Will the 94 Finest BB Refractor set ever become popular?

MrVintage

I was just wondering if anyone thinks that the 1994 finest baseball refractor set will ever become popular? I know the production run of the 93 refractors is somewhere between 241-250. What are the production #s of the 94 refractors? I don't see them up for sale often so I was wondering if they were really hard to find because of production or lack of interest? Thanks

Estil

Often?! When do you see a complete set for sale at all? I sure wouldn't mind getting a 1994 refractor set (as well as the jumbo All-Stars set; I already have the 1993 jumbo set) if the price is right.

I do know that one, there was a lot more 1994 Finest than 1993 and two, I believe the odds of getting a refractor in 1994 were 1:9 versus 1:18 for 1993.

MrVintage

I'm talking about as far as the set registry goes. The current #1 94 finest refractor set is only around 30% complete and there are several 100% complete 93 sets. I am just wondering if the interest from the registry collectors will ever pick up on the 94's

Allen

No.

Estil

I'd be perfectly content with a raw set. That is, if one exists for a reasonable price...

MrVintage

what would be a reasonable price for a raw set in your opinion?

GemMt10luvr

94's are no good, complete set should be $50 or less

MrVintage

The 94 set may not be quite as tough as the 93 set, but 50 bucks? I think it would bring alot more than that.....if you could even find one for sale

skilow

Id pay 10 bucks, as there is no interest in this set. Just like all the other, non inagural edition type sets of the decade. Many suckers overpay for these sets still, with hope they appreciate. Best bet is to check the local flea markets.

MrVintage

I like collecting sets that are tough.....both supply and gradewise these fit the bill.

GemMt10luvr

how much do you want to pay on a set? if $50 is too cheap, you seem to have a number in your head that you think is the right price

MrVintage

The last two raw Griffeys that sold on ebay went for $58 and $52 so I would definetely expect to spend more than $50 for the entire set

jacksoncoupage

<< <i>Id pay 10 bucks, as there is no interest in this set. Just like all the other, non inagural edition type sets of the decade. Many suckers overpay for these sets still, with hope they appreciate. Best bet is to check the local flea markets. >>



This has to be a joke.

GoDodgersFan

This set is way undervalued in my assessment because of the 1993 hype.

Try finding an affordable Thomas, Griffey or Ripken in PSA 9/10 condition.

I'd buy sets for 50.00 all day long.

Allen

I don't think the guy saying $50 has any idea what set we are talking about or he does not know what a refractor is. A 1994 Refractor set would bring decent money on ebay, but it would not bring as much as many singles from 1993. There is no comparison there. You are comparing 86-87 Fleer Basketball with 90-91 Fleer Basketball. I have a handful of 1994 Finest Refractors, but I don't list them on ebay because they probably won't get a .99 opening bid. When I have 1993 Finest refractors I cannot wait to list them as even the worst commons bring solid money with a chance to go crazy high. That is where your supply and demand statement is skewed. There are actually lots of 1994 Finest Refractors in ebay stores with many costing only a couple bucks.

I think it is safe to say that the 1993-94 Finest Refractor Basketball set which was the first Finest Basketball set would bring more and a set sold for $632.

CDsNuts

A 94 Finest refractor set would go for around $400-$500 minimum on ebay. There is demand for the set, as well as singles for the player collectors. The following cards have all sold for $20+ in the last 3 months- Griffey, Piazza, Manny, Ripken, Mattingly, McGwire, Sosa, Thomas, Piazza, McGwire and Puckett. PSA 10s of any of these guys would bring good money from the registry guys, so it would most likely be somebody looking to break up and grade that would be the high bidder.

There are way fewer assembled sets compared to 93 (or even 95) because it was so wildly unpopular that nobody ever bothered to put it together. There is definitely some pent up demand for this set and anybody who says differently knows nothing about the market for 90s cards.

mtcards

I would definitely pay $50 a set for the refractor version. In fact $10 a set for the regular set seems a little low

lwehlers

well if you look on ebay now there is a series one 1-221. up for bids right now. #220429059440. i have a griffey and thomas refractors. i pulled the thomas out of a box in 1994 when they came out.

Estil

To answer the question regarding how much I'd pay, maybe $200-$300 or so (if I ever come up with that kind of cash at once). There was a 1996 Finest Refractor set (bronze/silver/gold) that sold for about $350 or so (and that set is MUCH tougher to build). As for the Series 1 only set, I wouldn't be interested (I do not do "half sets").

pandrews

<< <i>Id pay 10 bucks, as there is no interest in this set. Just like all the other, non inagural edition type sets of the decade. Many suckers overpay for these sets still, with hope they appreciate. >>



LOL @ "no interest in this set" being followed up by "many suckers overpay"..

brumbach

It's also worth mentioning that there are probably still some 1994 refractors in common bins. Unless you are paying attention or know what you're looking at it can be difficult to tell the refractors apart from the regular cards. On several occasions back in 1994 I pulled refractors out of dime boxes that had been overlooked. It wasn't until 1995 that Topps started printing REFRACTOR on the backs of the cards.

saucywombat

I am putting together a graded '94 Finest Set on the Registry.

It took me about 2 years to put together the set raw. It took me about a year to put together the 93 set graded.

These cards are just as scarce as the 93's and probably more so based on information that is available and my collecting experience. I will say that part of the difficulty in locating these cards is they are not viewed as a commodity like the 93's and don't always find their way to auction. But there is nothing to indicate that there are more of the 1994's than the 1993's.

See this link to an earlier thread by me here. Number of 1994's

The number of cards in the Finest set more than doubled from 199 to 440 from 1993 to 1994, so while there are more refractors total it seems that there are less individual examples of each specific card.

As far as my guess on a fair price in the current market for all 440 cards probably in the $550 range.

BTW- someone (not me) is selling the entire first series right now. Complete Series 1 Good seller - great get from him on the entire 1995 Refractor Series 2.

My interest lies in the fact that these were the big get when I was collecting as a kid - and it seemed like an impossibility for anyone to put together a set. Now with Ebay its possible and still challenging. I'd imagine that the popularity of 90's refractor sets will increase as people who collected during the height of the hobby return as adults and want to put something special together. My Set w/ pics (#1)

Glad to have some company in this endeavor. PM me if anyone is interested in extras raw or graded.

CNote

What's a refractor?

Estil

<< <i>What's a refractor? >>



It looks like a regular Finest card, but if you tilt it at a light, it makes a rainbow shine, especially along the borders.

CNote

<< <i>

It looks like a regular Finest card, but if you tilt it at a light, it makes a rainbow shine, especially along the borders. >>



I know, I was just being a smartass

I myself have quite the Jr Refractor collection

CDsNuts

Half the set just sold for $381- Link


I love when people chime in with information and have no idea what they are talking about.

MrVintage

Yeah I guess the experts that said the set would go for 10 dollars were a little bit off on this one. I like what CDnuts said as it was pretty fitting for this topic

Estil

If only you could get the whole set. It's probably out of my price range though. But what an awesome set that'd be. And maybe get the 1995 refractors to go with it?

saucywombat

<< <i>If only you could get the whole set. It's probably out of my price range though. But what an awesome set that'd be. And maybe get the 1995 refractors to go with it? >>



Whoever did that would likely be the most awesome person in the universe

The 95's are fun because they line up like a bomb site for determining exactly how centered they are. It also becomes quite addictive to expertly remove the peels.

Estil

I had to remove the peels for my regular set. Yes, sacrilege, I know.