1978-79 Topps Basketball Vending Box Break

packman

Last night I opened a 1978-79 Topps basketball vending box. I like this set because it is relatively inexpensive and small. The box yielded three complete sets plus extra cards. Approximately 50% of the cards were off center. I was able to put aside approximately 60% of one set that would grade PSA 9 with a few 10s. The best star cards were Dr. J. I pulled 5 of his cards. Four were gradeable with 3 being at least 9s. I would expect at least one and hopefully two of his cards will grade out at 10. The most difficult star cards were Kareem and Pistol Pete. I pulled 4 of each. However, only one of each was gradeable due to centering. Each should grade out as a 9 with a chance at an 8. The single most difficult card was Dantley (#132). His cards were nasty looking. I will post scans later tonight. It was a fun box to open.

If anybody is looking for some 1978 Topps basketall cards for the sets, please let me know. If you need a filler (e.g., off center card), I can send them to you for free.

David

tennesseebanker

Wow ! that is some exceptional quality from a vending box. Got any scans ?
Where did you get the box? If basketball is that much better than football or baseball I may have to start collecting them !

packman

It was exceptional. This was my first basketball vending box that I opened. I would have to think that this was better then normal. I purchased the box from Steve Hart at bbcexchange.com. I have bought a lot from him in the past. This box came from a larger order that had with him for several 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983 Topps baseball vending boxes and rack packs. The 1979 vending boxes were amazing. Better then the basketball. The 1980 was mixed - to be expected from vending (last year I bought several 1980 boxes that had amazing results). The 1981 and 1983 were bad. The 1981 was bad in a weird way. Not one star or minor-star card and all the cards were badly off-center. The box was clean. However, the Topps factory had some problems that day.

The bottom line is that vending/rack/wax can be very rewarding, just okay or very frustrating. You never know what to expect. You just hope that the boxes have not been tampered with. When you buy from Steve Hart, you know that they are clean. What the factory did with them is the surprise.

David

larryallen73

Good luck to you! I opened a box of those a few months ago (which was great fun) and was sure I had several 10's but only got one! Lot's of 9's and some 8's... and of course one 5 that I missed a surface crease on. I hope you have better luck than I!

MajorDanby

any chance you can let us know how much? thanks

tennesseebanker

Packman, if you read through some of the threads from this last weekend you will see the trouble I had with my 81 bb vending box also. No star cards or even minor stars just a few record breakers all were bad o/c.

ldferg

i've been looking at the 78fb vending box. i purchased an 85t fb wax box and hope to post scans of the bust sunday evening.

you had good luck with 79 bsb vending? i've heard horror stories on the vending for 79s. congrats.

scans!!!!!

packman

I will post scans of the 1979 Topps baseball tonight under a different thread. I was nervous about the 1979 boxes because I had horrible luck with some a couple of years ago. However, these boxes were hands down the best I have opened. Better then wax boxes. You could tell that the case was not moved often and well maintained. The cards were flat, great gloss and decent centering. No fillers in the boxes.

Kid4hof03

Did you get any Lakers (other than Kareem) worth grading? I'm working on Laker team sets in PSA 9.

Thanks,
Abe

NewJerseyMeatHook

Alright, Packman. I just purchased two of the 1979 vending boxes, a product with which I have had very little success. We'll see what happens!

packman

NewJerseyMeatHook - Good luck with the boxes. Are you planning on working on a set or selling the cards? If working on a set, perhaps we can do some trades to fill some holes. I was planning on ordering a couple more boxes myself. I will post some scans tonight.

ldferg

pack,
where these recent purchases of the 79t vending baseball? if so, i may jump on one like njmh.

packman

Yes. I ordered them last week and they were delivered yesterday. They were from a fresh case. You can give Steve my name (David Halpen) so that he knows which case to chose from in case there are more then one.

Bosox1976

David:

I just busted a few packs of the same year - didn't do as well as you, but did pull a Dantley that should grade NM/MT. PM me your particulars and I'll send it to you - my pleasure.

Mike

Stone193

David

Your results on the vending are very encouraging! I would like to see some scans.

How much is the 79T vending BB? One of my vending that I have owned for nearly 15 yrs. is a 79 - don't know what I will be doing with it - my guess? Break it down and sell them.

I almost picked up a 78-79 bkb vending and wax also - the pics aren't bad and I like the Dr. J card.

So, if you have some time, don't be shy with the scans!

Congrats on a very nice result
mike

packman

I will post some scans tonight.

NewJerseyMeatHook

Packman: Plan to cherry-pick, submit, and sell the superb. Will probably keep a set for myself. Duplicates will be up for grabs for board members, I'm guessing. Between a few of us, I'd say we could certainly build a decent set. Stay in touch.

Rick

packman

Here are some scans. The white specks and spots are from lint on the scanner. These cards are very clean. I will start a PSA set and put images on the set when I get them back from PSA. There are around 90 cards that are equal to or better then the following scans.

ldferg

sweet!!!!!!! very very nice from vending...

MuckyMutt

Wow - those are nice looking cards! Great pulls from vending. I really like the photos and general look of that set. I'm not really into basketball cards, but that set almost makes me want to start...

brianwintersfan

While other's collected baseball back then I was a basketball card kid. Although at twelve I wasn't smart enough to know you don't seperate those 1980-81 3 card panels! Lord knows how many Bird/Magic rookies I tore apart!

Stone193

Very nice David

Ya got a couple of really super Dr Js!

I did the sets years ago - but mine is more like exmt.

Did you say the vending box came from Steve?

Ya did real good!
mike

zef204

How is the ieal centering with these?Ijs sent in 3 Dr. J's and I thought the should all be a little more left than ose pcred. Anyne know more abut the 78's that can shed some light on this? I always get a little tricked on centering on issues like this with wording on the side.

larryallen73

I love that and other basketball sets around it. For one reason, it seems like most of the players are guys I remember. With baseball, and even more so football, there are always guys I have NEVER heard of. Basketball has lots of familiar names. Plus, only 132 cards so easy to get the whole set! I would scrutinize carefully what you send in. With a few exceptions if they aren't 10's they aren't worth a whole lot. Maybe that's a stretch but you break even on most 9's and lose on 8's or lower. Dr. J, Kareem and one or two others being the exceptions. DSL, 4 corners, etc... sell so many of these cards that the prices are pretty low. Would be a fun set to do in all PSA as it's very doable. Good luck.