I'm going to break this 1980 Topps hockey tray.

RedHeart54

The time has come. I paid $150 for this about 12 years ago. This was before we knew that trays could potentially be resealed. BBCE has stated for the record that '80 hockey and basketball trays are not legit. Well, let's see what's inside.

RedHeart54

If anyone here has any objections before I break, however, let themselves be heard now.

Dpeck100

Good luck!

RedHeart54

This is the reverse. Is there anything that looks askew to you experts out there?

Foo3112

I'll get the popcorn ready...

RedHeart54

Sorry, don't mean to prolong this. Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing!

Dpeck100

LOL, Take your time.

There was a huge pull out of a 1980 Topps Baseball wax tray so maybe lighting will strike twice on this board in just a few months.

RedHeart54

Well, there is no disputing the legitimacy of '80 baseball trays. I guess the reason I haven't opened this one is that I have a small sliver of hope that '80 hockey trays are legit. Even though I know better.

Arrgh! See, this is why I'm a pack collector, not a ripper!

japhi

No point in keeping a tray sealed that isn't legit. If BBCE says they are fakes I'd take their word.

Flip side, the 80s topps hockey set isn't super popular, they missed Messier that year.

I say bust em

RedHeart54

Ok, what the hell. It's Christmas. (Props to who knows what movie that line originated.)

RedHeart54

Pack one reverse-

RedHeart54

Pack one results. Nothing earth shattering. Larry Robinson all star. Borje Salming. The cards are quite sharp and appear to be pack fresh. No cards with wax on the back except the last card.

grote15

Does anyone know sequencing to either set? That could help confirm if packs are legit even if trays aren't. The last tray Topps produced was 1980 baseball.

RedHeart54

Pack 2 reverse

lightningboy

Ok, what the hell. It's Christmas. (Props to who knows what movie that line originated.)



Sounds like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

RedHeart54

Pack 2 was a little better. Pretty sharp Dave Christian rookie (maybe a little too off centered for a straight 9?), what would be a sharp Bryan Trottier and Dave 'Tiger" Williams if not for the multiple surface creases. Out of 10 cards, 5 have heavy surface creasing. This pack had the Bruins' team "pin up" which is coll since it has Ray Bourque.

RedHeart54

<< <i>Sounds like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation >>



No, not that. It's from a sort of non official Christmas movie.

RedHeart54

3rd and final pack.

RedHeart54

Nothing huge. An off center Mike Liut rookie. Again, there are several (4 here) which have heavy surface creasing. The cards are sharp and there are no cards in the middle of the pack with wax stains on the back. This has a Montreal Canadiens' pin up which is cool. They were at the end of their '70s dynasty but still a lot of great names on that roster.


So, bottom line. Was this tray resealed. Probably. I'm not saying that because I didn't get one of 4 or 5 Gretzkys or rookies of Ray Bourque, Mike Gartner or Michel Goulet. I just figure if this tray was actually made by Topps they would have been a hot commodity 20+ years ago when hockey cards got hot in the US, let alone within the hockey card market which existed in Canada well before that.

I posted pictures of the packs' reverses just to add to our education of what a legit and non legit pack might look like.

And that's that.

vladguerrero

Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, and Scottie Pippen RCs

RedHeart54

<< <i>Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, and Scottie Pippen RCs >>



What is 1988-89 Fleer basketball, Alex.

Boopotts

<< <i>Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, and Scottie Pippen RCs >>



And an OC Jordan as a kicker.

swartz1

Were the right number of cards in the pack?

Mapleleaf

That was fun. Any pics of the good cards? Sounds like a couple possible 9's? My experience with 1980 Topps is that the cards from wax packs were in horrible shape. Vending machine cards fared much better.

RedHeart54

This is a representative sample of the cards. Sharp, some obviously OC, many with surface creasing. Oh, and yes, each pack had its allotment of 10 cards. The cards were also arranged in the pack where a group was face down and upside down (a factory arrangement, I'm guessing, though easily replicated in resealed packs).

billwaltonsbeard

<< <i>

<< <i>Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, and Scottie Pippen RCs >>



And an OC Jordan as a kicker. >>



that's funny stuff. I had forgotten about that

RedHeart54

These are a nice bonus when you open up '80 Topps hockey or basketball packs. I also received a North Stars pin up.

Mapleleaf

Nice! Thanks for posting.
I bought a box from ebay a couple years back and opened a few packs but found gum on the third card down and two of the same player in another pack. Fortunately, the seller took the box back.