1960'S & 1970'S OPC baseball....how rare is it?

1966CUDA

Opinions please. I've heard some quotes saying 5-10% of Topps runs....how true is this? I've been working on a '65 raw set and a '72 graded set. What kind of value will this stuff hold compared to Topps counterparts?

-Claude

mikeschmidt

It is definitely much rarer than the Topps counterparts, I think 5% is probably more what I've seen anecdotally. That said, values do not track rarity, as few collect these cards. Player collectors will migrate to certain examples [Schmidt, Mantle, Munson, etc.], and sets will sometimes get attention, but in terms of value and how it will hold, the reality is there is significantly less desire/demand for these cards.

M

mlbfan2

"I've heard some quotes saying 5-10% of Topps runs....how true is this?"

5% seems about right to me.
Check this out. The number before the price is the number of singles on Sportlots right now.

1965 TOPPS
1 Howrd/Olva/Robinson 9 $1.50
2 Clemente, Roberto 1 $17.00
3 Kill/Mantle/Powell 1 $30.00
4 Mays/Will/Cepeda 1 $3.95
6 Boyer/Mays/Santo 3 $1.44
7 Chance/Horlen 5 $0.50
8 Drysdale/Koufax 8 $3.95
9 A.L. Pitching Ldrs 3 $1.00
10 Jacksn/Marchl/Sdcki 5 $0.50
11 Downing/Dean Cha, Al 6 $0.39
12 Drysdale/Gibson/Vea 2 $1.98
13 Ramos, Pedro 12 $0.39
14 Gabrielson, Len 6 $0.50
15 Roberts, Robin 4 $2.75
16 Morgan, Joe 5 $10.99
17 Romano, Johnny 30 $0.27
18 McCool, Bill 18 $0.27
19 Brown, Gates 3 $2.00
20 Bunning, Jim 4 $2.00
21 Blasingame, Don 11 $0.24
22 Smith, Charlie 8 $0.35
23 Tiefenauer, Bob 48 $0.25
24 Twins Team 7 $1.25
25 McBean, Al 5 $0.49
26 Knoop, Bobby 19 $0.27
27 Bertell, Dick 24 $0.25
28 Schultz, Barney 25 $0.18
29 Mantilla, Felix 6 $0.18
30 Bouton, Jim 10 $0.72
31 White, Mike 13 $0.24
32 Franks, Herman 6 $0.75
33 Brandt, Jackie 8 $0.27
34 Koonce, Cal 16 $0.24
35 Charles, Ed 10 $0.24
36 Wine, Bobby 32 $0.18
37 Gladding, Fred 24 $0.24
38 King, Jim 19 $0.18
39 Arrigo, Gerry 29 $0.18
40 Howard, Frank 4 $0.50
41 Howard/Staehle 12 $0.30
42 Wilson, Earl 2 $2.00
43 Shannon, Mike 11 $0.24
44 Blasingame, Wade 12 $0.24
45 McMillan, Roy 42 $0.24
46 Lee, Bob 13 $0.27
47 Harper, Tommy 15 $0.40
48 Raymond, Claude 37 $0.18
49 Blefary/Miller 21 $0.27
50 Marichal, Juan 3 $3.95
51 Bryan, Billy 48 $0.24

1965 OPC
2 Clemente/Aaron/Cart 1 $75.00
3 Kill/Mantle/Powell 1 $145.00
4 Mays/Will/Cepeda 1 $45.00
5 Brooks/Kill/Mantle 1 $65.00
6 Boyer/Mays/Santo 1 $35.00
8 Koufax/Drysdale 1 $65.00
9 Chance/Gary Pe, Dean 1 $15.00
10 Jackson/Ray S, Larry 1 $15.00
11 Downing/Dean Cha, Al 1 $15.00
15 Roberts, Robin 1 $25.00
19 Brown, Gates 1 $12.00
20 Bunning, Jim 1 $30.00
24 Twins Team 1 $20.00
26 Knoop, Bobby 1 $5.00
30 Bouton, Jim 1 $20.00
35 Charles, Ed 1 $5.00
43 Shannon, Mike 1 $10.00
44 Blasingame, Wade 1 $8.00
53 McAuliffe, Dick 1 $12.00
65 Kubek, Tony 1 $25.00
69 Virdon, Bill 1 $10.00
70 Skowron, Bill 1 $15.00
74 Petrocelli, Rico 1 $25.00
76 McDowell, Sam 1 $15.00
78 Maxvill, Dal 1 $12.00
79 Checklist 1 $18.00
91 Cubs Team 1 $18.00
94 Lau, Charlie 1 $15.00
95 Mazeroski, Bill 1 $40.00
96 Siebert, Sonny 1 $10.00
99 Hodges, Gil 1 $16.00
100 Boyer, Ken 1 $18.00
101 Newman, Fred 1 $10.33
104 Checklist 1 $20.00
110 Santo, Ron 1 $20.00
115 Richardson, Bobby 1 $30.00
118 Lanier, Hal 1 $12.00
123 Thomas, Frank 1 $12.00
126 Dodgers Team 1 $20.00
130 Kaline, Al 1 $85.00
132 Series, World 1 $20.00
133 Stottlemyre, Mel 1 $18.00
134 Mantle, Mickey 1 $65.00
135 Boyer, Ken 1 $27.00
136 McCarver, Tim 1 $20.00
138 Gibson, Bob 1 $35.00
139 Series, World 1 $25.00
145 Tiant, Luis 1 $35.00
151 Athletics Team 1 $18.00
153 Cash, Norm 1 $20.00

hotmush

Anyone ever hear what the print runs for Topps were, or is still a state secret?

smtjoy

As a player collector I can say they are many times harder, I have been looking to upgrade my 1968 clemente PSA 5 for over 3 years now with no luck.

The Clementes run 3 x 5 times what the topps issues are for most of the harder to get issues.

Here is my fav-

diamondman

I would guess 5% of Topps run in the 60's and 10% in the 70's. The OPC is rarer, but as stated less demand and collectors so this will hold the value down. The OPC stars will always sell but the commons would be a tougher sell in my opinion.

I think certain years of OPC are better than their counterparts Topps. I always liked the 1971, 1972 OPC.

samspop

The 1965's were very tough due to the fact that this was the 1st year of O-Pee-Chee baseball. I have been looking for a decent one of these for the last 2-3 years. Only 1-2 year show up on eBay and they are usually rags...PSA 3-4 quality at best.

I was able to pick this up 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier!

kidzfund

I gotta go home and check the back of my cards. I know I have some with english and french on the back - anybody know what year Topps started this?

itzagoner

the inherent difficulty in finding these cards is what makes them even more fun to collect.....here is one i acquired raw and recently had graded, it's now one of my favorites.

purduepete

<< <i>I gotta go home and check the back of my cards. I know I have some with english and french on the back - anybody know what year Topps started this? >>



It wasn't Topps - it was O-Pee-Chee. And the year was 1970.

tyweb1

Here are my 2 favorites OPC's

[URL=http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l154/tyweb1/1961-1976 Ron Santo/?action=view&amp;current=1965O-Pee-CheeNLRBILeaders.jpg][/URL]

[URL=http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l154/tyweb1/1961-1976 Ron Santo/?action=view&amp;current=1968OPCNLHomeRunLeaders.jpg][/URL]

toothshucker

OPC's are some of my favorite cards. 5 to 10% of Topps production is what I've heard to. OPC's can have amazing picture clarity, focus and color depth. Come to like the rough edge cuts over time as well- kind of cool (and legit/nontampered). Check out the color on the 73 & 75 OPC Seaver- the Topps versions can be really drab.
[URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc004.jpg][/URL][URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc006.jpg][/URL][URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc003.jpg][/URL][URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc002.jpg][/URL] IMG]http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/PSASEAVERREGISTRY021.jpg[/IMG][URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc.jpg][/URL][URL=http://s848.photobucket.com/albums/ab50/toothshucker/?action=view¤t=opc001.jpg][/URL]

BearcatMike

Great topic. I have been trying for several years to put early OPC Baseball sets together and they are TOUGH to find, especially in nice shape and centered. I think all the early OPC baseball cards are extremely UNDERVALUED, similiar to the early Venezuela Topps cards.

purduepete

Here's my personal experience with the 60's OPC's. It took me 4+ years to finish my raw 69 set in mostly EXMT to NM condition; now I'm trying to pick up 68 and earlier cards whenever I can. If it wasn't for eBay, it would be next to impossible for someone in the States to complete one of those early O-Pee-Chee sets.

Itzagoner - I'm liking those 69's that you have been picking up recently

hotmush

Shameless plug, but I seriously encourage all you BB OPC collectors to head on over to my wiki site and upload your info into the site so it can be a lasting resource for OPC collectors. I know... I know... if you know that a certain card is always off centre, then it can be to you benefit not to tell anyone if you see one listed on ebay, but I really aim for the site to be a collective knowledge base for OPC baseball cards so if you don't care about that stuff, please post. It's free and you don't have to sign up for anything.
Link below.

fkw

I agree with the 5%...but

Just like WWG cards of the 1930s (World Wide Gum, aka Canadian Goudey's), If OPC had designed their own cards instead of rehashing the same design as Topps most every year, then they would easily have more demand and more of a following in the US.


Just look at the unique 1937 V300 O-Pee-Chee cards they are very attractive and sell for very good $$, far more than the Goudeys of the same era.

They are a Frankenstein cross between a R318 Batter Up, R320 Goudey and R333 Delong card, very cool and somewhat rare overall.

example


O-Pee-Chee had it in them, they just took the easy way out IMO

hotmush

I think this sums it up nicely.

Topps
vs.
OPC

jimq112

My favorite OPC card. My favorite player, favorite team, and it represented the first world series game I ever saw in person. It's not worth much but it's special to me.