1989 Upper Deck Wax Boxes

crpalmi

Good morning from a newbie. I was looking into buying some 89 Upper Deck Wax Boxes but would like some clarification if someone can help? I am looking for Griffey RC's among others and want to make sure that I get a shot at one. I figured I'd have to go with a "Low # wax box" but as I look at Ebay there are some that are "High number boxes" that say they may contain Griffey? Were these issued in series? Basically I guess my question is which box gives me the best shot at Griffey? Any help is appreciated!

lostdart58

Griffey was card #1. The 1989 UD had a high series that year which included cards #701-800. I DOUBT that they sold packs of cards that year with only high series numbers; more then likely they mixed them in with the other cards.

It would seem to me you would have a better chance of a Griffey buying low series only cards. (1 in 700 rather then 1 in 800)

schr1st

Both Low and High # boxes have Griffey rookies in them. The High # boxes just have the additional high # 'd cards inserted in them. Obviously the odds are better with the low # boxes, but be warned that collation of the low # boxes is spotty at best. I've seen many boxes where 15 or more Griffey cards show up, then most of the rest of the case is dead (15 Sandy Alomar rookies per box, etc.). Then there are the cherry picked boxes. Buy boxes only from reliable dealers.

studentT206

Did UD cello wrap boxes in '89? If so that be a sure way to get an uncherry picked box.

Damian

schr1st

I don't think so.

metsfan

Some people seem to think you have a better chance getting Griffey's in high # boxes. This doesn't really make sense to me, but thats what I heard. Also,there are usually only 2-4 hi #'s in a hi # pack.

crpalmi

Thanks. Anybody find this to be true as far as finding an equal (or more) distribution of Griffey's in a "High Number Box" as opposed to the "Low Number Box". The cost seems to be quite a bit lower for the high # box so if that's true that will make my decision easy. Also, do you know if the sequencing was the same in both kinds of boxes as I want to try to avoid a "cherry picked" box if at all possible.

cardinarky

The boxes WERE NOT cello wrapped in 1989. Also there really was a sequencing of card packs in the boxes. I did not believe this until it was demonstrated to me in 1990 by a friend who pulled several packs containg Griffey cards out of fresh boxes without opening packs that did not contain Griffey rookies. I know it sounds nuts but he proved it to me. I would be leery unless you trust the seller or the boxes are out of a fresh case.

fsjeter

Unless you just enjoy the thrill of opening packs, the best shot at gettin' a Griffey is to just buy one IMO. There are plenty available in all grades as well as raw.

Scott

Stone193

crpalmi

I just wanted to say hi and Welcome!

Good luck on your 89UD quest.

mike

PS: unless you are looking for the thrill of the 'ripping' - PSA 9 UDs go very reasonable I believe.

zef204

<< <i>crpalmi

I just wanted to say hi and Welcome!

Good luck on your 89UD quest.

mike

PS: unless you are looking for the thrill of the 'ripping' - PSA 9 UDs go very reasonable I believe. >>

I agree with Stone and fsjeter. If you are just looking to rip some packs of an issue you like then go for it. But if you are looking for a griff then you are probably better off just buying one. You might be better off buying a sealed set then you are gauranteed a griff. But if you are going to go for it anyway, then buy it from a good dealer. I also heard of the bad coalation and that if you open a cas and a Griff was in the 3rd pack on the front left sode of the box, that al the boxes in the case were coalated like and many case owners would fish out those packs. Either way, good luck and let us know how you fare!

jmbkb4

My dad bought me a box of 1989 UD in 1989, back when I was 8-9, and I got nothin' outta it. Maybe a Sheffield RC or two, but no Griffey. Then I picked up a mint copy at a card show in 1990 for $11. And the principle probably still applies here.

crpalmi

I know that makes the most sense to just buy a Griffey off Ebay but remember, as a card collector I don't often think of practicality as a priority. The truth is the threads in this forum I like the best are the box breaks and it got me thinking that I haven't ripped anything open in awhile. While I'd love to pick up an older box from the 70's, I don't have the extra $500 laying around so I thought I'd go with the "modern" issue that I enjoy the most which is the 89UD's. I'd buy from Steve Hart but with the low number box being $95 and the high number box only $65, naturally I'm leaning towards the cheaper, but I just wasn't sure the how the fact that it's a "high number box" would effect my chances of pulling a Griffey?

ArnyVee

I can attest to that 15 rookies in one box comment.

I pulled about 15 rookies of one of the common rookies way back when and I also pulled about 8 Griffeys in one box as well! Two in the same pack once!

It's unbelievable, but it's not guaranteed. I remember picking up about 3 Griffeys in two boxes of low #s that I opened, but the Hi # box really helped my collection out at the time

All in all, it depends on whether the boxes have been tampered with (opened a few packs to see which rookie was duplicated in that box, etc) and I'd go with a reputable dealer to purchase those.

CDsNuts

Low number boxes yield a much better chance of pulling any one particular low number card. Yes the hi series was only 100 cards, but there are usually 4-7 hi # cards per pack, meaning your odds of pulling a griffey are about half of what they are in the low #s. You could pull multiple copies of Jim Abbott and Jerome Walton RCs though.

Lee

zef204

<< <i>Low number boxes yield a much better chance of pulling any one particular low number card. Yes the hi series was only 100 cards, but there are usually 4-7 hi # cards per pack, meaning your odds of pulling a griffey are about half of what they are in the low #s. You could pull multiple copies of Jim Abbott and Jerome Walton RCs though.

Lee >>

SWEEEEET!

sfmays24

crpalmi,

For the price of a low number box ($95 plus shipping), I can offer 2 PSA 9 Griffey's delivered. This will also save you on grading & shipping charges from PSA. Send me a PM if interested.

thank you,

sfmays24

Eddo33

This is a little off topic but i heard that Upper deck went back and printed more Griffey cards after they found out it was so hot. Has anybody else heard this?

CDsNuts

UD famously printed several cards years after their initial release and sold them in 5000 ct. boxes out the back door. 89 Griffey is one of them. I think they printed a lot of them around '94-95 to help recover from the 94 strike which killed their business. There's a book called Card Sharks that chronicles all the dishonest crap UD pulled back in the day.

Lee

fsjeter

<<This is a little off topic but i heard that Upper deck went back and printed more Griffey cards after they found out it was so hot. Has anybody else heard this?>>

I think this also facilitated the belief that there are more in the high # boxes than the low #'d ones. I still think the Low # boxes are your best bet if you just have to rip.

Scott

Stone193

I don't want to rain on the parade of RC's but the hi yields are not indicative of what my friends have experienced.

You could easily find zero Griff RC's in a low and hi series box.

mike

digicat

I've ripped 3 boxes of UD (2 low, 1 high), and the only time I got a Griffey was in the hi# box. It's a roll of the dice. I ripped a box of hi# last year, pulled 6 Mark Grace cards.