1989 Topps Baseball Michigan test packs

CubsKiller99

This box was in a wax case that I bought from someone in Michigan.
There were fourteen wax boxes, and six of these randomly in the case.

Not wax, not cello -- they are like the 1991 Topps cellophane wrappers.

1989 Topps Baseball Michigan test packs

digicat

ReggieCleveland

Let me know if you want to sell a box.

CubsKiller99

<< <i>Let me know if you want to sell a box. >>



I will keep you in mind if I do.

I scoured eBay andf other sellers online and couldn't find any for sale anywhere.

Not saying they're rare, but you'd think there'd be more out there. Topps unopened
collectors will want to put this one on their list as a variation to look for.

RookieWax

For whatever reason, Topps liked to try out new products and packaging in Michigan. From the 1975 minis to the 1983 test wrappers to these 1989 wrappers. I actually liked the 1983 wrappers and wished they had gone with those from that point forward. Those packs were tough to cherry pick because it was difficult to tell which card was on the top or bottom, the loose wrapping was easy on the card corners, there was no wax staining, and they couldn't be opened without ripping the packaging(so they could not be resealed).

CubsKiller99

Seems like they had a superior packaging idea in 1983, wonder why they didn't convert to that permanently?

Must have been cost, but I've never read anything about their decision not to do that so who knows.

They had this better packaging in 1989 also, but didn't use it for the 1990 set and waited until 1991.
My guess is that Upper Deck and other manufacturers finally forced them to be more competitive. It's
hard to charge more for cards when two in each pack are getting damaged. Stadium Club made the
transition a done deal.

CubsKiller99

Anyone have any idea what a box of these might go for?

I haven't been able to find a single comp to base a price on.

I know that Steve Hart was selling his 1983 Michigan boxes for about $140,
but that's not a comparable item by any means.

Rule #1 in collectibles -- don't sell anything that you don't know the value of
Rule #2 in collectibles -- see rule #1
Rule #3 in collectibles -- put it on eBay and see who wants it and for how much LOL

ReggieCleveland

Don't put them all on ebay. Some of us don't shop on ebay.

mygotta

Speaking of - I also recently purchased a box of 1991 Topps and found a third variation:

standard wax pack
cellophane wrapper
and a third is in a cellophane wrapper, but packaged with crimped edges.

1991 Topps Packs

These are not jumbo as advertised, but are standard 36 packs/15 card per pack.





Anyone seen these before? The box is wider, like a cello box, but a little deeper.

mygotta

Cruising around eBay I also see these types of cello packs:

1989 Topps Cello

Anyone seen this type before?

mygotta

A 1989 pack slabbed? And currently getting $8???

1989 Topps Cello Pack PSA 10

grote15

<< <i>A 1989 pack slabbed? And currently getting $8???

1989 Topps Cello Pack PSA 10 >>



It does have Schmidt on top and is graded PSA 10. I saw a 1973 Del Unser card sell for $1,200+ last night so I don't question anything anymore, lol..

CubsKiller99

<< <i>Cruising around eBay I also see these types of cello packs:

1989 Topps Cello

Anyone seen this type before? >>



Hilarious.

The multi-part rack pack.

CubsKiller99

I was able to dredge this up via Google search, some might find it interesting.

I still have been unable to find any recent sale of this particular variation.

1989 Topps Michigan test pack discussion

mygotta

<< <i>I was able to dredge this up via Google search, some might find it interesting.

I still have been unable to find any recent sale of this particular variation.

1989 Topps Michigan test pack discussion >>



This story seems similar to the OP's experience. Apparently Topps made no formal announcement and seemed to just distribute them periodically in cases. I would guess they are hard to find because the boxes out there, no one would suspect anything different, so they are not looking for them.

CubsKiller99

I've never gotten any insight into why they used Michigan as the test market for the test 1983
or 1989 wrappers. Is it possible that they weren't specifically marketed there, but known product
bought from sellers there that could have picked it up elsewhere?

Anybody know the answer to that one?

ReggieCleveland

A few of the weird wrapper 1990 boxes were sold by some scumbag ebay seller that basically came up with a BS story about how these were first-run packs and that many of the Thomas NNOF cards were pulled from them. Each box went for over $100. Some poor sap got taken for a ride.

$139

$199 BO

Arthur