wax boxes. I had an incredible streak submitting 78's back then. I want to say out of several hundred cards I pulled 90% 9's, 9% 10's, and 1% others .... I'll post them later if I remember to!

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So here was the 1st of three subs from my rack pack case bust in 2005. I’m posting this solely for the nostalgia and good vibes given how slow the thread here has been the past recent years ..... GOOD TIMES!

    Food for thought... a large majority of the 9’s are in my set today. I did sell about half of all 10’s in order to buy more 9’s. A 726 card set in this grade and this time period is a daunting task almost no matter what budget you are on!

    I’ll post my 2 other subs after a short while :)


    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    How come the Hebner and Abbott are highlighted?

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is one of the sets that I dabble with from time to time. I believe I first acquired a group of superstar cards in mostly PSA 8 five or so years ago, either in a trade or very, very cheaply, and then decided to start the set as something to tinker with from time to time. I have since occasionally purchased 9s whenever I see a nice deal, and am up to 12+ percent complete with an 8.66 GPA. I have many irons in the fire when it comes to the registry, and many other collecting interests besides graded cards, so unfortunately, the 78s don't always get as much attention from me as they deserve. I do like the nice, clean look of a mint 78.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PaulMaul said:
    How come the Hebner and Abbott are highlighted?

    I don’t remember... I was wondering that too. I’ll post my other two subs from that rack case later. It’s gets better lol

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas said:
    This is one of the sets that I dabble with from time to time. I believe I first acquired a group of superstar cards in mostly PSA 8 five or so years ago, either in a trade or very, very cheaply, and then decided to start the set as something to tinker with from time to time. I have since occasionally purchased 9s whenever I see a nice deal, and am up to 12+ percent complete with an 8.66 GPA. I have many irons in the fire when it comes to the registry, and many other collecting interests besides graded cards, so unfortunately, the 78s don't always get as much attention from me as they deserve. I do like the nice, clean look of a mint 78.

    Don’t be a stranger! :smile:

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2, 2018 5:02PM

    Here is the 2nd sub from a pristine rack case back in 2005. Sick. One 5 LOL, one 8 and the rest dingers! 27% of the submission were Gem Mint 10's :D

    A beautiful Eddie Murray 9 in there among other notables. I thought the Murray had a chance at a 10. Probably still does .. I had 3 more Murray’s with minimum 9 centering but they all had a bird dung type ink splotch on them. The only bad break in the case.


    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • Knew you would get it soon Dan. Way to go. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Bill
    wpkoughan@yahoo.com
    Collecting 1970-1979 PSA 9 & 10 Baseball Cards
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2, 2018 8:36PM

    @augustaman said:
    Knew you would get it soon Dan. Way to go. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

    Thanks! Huge coming from you Bill! 👍🏻 Who has been on the scene since I started 👊🏻

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Here was my largest and last submission from the rack case I busted way back when. This was an EPIC case. Keep in mind I sold one of the three boxes to CDSNuts..... some veterans here will remember him ... so all of these cards were from two pristine epic rack pack boxes. Many more 8’s in this round as I was trying to sneak in some I probably shouldn’t have being the gradeable well was running dry.

    Even so, just 29 8’s out of 175 cards and one 7 (The notoriously tough #400 Nolan Ryan). The rest of the 145 cards were all 9’s and 10’s B)

    Most notable here is a PSA 10 Jack Morris rookie

    Sorry man but I just couldn’t help but re-live this 2/3 case bust and subs 13 years later. :)




    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,615 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Figured I’d pop in to say hi to Dan, been a long time since I’ve seen you in sports talk! Oddly I think off the top of my head I remember the name of your ‘78 set “No spokes for these”? Am I close? Lol congrats on completing your set!

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 7, 2018 7:31PM

    @perkdog said:
    Figured I’d pop in to say hi to Dan, been a long time since I’ve seen you in sports talk! Oddly I think off the top of my head I remember the name of your ‘78 set “No spokes for these”? Am I close? Lol congrats on completing your set!

    Hey thanks Paul! It only took me 12 years to get that final PSA 9 haha.... I put the set on ice in 2006 as we made a ton of kids. Just crawling back now. I’ve checked in a couple times over the years and you have been a constant here! Great to hear from you and congrats on your “initial” retirement :)

    BTW you have a great memory.... “No Spokes for These 78’s” it is B)
    Here’s that final 9 just received

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 30,615 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 8, 2018 5:05AM

    Good stuff Dan! 🍻

  • In life they say "You never forget your first" but for me with cards it's "You never forget your last". Bob Watson was the card that finally got me to 100% back in 2008. Great work locating a nice Jackson Todd to complete your set.

    Bill
    wpkoughan@yahoo.com
    Collecting 1970-1979 PSA 9 & 10 Baseball Cards
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,691 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @softparade said:
    I picked up a PSA 9 #481 Jackson Todd tonight and after all this time since 2004 I finally have a complete PSA 9 or better set.
    B)

    Congrats, Dan! I remember when that card was essentially non-existent in PSA 9 grade.

    That submission is amazing!



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • DarinDarin Posts: 7,043 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @softparade said:

    @perkdog said:
    Figured I’d pop in to say hi to Dan, been a long time since I’ve seen you in sports talk! Oddly I think off the top of my head I remember the name of your ‘78 set “No spokes for these”? Am I close? Lol congrats on completing your set!

    Hey thanks Paul! It only took me 12 years to get that final PSA 9 haha.... I put the set on ice in 2006 as we made a ton of kids. Just crawling back now. I’ve checked in a couple times over the years and you have been a constant here! Great to hear from you and congrats on your “initial” retirement :)

    BTW you have a great memory.... “No Spokes for These 78’s” it is B)
    Here’s that final 9 just received

    "Flying an airplane is just like riding a bike, except baseball cards are a lot harder to put in the spokes" - From the movie
    'Airplane'.

    Congrats on the 78 set, great accomplishment!

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 9, 2018 9:02AM

    Thanks everybody! I'm not going to do another monster GRADED set I don't THINK. I I'm going to upgrade to 10's here and there with this set when it makes some kind of sense. I feel that I got lucky during the three plus years that I went hot and heavy with these as unopened was still available at reasonable prices which allowed me to build nearly half of this set through my own submissions and selling some 10's to pick up lots of nice 9's. I don't think I could afford building this set NOW the way I did THEN. :p

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,742 ✭✭✭

    This seller achieves some very rare 10s.



    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ldferg said:

    This seller achieves some very rare 10s.

    It's a borderline 9 IMO especially given how weak centering on the back is. I could see this squeaking out a 10 if the back was perfect because the front isn't either. I get it though ..... anyway, it hasn't sold at that ludicrous price :)

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Holy CRAP 4SC's just listed only the 3rd #400 Ryan PSA 10. Chipped edges I see .... not a fan of those making it into a 10 slab. Am I just too strict? Centering is absolutely STUNNING front and back for this notorious toughie. Those chips give me heartburn though. The registry leader owns one of the other two.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-TOPPS-400-NOLAN-RYAN-ANGELS-HOF-POP-3-PSA-10-B2649302-295/264102000520?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don’t love it. It’s a bit diamond cut too. I’d rather find a really nice 9.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 25, 2018 3:25PM

    @PaulMaul said:
    I don’t love it. It’s a bit diamond cut too. I’d rather find a really nice 9.

    Those are hard to find too lol...
    The diamond cut is slight. I own and submitted a PSA 10 Jack Morris that has a slight diamond cut too. That doesn't get me as much as those rough edges. Should be an interesting watch. Somebody will snag it and I doubt it will be a registry entity.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • JBrulesJBrules Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @softparade said:
    Holy CRAP 4SC's just listed only the 3rd #400 Ryan PSA 10. Chipped edges I see .... not a fan of those making it into a 10 slab. Am I just too strict? Centering is absolutely STUNNING front and back for this notorious toughie. Those chips give me heartburn though. The registry leader owns one of the other two.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-TOPPS-400-NOLAN-RYAN-ANGELS-HOF-POP-3-PSA-10-B2649302-295/264102000520?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

    That looks like a very generous 10 if you ask me. Hard to tell how good the corners are from the scans as they are not as high res. I would like. That upper right corner looks like it might be touched some but hard to tell. The chipping is very obvious. I agree with PaulMaul and would wait for a better looking 9.

  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,742 ✭✭✭

    And some Print defects as well. Wow.



    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I don't add to this set with much frequency, as I'm working on several other registry sets that currently have precedence. However, I did just pick this one up. It has always been one of my favorite photographs in the 78 set, mostly because it just raises SOOOOO many questions. I believe I've seen this card discussed before, if not in this thread, the somewhere in another.

    First off, where is this game being played? It appears the Mets are the home team, but that doesn't at all look like Shea Stadium....Spring Training, you say? The Padres have always trained in Arizona, while the Mets have always trained in Florida. Len Randle's uniform has been airbrushed? That is possible, I suppose, except Randle's team the previous year, the Texas Rangers, also trained in Florida during the period of this photo, only moving to Arizona when the new complex opened in Surprise.

    Secondly, what exactly is the play that is occurring here? A bunt, a tapper or slow roller, perhaps the catcher let the ball get away on a third strike? Randle is sprinting well within fair territory as he goes down the first base line, decides that diving head first is going to get him there more quickly, then, forgetting that you are allowed to go past the base, tries to maintain contact with it using his right hand, only to injure his right shoulder, and scream out on pain. Or perhaps the catcher beaned him with the throw? Maybe even in an unfortunate location, actually causing the ball to become wedged into an uncomfortable spot. Was he safe, or called out for running within the field of play, thereby causing the catcher to alter the throw?

    Third, just what is the first baseman doing? Retrieving the ball? Why was he set up on the bag in such a weird location? I'm thinking that it almost had to be the result of a third strike that bounced away and near the first base dugout, causing Gene Richards to be standing in foul territory to receive the throw. Was the throw from the catcher wild?
    Is Gene stumbling over Randle to go chase after it? Did Gene catch it? If he caught it, wouldn't he be stretching out to catch it, even coming off the base and out of the frame of the photo. If he felt the need to tag Randle, why not slap it down with the glove? Why remove the ball, and using the left hand, then apply the tag?

    I guess some things are just not meant to be known...

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 29, 2018 4:00AM

    @countdouglas

    Good stuff! Here’s a discussion of the circumstances:

    https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/tht-live/a-baseball-card-mystery-finding-lenny-randle/

    The game was July 31, 1977 at Shea. The upshot seems to be that Randle singled to CF, was subsequently picked off 1B and went to 3B on an errant throw. I must admit I still can’t parse how the players came to be arranged that way.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I was going to say that definitely was in the middle of a pick off attempt at 1st. Great stuff!

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The whole thing looks to me to be what would pass to be photo doctoring in the 70s. There may be a game account that places the players and situation in this hypothetical game action photo, but it looks to me like Topps produced this action shot from a combination of other photos. I remain unconvinced that is Shea. Many have said it has to be a pickoff, but Randle has his legs and torso in a position that I have NEVER seen a runner have when diving back into the bag. His left shoulder and hand would be much closer to the chalk line, too. You can see the chalk line in the dirt, so it can't be third base, and a left-handed Richards wouldn't be there anyway, unless somehow backing up a hotbox. And yes, I forgot to mention, why would they edit out Randle's right hand?

    Anyway, thanks for the article @PaulMaul. I believe I've likely seen that article/discussion before, as it hits my same points, and provides what appear to be reasonable explanations, and yet I still live with doubts. Haha!

    @softparade, while I do have a nice raw complete 1978 set, the registry version is way down on my list of priorities. I just couldn't pass on this card though, as I've always been drawn to it.

  • PaulMaulPaulMaul Posts: 4,874 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You may be right that it is doctored @countdouglas . But I do think it is Shea. As someone who attended Shea regularly starting around 1984 I agree it looks odd, but I think there was some significant refurbishment done in 1982. Here is a picture of Shea from 1977:

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas I don’t have any issue with placement in that pic Randle was probably swinging around to get a better look at the ball down the line and was off for 2nd a half second later.

    As far as 1978 Topps goes? lol it’s my ONE and ONLY interest. In graded for now.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • No question there was doctoring of the background. But that does seem like Shea to me and the many empty seats down the line are quite indicative of Shea circa 1977.

    I think there was some major airbrushing/touching up of the green field area. Notice the “cloudiness” behind Richards. The topps artist had to have airbrushed out the pitcher’s mound and infielders and who knows what else.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Picking up a few of these when it makes a wee bit of sense.


    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • @softparade said:
    I was going to say that definitely was in the middle of a pick off attempt at 1st. Great stuff!

    could it be third and the picture inverted ?

  • RobbyRobby Posts: 672 ✭✭✭

    @softparade said:

    Yeah I saw that yesterday... WTF lol

    Ummm……….didn't you guys see that it was a Psa 9 and that it is the one and only Craig Reynolds !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Plus you will earn $100.00 in E-Bay Bucks !

    Collect 1964 Topps Baseball
    1963 Fleer
    Lou Brock Master Set
  • estangestang Posts: 1,322 ✭✭✭

    Len Randle is out - hence, the look on his face... that's my hypothesis...

    Enjoy your collection!
    Erik
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