1985 Topps What Should I buy?

matthewbschultz83

I am slowly trying to complete all Topps sets back to 1952 (hey I can dream can't I?). I have every year from 1983 (my birth year) to present except for 1985. When I started this 'project' the McGwire rookie didn't make this set feasible for my budget. Then the Clemens and Puckett put it outside my price range while I was in college. I've decided I am going to actively start doing this maybe 1 or 2 a year as my budget allows.

After checking BBCE I can get a box of 24 rack packs (42 cards per totalling 1,008 cards) for $140 or a 500 count vending box for $35. My question is do you think I can get a complete set from the rack packs or will I get more than 216 doubles? Will I get dupes out of the vending box? I've also saw these auctions on Ebay for Factory Sealed Sets, which is my preference, but I don't think either actually is a "Topps Factory Complete Set."

1985 Topps Factory Sealed Set #1

1985 Topps Factory Sealed Set #2

I'd be more inclined to believe the first one is actually a factory set, but seeing the actual box the cards are stored in, not shipped in would ease my mind a lot better. Also there is some fun for me in hand collating the set myself. This is how I put together my 83 and 84 sets. Any thoughts, comments, etc. are appreciated. Thanks.

Edited: I had the price wrong on the Vending box.

Sportsamerica

The first one looks like a Factory Set from Topps (I got a 1985 Football not Baseball).. The second is hand collected

For the value I would say Vending (corners may be dinged). So if you are OK with dome dinged corners, Vending would be my choice (You can gt 3 for the price of one rack)

Reljac

If your goal is to get a set built, I'd certainly buy a set rather than any of the boxes. I agree that this one seems to be your best option: Set listing

Any boxes are going to be a crap shoot and you will end up spending a lot more in shipping and other unopened material, buying commons etc, to build it from scratch. Unless of course you want the fun of building from scratch, but it will most likely be the most costly. The vending box is the best approach for this method.

matthewbschultz83

<< <i>If your goal is to get a set built, I'd certainly buy a set rather than any of the boxes. I agree that this one seems to be your best option: Set listing

Any boxes are going to be a crap shoot and you will end up spending a lot more in shipping and other unopened material, buying commons etc, to build it from scratch. Unless of course you want the fun of building from scratch, but it will most likely be the most costly. The vending box is the best approach for this method. >>



Oh I agree with buying the set vs. trying to build especially since this is probably the last year I could do that (don't know if there are many 1982 Topps Factory Sets out there). But I also like having the actual box too. Reljac if I buy the Ebay set is a box like this: I realize this is an 88 Factory set but you get the idea inside the box he took a picture of or are my cards inside that box. If I get a box like the pic I linked to, then its a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

lsutigers1973

<< <i>After checking BBCE I can get a box of 24 rack packs (42 cards per totalling 1,008 cards) for $140 or a 500 count vending box for $35. My question is do you think I can get a complete set from the rack packs or will I get more than 216 doubles? >>



I just busted a rack box from BBCE last Friday. I did not get a complete set but it was pretty close. Missing about 25 cards but got numerous high quality minty fresh cards of stars and HOF'ers with a few extras.

MCMLVTopps

See eBay item 360 196 033 748, $150 OBO. Factory sealed. If they aren't, you will win a paypal/eBay dispute hands down.

ThoseBackPages

<< <i>I am slowly trying to complete all Topps sets back to 1952 (hey I can dream can't I?). I have every year from 1983 (my birth year) to present except for 1985. When I started this 'project' the McGwire rookie didn't make this set feasible for my budget. Then the Clemens and Puckett put it outside my price range while I was in college. I've decided I am going to actively start doing this maybe 1 or 2 a year as my budget allows.

After checking BBCE I can get a box of 24 rack packs (42 cards per totalling 1,008 cards) for $140 or a 500 count vending box for $35. My question is do you think I can get a complete set from the rack packs or will I get more than 216 doubles? Will I get dupes out of the vending box? I've also saw these auctions on Ebay for Factory Sealed Sets, which is my preference, but I don't think either actually is a "Topps Factory Complete Set."

1985 Topps Factory Sealed Set #1

1985 Topps Factory Sealed Set #2

I'd be more inclined to believe the first one is actually a factory set, but seeing the actual box the cards are stored in, not shipped in would ease my mind a lot better. Also there is some fun for me in hand collating the set myself. This is how I put together my 83 and 84 sets. Any thoughts, comments, etc. are appreciated. Thanks.

Edited: I had the price wrong on the Vending box. >>



My favorite set of all time.

Link #1 you posted is a factory set. i won one back in 1985 via redemption from packs of 1985 topps stickers. came in that plain brown box. the cards inside were really nice.
not sure how the wear and tear has effected the one in the listing. you could always ask the seller.

as for ripping to achieve the set. Racks are your best bet. plus, with BBCEs boxes, you know they are clean, and you could pull a rack with Mac/Puckett/Clemens on top! nice

just some things to ponder. as for going backwards, you can pick up a 1982 Factory set, but they are really costly, as i think they were distributed through SEARS.

BBCE has one available, $350

matthewbschultz83

<< <i>See eBay item 360 196 033 748, $150 OBO. Factory sealed. If they aren't, you will win a paypal/eBay dispute hands down. >>



Well this was the route I wanted. I put in a Best Offer submission and got it for $125. I am happy with this (hopefully). Thanks for everyone's input I appreciate it. Had the factory sets not worked out. Probably would have done a vending box and a rack pack box. I know its overkill, but I wanted to make sure I completed the set. But now I don't have to deal with 800 doubles. Got what I wanted. Put the cards in a binder, display the box. Move on to the next year...

Those Back Pages, saw that 82 set, contemplated pulling the trigger. But may wait until after payday, hopefully its still there...

Thanks again.

MeteoriteGuy

Not as cool as the football of the same year, but still a pretty cool set.





And don't forget the traded set. I use to hate pulling this guy....he was like in every other pack I bought it seemed. (Later sets of course).

EAsports

I buy 1980's Topps rack boxes semi-frequently for set building purposes, and I can tell you, you'll probably still be 100 cards short of the set.

I bought a hand collated 1985 set from someone here on the cheap, and was happy with it. I added the 1985 Traded Set for a couple bucks a few weeks ago.

1985 is one of my favorite sets. No idea why.