What unopened stuff to look for next?

BenG76

With all the discussion of the stuff from the 70's disappearing and some of the 80's stuff getting pricier. What do some of you think is next ? I know that nobody has a crystal ball but I would be interested in hearing what others think.

I cant see much stuff from 87 -90 getting too pricey but then again I never thought 1986 Topps would be getting harder to find. I am mostly looking at Baseball here but I would be interested in hearing thoughts on other sports as well as I do collect a bit of football and basketball. Is anyone hoarding up 91 Donruss, 88 Topps LOL.

Just looking for discussion here and thoughts. Thanks

ThoseBackPages

1980's Topps Hockey

BenG76

<< <i>1980's Topps Hockey >>



I know nothing about Hockey. Can you tell me why you would be looking for those?

LarkinCollector

90's Bowman baseball - 92 & 95 base are already getting hard to find unopened and pretty pricey when you do, 93 is popular with the Jeter rookie and still affordable

97 seems to be the best year for Chrome and Best (especially if you can get a MI inverted pull), but quite a few year's refractors are selling (not asking) for multiples of Beckett high

3BoyzTrading

There are times I feel like the members on this board are the ones driving the prices up on this stuff. As another thread mentioned, there were billions of cards produced. What's driving the prices up on wax, the scarcity? I'm sure grading has a lot do do with it but the graded prices aren't in tune with the wax prices. As another thread mentioned, the 80's Leaf stuff is scarce when compared to the Doruss counterpart. Does that warrant higher prices on unopened? Sure, the basic law of Supply and Demand apply here. The demand for graded cards just doesn't follow. I think the 80's stuff has already peaked, there is just too much already graded for anyone to be concerned about long term investment. Sure, you'll see slight increase but anyone that wants an 85 Topps McGwire or 87 Fleer Barry Bonds have over 40,000 already graded to choose from.

If you want long term investment, buy game used jerseys for $1k to $2K each of key players. MLB.com has them every month and it's for chairty.

gregmo32

What is an "MI Inverted pull?"

sportscardtheory

1989 to 1991 Bowman has always intrigued me. It seems that out of all the non-premium sets (like Stadium Club and Leaf) from 1987 to 1991, Bowman print-runs are most likely the lowest.

mygotta

<< <i>There are times I feel like the members on this board are the ones driving the prices up on this stuff. As another thread mentioned, there were billions of cards produced. What's driving the prices up on wax, the scarcity? I'm sure grading has a lot do do with it but the graded prices aren't in tune with the wax prices. As another thread mentioned, the 80's Leaf stuff is scarce when compared to the Doruss counterpart. Does that warrant higher prices on unopened? Sure, the basic law of Supply and Demand apply here. The demand for graded cards just doesn't follow. I think the 80's stuff has already peaked, there is just too much already graded for anyone to be concerned about long term investment. Sure, you'll see slight increase but anyone that wants an 85 Topps McGwire or 87 Fleer Barry Bonds have over 40,000 already graded to choose from.

If you want long term investment, buy game used jerseys for $1k to $2K each of key players. MLB.com has them every month and it's for chairty. >>



There may certainly be an influence of prices from the members here buying stuff. But I would say it has more to do with PSA and graded cards that amplified the pricing for unopened material.

The influx of 80's stuff is due to a few factors: 70's stuff becoming more expensive and out of reach for some collectors. More people grew up collecting the 80's stuff, so have a deeper connection to it, and so are rekindling their collection in a new way. And further, a new wave of players about to embark their entrance into the Hall of Fame, so there is a trend to have their own cards submitted in hopes of a 10.

I dont think it has peaked as more stuff gets ripped open. This will only add to the scarcity. But whether or not PSA 10's will maintain their value is up for debate.

I am not sure what to make of the 1987 set. Topps seems plentiful while Donruss and Fleer carry a premium. OPC from 88-91 are very difficult to find, while Leaf 87 is a great year for a relatively short printed card.

That said, certainly we will look to the 90's. IMO 1993 will be the next best year following 1990 (perhaps Leaf will be the premium of that year). But the Topps 1993 set has the Gold cards, and then there is the SP of Jeter.

Those are my thoughts.

stormtrooper80

1988 Topps baseball, no doubt about it.

3BoyzTrading

There are some solid 90's stuff to choose from but I think it may take a flip in this decade where graded cards will actually be better to purchase than unopened. The damn cards stick together when it comes to the premium brands like Stadium Club, Upper Deck SP and Ultra.

LarkinCollector

<< <i>What is an "MI Inverted pull?" >>


The 1997 Bowman's Best had parallel versions of the Mirror Image inserts. The 'common' version had the veterans featured with a small headshot of the rookies in the lower corner. The 'inverted' had the rookies featured with small headshots of the veterans. I don't recall all the details, but I think it would take like 192 cases to get enough of the inverted atomic refractors to complete a set. I've been tracking the Jeter/Larkin/Garciaparra/Bocachica inverted for a few years and I've only seen 1 atomic (BV$80, sold for $296 ungraded), 1 refractor (BV$40, sold for $105 ungraded) and 3 regular (BV$25, all sold for $49-54 ungraded - one is mine).

Big80s

I like 1985 O-Pee-Chee and Leaf baseball. Great looking, smaller sets with lots of star power. Much lower production numbers than their Topps and Donruss counterparts.

I also really like 1989 Score football. It is the football equivalent of the 1986 Fleer basketball set, in my opinion, with several big HOF rookie cards.

ReggieCleveland

There are a ton of different variables to consider. But I think the biggest one will be the purpose of the unopened purchase. If someone is buying unopened to pull certain cards then there's going to be different effects on different sets amongst those buyers. If someone is less concerned with the cards inside and more concerned with the actual unopened product as its own entity, then there's going to different effects on different sets amongst those buyers.

For the longest time I subscribed to the theory that everything released while I was collecting as a kid was grossly over-produced. But I have been pleasantly surprised to learn that if one is to dig deep enough and search hard enough, there are true rarities even during those years. Will they ever be worth anything? I don't know and, honestly, I'm not sure if I care either way. But it's much more fun to collect when there are actual difficulties in locating some items. For me, that's where I get much of my enjoyment from collecting -- studying, researching, and trying to uncover the tougher items.

I think a common mistake some make is they look at market shifts in different but similar areas and apply that to other markets. While it's fun to talk about the incredible growth the unopened product from the 70s has had recently, I don't think it's correct to simply apply that upward shift to say the early 80s, mid 80s, or late 80s. All four of those areas have different aspects both going for them and against them.

ReggieCleveland

<< <i>I like 1985 O-Pee-Chee and Leaf baseball. Great looking, smaller sets with lots of star power. Much lower production numbers than their Topps and Donruss counterparts.

I also really like 1989 Score football. It is the football equivalent of the 1986 Fleer basketball set, in my opinion, with several big HOF rookie cards. >>



The 85 OPC has an upward climb, in my opinion, because it lacks the two biggest cards found in the Topps set -- Clemens and McGwire.

NVbaseball

I would say to go as old as possible. Graded 1951 Topps and 1954 Bowman packs can be less than some boxes from the 80s. Goudey wrappers from the 1930s are under $50, much rarer than any rack pack from the 70s that sell for that much

Big80s

<< <i>

<< <i>I like 1985 O-Pee-Chee and Leaf baseball. Great looking, smaller sets with lots of star power. Much lower production numbers than their Topps and Donruss counterparts.

I also really like 1989 Score football. It is the football equivalent of the 1986 Fleer basketball set, in my opinion, with several big HOF rookie cards. >>



The 85 OPC has an upward climb, in my opinion, because it lacks the two biggest cards found in the Topps set -- Clemens and McGwire. >>



I would have to argue that the Puckett rookie would be the card to pull from '85. And it is included in OPC.

ReggieCleveland

Is it really? I'll be honest, I'm not familiar at all with the current market for 85 cards. That surprises me though. I still think OPC suffers by not having the McGwire and Clemens but perhaps the demand for Puckett will overshadow all of that going forward. Is the Puckett the card to pull in 85 Topps as well?

Foo3112

Is the Puckett the card to pull in 85 Topps as well?

McGwire Card is the card to pull. It was valued at $250 back when BigMac was chasing the Maris Record.

spazzy

For a recent box, I like 1992 bowman baseball and No, I do not own a single card of this issue. I do agree that graded examples of 50s and 60s packs are underpriced and any rackpacks from the 60s-70s from bbce are now probably a good deal.

BunchOBull

Just wanted to share...need to have it reholdered with the proper flip.

LarkinCollector

<< <i>Just wanted to share...need to have it reholdered with the proper flip. >>



Awesome card! If you ever want to part with it....

slum22

I mainly collect basketball and I don't know much about 90's. I just started dabbling in modern cards. For the conversation of post-80's sets, the unopened the boxes I am buying and saving are:

1. 2003 Topps Chrome Basketball
For modern collectors of basketball the Topps Chrome set holds the "must have" RC for players. This set has major RC's in Wade and Bosh and this generation's best basketball player's RC in Lebron. As his career unfolds (if he continues to add titles and play as he has over the last season) he may well join the argument as greatest player of all time. The boxes are actually difficult to find. Not that many of them on Ebay even though they are only 10 years old.

2. 2012 Topps Chrome Football
This set is heavy with strong RC's. Barring injury Luck has a high probability of being the best quarterback of his generation. RG III and Russell Wilson could also have great careers. Three solid RB's Richardson, Martin and Morris. This box is more speculative than the basketball box as any of the six key rookies in the football box could get injured or fail to build on the promise of their initial campaigns. However, chances are at least one or two or more will have very historic careers and if it is the quarterbacks than this set will be a monster someday.

Interested to hear what other people think.

TmbrWolf22

Not sure that Alfred Morris had card in 2012 Chrome. If he did, I need to go through my stacks again.

TmbrWolf22

my vote for football would have to go to either 1997 UD Legends (may be hard to find, and quite expensive) OR, and this would get my vote, 2001 Topps Chrome. With all the potential HOF RCs in that set, (Tomlinson, Brees, Seymour, Wayne) seems like a no brainer to me. These are the earliest ones that I can think of (other that the 89 Score that someone mentioned earlier) that really have the collector's attention, or star RC power that may justify collecting unopened packs or boxes. 2004 had a relatively good class of RCs as well.

TmbrWolf22

1998 SP Authentic football would be a good one to snag a few unopened pack of as well (pretty good RC class).....pretty good lol.

BenG76

Some good posts here so far. Do any of you think some of the junk wax will become less junky?

LarkinCollector

<< <i>Some good posts here so far. Do any of you think some of the junk wax will become less junky? >>


I think some already has, 1990 Topps BB wax cases (searching for NNOF Thomas or the other 'blackless' variations), 1990 Pro Set FB, 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey, and plenty of others especially among error/variation collectors. As more focus is put on some of these sets, new variations are still being found. Many thanks to JunkWaxGems and some detective threads here.

3BoyzTrading

Anything will HOF rookie cards will become less junky but will still be junk.

BenG76

You know I wouldn't mind running across a sealed case or two of 91 Donruss. I have pulled one Elite card myself out of a box I paid $4 for. Last year I bought 4 boxes for $12 or $15 at a card show and my wife helped me rip them and she pulled an Elite card that was Matt Williams. That was a pretty good thrill to see a card like that come from a box of junk.

zurbs17

I disagree with 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey ever ridding itself of its junk label. BBCE still has it for $4 a box and it's not exactly flying off the shelves.

Is 1989 Pro Set Football considered junk? I'd love to by a bunch of unopened but I don't think I've seen any in the 12 months or so I've been watching BBCE site.

jb

RookieWax

<< <i>Is 1989 Pro Set Football considered junk? I'd love to by a bunch of unopened but I don't think I've seen any in the 12 months or so I've been watching BBCE site.

jb >>



1989 Pro Set series 2 was a $5 to $6 junk box a few years ago. Then you started to see fewer and fewer cases and boxes up for sale. And since it has the same rookie crop as 1989 Score, I think more people began realizing it was the only other alternative wax product with those rookies...so now boxes typically sell for $15 to $20 or more. That is still a great buy in my opinion, as the price of the Score boxes keeps rising toward the $300 range despite the fact that the populations of PSA 10s for Sanders and Aikman are almost identical for both brands.

doog71

RookieWax - thanks for all the contributions you make to these types of threads. They've been very helpful to me, a fairly new buyer of '80s unopened stuff. Keep it up please!

jwgators

1989 Pro Set Series 2 flies off the shelf at BBCE. You have to check constantly as it usually lasts less than a week when I have seen it up in the last 6 months. I tried to buy a few boxes once and they were gone. A couple of months ago, I saw them and bought a few. Two days later they were not on the site anymore.

Big80s

All nine of the 1989 PSA 10 Pro Set Barry Sanders that I was watching were snatched up today. Think that had something to do with this thread? Pretty amazing.

BenG76

<< <i>All nine of the 1989 PSA 10 Pro Set Barry Sanders that I was watching were snatched up today. Think that had something to do with this thread? Pretty amazing. >>



Not surprising. LOL

dalstar66

I need all of you do me a huge favor
Please don't buy anymore '89 Pro set Series 2 boxes.


Thanks

MithrilMan

<< <i>What is an "MI Inverted pull?" >>



Page 47 Kama Sutra. Very advanced.

miwlvrn

<< <i>I disagree with 1990-91 Pro Set Hockey ever ridding itself of its junk label. BBCE still has it for $4 a box and it's not exactly flying off the shelves.

Is 1989 Pro Set Football considered junk? I'd love to by a bunch of unopened but I don't think I've seen any in the 12 months or so I've been watching BBCE site.

jb >>



One fun memory about 1990 Pro Set Hockey: back in 1990 the only Pro Set hockey packs I would buy were the ones with Gretzky on top. Card on top was easy to see through the packaging, and his placement there was relatively frequent. I think I must have opened 100 packs with Gretzky on top before quitting on that product.