Any interest in early 90s OPC?

CDsNuts

In terms of product that's available on the market, 1990-1993 OPC baseball (NOT OPC Premier) is the scarcest of just about any mainstream set out there. I know there's not too much interest in these sets, but I don't really understand why. Late 70s and early 80s OPC baseball garner some interest in the registry, and so do some really overproduced 90s sets like 1990-1993 Topps, UD, and other crap with a print run of around 8 trajillion. Out of all the garbage wax of that era, I would consider the OPC box the least garbagy. Also, I just made up two words in the last two sentences.

Try finding a 1991 or 1993 OPC wax box. Is there anybody out there collecting this stuff, or just me?

Lee

bobsbbcards

Me too. 1990 OPC wax boxes are as tough as anything out there for that period.

I agree that there are a trajillion sets that are more garbagy.

mikeschmidt

I think there is a slight difference of relative scale (slight being the operative word).

Late 1970s/early 1980s Topps product -- massively overproduced, but key stars/rookies maintain value.
OPC, as a result, oftentimes can be more valuable since it was produced in significantly fewer quantities.

Early 1990s Topps product - overproduced so much that product is routinely dumped/thrown out. Hardly anything maintains value.
OPC, although significantly rarer than Topps, probably gets overlooked because of the sheer quantity of Topps/Fleer/Donruss/Upper Deck of the time.

I think for all intents and purposes, OPC is generally considered to be the ugly step-sister of Topps, and even when scarcer -- the pricing almost always never justifies the relative scarcity of finding and completing. Unless Canada invades and overtakes the United States, there are few factors I can see happening in the hobby that will re-create a renewed interest in OPC product.

CDsNuts

Player registry perhaps? for example:

There are 16 PSA 10 1990 OPC Frank Thomas in the population compared to 1,150 Topps. You don't think the PSA 10 OPC would bring a few hundred on ebay (not that I've ever seen one up)?

Same thing with 1992 OPC Manny Ramirez- 9 PSA 10s in OPC vs. 2,000 in Topps.

There are zero 1990 OPC PSA 10 Ripken, 1991 OPC Ryan, etc.... Couldn't these cards catch the right two bidders at the right time and go for $100+ easily?


I just find it interesting that you never ever see this stuff on ebay yet no one seems to want it.

Lee

Wabittwax

I went to a card shop in Canada recently looking for some OPC product. They didn't even have it there. I definately agree that OPC will beat out the Topps product in the long run for many issues. Everyone already knows it is rarer so once there is a little demand for it because of that, the price will spike considerably, just like many Tiffany issues.

TheMcgwireMuseum

Player set collectors is definitely where the money would come from. The OPC are very hard to find raw/wax, and high grade PSA even more scarce. Im always looking for the rare/obscure issues for my set.

Boopotts

I actually had to spend 3 months looking for 1993 and 1994 OPC wax (not premiere) before Burbank finally put up some boxes in their store. I snatched them up that day for around 15$ each, inc. shipping, and I'm still glad I did. The '94 OPC is a gorgeous full bleed set, and the 1993, while not quite as attractive, is kind of endearing anyway because it has the rough cuts. Both sets feature spectacular photography.

jackstraw

I had a PSA 10 and PSA 9 1991 OPC Ryan RB and neither showed much intrest? I also had bothe 91 OPC Griffeys in PSA 10 along with the 92 in 10 also which should very little intrest?I have a PSA 9 90 OPC Thomas and couldn't give it away to some guy on the Beckett board that actually posted a want ad for it? I for one have learned my lesson on this stuff I can get much satisfaction collecting players or sets from the 90's but to spend any kind on money in grading is an absolute waste to me. I will let 4SC , DSL or whoever spend their money and scoop them up on Ebay for cheaper.

hotmush

I completely agree. I'm a total OPC BB collector (nothing else) and in the past six months I've been keeping track of Ebay sales, only 1 box of 89 OPC, 1 box of 90 OPC, 1 box of 91 OPC (not premiere), 93 OPC (not premiere) and 1 box of 94 OPC Prem have popped up on ebay (each sold for over $15). More than a few 91s, 92s and 93s have popped up, however. The 91 and 92s can be found for sometimes under $5/box. While 93 Premiers can be had at about $10/box. But they are really hard to find. I live in an area of Toronto where there are three card stores within walking distance to my house and none of them have OPC baseball (then again it's a hockey town).
Always love the challenge of completing OPC sets because the quality standards were sub-par even compared to Topps.
I completely feel that some day the scarcity of OPC BB cards (in high grade) will be understood. Well, I can at least dream.

CDsNuts

I just bought a case of 92 OPC from BBCE at $120. It's by far the most common of the early 90s, but at $5/box (24 boxes in the case), I really can't lose. I'll probably crack 5 and grade, then slowly sell the rest on ebay.

Lee

hotmush

Can't go wrong. The best part about the non Premiere 92s is that their still in wax (not foil) and have gum. Not that I would eat it, but it's nice to open packs with gum in them. I think this was the last year they did it for a while.

pjray55

Lee,

For early 90's OPC I have opened and submitted 1991 and 1992 and if you look on completed auctions you will find some of the cards from those subs to look at realized prices.

1991 - Much more difficult to get a 10 then the 1992's. I had 2 subs, the first (late last year) was awful, no 10's and quite a few 8's. I think I caught a tough grader on a bad day. My second attempt is posted below.

1992 - One sub and much easier to get a 10 (as you can see from the sub posted below and when looking through the pop reports)

Patrick

LINE # CERT # CARD CARD CO. CARD # CARD NAME VARIETY GRADE
1 06611465 1980 O-PEE-CHEE 55 JOHNNY BENCH N/A 8
8 06611472 1986 O-PEE-CHEE 300 GEORGE BRETT N/A 8
9 06611473 1986 O-PEE-CHEE 180 DON MATTINGLY N/A 10
10 06611474 1986 O-PEE-CHEE 1 PETE ROSE N/A 7
11 06611475 1986 O-PEE-CHEE 394 REGGIE JACKSON N/A Not Holdered, Miscut
12 06611476 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 545 DALE MURPHY N/A 9
13 06611477 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 6 NOLAN RYAN N/A 9
13 06611478 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 6 NOLAN RYAN N/A 9
14 06611479 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 333 CHIPPER JONES N/A 9
15 06611480 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 100 DON MATTINGLY N/A 10
16 06611481 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 225 RANDY JOHNSON N/A 8
17 06611482 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 630 DAVE WINFIELD N/A 10
18 06611483 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 389 ALAN TRAMMELL N/A 9
19 06611484 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 79 FRANK THOMAS N/A 9
20 06611485 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 3 CARLTON FISK RECORD BREAKER 8
21 06611486 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 540 GEORGE BRETT N/A 9
22 06611487 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 2 RICKEY HENDERSON N/A 8
23 06611488 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 50 KEN GRIFFEY JR. N/A 10
24 06611489 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 792 DAVE WINFIELD N/A 10
25 06611490 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 680 DALE MURPHY N/A 10
26 06611491 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 150 ROGER CLEMENS N/A 10
27 06611492 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 555 FRANK THOMAS N/A 9
28 06611493 1991 O-PEE-CHEE 530 ROGER CLEMENS N/A 7
29 06611494 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 300 DON MATTINGLY N/A 10
30 06611495 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 575 KIRBY PUCKETT N/A 10
31 06611496 1992 O-PEE-CHEE 4 NOLAN RYAN N/A 9


Patrick

CDsNuts

Nice grades. How much of the 91 and 92 did you bust?

Lee

pjray55

<< <i>Nice grades. How much of the 91 and 92 did you bust?

Lee >>



3 boxes of 1991 OPC and 1 Box of 1992

I have been looking for more 1991's without success and havent actively went after any additional 1992's.

hotmush

Well, I have to admit. Up here in Toronto my mom found a CASE of 91 OPCs (not Premiere) at a dollar store about 5 years. Ago ended up scoring them for a buck a box.
Still have about half the case. But someone forgot it up at our cottage four hours away up north. I hope the winter cold didn't affect it too badly. Can't wait to bust them and holder them this summer!

hotmush

Geeze. forget about cards... OPC stickers seem to be the wave of the future... check out these realizes box prices from this week on Ebay...
1988 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $29.00 4 bids
1987 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $28.00 5 bids
1986 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $21.70 4 bids
1983 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $61.00 10 bids

mikeschmidt

I think player collectors have driven the prices of the OPC stickers to ridiculous prices. Thank goodness I got most of mine early!

Boopotts

<< <i>Geeze. forget about cards... OPC stickers seem to be the wave of the future... check out these realizes box prices from this week on Ebay...
1988 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $29.00 4 bids
1987 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $28.00 5 bids
1986 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $21.70 4 bids
1983 OPC Baseball Stickers Unopened Wax Box Canada $61.00 10 bids >>



I was the underbidder on the '87's and '88's,and in retrospect I should have bid higher. The price for the '83's is ridiculous. They're much easier to find than the '84's and '85's, and for grading purposes it's almost impossible to get 10's on 'em.

CDsNuts

Just got a 1994 OPC wax box and have a 1993 OPC wax box (Thanks Boo) and four 1991 OPC complete sets on the way. I just got into this stuff but I'm really digging it. I think I pretty much cleaned out the internet in early 90s OPC that's priced reasonable.

If anybody wants to buy some 92 OPC boxes from my opened case, PM me.

Lee

hotmush

Those 94s are my Waterloo. VERY hard to find.

jackstraw

Here is my 94,93 OPC Griffey's and my 90 OPC PSA 9

jackstraw

I sold these but now with all this talk I need to get another copy graded. Anybody have a 93 OPC Premier Gold Foil?