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1979 Rax Roast Beef Wrestling Cards....

This set seems to be the most elusive set of wrestling cards out there. With only one set coming to market on EBAY in August of 2009. I would assume many are buried in closets somewhere or were simply thrown away.

Naturally I would like to acquire a set one day and hopefully someone sees this thread and go searching for them.

Here is the checklist and a picture of the set that sold.

Not a ton of star power but easily the earliest card of Dr. David Schultz and Robert Gibson.

Personally I love the design with the Pabst Blue Ribbon logo on them and they kind of remind me of the Carnation Major League Wrestling cards.



Pics





Dr. D Pic





circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - David Shultz
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Nick Gulas (promoter)
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Len Rossi
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Tojo Yamamoto
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Jerry Barber
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - George Gulas
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Robert Gibson
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Ricky Gibson
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Bobby Eaton
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Ken Lucas
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Tommy Kerkeles
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Mike St. John
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Tom Renesto Jr.
circa 1979 - Rax Roast Beef Restuarants/Pabst Blue Ribbon Gulas N.W.A. Mid America Championship Wrestling - Dennis Condry
Note: Restaurant food premium. Cards are unnumbered.



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Comments

  • baz518baz518 Posts: 1,235 ✭✭✭✭
    Cool cards, never knew they existed. I used to love me some Rax RB... and still enjoy some PBR!
  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    Do you know what that auction lot went for?
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Do you know what that auction lot went for? >>




    No. If someone has a membership to that Worthpoint site they would be able to see.

    If the right collectors saw a set pop up it would go for a few hundred or more pretty easily I think.

  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    I imagine singles of these cards would go for good money and a complete set no telling. Is there a complete checklist out there?
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I imagine singles of these cards would go for go for good money and a complete set no telling. Is there a complete checklist out there. >>




    I am sure you are right.

    I believe the checklist I posted is complete but I can't really verify that. It came from a reliable site.





  • Oh man! I used to love Rax! Little story about Rax. My wife and I, when we were dating, were on our way to Dayton, OH to see Bob Dylan in concert and heard that there was a Rax in a small town, a bit off the beaten path, but on the way. So we stopped and found that Rax was no longer there. Instead it was a pancake house called Stacks! Ha! The last Rax is in Harland, Kentucky. I only know this as we have family there and stopped there on the way back from our honeymoon 4 years ago. Our fam says it's still there.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Oh man! I used to love Rax! Little story about Rax. My wife and I, when we were dating, were on our way to Dayton, OH to see Bob Dylan in concert and heard that there was a Rax in a small town, a bit off the beaten path, but on the way. So we stopped and found that Rax was no longer there. Instead it was a pancake house called Stacks! Ha! The last Rax is in Harland, Kentucky. I only know this as we have family there and stopped there on the way back from our honeymoon 4 years ago. Our fam says it's still there. >>




    Cool story. Thanks for the post.

    This place sounds pretty awesome. Beer and roast beef. Nice combination!

  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    Got this message from a collecting friend of mine

    "No. The man who made these cards is Scott, who is a friend of mine. He only has one set himself and cannot bear to part with them. Dr. D has his card that he let me copy it but will not give it up either. Funny, he gave me a three foot high trophy and many other things but would not give up that card."
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • DavidPuddyDavidPuddy Posts: 3,484 ✭✭✭
    Rax was a cool place. I remember it being a lot like Arby's but they had a salad bar that my father liked. The last Rax that I knew about was in Oberlin, Oh in the mid 90's.
    Never knew these cards existed.
    "The Sipe market is ridiculous right now"
    CDsNuts, 1/9/15
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Got this message from a collecting friend of mine

    "No. The man who made these cards is Scott, who is a friend of mine. He only has one set himself and cannot bear to part with them. Dr. D has his card that he let me copy it but will not give it up either. Funny, he gave me a three foot high trophy and many other things but would not give up that card." >>




    I wonder what he means by Dr. D let him copy his card?


  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Got this message from a collecting friend of mine

    "No. The man who made these cards is Scott, who is a friend of mine. He only has one set himself and cannot bear to part with them. Dr. D has his card that he let me copy it but will not give it up either. Funny, he gave me a three foot high trophy and many other things but would not give up that card." >>




    I wonder what he means by Dr. D let him copy his card? >>



    Photocopy I imagine.
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Got this message from a collecting friend of mine

    "No. The man who made these cards is Scott, who is a friend of mine. He only has one set himself and cannot bear to part with them. Dr. D has his card that he let me copy it but will not give it up either. Funny, he gave me a three foot high trophy and many other things but would not give up that card." >>




    I wonder what he means by Dr. D let him copy his card? >>



    Photocopy I imagine. >>



    Interesting. These must be insanely rare.

    Can you see if he can get in contact with Scott and ask if he has any recollection how many sets were made?


  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,403 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image

    image

    This is really interesting. Like their roast beef, this set appears to be very rare.

    I'm wondering if this was the set that never was? Maybe a "conceptual prototype" presented to the principals and rejected?

    Rax was originally known as JAX Roast Beef, founded by Jack Roschman in 1967, in Springfield, Ohio. It went thru some name changes before settling on "Rax."
    Mike
  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    This might be one of the last great American set "discoveries". Hopefully we'll see a set or some cards emerge soon.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Is Wrestling Fake?


    The Dr. David Shultz card would certainly be helped by this clip.

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,403 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Is Wrestling Fake?


    The Dr. David Shultz card would certainly be helped by this clip. >>

    Fake?

    Well, there's no way I'm getting in the ring to find out. image
    Mike
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There is various stories about the slapping incident and no one is really certain the truth. That said, John Stossel sued and won a reported $425,000 and Dr. D's career was pretty much over. He stuck around in the independents for a few more years and then he went on to be a professional bounty hunter and apparently has done quite well with that.

    I wasted about 45 minutes this morning watching the episode on Youtube of the Morton Downy Jr. show that he stares in. It is pretty funny to watch.



    Morton Downey Jr.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In my research I found a name that was associated with the cards. I happen to be reading a book he helped write currently and emailed him last night.

    He took the photos, produced and published the cards. His email was brief and I sent him another response. I will post any additional information I get.

  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    I'm anxious to hear the story behind these. Hopefully he writes back.
  • I don't collect wrestling cards, but this story is pretty cool. Can't wait to see what else comes of it.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,403 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>There is various stories about the slapping incident and no one is really certain the truth. >>

    I was in school when this happened. And Stossel was just asking questions that many have thought about pro wrestling at the time.

    edit: my take from the 50s/60s? It was an exhibition - pre-scripted - and predetermined who would be victorious. Did I care? Heck no, it was great!

    If baseball's considered a metaphor for life? Then wrestling is a metaphor for the conquest of "good" over "evil" - at least back then.

    How many times have you seen a tag team match where the "bad guys" are beating up on one good guy and one of the "heroes" (Bruno e.g.) comes running in from no where to beat the crap out of both of them in the ring. If that isn't great entertainment for a kid? We loved it!
    Mike
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just read my email and Scott Teal wrote back. He said he only made a couple hundred and that Nick Gulas lined up the advertisers for him.

    In my note I mentioned that if he ever wanted to sell his set I would be interested but he didn't make any mention in his response so I will leave it at that.

    I did tell him about my site to check and see if he took any of the photos used for the Wrestling All Stars.

    The official answer is these cards are extremely rare.

  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the information and I can't wait until one of these sets gets unearthed for everyone to see!

    Ryan
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks for the information and I can't wait until one of these sets gets unearthed for everyone to see!

    Ryan >>




    This is either going to be an early bird gets the worm scenario or a straight auction that will blow the roof off.

    It has been five years since a set hit EBAY so maybe sooner then later another will surface.

    One of the great things about collecting is stories like this where no matter what you will pay you can't get your hands on a set. I love it.

  • dytch2220dytch2220 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭
    I kept seeing this thread bubble up but hadn't read it until tonight. That was one helluva slap!

    Although I don't collect wrestling, I grew up loving it and I like to read these wrestling card threads. I will surely be a spectator when one of these sets hits the auction block.
    The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I responded to Scott Teal and let him know I thought these were the most rare wrestling cards that were out there. His response was awesome!

    The cards apparently came in little sealed sets and he said he has never opened his and wouldn't sell his for anything. I gave him a value estimate of $500 to $1,000 for a set and he said he would check with friends and see if anyone has one. He said if he can dig them out he will send a pic and I will post it.

    Hopefully this will push some into the market.


    Since Dr. D is the main card here is a nice shot of him from an AWA program.


    image

  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    Awesome!!
  • eagles33eagles33 Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭
    The story is cool and def is definitely rare... But I don't recognize a single name in the checklist. You think it really could be worth 500-1000 without any star power? The set from 85 with Kerry Von Eric as the only known is really interesting to me. There could be some cool rookies in that set. Has anymore info on that set surfaced?
    Scans of most of my Misc rookies can be found <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.collectors.com/m...y&keyword1=Non%20major">here
  • dytch2220dytch2220 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Do you know what that auction lot went for? >>



    No. If someone has a membership to that Worthpoint site they would be able to see.

    If the right collectors saw a set pop up it would go for a few hundred or more pretty easily I think. >>



    Your stomach is probably going to hurt when you see what a song these went for:

    Vintage LOT 17 1970s era NWA Wrestling Cards!!
    SOLD FOR: $76.00
    ITEM CATEGORY: Sports
    SOURCE: eBay
    SOLD DATE: Aug 02,2009
    CHANNEL: Online Auction
    The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I definitely think a set of these could go for $500 or more. If Scott had pulled out his set in the sealed pack and said he would do it for $500 I would shoot him the PayPal funds immediately.

    Do I think it is a good investment at $500 or $1,000? Probably not but it is a set that just about everyone who actively collects wrestling cards doesn't have and it would bring out the bidders. I can think of six collectors who would be bidding on the set and I am sure there are a few more and this is the type of item where someone would have to bid to win because they know it is not coming up again soon. The last Carnation Pack with Slaughter/Koloffs went for over $600 and that pack generally yields cards in the PSA 5 to PSA 6 range and that is over $300 a card. Was the pack a good investment? Probably not but two snipes went off and bamm. I believe the same would happen here.

    The WCCW set if it surfaced would do great too. The Kevin Von Erich card was a beater and sold for $10. I had that one on my watch list but thought it was a little high for the condition and said I will wait for the next. I am still waiting since no other copies have surfaced.

    Dytch thank you for pulling up the listing. There is another collector on another message board who thought it went in the $80 range and he was very close and I am sure with shipping did. That is actually a strong number for 2009 and indicative of why I think they would go for so much more today. You could get most vintage wrestling cards for very cheap in 2009 and at $4.47 a card that was actually expensive.

    I got my first set of 1982 Wrestling All Stars Series A in August of 2009 for $199 and it came with a PSA 9 Hogan, PSA 9 Lawler, and a tremendous raw set that many graded well. That is $5.52 a card.

  • dytch2220dytch2220 Posts: 1,681 ✭✭✭
    Yeah, the game has changed since that time it seems. Based on the now known scarcity and a hungry group of collectors, the bidding would probably be very healthy. I'll be keen to hear about this set coming to the auction block.
    The N8 Collection: PSA Registry Sets & Showcases
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Dr. D


    They do exist.

    Rob contacted me after they ended and he missed them too.

    I just looked at the final prices and my $1,000 estimate for a set that is sealed looks to be right on. I just added them up and the total was just over $720 raw.

    Strong prices for every card.

    Man I hope this pulls out some more.
  • Big80sBig80s Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭
    Great research per usual, David. This was a fun thread to go back and read. Your enthusiasm for these cards is contagious!
    Let's Rip It: PackGeek.com
    Jeff
  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    The cards would have went higher if i knew about them too instead of the key card already being off the auction block and a few more to go.....i got a bid or two in but i was busy at work and couldn't make a better run at it.......bummed.....fun to see these but I know that these would have went for more with a better title. COMC has messed with my searches with all the junk that has been entered recently.....bad timing overall.....i don't want to block them but perhaps i will now?
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The whale has been harpooned. Pics to follow.

  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So yesterday was a crazy day. I had decided to take the day off from work and was just browsing my Facebook feed and Scott Teal who is referenced earlier in this thread had posted these pics to a wrestling group page. I had reached out to him once more after missing the recent auctions and notified him of the selling prices.





    image






    image





    I immediately commented that I still want to buy them and he just laughed and said he was keeping them. I copied the link to this thread for him and others to read and asked if I could post the pics to the thread and he said that would be great.

    I sent the pics to Rob and he said that looks like King Tonga or better known as Haku. I was now officially losing my mind. There isn't a complete checklist from the set.

    I made a post on mine and showed the packs and some comments went back and forth. Finally I threw out some higher numbers and he sent me a private message to call him. We agreed upon a price and I am mailing him a check this morning.

    My plan is to work with PSA and see what my options are. If they will grade them I am busting it open and sending in the complete set. If they won't I will just keep it the way it is.

    This is an incredibly exciting purchase for me. I have been actively hunting for all things wrestling card related for nearly seven years straight and this is a really scare set of cards.

    It turns out he found the advertisement for the cards.


    image







    There were more printed than originally thought but the fact that no complete sets have surfaced online other than this one suggests most didn't survive. The cards that made it to EBAY from a closet find were from a non wrestling related person and he was shocked it turns out that they had value. It appeared to be close to a complete set but now after seeing this advertisement we know there are 22 cards.


    This right here is what makes collecting exciting. I gave Scott specific instructions on how to mail them and should get them later this week.

    I truly hope now that a complete set exists that PSA will grade them. Rob pointed out that the person who won the card is the guy I bought the 82 A and B uncut sheets from who is best friends with Dr. D. In our discussions I had asked him to offer Shultz $200 for his copy and his response was he laughed and said obviously this guy doesn't know me. Bob when we spoke said this is what made him realize it would take more than $200 to win and so he bid accordingly. He has apparently already sent it in to PSA so we shall see what happens.

    I will update further later this week.




  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just found this.

    image



    There are 3 cards of the 22 that haven't been seen when you include the King Tonga.


    It would be so cool if Bruce Reed from this card is one of them. Went on to stardom under the name Butch Reed.

  • wrestlingcardkingwrestlingcardking Posts: 4,555 ✭✭✭✭
    Who are the 19 in the set that you have checklisted leaving the last three slots? I know they included some cards of the people that worked for the Gulas promotions as part of the set.
    BUYING Frank Gotch T229 Kopec
    Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I went and looked at the cards that sold and there were 18.

    Leaving Ken Lucas, King Tonga and two others that are unknown.

    There is an image from the web of the lot that sold years ago and I haven't cross referenced those to the recent listings.

  • DaClydeDaClyde Posts: 17 ✭✭
    Maybe consider asking about the set on the Kayfabe Memories message board in the Mid-America section.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: DaClyde
    Maybe consider asking about the set on the Kayfabe Memories message board in the Mid-America section.


    Thanks for the tip.

    I am planning on doing a lot more research on the cards.

    This morning when searching I found that Superstar Graham didn't end up working the event even though he was advertised.


  • PorkinsPorkins Posts: 609 ✭✭✭
    Good stuff as usual DPeck.

    Looking forward to seeing what happens after you get them in hand.

    Thanks for sharing
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I haven't cleared it with PSA yet but I am a collector first and couldn't help myself and busted the pack. That was so much fun!

    Time to get to work with the scans!




  • SpinFadeSplash23SpinFadeSplash23 Posts: 909 ✭✭✭
    Great story. Thanks for sharing.
    Joe

    IG: goatcollectibles23

    The biggest lesson I've learned in this hobby, and in life, is that if you have a strong conviction, you owe it to yourself to see it through. Don't sell yourself, or your investments, short. Unless the facts change. Then sell it all.
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here is the set from start to finish as they came in the pack. I knew when I opened it the back few cards and the front few would have some corner damage but the center cards looked like they could be sharp. I could see the grades ranging from as low as a PSA 3 to a PSA 9 if they will grade them.


    If they will grade them this is getting sent in too. I bet people were more excited to get the free fries than the cards. LOL


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  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
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  • SumoMenkoManSumoMenkoMan Posts: 1,269 ✭✭✭
    Wow! Very cool and thanks for taking the plunge. Are some of those pictures of the people working in the promotion?
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes some of the office staff.

  • eagles33eagles33 Posts: 2,680 ✭✭✭
    Nice find. This is what makes collecting so fun. Just when you think things start to get a little boring someone makes a new new discovery. Wasn't there another set from 1985 that had a card of the Texas tornado? Has anymore information surfaced in that set. It could be cool if there is a Piper in that set
    Scans of most of my Misc rookies can be found <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.collectors.com/m...y&keyword1=Non%20major">here
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The WCCW is a Broder (not sure if I spelled right) of Kevin Von Erich. A one off card where you send them an image and they make a card.

    I just got off the phone with Bob from New York who is really close with Dr. D. He said that Shultz put out want adds for the cards in the area they were issued to try and help Bob locate one. No luck.

    Glad Bob won the Shultz and he sent it with the Leo Rossi to PSA.
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