What to do...1974 OPC Packs

ClockworkAngel · May 1, 2013 10:44AM

A few weeks ago, I purchased the remaining 11 packs from BBCE of 1974 OPC Baseball. I sold 2 to Tom (tsalems) at cost as he loves old OPC as much as I do, but I have 9 remaining. I just saw that one of them has a Carl Yasztremski on top.

I am staring at these 9 packs every day trying to figure out what to do with them. I can send them in to PSA and wait the 3 months to have them graded. I can pick the best 3 or 4 and send them in and open the rest OR I can just rip them all.

For those that don't know, 1974 OPC is by far the rarest and hardest to find of any 70's OPC. A few of the fellow board members have educated me on that. If I recall, it had to do with factory workers going on strike and disrupting production so very few cards were produced and the quality is horrible so anything in 8 or above is gold

The dilemma is

1. The 1974 OPC Winfield RC is in my top 5 wanted cards
2. I really don't know what I'm looking for in the way of cherry picking the best looking packs for grading. I know tears in the wrapper are a biggy, but besides that I really don't get it
3. I'm a ripaholic and I'm dying to rip into these lol

Really interested in everyone's opinions

tsalems1 · May 1, 2013 10:46AM

Why ask? You know what to do

grote15 · May 1, 2013 10:46AM

If you're looking to sell any, I will buy them.

captainthreeputt · May 1, 2013 10:50AM

As a spectator, and not someone giving advice. I say rip, rip, rip away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SloshedJosh · May 1, 2013 10:51AM

divecchia · May 1, 2013 10:55AM

Knowing how rare they are, I would save at least 1 or 2 packs and send those in to get graded. Sell a couple and open the rest.

Good luck,

Donato

70ToppsFanatic · May 1, 2013 11:03AM

Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs.

Dboneesq · May 1, 2013 11:06AM

Save AT LEAST the one with YAZ on top.

ClockworkAngel · May 1, 2013 11:16AM

<< Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs. >>

Not so much. There have been a whopping 37 TOTAL graded, which gives us an idea of how rare these are. There is 1 9, 1 8.5, and 12 8's

tsalems1 · May 1, 2013 11:18AM

Last 8 from what I can remember sold well over $400!

ChiefsFan1st · May 1, 2013 11:21AM

<< Last 8 from what I can remember sold well over $400! >>

Looks like the smart money is with grading them. You can always change your mind and
crack and rip later.

grote15 · May 1, 2013 11:28AM

One of my favorite OPC packs from my 70s run..

tsalems1 · May 1, 2013 11:29AM

<< 

<< Last 8 from what I can remember sold well over $400! >>

Looks like the smart money is with grading them. You can always change your mind and
crack and rip later. >>

The last PSA 8 Winfield

ChiefsFan1st · May 1, 2013 11:36AM

oh, my bad.

But I still say grade them

RyanAdmirer · May 1, 2013 11:45AM

One of your top 5 wanted may actually be in the packs? I can't believed you haven't ripped already....???!!!

ReggieCleveland · May 1, 2013 11:52AM

Well I need just ONE pack for my OPC run so obviously I suggest you sell them all. In the name of all that is sacred.

The odds of a Winfield being in there aren't good. The odds of a Winfield in a condition you're happy with being in there is really, really not good.

Dodgerfanjohn · May 1, 2013 12:04PM

I know we've disagreed on stuff before, but I do think you have the same mindset I do, and thats that you cannot rip something this rare.

If you do have to rip, and believe me I understand the urge, I'd sent the best 4-5 packs in for grading including the Yaz, and AFTER you've sent them off, then rip away.

ClockworkAngel · May 1, 2013 12:09PM

<< I know we've disagreed on stuff before, but I do think you have the same mindset I do, and thats that you cannot rip something this rare.

If you do have to rip, and believe me I understand the urge, I'd sent the best 4-5 packs in for grading including the Yaz, and AFTER you've sent them off, then rip away. >>

Yah that makes sense. Problem is I dunno what I'm looking for in terms of the best ones for grading. I am sure it's not much different than cards in terms of looking for the details that make a pack a 9 or a 10

jmoran19 · May 1, 2013 12:36PM

(9*8)/660 = 10.91% chance or lower If there are dupes for a Winfield, keep them sealed

And yes I am a CPA

calgarycollector · May 1, 2013 12:38PM

As for picking the best packs to grade. Look for no tears, centred front logos, bright virbrant colours.

gemint · May 1, 2013 1:20PM

<< 

<< Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs. >>

Not so much. There have been a whopping 37 TOTAL graded, which gives us an idea of how rare these are. There is 1 9, 1 8.5, and 12 8's >>

I'm fortunate to own a 9. Strange thing is Tim seems to also have one so the pops must be wrong. I was relieved when mine got holdered. The seal was only 25% intact. I thought for sure it would pop open in transit but it held strong.

Kurt · May 1, 2013 1:24PM

<< 

<< 

<< Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs. >>

Not so much. There have been a whopping 37 TOTAL graded, which gives us an idea of how rare these are. There is 1 9, 1 8.5, and 12 8's >>

I'm fortunate to own a 9. Strange thing is Tim seems to also have one so the pops must be wrong. I was relieved when mine got holdered. The seal was only 25% intact. I thought for sure it would pop open in transit but it held strong. >>

Would be awesome to see a scan of one of these!

grote15 · May 1, 2013 1:36PM

<< 

<< 

<< Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs. >>

Not so much. There have been a whopping 37 TOTAL graded, which gives us an idea of how rare these are. There is 1 9, 1 8.5, and 12 8's >>

I'm fortunate to own a 9. Strange thing is Tim seems to also have one so the pops must be wrong. I was relieved when mine got holdered. The seal was only 25% intact. I thought for sure it would pop open in transit but it held strong. >>

I think he's referring to the Winfield card, John, not the OPC packs themselves.

Streetsideguy · May 1, 2013 1:47PM

If you happen to get the packs graded and end up with a PSA 9 pack, I would certainly be a buyer if you would be interested in selling. Jason

Exodus · May 1, 2013 6:40PM

You will get your best cash return in grading/selling all packs.

You will most likely get two gradeable cards (perhaps four at the most if you're lucky) out of each pack.

BaltimoreYankee · May 1, 2013 9:06PM

Here's my advice: You have 9 packs. Definitely get the pack with Yaz showing graded. Out of the other 8, decide the maximum you would consider ripping in search of Winfield. If, say it's 5: Start ripping. As soon as you get Big Dave, be thankful and don't rip any more. If you don't get him in the packs you decide to rip, stick to your guns and keep the remaining packs sealed.

letsgocapitals · May 1, 2013 9:13PM

Send in the Yaz.

Rip 1 pack. See how awful the centering is. Feel the burn.

Send the rest in for grading.

cpamike · May 1, 2013 11:06PM

Todd, you are asking the wrong guy. Send them all in for grading unless they have tears and/or loose seals.

BTW, doesn't Yaz lead to Winfield?

70ToppsFanatic · May 1, 2013 11:52PM

11% chance that you have a Winfield in one of the packs.

Then probably between 20%-30% chance that the Winfield (if it is there) is gradeable as a PSA 8 or better (remember you will have a wax card and a gum card
so 2 of the eight cards in each already have a solid chance of being less than pristine). And centering is a complete unknown unless you can get an idea from seeing through the packs.

That boils down to about a 2%-3% chance of pulling a Winfield that could grade PSA 8 or better, and I think that is still being a bit optimistic.

IMO, given the rarity of those packs it would be a real shame to rip them for such long odds.

Good luck with your decision.

tsalems1 · May 2, 2013 12:10AM

There is no gum card. There is a team checklist in front of the regular 1974 cards.
The gum probably is not sticking to it either.
There will be a card with wax but odds are it will clean off easy

cardcountry · May 2, 2013 12:37AM

I would do whatever you planned to do with them when you first purchased them. Go with your gut!

As a side question- I don't do anything with graded packs, but if these packs are rare and they were bought from Steve, wouldn't he have graded them already if they would grade high?

Jeff

mknez · May 2, 2013 1:48AM

rip away!

miklia · May 2, 2013 1:49AM

<< Send in the Yaz.

Rip 1 pack. See how awful the centering is. Feel the burn.

Send the rest in for grading. >>

+1. or, if centering is good, rip away!

Dodgerfanjohn · May 2, 2013 1:50AM

<< I would do whatever you planned to do with them when you first purchased them. Go with your gut!

As a side question- I don't do anything with graded packs, but if these packs are rare and they were bought from Steve, wouldn't he have graded them already if they would grade high?

Jeff >>

It doesn't seem Steve Hart does business that way(cherry picking packs).

esquiresports · May 2, 2013 1:55AM

If it's really just Winfield of bust, I agree with the math of 70sToppsFanatic. If there is also just the fun element, maybe open a pack or two to see how things look. I am willing to pay $1000 for a straight PSA 9 Aaron #1 card.

If it were me, I'd just leave the packs alone, ungraded, unless I had a near-term desire to possibly sell them.

gemint · May 2, 2013 2:10AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< Please do not rip. There aren't that many left. You can find a Winfield already out and slabbed in nice grade much easier than you can find those packs. >>

Not so much. There have been a whopping 37 TOTAL graded, which gives us an idea of how rare these are. There is 1 9, 1 8.5, and 12 8's >>

I'm fortunate to own a 9. Strange thing is Tim seems to also have one so the pops must be wrong. I was relieved when mine got holdered. The seal was only 25% intact. I thought for sure it would pop open in transit but it held strong. >>

I think he's referring to the Winfield card, John, not the OPC packs themselves. >>

Ah, that makes sense.

ClockworkAngel · May 2, 2013 9:37AM

<< 

<< I would do whatever you planned to do with them when you first purchased them. Go with your gut!

As a side question- I don't do anything with graded packs, but if these packs are rare and they were bought from Steve, wouldn't he have graded them already if they would grade high?

Jeff >>

It doesn't seem Steve Hart does business that way(cherry picking packs). >>

Steve could do a lot of things a certain way that he doesn't do. He could probably slab a PSA 10 on just about anything after cherry picking boxes, that's just not his style.

Good feedback. I am selling a few to some other members at my cost, probably popping a couple and sending the rest in for grading.

ReggieCleveland · May 2, 2013 10:01AM

Steve doesn't assign numerical grades to packs, he authenticates them and then PSA does the grading.

esquiresports · May 2, 2013 10:08AM

I think he meant if Steve cherry-picked boxes from which he sold single packs, he could end up with PSA 10s, not that Steve has the power to assign grades.

Panama Mutiny (Formerly lawyer05) · January 11, 2019 6:50AM

did you rip ?

waxman2745 · January 11, 2019 7:52AM

@lawyer05 said:
did you rip ?

I'm curious how this turned out as well. 1974 is a tough year (low production) due to a strike at the OPC factory.

coinspacks · January 11, 2019 8:11AM

According to psa pack population there is one pack with yaz on back and 25 total graded.

That means OP at least graded the yaz pack?

craig44 · January 11, 2019 9:12AM

a thread back from the dead.

dontippet · January 11, 2019 9:15AM

There is an OPC Winfield PSA 8 on ebay for $550. Or I could rip around $3,000 worth of packs and have a 2-3% chance of getting a $550 card. Just by the numbers, in order for this to make financial sense, the potential card would have to be a $120,000 card, not a $550 card.

Panama Mutiny (Formerly lawyer05) · January 11, 2019 9:21AM

@craig44 said:
a thread back from the dead.

know what i mean Vern, lol

Panama Mutiny (Formerly lawyer05) · January 11, 2019 9:22AM

@dontippet said:
There is an OPC Winfield PSA 8 on ebay for $550. Or I could rip around $3,000 worth of packs and have a 2-3% chance of getting a $550 card. Just by the numbers, in order for this to make financial sense, the potential card would have to be a $120,000 card, not a $550 card.

so u are saying we should click on the winfield ?

craig44 · January 11, 2019 9:28AM

@lawyer05 said:

@craig44 said:
a thread back from the dead.

know what i mean Vern, lol

awesome! a man who knows Jim Varney! I was a big fan growing up.

maddux69 · January 11, 2019 10:58AM

Two things. First of all apparently the packs were not slabbed as there is the pop report does not show a Yaz on top pack being graded. Second of all, it looks as if the sole 8.5 Winfield bumped to a 9 as there are two 9's in the pop report currently and zero 8.5's. The pop has increased on straight 8's though with the last sale at $455.

grote15 · January 11, 2019 1:04PM

I still have my PSA 9 74 opc pack..

Panama Mutiny (Formerly lawyer05) · January 11, 2019 2:46PM

@grote15 said:
I still have my PSA 9 74 opc pack..

open it

grote15 · January 11, 2019 4:07PM

@lawyer05 said:

@grote15 said:
I still have my PSA 9 74 opc pack..

open it

Blasphemy!

What to do...1974 OPC Packs

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