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1987 Topps -- View from the sidelines
mikeschmidt
Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭
I see that two 1987 Topps sets are actually registered on the Set Registry, by distinguished collectors nonetheless.
In the write-up for the set, it is described as the following: "It's a large set (792 cards), but due to a voluminous print run, packs, boxes, vending boxes, and factory sets are still readily available. Completion of this set in a strong grade won't be like climbing Mount Everest.
Wax cases from this set cost about $250 -- or less than three cents per card. Set cases sell for about $200, or less than 2 cents per card. Vending cases go for about $150 -- or slightly more than one penny per card.
In my mind, this is a case of infinite futility. Cards are barely worth a penny each -- and that is just the average (stars are worth a little -- and commons are worth fractions of a penny). That it would cost someone over $5,000 to ever have this set graded is simply ridiculous. No dealer would ever undertake that risk (Allowing buyers to purchase to purchase graded cards for less than the grading cost), and I cannot imagine any collector would do the same.
We have seen many debates regarding the potential long-term investment/profitability of many late 1970s and early 1980s sets in a completely graded set. Though that is an interesting debate, I cannot imagine anyone ever taking the opposite side in a debate like this. Clearly these cards are all but worthless -- save a few star cards that just might make up the grading cost in PSA 9, there is nothing going for this set.
It's a shame -- it's probably the first set I ever completed by myself, as I started coming into my first true phase of collecting (I was 11 at the time...). However, these cards, though they have sentimental value to me, they will never be worth much to nearly every collector.
An exercise in futility...
In the write-up for the set, it is described as the following: "It's a large set (792 cards), but due to a voluminous print run, packs, boxes, vending boxes, and factory sets are still readily available. Completion of this set in a strong grade won't be like climbing Mount Everest.
Wax cases from this set cost about $250 -- or less than three cents per card. Set cases sell for about $200, or less than 2 cents per card. Vending cases go for about $150 -- or slightly more than one penny per card.
In my mind, this is a case of infinite futility. Cards are barely worth a penny each -- and that is just the average (stars are worth a little -- and commons are worth fractions of a penny). That it would cost someone over $5,000 to ever have this set graded is simply ridiculous. No dealer would ever undertake that risk (Allowing buyers to purchase to purchase graded cards for less than the grading cost), and I cannot imagine any collector would do the same.
We have seen many debates regarding the potential long-term investment/profitability of many late 1970s and early 1980s sets in a completely graded set. Though that is an interesting debate, I cannot imagine anyone ever taking the opposite side in a debate like this. Clearly these cards are all but worthless -- save a few star cards that just might make up the grading cost in PSA 9, there is nothing going for this set.
It's a shame -- it's probably the first set I ever completed by myself, as I started coming into my first true phase of collecting (I was 11 at the time...). However, these cards, though they have sentimental value to me, they will never be worth much to nearly every collector.
An exercise in futility...
I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
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Having said that, however ...
I am sure PSA plans on being around for decades. Thus, why not set up the registry NOW and let some crazy nuts sign up ... and then the registry for the 1987 set will STILL be around 20 years from now when the cards ARE actually worth something.
***This assumes that these modern cards of which millions were printed will EVER be worth anything. My thought is that they will not.
Here's hoping the 87' Topps collectors among us have a sense of humor.
On the flip side, if you enjoy it, its your money, go right ahead and have fun!
RayB69Topps
Thats why I'm working on an 86 and 89 Graded sets! When those babies finally get registered - that'll be two more plaques for me!!!
Sorry... couldn't resist...
Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!
lynnfrank@earthlink.net
outerbankyank on eBay!
im still planning on doing my 1992 bowman set . but recently i have seen how dslsports and wiwag have lots of up tp 20 psa 9 of any particular player. so i was thinking of that such a modern set is quite easy in psa 9 and therefore i realize that psa9 prices (even though they are low already) are in fact overpriced. so these kind of sets are only special in psa 10. .. what do u guys think? Ethan
Groucho Marx
I think with 1992 Bowman, a set will not be special in PSA 9. No more special than having five MINT raw sets, anyway. A PSA 10 set will be something special (though whether it is in fact valuable is a different issue...)
I would say that with 1992 Bowman PSA 9 commons, you are essentially paying for the graded card service/encapsulation of the card rather than the actual "MINTNESS" of the card, per se. (e.g. it would be much easier to find MINT cards on your own for a much less expensive price)
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
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Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
There's simply too many of them out there to make a PSA 9 set very special. 10 years from now, there will still be a mountain of '87 Topps cards out there. I just can't envision demand ever picking up for this set considering that most of the stars are at or near retirement. Bonds has plenty of other scarcer rookies. If demand doesn't pick up and the supply of the cards remains constant (albeit it's a huge number), prices will hardly budge.
More power to you if you buy this set for fun. But to recoup even a fraction of the $5,000 spent grading it is virtually impossible. For $5 grand, you could pick up 33 vending cases (that's 495 of each card!). If you had a really good eye, you could pick PSA 10's out of those cards and for another $5 grand built yourself a PSA 10 set. Pretty cool.
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
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