1993 Finest

mygotta · December 1, 2012 1:33PM

In the recent group rip, 93 Finest were being offered which I bought a few packs. However, I am having a hard time distinguishing any difference from a regular issue versus a refractor. Modern cards say "refractor" on the back, but from the examples on eBay, I cant tell the difference off hand. Is there something more obvious I am missing?

PhilG · December 1, 2012 1:43PM

Wiggle the cards in sunlight. The refractor will glow with the colors of the rainbow.
Phil

TNP777 · December 1, 2012 2:12PM

If you have a refractor, it will easily stand out from the base cards. Hold it at an angle in any light source and it will darn near glow in your hand.

edit: here are scans of one of my base and one of my refractors. As you can see, the base looks very dull compared to its shiny brother.

mygotta · December 1, 2012 2:59PM

ok, thanks for the examples. I dont think I got any but wanted to make sure that I was not overlooking anything.

saucywombat · December 1, 2012 11:39PM

Odds are against you as only one per box in 93

milbroco · December 1, 2012 11:50PM

One per box was the stated odds. I box I opened had two of them. Someone else I know had four of them. Realisticy though I would say one per box.
Bob

tsalems1 · December 2, 2012 12:06AM

Back in 1993, very 1st box I opened I pulled the Ryan refractor.
Got $800 on it...

mygotta · December 2, 2012 12:09AM

What did they retail back in 1993?

milbroco · December 2, 2012 12:11AM

They were hot back in 1993. If I remember correctly, I paid $225.00 for my bax and they went up quite a bit after I got mine.

tsalems1 · December 2, 2012 12:18AM

<< <i>They were hot back in 1993. If I remember correctly, I paid $225.00 for my bax and they went up quite a bit after I got mine. >>

Sounds about right

mygotta · December 2, 2012 12:32AM

So overall it does not seem to have appreciated tremendously as a box can be bought around $275 right now.

tsalems1 · December 2, 2012 12:44AM

<< <i>So overall it does not seem to have appreciated tremendously as a box can be bought around $275 right now. >>

The problem is, for the most part your spending $275 for just the refractor

mygotta · December 2, 2012 1:14AM

<< <i>

<< <i>So overall it does not seem to have appreciated tremendously as a box can be bought around $275 right now. >>

The problem is, for the most part your spending $275 for just the refractor >>

Isn't that essentially the case with any box? Always paying for the chase card? Whether it be Mattingly from an 84 box or a Harper from (any) 2012 box?

But I understand what you mean. A common refractor does not recoup the value of the box the way a Ryan, Ripken or Griffey would.

PhilG · December 2, 2012 1:30AM

Common refractors go on eBay for $15.
Phil

bziddy · December 2, 2012 5:31AM

I remember being quoted $30/pack in 1994.

PhilG · December 2, 2012 5:44AM

And while we are talking about 93 Finest Refractors here is some statistics. The number of refractors per player comes from an announced print run of 4000 – 12 box cases with one refractor per box. Gives us a production run of 48000 refractors. There are 199 players in the set giving 241.206 refractor per player. The .206 must be what they mean by miscut. PSA has graded 21415 refractors which is 44.6% of the production run. I have been tracking eBay since 2004. There have been 22266 transactions since 2004 or 46% of the production has passed thru eBay. About me, I have 3146 refractors or 6.55% of the production run. The most I have of one player is Randy Myers with 105 or 44% of the production run.
Phil

TNP777 · December 2, 2012 5:57AM

George Calfas on FCB has a pretty decent hoard, too.

1993 Finest

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