The 1976 Topps # 564 Mark Bevaqua Bubble Champ card.
Was during the day when us kids actually filled in the checklist cards to track who was still needed. The checklist listed 'Bubble Champ' on it and that is it. That card was the very last card I needed to complete that set.
'Bubble Champ' was the baddest ass name of a baseball player that could ever exist to me. The elusiveness of the card brought on more wonder of who this player was, what team,, etc.
When I finally pulled the card. my whole world collapsed.
@ndleo said:
For me it was the 1984 Fleer Update Set. I actually pre-ordered 3 sets from Lou Brown Cards in Michigan. After they blew up I sold each of them at a show for like $150 each to a dealer. After I graduated grad school I ended up getting the Puckett in PSA 10 first, then the Gooden a few years later, and Clemens just a few years ago from the BST board.
Do you remember these sets being factory sealed in any way? I’ve had people tell me that they never were, also that they were sealed with a piece of tape OPC style without cellophane. Any help is appreciated.
Sets had no seal of any kind. You basically have to look at the collation to see if it's been gone thru.
Great set though, it took me a few years to finish it off in PSA10 but certainly a very doable set if you have the time and patience. Would be a good time too before Clemens gets into the Hall.
Even though I originally started collecting in the late 80s my original holy grail card was a 55 Bowman Mantle. The TV Set and the Mick. I finally obtained one this year. Not the greatest condition but I'm having it graded at the moment anyway.
@JustMark said:
Even though I originally started collecting in the late 80s my original holy grail card was a 55 Bowman Mantle. The TV Set and the Mick. I finally obtained one this year. Not the greatest condition but I'm having it graded at the moment anyway.
This is an iconic set IMO. I have been trying to finish a set for years by just trading and it has kept it fun. I am still like 75 short, but have 300 extras, lol. The umpire cards are unique and very tough!
@ndleo said:
For me it was the 1984 Fleer Update Set. I actually pre-ordered 3 sets from Lou Brown Cards in Michigan. After they blew up I sold each of them at a show for like $150 each to a dealer. After I graduated grad school I ended up getting the Puckett in PSA 10 first, then the Gooden a few years later, and Clemens just a few years ago from the BST board.
Do you remember these sets being factory sealed in any way? I’ve had people tell me that they never were, also that they were sealed with a piece of tape OPC style without cellophane. Any help is appreciated.
Sets had no seal of any kind. You basically have to look at the collation to see if it's been gone thru.
Great set though, it took me a few years to finish it off in PSA10 but certainly a very doable set if you have the time and patience. Would be a good time too before Clemens gets into the Hall.
+1
There are ways to tell if a card has been switched out, too, if you're clever enough.
@ReggieCleveland said:
In 1989, during the NLCS when WIll Clark and Mark Grace were going at each other like two heavyweights and Will Clark cards were hotter than the sun, I pulled a few 1987 Fleer Will Clark cards. Funny thing was, if you got the collation where the Clark was toward the top of the pack, the Barry Bonds was just a few cards down. That was only worth $1.50 at the time though.
Arthur
I love this card. Growing up in the SF area, Will Clark was by far my favorite player. Opening packs of 1987 Fleer was too expensive for the young me at that time. I finally got to open some 87 Fleer packs last year and it was a blast when I pulled the Will Clark/Barry Bonds combo you are talking about! It made the 12 year old me very happy. Awesome card by the way!
@JustMark said:
Even though I originally started collecting in the late 80s my original holy grail card was a 55 Bowman Mantle. The TV Set and the Mick. I finally obtained one this year. Not the greatest condition but I'm having it graded at the moment anyway.
This is an iconic set IMO. I have been trying to finish a set for years by just trading and it has kept it fun. I am still like 75 short, but have 300 extras, lol. The umpire cards are unique and very tough!
Although I like the 55 Bowman set it was a last gasp attempt. I think the umpire cards were an afterthought to fill out the final sheet when the competition with Topps made it harder to get players. And kids threw them away which is what makes them tougher today.
And the color TV concept although innovative may have been just a tad too far ahead of it's time from a marketing standpoint for cards. Google how many color TV sets existed in the U.S. In 1955
@ndleo said:
For me it was the 1984 Fleer Update Set. I actually pre-ordered 3 sets from Lou Brown Cards in Michigan. After they blew up I sold each of them at a show for like $150 each to a dealer. After I graduated grad school I ended up getting the Puckett in PSA 10 first, then the Gooden a few years later, and Clemens just a few years ago from the BST board.
Do you remember these sets being factory sealed in any way? I’ve had people tell me that they never were, also that they were sealed with a piece of tape OPC style without cellophane. Any help is appreciated.
Sets had no seal of any kind. You basically have to look at the collation to see if it's been gone thru.
Great set though, it took me a few years to finish it off in PSA10 but certainly a very doable set if you have the time and patience. Would be a good time too before Clemens gets into the Hall.
Thank you for this information. I have been looking for years for a complete, unmolested set in the original box. I have seen a couple pop up on eBay over the years, but was too afraid to take a chance as the scans weren’t that great and I didn’t know the seller. I figured there can’t be that many left out there due to all the years of picking the Gooden, Puckett, and Clemens, but have maintained the saved search on my eBay regardless. With a purchase like that though, it’s probably best to go through someone like BBCE or TSalem as I’m sure they know what to look for. I admittedly don’t as I’ve never had a set in front of me to study. So no tape, no cellophane, and no seal. Thank you guys!
Edited to say that 1984 Fleer Update is definitely on my PSA 10 to do list. I love the set and have procrastinated putting it together a couple times. It was also the year I was born haha.
Always looking for OPC "tape intact" baseball wax boxes, and 1984 OPC baseball PSA 10's for my set. Please PM or email me if you have any available.
@OddRodz said:
The 1976 Topps # 564 Mark Bevaqua Bubble Champ card.
Was during the day when us kids actually filled in the checklist cards to track who was still needed. The checklist listed 'Bubble Champ' on it and that is it. That card was the very last card I needed to complete that set.
'Bubble Champ' was the baddest ass name of a baseball player that could ever exist to me. The elusiveness of the card brought on more wonder of who this player was, what team,, etc.
When I finally pulled the card. my whole world collapsed.
A 76 Topps Mark Bevaqua would be on anyone's holy grail list because that card doesn't exist. But a 76 Kurt Bevacqua does
As kids our goal was to purchase a complete box of 61 Topps from the local grocery store. Even at 5 cents a pack a box took us awhile as most of us saw a weekly allowance of 50 cents. I did finally purchase one box. And we had other distractions to spend our money on. Toys,cereal premiums,comic books,movies etc. We used to trade toys for cards,cards for toys etc. I remember trading my Yankee cards for Cardinal cards as that was the team I followed. I remember trading some cards for a used bike that had a car steering wheel replacing the handlebars. Needless to say all those 61-65 cards are all gone now residing in someones collection (hopefully). And you guessed it, Mom tossed them all.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
This was something I found earlier this morning. Make your own assumptions on the validity of the numbers, I guess, because I'm not going to spend much time trying to verify them. I would be one to say that color TV'S, and color programming specifically, were not very prevalent in 1955.
Sets had no seal of any kind. You basically have to look at the collation to see if it's been gone thru.
Great set though, it took me a few years to finish it off in PSA10 but certainly a very doable set if you have the time and patience. Would be a good time too before Clemens gets into the Hall.
Thank you for this information. I have been looking for years for a complete, unmolested set in the original box. I have seen a couple pop up on eBay over the years, but was too afraid to take a chance as the scans weren’t that great and I didn’t know the seller. I figured there can’t be that many left out there due to all the years of picking the Gooden, Puckett, and Clemens, but have maintained the saved search on my eBay regardless. With a purchase like that though, it’s probably best to go through someone like BBCE or TSalem as I’m sure they know what to look for. I admittedly don’t as I’ve never had a set in front of me to study. So no tape, no cellophane, and no seal. Thank you guys!
Edited to say that 1984 Fleer Update is definitely on my PSA 10 to do list. I love the set and have procrastinated putting it together a couple times. It was also the year I was born haha.
So I truly love this set as I have the registrys #1 all time finest ranked set but I also know a bit about it so I will try to talk you out of buying a complete set. Hopefully you don't mind the meddling, here my reasons and a suggestion:
the trouble with the FU 1984 is that it was both more limited in production and it had 3 major rookies that were very hot at various times so over the last 30 years most were opened at some point. With Gooden being awesome early, Puckett winning 2 World Series and making the Hall and Clemens riding a roller coarse of highs and lows everyone wanted to pull the 10s which there was no barrier to looking.
If you want to buy a set to keep it un searched you will pay a premium to actually find one and then if you ever go to sell it no one is likely to believe it hasn't been searched. So a poor set up from a financial perspective.
If you want to buy one to have the big 3 graded the current pop report runs under 10% in PSA 10. So with a bias to submitting the best examples I'd put the chance at pulling and submitting around 5-7%.
And here's my suggestion... just start buying the PSA 10s and chase down the whole set. It will cost you a bit more take a lot more time but be more rewarding.
Yes, Bonanza was the first program in color. And I believe RCA (if not another tv maker) was a big sponser
of the show. Bonanza didn't get very good ratings the first couple years but the network
kept it on the air, and one reason was they wanted to sell color TVs' because of the sponser.
Chalk me up as another ‘86 Donruss Canseco- that was the true grail for 10yo me, but as a poor kid it wasn’t going to happen. After that, I tried like hell to pull a Reggie signature from 1990 Upper Deck. No dice. Still don’t have the Reggie, but I finally got a few Jose’s during college, sometime after he started naming names.
My first year of collecting was 1974 and I remember wanting the #1 Hank Aaron HR King card so bad, I literally traded a full paper shopping bag of 1974 cards (probably with multiples of Ryan, Rose, etc...) for that one card. I think the other guy probably got the good end of that one.
@secretstash said:
I tried to corner the neighborhood on a card...traded almost all I had at the time for these but lets just say the neighborhood made out over time...
This...
And the beckett issie with that cover...total holy grails in my city
^^^ I loved that Beckett and still have a copy. However, I wrote on the cover of the magazine when I originally got it in 1990. Remember it well. Tim Raines was on the back.
Very early on it was the '77 Mark Fidrych, which seems like a popular choice based on this thread. Later on it became the '80 Henderson, and then the '84 Topps Strawberry and Mattingly.
I still have the '77 Fidrych I pulled from a pack as a kid. One of those priceless cards with no monetary value, but sentimental value in spades.
My holy Grail as a kid was a card I would not be able to pull from a pack, it was a 1933 Goudey #181 Ruth. I have admired that card since I first learned about. I finally ended up finding one that was a combination of nice eye appeal and reasonable price.
As a kid, opening current packs, nothing stands out as being amazing at the time. I was always happy to get the most current Garvey card or another star player. When I started opening packs and boxes with inserts, then the hits seemed much more amazing. The one autograph I specifically remember pulling from a pack that excited me the most was a Duke Snider Au/Jersey card from one of those UD Hall of Fame issues in the early 2000s. Although not my exact card, this was it.
I collect Steve Garvey, Dodgers and signed cards. Collector since 1978.
Comments
The 1976 Topps # 564 Mark Bevaqua Bubble Champ card.
Was during the day when us kids actually filled in the checklist cards to track who was still needed. The checklist listed 'Bubble Champ' on it and that is it. That card was the very last card I needed to complete that set.
'Bubble Champ' was the baddest ass name of a baseball player that could ever exist to me. The elusiveness of the card brought on more wonder of who this player was, what team,, etc.
When I finally pulled the card. my whole world collapsed.
Sets had no seal of any kind. You basically have to look at the collation to see if it's been gone thru.
Great set though, it took me a few years to finish it off in PSA10 but certainly a very doable set if you have the time and patience. Would be a good time too before Clemens gets into the Hall.
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies
Even though I originally started collecting in the late 80s my original holy grail card was a 55 Bowman Mantle. The TV Set and the Mick. I finally obtained one this year. Not the greatest condition but I'm having it graded at the moment anyway.
This is an iconic set IMO. I have been trying to finish a set for years by just trading and it has kept it fun. I am still like 75 short, but have 300 extras, lol. The umpire cards are unique and very tough!
+1
There are ways to tell if a card has been switched out, too, if you're clever enough.
Arthur
I love this card. Growing up in the SF area, Will Clark was by far my favorite player. Opening packs of 1987 Fleer was too expensive for the young me at that time. I finally got to open some 87 Fleer packs last year and it was a blast when I pulled the Will Clark/Barry Bonds combo you are talking about! It made the 12 year old me very happy. Awesome card by the way!
Although I like the 55 Bowman set it was a last gasp attempt. I think the umpire cards were an afterthought to fill out the final sheet when the competition with Topps made it harder to get players. And kids threw them away which is what makes them tougher today.
And the color TV concept although innovative may have been just a tad too far ahead of it's time from a marketing standpoint for cards. Google how many color TV sets existed in the U.S. In 1955
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Thank you for this information. I have been looking for years for a complete, unmolested set in the original box. I have seen a couple pop up on eBay over the years, but was too afraid to take a chance as the scans weren’t that great and I didn’t know the seller. I figured there can’t be that many left out there due to all the years of picking the Gooden, Puckett, and Clemens, but have maintained the saved search on my eBay regardless. With a purchase like that though, it’s probably best to go through someone like BBCE or TSalem as I’m sure they know what to look for. I admittedly don’t as I’ve never had a set in front of me to study. So no tape, no cellophane, and no seal. Thank you guys!
Edited to say that 1984 Fleer Update is definitely on my PSA 10 to do list. I love the set and have procrastinated putting it together a couple times. It was also the year I was born haha.
A 76 Topps Mark Bevaqua would be on anyone's holy grail list because that card doesn't exist. But a 76 Kurt Bevacqua does
As kids our goal was to purchase a complete box of 61 Topps from the local grocery store. Even at 5 cents a pack a box took us awhile as most of us saw a weekly allowance of 50 cents. I did finally purchase one box. And we had other distractions to spend our money on. Toys,cereal premiums,comic books,movies etc. We used to trade toys for cards,cards for toys etc. I remember trading my Yankee cards for Cardinal cards as that was the team I followed. I remember trading some cards for a used bike that had a car steering wheel replacing the handlebars. Needless to say all those 61-65 cards are all gone now residing in someones collection (hopefully). And you guessed it, Mom tossed them all.
Prob. 1980 Henderson.
bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
for me it was opening up the 1986 baseball packs when they came out
Is that sets at all, or color?
i nagged my parents for tons of burger king just to get this as a kid
This was something I found earlier this morning. Make your own assumptions on the validity of the numbers, I guess, because I'm not going to spend much time trying to verify them. I would be one to say that color TV'S, and color programming specifically, were not very prevalent in 1955.
The show Bonanza probably helped sell more color TVs' than anything else.
So I truly love this set as I have the registrys #1 all time finest ranked set but I also know a bit about it so I will try to talk you out of buying a complete set. Hopefully you don't mind the meddling, here my reasons and a suggestion:
And here's my suggestion... just start buying the PSA 10s and chase down the whole set. It will cost you a bit more take a lot more time but be more rewarding.
Join the Rookie stars on top PSA registry today:
1980-1989 Cello Packs - Rookies
so was Bonanza the first major hit that was in color? great trivia question
Bonanza in 59 and Disney Wonderful World of Color in 61
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
Bonanza and Walt Disney's "Wonderful World of Color"
Yes, Bonanza was the first program in color. And I believe RCA (if not another tv maker) was a big sponser
of the show. Bonanza didn't get very good ratings the first couple years but the network
kept it on the air, and one reason was they wanted to sell color TVs' because of the sponser.
Chalk me up as another ‘86 Donruss Canseco- that was the true grail for 10yo me, but as a poor kid it wasn’t going to happen. After that, I tried like hell to pull a Reggie signature from 1990 Upper Deck. No dice. Still don’t have the Reggie, but I finally got a few Jose’s during college, sometime after he started naming names.
My first year of collecting was 1974 and I remember wanting the #1 Hank Aaron HR King card so bad, I literally traded a full paper shopping bag of 1974 cards (probably with multiples of Ryan, Rose, etc...) for that one card. I think the other guy probably got the good end of that one.
This...
And the beckett issie with that cover...total holy grails in my city
^^^ I loved that Beckett and still have a copy. However, I wrote on the cover of the magazine when I originally got it in 1990. Remember it well. Tim Raines was on the back.
Very early on it was the '77 Mark Fidrych, which seems like a popular choice based on this thread. Later on it became the '80 Henderson, and then the '84 Topps Strawberry and Mattingly.
I still have the '77 Fidrych I pulled from a pack as a kid. One of those priceless cards with no monetary value, but sentimental value in spades.
My holy Grail as a kid was a card I would not be able to pull from a pack, it was a 1933 Goudey #181 Ruth. I have admired that card since I first learned about. I finally ended up finding one that was a combination of nice eye appeal and reasonable price.
As a kid, opening current packs, nothing stands out as being amazing at the time. I was always happy to get the most current Garvey card or another star player. When I started opening packs and boxes with inserts, then the hits seemed much more amazing. The one autograph I specifically remember pulling from a pack that excited me the most was a Duke Snider Au/Jersey card from one of those UD Hall of Fame issues in the early 2000s. Although not my exact card, this was it.