Hidden Treasures Blaster - Smashed the Odds

kmnorton

Well, I was in Sportmart yesterday and I noticed one solitary blaster box of Hidden Treasures and it called my name. I had heard about these and thought "it can't be that bad". It was unbelievable. Really, the level of crap in these 20 packs was mind-boggling. I have to say, I took perverse pleasure as I opened one pack after another and saw things just get worse and worse. The blowing away of the odds will come later.

I present to you some of the gems... By the way, all are up for trade, if anybody is interested.

First up, a future General Manager

RipublicaninMass

First up, a future General Manager

of the Packers?

kmnorton

Next up, a Hall of Famer. I was especially excited about the condition.

kmnorton

Twenty packs with 4 or 5 cards and I get 2 of one player, not even the same card? Oh, the joy and elation. These are going in my personal collection

Morgoth

They made about 20 million 90 donruss cards and they couldn't find any not in EXMT shape?

kmnorton

Did I say how happy I was to receive 2 cards from the same player? Imagine the jump for joy as I started to put together my haul and found out I had these?

zef204

<< <i>They made about 20 million 90 donruss cards and they couldn't find any not in EXMT shape? >>


Makes me wonder if one of my neighbors happens to work for Hidden Treasures and combs my dumpster for these inserts. I am pretty sure I have thrown away every example pictured over the last year.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

Pretty sad when collectors are buying boxes not to get the biggest hit but who can get the most sh.. shh, I hear someone coming.

kmnorton

The Canseco collection must have been an accident. I can't imagine, from 20 packs, that I would get 4 of the same player, each one a different card. That being said, the surprise and joy was doubled when these showed up.

kmnorton

Another Hall of Famer and one of my personal favorites. Can you say Gem Mint?

kmnorton

Why should such a classy organization such as Hidden Treasures limited themselves to MLB? I have to say, I've been thinking about collecting SENIOR BASEBALL cards.... Oh, and another two'fer

kmnorton

I thought my luck had changed when I saw this. Oh, wait, it's a reprint.

onlyanumber

Don't feel too bad--you said you saw one box of hidden treasures. Just goes to show you that other collectors out there bought boxes as well...

2dueces

You musta really had the ripping Jones to buy a box of that garbage.
I open 1 box when the first came out when I was in a hotel with nothing to do.
All of them ended up in the waste paper basket . I bet the maid thought
she hit the jackpot.

kmnorton

Who needs big star cards when you get this? I wonder when he's getting the call to the show.

RipublicaninMass

...how bad could they be???? Dont know if it could get worse!

kmnorton

Don't get me wrong, there were a fair share of rookie and star cards like these..

(I completely went into this knowing what the box would contain. It was fun in a train wreck sort of way)

Alfonz24

What was the price tag for wonderful cards?

What was that Barnum and Bailey saying? A sucker is born every minute.

kmnorton

Here is probably the only card I'm going to not throw away.

kmnorton

Isn't there a Clark fan here on the boards. I will let this one go because I don't think it would grade higher than a 7 or 8.

kmnorton

All right, drum roll. Now for the odds defying portion. Like I mentioned earlier, 20 packs with 5 cards in each. The box was $19.99. What, I ask you, could the chances be to pull these? 1,000 to 1. 50,000 to 1? Whatever they are, I just can't believe I got 3 of the EXACT same card.

It was fun. You are correct, somebody has purchased this sh** before and people will probably do it in the future.

Next week the root canal.

PasadenaMudSlide

Sweet cards!

I must confess, I've fallen victim to this mad rush of adrenaline, as well.

NJMH

nam812

Was it the 1952 Topps wax pack type, or the Babe Ruth type?

ajw

<< <i>Isn't there a Clark fan here on the boards. I will let this one go because I don't think it would grade higher than a 7 or 8.

>>



Ha! I actually checked to see if this was the factory set or wax version. Alas, it's a wax version...

onlyanumber

<< <i>

<< <i>Isn't there a Clark fan here on the boards. I will let this one go because I don't think it would grade higher than a 7 or 8.

>>



Ha! I actually checked to see if this was the factory set or wax version. Alas, it's a wax version... >>



Now that is dedication!

kmnorton

Nick,

In case you want to rush out and duplicate these beauties, it was the Babe Ruth one.

Kurt

nam812

If you're guaranteeing me 3 Olson rookies.....Im in.

frankhardy

Well, you can take at least one positive thing from your experience - this has given me much enjoyment looking through that bunch of crap.

Estil

I wonder if those so-called "blue chip specials" from Shop at Home a few years back are any better?

OSClabs

funny stuff

2dueces

<< <i>Well, you can take at least one positive thing from your experience - this has given me much enjoyment looking through that bunch of crap. >>



Well worth the $20 for the CU board entertainment. I made popcorn for this event.

joestalin

Great post, thanks! A few observations.....

1) Not only the Three Olson's, which by itself is strong, but 3 with almost the same centering left to right...amazing!
2) Is that a unibrow on Clark?
3) Did Barry Bonds ask Pennyfeather if he could use his jersey number?
4) Its usually not good when the Walmart employee smirks after she rings up your blaster box.

Thanks for the laughs.....is this the fate us all during the heritage off season??????

Kevin

stown

They were selling boxes for $25 at the show.



Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you

Pittfan

Are we to believe the 52 pack is unsearched?

ElectricPrune

This is quite possibly the funniest thread I have read on any type of forum. I wish I could have saved you the trouble, because I would have been happy to give you the 3 '89 Olsons. I probably had 30+ at one point. I don't think I had the '74 Forsch though.

Your presentation is impeccable though.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

Check out the UD logo on Bo Jackson. Scanner error or ??

thekid8

I personally would like to say thank you!
Even though your wallet experienced some pain there is one less box out there ---- you took one for the team.

ORANGE

Next time get the 52 pack version. I'm addicted to opening these. I'm gonna get one of the valuable old packs soon, I just know it! Until then you get real packs, not just the same hidden treasure pack over and over. That way you can pick up some great cards like these one:





Real hall of famer cards and stars of the past:



Cards which should be worth much more than they are:



Or if common old cards are your bag:



All that for the same price as your twenty packs of 5 cards. I know those kind and I'm betting you got all three greg olsons in the same pack right?

ORANGE

In response to your unasked question, no they aren't putting packs of 71 and 79 topps in them... Are you surprized?
These cards came out of the 4 or 5 hidden treasures packs which help to fill the box to twenty packs total.
Looks like the breakdown is like:
3 or 4 donruss 88-91
3 or 4 stickers packs
a couple fleer tradition 2005
a couple topps 88-91
a couple upper deck 90,91
some 90 fleer.
a topps BIG pack.

CDsNuts

ORANGE, aren't you the guy who told xbaggypants that he got ripped off after spending a whopping $25 on 500 cards from the '50s? And now you're advocating spending money on this crap? Wow.

Lee

stown

<< <i>ORANGE, aren't you the guy who told xbaggypants that he got ripped off after spending a whopping $25 on 500 cards from the '50s? And now you're advocating spending money on this crap? Wow.

Lee >>



Yuppers, he sure did. Called them out for being in terrible condition too.

Linky



<< <i>Wow. You really got ripped off. Just look at those corners. >>



Edited to add: And the ironic thing is xbaggy will probabaly triple his money just on the '54s alone.

eBay link

CDsNuts

Yeah stown, but those cards aren't nearly as mint as the 1990 Fleer Juan Gonzalez. I often would rather spend my money on crap that has no resale value instead of something that I could make 2000% of my investment on.

Lee

onlyanumber

considering Baggy also has a $36.00 on one of the '52 high numbers, he came out way ahead on that deal so far...

linky

ORANGE

You mean you'd rather have a 52 topps card of some guy you never heard of before than a Smoltz rookie. Smoltz just passed 200 wins and also has some 150 saves. I don't get you... I hate to belittle people but I gott a question that choice seriously.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

<< <i>You mean you'd rather have a 52 topps card of some guy you never heard of before than a Smoltz rookie. Smoltz just passed 200 wins and also has some 150 saves. I don't get you... I hate to belittle people but I gott a question that choice seriously. >>



Your kidding right ? I remember that post. I thought you were then, but ....?

So the "wow vintage cards in a vintage store" (not word for word) wasnt sarcastic ? If not, how many antique shops by you have vintage cards and priced like that? If they do and you didnt buy them, well then....

It like this. He paid $25 for 500 cards that are old are were not made in the quantities like they were in 1989. Back in the day they didnt perserve or perceive cards like they did in 1989. So simple supply/demand makes the older cards more valuable and harder to find making it more of a "treat". I assume you know all this and well, I have around 25 89 Fleer Smoltz (not intentional, they happened to get caught in my FF hunt) so if I found a bag of them (Smoltz 89)...lets say I would'nt create a post about it.

I swear your messing with us.



*edited for spelling* I dont want to look lik a dummy.

CDsNuts

How about this: You have a beat up 1952 Topps common of some guy you've never heard of. You sell that beat up common for $40. Now you can take that $40 and go out and buy 100 John Smoltz rookies. So yeah, I'd rather have one beat up card of somebody I've never heard of then one John Smoltz rookie. Do you get me now?

I gotta question the choice of a guy who would rather have a card with a resale value of 50 cents than one with a resale value of $40. You can always sell the $40 card if you don't want it.

Lee

CDsNuts

ORANGE, we gotta do some trading. Let me know if you come across any vintage.

BobaFett72

Orange, I will trade you all 200 of my John Smoltz cards for your 1952 topps set.. deal??

CDsNuts

I always wondered who dealers sold their "grab bags" to at card shows.

stown

<< <i>Orange, I will trade you all 200 of my John Smoltz cards for your 1952 topps set.. deal?? >>



PFHT!

I'll throw in all of my cards from the 90's, which are probably in the tens of 1,000s and GEM MINT, for a '52 set with rounded corners any day of the week