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1980s Baseball Rack Pack Questions

bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I've been trying to find the different ways that rack packs were issued in the 1980s by Fleer and Donruss (Topps seems kind of straightforward).

I'm sure someone's done this before -- does anyone know if the information is collected anywhere on the web and available for perusal? My searches have turned up little so far.

Some of the questions I've had are:
Did 1985-1989 Fleer get issues in cello and wax racks, or just one or the other?
Did 1983-1989 Donruss get issued in boxes, or just in cases?
Did 1983 Fleer get issued in more than one size of cello, or just the jumbo?
Is the Blue 1987 Fleer the Hobby version and the Red the Grocery version? Or is there some other distinction?

Comments

  • cpamikecpamike Posts: 5,566 ✭✭✭
    My unopened collection really only goes to 1986, but I am not aware of anyplace that spells out what the product lines were for Fleer and Donruss. I can share what I know from collecting the early to mid-80's of the years.

    Neither company produced rack packs in 1981.

    In 1982, both Donruss and Fleer released rack packs sold from individual boxes consisting of 3 wax packs.

    In 1983, Donruss released rack packs sold from individual boxes consisting of 3 wax packs, but also sold rack packs with the cards loose in each of the sections in much more limited quantities with the puzzle piece on back. I'm still not sure how Donruss released these rack packs with the loose cards in them as I've only seen them offered in lots or individually, but I suspect it was in cases like in subsequent years. Fleer released rack packs sold in grocery boxes consisting of 3 wax packs that were wrapped in cellophane. They also released what is referred to as jumbo rack packs in grocery boxes consisting of 3 cello packs that were wrapped in cellophane as well.

    Beginning in 1984 and continuing to at least 1986, Donruss released only rack packs with loose cards in the sleeves in cases of 72 racks per case.

    For 1984 and 1985, Fleer released rack packs with both wax packs and loose cards in the sections in grocery boxes with a plastic wrap. In 1986, I've only seen the Fleer rack packs with a wax packs in them.

    Interested to see if anyone has more to add to the discussion.
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep."

    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Collecting:
    Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
  • hyperchipper09hyperchipper09 Posts: 1,454 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I know our local Rite Aid in 1983 had huge stock of Fleer Cello's that summer, believe the 28 card size. Man I used to buy those like they were going out of style. image
  • esquiresportsesquiresports Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭
    1983-89 Donruss rack packs - only shipped in case form as far as I know. I don't recall every seeing a Donruss rack box from this time period (like you would for a wax box). Rack cases were 72 to a case.

    1987 Donruss also featured "blister" packs, which were like jumbo rack packs with a cardboard backing and three thick plastic cells running top to bottom. These were 48 to a case but yielded about as many cards as a typical rack case.

    In 1989, Donruss featured "blister" rack packs that were like 1987, but in the shape of a square, with four plastic cells. These were rarely seen in my experience back in the day.

    Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    Donruss did two different size blisters in 1988 -- 72 and 75 cards, plus normal racks (Steve has all three).
  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
    As usual, Mike pretty much nailed it. Here is the list of racks issued by Fleer and Donruss in the 1980's.

    1981 Fleer - No racks
    1981 Donruss - No racks
    1982 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Wax racks in grocery display case (loose racks)
    1982 Donruss - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Wax racks in grocery display case (loose racks)
    1983 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Wax racks in grocery display case (loose racks) + Jumbo Cello Racks in 48-count case
    1983 Donruss - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Wax racks in grocery display case (loose racks) + Cello racks in 72-count case
    1984 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Cello racks in grocery display case (loose racks) + Cello racks in boxes (3-box case)
    1984 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case
    1985 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Cello racks in boxes (3-box case)
    1985 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case
    1986 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case)
    1986 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case
    1987 Fleer - Blue Wax racks in boxes (3-box case) + Red Wax racks in boxes (3-box case Toy's 'R Us exclusive)
    1987 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case + Jumbo racks in 48-count case
    1988 Fleer - Wax racks in boxes (3-box case)
    1988 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case + Jumbo racks in 48-count case + 4-Cell Jumbo racks in 48-count case
    1989 Fleer - Cello racks in boxes (3-box case)
    1989 Donruss - Cello racks in 72-count case + Jumbo racks in 48-count case

    Hope this helps.
  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    Perfect, thanks JGF.

    ...and Mike.
  • cpamikecpamike Posts: 5,566 ✭✭✭
    No problem, great discussion. Thanks for posting it.

    Great information Chris. After 1986, I'm pretty much lost as I don't really focus on those unopened products much although I still have plenty I bought when they were originally sold.

    One question for you or anyone else, it appears to me that in 1983 Donruss began producing racks similar to Topps with the players showing which I believe you are referring to as "cello" racks although they were not wrapped inside each section like Topps grocery racks. My question is whether anyone has actually come across a full 72 pack case of these 1983 Donruss "cello" racks? I believe they were produced on a limited test basis and then rolled out as the new rack pack type for 1984 and forward. I also wonder why Fleer produce the "cello" type racks in 1984 and 1985 and then discontinued producing them. I love the 1984 Fleer racks and have accumulated quite a few. I think this thread needs some visuals.

    1983 Donruss "cello" racks
    image

    1984 Donruss "cello" racks
    image

    1983 Fleer jumbo cello racks
    image

    1984 Fleer "cello" racks
    image
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep."

    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Collecting:
    Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    The 'Cello' racks I was referring to are the 1989 Fleer. Each of the 3 sets is cello wrapped. I thought the 83 Jumbos were that way as well.

    The 'normal' packs (like regular Topps issue) is what I just call a rack(rak) pack.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,711 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Foget the rack packs, I'm mesmerized by that Panda bear bedspread.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • jordangretzkyfanjordangretzkyfan Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes, the cello racks I was referring to are all the standard racks that are loose in the outer cellophane with the exception of the 1983 Fleer Jumbo Racks which are an actual cello inside the outer wrapper.

    Mike - I did have a 1983 Donruss 72-count case years ago, but traded it as part of a deal. I had no idea how rare that form was at the time or I would have kept it. I got it from Mark Murphy back in the day and have never come across another. Sadly i have no photo, but my memory is that it looked similar to the 1984 Donruss case. Your theory of it being a test issue prior to the 1984 Donruss is likely accurate. Also, not sure why Fleer went away from clear racks post 1984/1985, but personally I like the wax racks better. I just wish they would have issued 86/87 Fleer basketball in wax rack form. Can you imagine what one of those would go for?
  • cpamikecpamike Posts: 5,566 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Yes, the cello racks I was referring to are all the standard racks that are loose in the outer cellophane with the exception of the 1983 Fleer Jumbo Racks which are an actual cello inside the outer wrapper.

    Mike - I did have a 1983 Donruss 72-count case years ago, but traded it as part of a deal. I had no idea how rare that form was at the time or I would have kept it. I got it from Mark Murphy back in the day and have never come across another. Sadly i have no photo, but my memory is that it looked similar to the 1984 Donruss case. Your theory of it being a test issue prior to the 1984 Donruss is likely accurate. Also, not sure why Fleer went away from clear racks post 1984/1985, but personally I like the wax racks better. I just wish they would have issued 86/87 Fleer basketball in wax rack form. Can you imagine what one of those would go for? >>



    Thanks for the reply Chris. Yeah, those 86/87 Fleer basketball racks would cost at least double what the individual wax packs would go for I would imagine. Of course, no one was buying them back in the day and they were practically trying to give them away.

    bziddy, I agree with you regarding the true cello packs being in the rack packs for only the 1983 Fleer as well as those 1989 Fleer ones.

    And Tim, that bedspread is not mine. I have no idea how that got in the picture. image
    "The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep."

    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

    Collecting:
    Any unopened Baseball cello and rack packs and boxes from the 1970's and early 1980s.
  • bziddybziddy Posts: 710 ✭✭✭
    Every once in a while I'll bust a box of 89 Fleer and get annoyed about 4 racks in because I always forget about the packs within a pack aspect. At least with the wax packs within a rack, it's very clear before I start.
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