1975 Topps Cellos

gumbyfan

I'm thinking about buying a couple 1975 Topps Cellos for the purposes of ripping them. I know that it's most likely a losing proposition, but I'll enjoy it nonetheless.

That said, I see Steve Hart has them at $85/pack. I got my latest magazine from Fritsche yesterday and they have them around $95. Fritsche notes that they purchased their packs directly from Topps in 1975. I would imagine that Steve obtained his from a 3rd party. I trust Steve and have made many purchases from him over the last couple of years. Still, there's something about buying from the original owner that seems enticing.

What do you all think? Is it worth the extra ~$10 to order from Fritsche, or should I just buy from Steve?

CDsNuts

wrapped too tight. crushed corners. You're better off with wax.

nam812

<< <i>.......I know that it's most likely a losing proposition........ >>



Isn't it sad that this sentence has to be included just to disarm stevek's rockets?

julen23

i have never bought from fritsche, but his dad's reputation proceeds itself.

IMHO both are reliable & prolly best sources in business.

J

gumbyfan

<< <i>wrapped too tight. crushed corners. You're better off with wax. >>



I've never opened cellos that were produced back then, but I assumed they weren't packaged as tightly as they were in later years. Glad I checked.

mbothner

Buy a couple of each from both. Then you will not wonder which was better and you will have more to open.

thekid8

Buy 1 from each and compare

gumbyfan

<< <i>i have never bought from fritsche, but his dad's reputation proceeds itself.

IMHO both are reliable & prolly best sources in business.

J >>



Fritsche is generally a little higher than others, but he's got some great oddball stuff that I've purchased. I recently got some old Brewers Police team sets from him and was very pleased.

nam812

grote15 is a very good source of information about all the different types of unopened product from 1975, and a very good guy. Maybe send him a PM.

dontippet

I'd guess that Fritche's cellos have been sitting in a warehouse for the past thirty years and have not been handled much. I would be tempted to go with his. You could also call Steve and ask him where he got the packs. I'm sure he'd tell you.

nam812

Either I cant find it, or fritschcards.com does not have vintage unopened pricing on it's website.

Edited to add the word vintage.

edmundfitzgerald

I opened at 1972 topps football wax box from Fritsch and was very pleased.

julen23

is fristche close enough for you to drive there?

he's in WI right?

j

gumbyfan

<< <i>is fristche close enough for you to drive there?

he's in WI right?

j >>



Yep...he's a couple hours away, but I'm going to be up there next weekend. Maybe I'll call and see if I can drop in. I believe they allow you to stop there if you call ahead.

julen23

yes.

i believe he had no problem w/ people physically visiting him.

J

nam812

Craig, is there any "per pack" or full box pricing for 1975 minis in the catalog?

IJustLoveCards

I can only speak of my own experience.
I want to point out up front I in no way am implying anything against steve, I have always found him to be honest and upfront and will continue to deal with him but I wont buy
unopened cellos, rack packs from certian years due to the ability of knowledgeable people to determine a print run or sequence of cards and take those packs only to replace them with less valuable ones.

I recently purchased a complete unopened box of 84 Football cello packs from steve and not 1 Elway, Marino, Payton or Dickerson regular card was in that entire box.
Not a single one, not an OC one, not a cut half off one, nada.
I know that steve is as honest as the day is long, an earlier poster pointed out that he gets them from 3rd party deals and can only verify what happens while they are in his hands.
I can't hold him liable for anything that happened before he owned them and that was the risk I was willing to take when I bought the box.
On one hand I know he will send me the product, he is honest and fair. On the other hand they were purchased from someone else. Thats the risk I took.
For those of you who knew ryan rutter no matter what you thought of him he was as knowledgeable as anyone in the industry when it came to unopened material.
I spent many an hour talking to him about the product, he in fact sent me the unopened wax guide and often pointed out sequence runs, and how to tell what was inside cello and rack
packs.
From a complete not knowing standpoint, unopened wax packs are your best shot (assuming the were not resealed) for getting unsearched cards.

Either way its a crapshot and I wish you luck, just my own experience and 2 pennies worth.

gumbyfan

<< <i>Craig, is there any "per pack" or full box pricing for 1975 minis in the catalog? >>



Yes, I don't have the catalog with me, but I believe the per pack price was $94.85. They did not list a full box price, however.

nam812

Bumped for grote15 to see.

Darin

On the cellos, expect every card to have at least one dinged corner. When I was collecting the 75 set, I had much better luck with rack packs. Centering is usually terrible on both, but much less dinged corners on racks unless they were mishandled.

grote15

I've opened a couple boxes of 1975 baseball over the last couple of years, but I'd have to say that cellos from this particular issue are a tough source for mint cards. 1975 cellos are wrapped extremely tight and the authentic packs have a "banana" wave look around the gum in the middle due to the tight wrapping. As a word of caution, there are a number of bogus 1975 cellos floating around with stars on top, which are usually easy to spot because of the wrapping of the pack is looser and the top card does not usually lay as "flat" as it should on the others behind it. Your best chance for pulling a mint card is near the middle of the pack--I've pulled a few PSA 9s that way (never a 10), as the first few cards on top and on back invariably have dinged corners due to the wrapping. If your goal is to pull gradeable cards, cello from this particular issue is a poor choice and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be much better off with rack or wax. Also, 1975 cards were printed in sequence, too.

Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage.

stevek

<< <i>I've opened a couple boxes of 1975 baseball over the last couple of years, but I'd have to say that cellos from this particular issue are a tough source for mint cards. 1975 cellos are wrapped extremely tight and the authentic packs have a "banana" wave look around the gum in the middle due to the tight wrapping. As a word of caution, there are a number of bogus 1975 cellos floating around with stars on top, which are usually easy to spot because of the wrapping of the pack is looser and the top card does not usually lay as "flat" as it should on the others behind it. Your best chance for pulling a mint card is near the middle of the pack--I've pulled a few PSA 9s that way (never a 10), as the first few cards on top and on back invariably have dinged corners due to the wrapping. If your goal is to pull gradeable cards, cello from this particular issue is a poor choice and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be much better off with rack or wax. Also, 1975 cards were printed in sequence, too.

Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage. >>



Dam Grote15, is there anything you don't know about unopened packs?

grote15

< I've opened a couple boxes of 1975 baseball over the last couple of years, but I'd have to say that cellos from this particular issue are a tough source for mint cards. 1975 cellos are wrapped extremely tight and the authentic packs have a "banana" wave look around the gum in the middle due to the tight wrapping. As a word of caution, there are a number of bogus 1975 cellos floating around with stars on top, which are usually easy to spot because of the wrapping of the pack is looser and the top card does not usually lay as "flat" as it should on the others behind it. Your best chance for pulling a mint card is near the middle of the pack--I've pulled a few PSA 9s that way (never a 10), as the first few cards on top and on back invariably have dinged corners due to the wrapping. If your goal is to pull gradeable cards, cello from this particular issue is a poor choice and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be much better off with rack or wax. Also, 1975 cards were printed in sequence, too.

Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage. >>



Dam Grote15, is there anything you don't know about unopened packs?

I'm pretty familiar with 1969-1980, as I decided early on to focus on collecting packs of all forms from those years. I pretty much excluded anything 1968 or earlier, as the cost factor is much higher, and 1970 marked the year Topps raised their pack price to 10c and also doubled the number of cards contained within from 5 to 10.

stevek

<< <i>< I've opened a couple boxes of 1975 baseball over the last couple of years, but I'd have to say that cellos from this particular issue are a tough source for mint cards. 1975 cellos are wrapped extremely tight and the authentic packs have a "banana" wave look around the gum in the middle due to the tight wrapping. As a word of caution, there are a number of bogus 1975 cellos floating around with stars on top, which are usually easy to spot because of the wrapping of the pack is looser and the top card does not usually lay as "flat" as it should on the others behind it. Your best chance for pulling a mint card is near the middle of the pack--I've pulled a few PSA 9s that way (never a 10), as the first few cards on top and on back invariably have dinged corners due to the wrapping. If your goal is to pull gradeable cards, cello from this particular issue is a poor choice and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be much better off with rack or wax. Also, 1975 cards were printed in sequence, too.

Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage. >>



Dam Grote15, is there anything you don't know about unopened packs?

I'm pretty familiar with 1969-1980, as I decided early on to focus on collecting packs of all forms from those years. I pretty much excluded anything 1968 or earlier, as the cost factor is much higher, and 1970 marked the year Topps raised their pack price to 10c and also doubled the number of cards contained within from 5 to 10. >>



You have contributed nicely to this forum on this subject and I have learned much from you about unopened packs. That is appreciated. Thank you!

I truly wish I had the confidence to buy some 60's unopened packs, especially 1962, but even with the slabbed material out there, I just feel at this time that there's too many potential problems for it to be worth it. I wouldn't mind at all paying say $1,000 for a nice unopened slabbed NM-MT1962 pack and busting it for the "feeling", the thrill, of reliving the experience plus of course the possibility of getting some possibly valuable cards, but to me it would be just too aggravating to p*** away even $1 "knowing" the pack had been opened and resealed, and then it was basically a scam. Once a slab has been busted, you can't exactly return it for a refund - sort of like a perfect scam and I really hate being scammed. Perhaps someday I will have the "confidence" in a vintage slabbed pack that it is definitely unopened and decide to buy and bust a few.

bman90278

<< <i>Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage. >> >>



Very true, I wanted to add something about rack packs. Recently I've purchased many 78-80 rack packs with some great cards showing on the front or back and when I ripped the packs many of the front & back cards did have indentations or small pressure marks on the card faces or back sides. That being said, I really like the dollar values of rack packs, but I won't take any more chances on rack packs with good cards showing.

gumbyfan

<< <i>I've opened a couple boxes of 1975 baseball over the last couple of years, but I'd have to say that cellos from this particular issue are a tough source for mint cards. 1975 cellos are wrapped extremely tight and the authentic packs have a "banana" wave look around the gum in the middle due to the tight wrapping. As a word of caution, there are a number of bogus 1975 cellos floating around with stars on top, which are usually easy to spot because of the wrapping of the pack is looser and the top card does not usually lay as "flat" as it should on the others behind it. Your best chance for pulling a mint card is near the middle of the pack--I've pulled a few PSA 9s that way (never a 10), as the first few cards on top and on back invariably have dinged corners due to the wrapping. If your goal is to pull gradeable cards, cello from this particular issue is a poor choice and the odds are stacked against you. You'd be much better off with rack or wax. Also, 1975 cards were printed in sequence, too.

Edit: $95 a pack is on the high side, but worth it if you know you're getting the packs from a trusted source. There are 18 cards in a 1975 cello pack (or almost 2x the number of cards in a wax pack). Good luck if you decide to go for it, but a rack pack at less than $200 a pop for 42 cards is a better prospect for gradeable cards with no gum or cello wrapping damage. >>



Thank you for sharing your insight! I will pass on the cellos for now. I am definitely looking for gradable cards, so I don't want to deal with wax/gum or the issues that accompany cards in the cello packs. Looks like my best bet is a couple racks. You noted that 1975 cards were printed in sequence, does this mean it is highly unlikely for me to pull a Yount from a rack? He is, after all, the leading reason I want to rip some of the product.

Thanks again for your help!
Craig

Bosox1976

I've pulled two Younts from Racks (a Brett too - though never a Ryan) -- they are out there. Good luck.

grote15

Thank you for sharing your insight! I will pass on the cellos for now. I am definitely looking for gradable cards, so I don't want to deal with wax/gum or the issues that accompany cards in the cello packs. Looks like my best bet is a couple racks. You noted that 1975 cards were printed in sequence, does this mean it is highly unlikely for me to pull a Yount from a rack? He is, after all, the leading reason I want to rip some of the product.

Thanks again for your help!
Craig

Hi Craig,

It is possible to pull a Yount or high dollar card from a rack, as the sequencing was usually interrupted at least once in the pack (or 14-card sleeve in the case of a rack), but since the cards were printed in sequence, a dealer in the know would have a good idea if a Yount is in the pack based on the card on front, especially if the card is only one or two cards before the Yount, as the odds of the sequencing remaining intact there is higher. I have pulled two Brett RCs from racks, so it is definitely possible, but probably not as random as it would be when opening a wax pack where the cards are hidden (although with 1975 Topps you can often see the card through the wrapper also).

Most 1975 racks have been outside of the case/box, as sealed cases of product from this era are extremely hard to come by. The cards, however, are usually in mint condition, as the cello wrapping on 1975 racks is significantly thicker than in other years, so the cards are not as prone to sliding around in the sleeve. Bman also raises a good point about the top card having a small indentation on the top or bottom of the card, as many top cards in racks of all years have machine marks, so if it's a star rack you're buyinmg be very aware of that if your plan is to crack and submit that top star card.

One last thing about 1975 racks--unlike most other years the header card on a 1975 rack is most often on the right side of the rack instead of the left. I've seen a couple of fakes with the header card on the left side (though because sometimes Topps inserted the cards upside down it's tough to tell which side is up, LOL), and the header card should always have that "crosshairs" design where the punch hole is.

I recall Ldferg recently pulled a blazing Aaron RB #1 that was showing on the back of a 1975 rack. That card looked like a lock for a Mint 9 grade.

ldferg

grote (et al),
i have busted a handful of 75t racks the last few months. i've not pulled a 10 yet and very few 9s (one of the packs was GAI graded). good luck on whatever you decide to do.

the aaron from my last bust is at psa now. i will post the results when received.