High grade pull success from Topps Traded sets

Big80s

Good afternoon, friends!

I've busted tons of packs, wax boxes and vending - but I've never tried Topps Traded sets. I'd like to pick up some Traded sets from the 80s looking for some high grade material. Have any of you had any success with this method? I know the boxes aren't very sturdy and the cards are packed tight - so I would imagine a minor ding to the box would affect most, if not all of the cards.

Thanks!

Nikklos

Just last month submitted a Bo Jackson and a Barry Bonds from an '86 TT box that I purchased at a card show back in '86. It has been stored in a cabinet since then. Bo got a PSA 9 and Bonds got a 10.

Big80s

<< <i>Just last month submitted a Bo Jackson and a Barry Bonds from an '86 TT box that I purchased at a card show back in '86. It has been stored in a cabinet since then. Bo got a PSA 9 and Bonds got a 10. >>



That's actually one of the sets I have my eye on. I'm happy to hear they graded well!

Goldlabels

1981 topps traded is very tough, most key cards like Fernando and Raines are O/C. 1982 Topps traded is hit or miss but easier than 81 to find centered cards, especially Ripken. 1983 Topps traded has a good shot at centered Strawberry's and for the most part 1984 topps traded is O/C top to bottom.

mygotta

I was contemplating this as well. I never liked breaking up factory sets for this purpose, but I have about 20 sets from the 80's that are complete, but I dont know what their condition is as I have not looked through them. I would be curious to hear more peoples experiences.

MiniDuff

They all have soft boxes, so very little protection for corners. If the box has been mauled, so have the cards inside.

billwaltonsbeard

Traded Sets are just like vending boxes..........it all depends on how they've been treated over the years

GB5HOF

I bought two 1989 Topps Traded Football sets to grade the HOFers, and potential HOFers...I sent in one Barry Sanders, and one Steve At water. Both came back 10's. All the others (Deion, Aikman, etc)... didn't have the centering for potential 10's.

I also just sent in Smoltz, Alomar, and Vizquel from some cheapo Fleer traded sets...we'll see how they come back.

Bosox1976

Not Topps Traded, but I've had good success with case breaks of 1987 fleer update sets (Maddux). Lots of 10's (maybe 8-10%) and raw sells at a decent price.

You can generally get as much for raw Maddux RC's as the whole set sells for. The 10's and the McGwires/Matt Williams' are a bonus (plus Steve Carlton, Reggie Jax, Eck, etc).

Big80s

Awesome feedback guys! I appreciate everyone chiming in.

esquiresports

I broke a bunch of 1986 Topps Traded cases, and the cards come out pretty clean. Centering tends to be good. Because of the black borders, 10s were hard to come by. Just 1-3 per 100 or so. PSA was pretty tough when I was breaking them in the late 1990s. The PSA 10 percentages may be higher now. 1986 Fleer Update was much more difficult. 1989 Topps Traded tended to come out very clean. Maybe 5%-8% PSA 10s per 100 raw.

mygotta

<< <i>I broke a bunch of 1986 Topps Traded cases, and the cards come out pretty clean. Centering tends to be good. Because of the black borders, 10s were hard to come by. Just 1-3 per 100 or so. PSA was pretty tough when I was breaking them in the late 1990s. The PSA 10 percentages may be higher now. 1986 Fleer Update was much more difficult. 1989 Topps Traded tended to come out very clean. Maybe 5%-8% PSA 10s per 100 raw. >>



According to my own research, the 1989 Topps Traded Ken Griffey Jr. card has the highest number of PSA 10's in existence for a single card with 8,648 PSA 10's of some roughly 62,000 submissions. While that is still about an 8% chance of getting a 10, it would be cheaper to pick one up between $10 and $15 off it eBay.