Kirby Puckett was the spark plug that made the Twins go for nearly two decades. Kirby was small in stature, but mighty at the plate and in the field. A 10x all-star and 6x gold glove winner, Puckett was most known for his discipline at the plate. His .318 career average ranks him right near the top of his generation along with Gwynn and Boggs. I had the privilege to meet Kirby as a kid back in 1991 as the Twins were coming into town to face the Baltimore Orioles. I was in the hotel lobby they were staying at and he walked in from the team bus. I was the first to recognize him and said hello. He happily shook my hand and spent a few minutes talking to me about baseball. Always amazing when you have a moment to interact with a childhood hero.
His 1984 Fleer Update card is the no-brainer Puckett RC to own. This set was very limited compared to other 1980’s issues and finding dead centered examples is a real challenge. I never owned this card as a kid and only recall seeing it once at a show. I love this image of a young Kirby getting ready to launch into his HOF career.
Next up is pitching’s equivalent to Barry Bonds. Easily the most dominate pitcher of the modern era, Roger Clemens is a top 15 player of all-time. With a record 7x Cy Awards, 354 Wins (2nd most in modern era only 1 win behind Maddux), 3rd most strikeouts of all-time, Roger simply dominated competition for two decades. To put into context just how dominant Clemens was…in MLB history there have only been 23 perfect games, 18 games in which a player hit four home runs or more, and only 5 nine-inning games a pitcher has struck out 20 batters. Of those five occurrences, Clemens did it twice!! The fact that fellow Red Sox David Ortiz is in the HOF with a failed PED test and mediocre career stats, while Clemens sits outside having never failed a PED test is a testimony to what a joke the HOF has become.
As I mentioned before, there are certain players where one RC just isn’t enough. The obvious choice for Clemens is his iconic 1984 Fleer Update. Limited production and centering challenges make this card a “must have” for any 80’s collection. However, my personal favorite is his 1984 Pawtucket minor league rookie. With only 39 ever graded PSA 9 and zero PSA 10s in existence, this card is severely undervalued for the most dominate pitcher of the modern era.
Dwight Gooden burst onto the scene in 1985 with one of the most dominate pitching seasons ever. A year later he was helping the Mets win the World Series. In the 80s, the debate was whether Gooden or Clemens would go down as the top pitcher of their era. Unfortunately, Gooden’s addictions caught up to him and he never reached his career potential. Regardless, he is cemented as a marquise star of the 80s and critical to any RC collection.
I couldn’t decide between his 1984 Topps Traded and 1984 Fleer Update rookie, so I had to include both. I have always wished that Clemens and Puckett also made the 1984 Topps Traded set…those would have been sweet cards!
You cannot have one 1986 Mets’ star without the other. I started collecting in late 1986 before going all in by 1987. Clearly the Mets were all the rage having just won the World Series with the young nucleus of Gooden and Strawberry. Darryl was the first superstar card I coveted. I still contend that Strawberry’s 1987 Topps is one of the best looking cards of the 80s. Darryl was pure power at the plate and always came up clutch in big moments. He seemed like a lock for the HOF in the early stages of his career. He finished with 335 HR and was a 3x World Series champion before retiring. Simply an iconic star of the 80s.
Strawberry’s 1983 Topps Traded beautifully captures his left handed swing and was a rarity to find at card shows as a kid. I could always locate his 1984 cards for sale, but the 83TT seemed to allude me. The biggest challenge on the 83TT card is centering for sure. I’m happy to have these two in my collection.
One of the top 10 second basemen of all-time, Sandberg set the standard in the 80s and 90s for a power hitting, gold glove winning two bagger. His 1989 season was outstanding as he led the Cubs to the NLCS before falling short to the San Francisco Giants. To put into perspective just how good a fielder Ryne was, he once had a streak of 123 errorless innings! That stretch saw him execute on 582 consecutive chances without an error.
Sandberg’s 1983 Topps is the most aesthetically pleasing card of the 80s for me. Something about the beautiful dual front photo design in 1983 that is matched with a great balance of whites, sky blue and purples that really make this card jump out in any display case. I loved this RC as a kid and that has never changed for me.
The history of the game, this is what card collecting is about for me. I have a similar project going for hockey, not as well organized but flipping through the greats of the game, holding the cards. It's the reason I collect today, collected as a kid and teen, and will collect as an old fart.
Good stuff and a good reminder of where the hobby really comes from.
The history of the game, this is what card collecting is about for me. I have a similar project going for hockey, not as well organized but flipping through the greats of the game, holding the cards. It's the reason I collect today, collected as a kid and teen, and will collect as an old fart.
Good stuff and a good reminder of where the hobby really comes from.
Thanks…I appreciate the kind words! I completely agree, it’s about holding the cards of our childhood idols and enjoying the nostalgia. Would love to see your hockey project.
Next up in the epic rookie class of 1983 is the second best pure hitter of his generation. Wade Boggs made hitting look effortless as he perfected his .328 career batting average, trailing only behind Tony Gwynn for the era. A 5x batting champion, Wade is a member of the 3000 hit club and has a WAR of 91.4 ranking him 43rd all-time. He is one of only two players to record a HR as his 3000 career hit, which is ironic since Boggs was not known for his power. My favorite Boggs trait is that he ate fried chicken before every game as a superstition. Seriously, how can this RC not be in a collection?!?
Far and away his best RC, 1983 Topps is often referred to as the best set design in the 80s. This card is iconic and captures one of the game’s greats as he stretches his lead off the bases he frequented often.
Rounding out the RC class of 1983 is Tony Gwynn. The best pure hitter of his era, Tony amassed an amazing 8x batting titles. This was only bested by Ty Cobb who had 9x batting titles. A member of the 3000 Hit Club, Gwynn was also an outstanding fielder bringing home 5x gold gloves.
The best RC is once again 1983 Topps, but his minor league rookie provides a very limited alternative and is undervalued in my opinion.
MLB has a handful of historic moments that transcend time, and one of those immortalized in our minds belongs to the Iron Man. Baseball needed a hero after the 1994 strike to bring class and humility back to the game. Enter Cal Ripken. I can still recall Chris Berman’s vioce as Cal officially broke Lou Gerig’s record for consecutive games played. Unscripted, the game paused and Ripken instinctively decided to walk the perimeter of Camden Yards shaking hands with the fans who made his childhood dream a reality. This is the stuff of legends. And oh, by the way, Cal won 2x MVP, is a member of the 3000 Hit Club, has over 400 HR and was a gold glove winning SS. He is among the pinnacle of baseballs top 50 and might be the classiest to ever play the game.
For the best of the best, they get two RCs in my book. Both of these rookies are iconic and a mandatory addition to any 80’s collection. Simply one of my very favorites.
Down to my final two key RCs of the 80s, both have something in common. Raines was a 7x all-star who wreaked havoc on the base paths. He amassed over 2600 career hits and over 800 stolen bases, ranking him fifth all time. Tim was a highly feared lead off hitter who helped to change the game by manufacturing runs for his team.
His 1981 Topps Traded is his more difficult RC. Centering on this card is the key challenge. This is an underrated and undervalued card in my book.
To close out my collection of the top RCs of the 80s is none other than the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time. Henderson is an all-time top 20 MLB player and fittingly is the leadoff RC of the decade. Rickey ranks 1st in all-time stolen bases, runs, leadoff HRs and mentioning himself in the third person. Rickey likes this!
This RC is easily in the top five iconic cards of the decade. Aside from the Sandberg RC, this is my favorite aesthetically. The flow of white, green and yellow set against the dark dugout backdrop make his iconic batting stance pop. Simply a “must own” for any collection. Centering, print spots and edge chipping plague this card. Finding a high end PSA 9 is worth the wait and will present a solid challenge.
Thanks to those who shared in this journey with me.
I love early Raines cards. Those expos colours plus Raines just being a badass makes those cards special. Have good memories watching games at Olympic Stadium, Dawson and Raines.
@80sOPC said:
I love early Raines cards. Those expos colours plus Raines just being a badass makes those cards special. Have good memories watching games at Olympic Stadium, Dawson and Raines.
If you grew up collecting in the 80s, this has to easily go down as being one of the greatest CU threads of all time. It’s got unopened, it’s got unopened being opened, it’s got post after post after post of 1980s nostalgic awesomeness. And then a side step into features top rookie cards of the decade!
Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
As for your last couple showcased stars, to be honest Raines flew under my radar as a kid. He was a decent pull, but never made it into the binder. Big miss on my part.
Henderson on the other hand was huge in my town. We were thrilled when he came to the Yankees. Snap catch and all! I was able to secure my 1980 specimen in a 3 way trade with my cousin and an unknown third party. I don’t remember all of the details, but fishing tackle was involved - true story.
Of course I still have my Rickey, which is maybe a 4-5. Only one I own and probably will ever own.
John
Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
@80sOPC said:
I love early Raines cards. Those expos colours plus Raines just being a badass makes those cards special. Have good memories watching games at Olympic Stadium, Dawson and Raines.
Thank you so much for adding such value to these collector boards.
@NJ80sBBC said:
If you grew up collecting in the 80s, this has to easily go down as being one of the greatest CU threads of all time. It’s got unopened, it’s got unopened being opened, it’s got post after post after post of 1980s nostalgic awesomeness. And then a side step into features top rookie cards of the decade!
Thank you for all the kind words. I am blessed to have this forum of great collectors who enjoy a common nostalgia and to share memories with. Your comments are what keeps this fresh!
@NJ80sBBC said:
As for your last couple showcased stars, to be honest Raines flew under my radar as a kid. He was a decent pull, but never made it into the binder. Big miss on my part.
Henderson on the other hand was huge in my town. We were thrilled when he came to the Yankees. Snap catch and all! I was able to secure my 1980 specimen in a 3 way trade with my cousin and an unknown third party. I don’t remember all of the details, but fishing tackle was involved - true story.
Of course I still have my Rickey, which is maybe a 4-5. Only one I own and probably will ever own.
John
Love this admission and story. You know $h!t# is getting real when fishing tackle enters the trade 🤣🤣. Man we were funny as kids. I remember trading my Mike Tyson’s Punch Out video game along with my Vision Gator Skateboard for an 87/88 Fleer basketball set back in 1992. Like most kids, I missed the boat on 80’s basketball cards before the first Beckett Basketball Magazine hit the shelves. My buddy thought he had totally ripped me off since he bought the set back in 1988 for $5. Little did he know, I would have thrown in my Beastie Boys cassette too! 🤣🤣
Always enjoy pulling these childhood iconic rookies. Here are the growing stacks of pack fresh cards that miss the mark for PSA 10…
I pulled these 6 key RCs from the set. There is something majestic about the Bo Jackson Rated Rookie card. His jersey pops against the dark background…
I was happy to find 7 candidates for PSA 10 in this difficult black bordered set. Add the solid star power to it, and I certainly came out ahead on this round…
Love the Bo and Mac RR, they are and always will be epic cards to me. And for whatever reason the Santiago was always a huge fave as a kid. Didn’t hurt that it was his only regular issue 87 card for a kid starting out collecting in 87. He was bad ass throwing from his knees.
Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
I always liked the Carlton card...the white jersey with a super dark, almost black background was a real stunner. I also think the Bo Jackson has the same sort of contrast going for it. The Gwynn card always puzzled me...for such a great player, I remember thinking the card was kind of a dud.
Great cards!
kevin
Always loved the Mattingly card. Was such a big pull for me back in the day when there was no one bigger in baseball and opening an 87D pack was a serious luxury.
Conundrum - Loving my unopened baseball card collection....but really like ripping too
Thanks for the continued comments guys. Let’s add to the Madness of March with a 1980 Topps baseball vending box rip. These are always a complete roll of the dice, but a blast to open regardless…
This is why it is always risky to rip early 80s vending. Amazing nostalgia, with less than stellar results. Here are the piles and piles of fresh 1980 Topps stars and rookies that miss the grade as PSA 10 candidates. Centering is the biggest obstacle as 95% of the cards are less than 50/50. Then the print dots, edge and corner wear take over. Most are PSA 7-8 condition untouched and direct from the factory. Makes me appreciate the GEMs that much more…
No Henderson RC this round, but did pull this nice Ryan. Likely a PSA 7…
There were three contenders for PSA 10 in this box…
@jordangretzkyfan said:
This is why it is always risky to rip early 80s vending. Amazing nostalgia, with less than stellar results. Here are the piles and piles of fresh 1980 Topps stars and rookies that miss the grade as PSA 10 candidates. Centering is the biggest obstacle as 95% of the cards are less than 50/50. Then the print dots, edge and corner wear take over. Most are PSA 7-8 condition untouched and direct from the factory. Makes me appreciate the GEMs that much more…
No Henderson RC this round, but did pull this nice Ryan. Likely a PSA 7…
There were three contenders for PSA 10 in this box…
Thanks for sharing! I have a 79 and a 80 vending box that are calling me but I continue to stay strong. Maybe I should satisfy my urge to rip with a newly purchased 84 Donruss and look for that Donnie Baseball in a 10?
Thank you as always for sharing these rips! I love 1980s Topps. The last of something, and the first of something to me. The last vintage set, or first modern set depending on how you look at it. On a personal note I love it because the first Beckett I ever bought was a 1989 issue with Rickey Henderson on the cover with his ‘80s Topps rookie. A neighborhood kid came by with it, and I couldn’t believe there was a price guide for what I’d started collecting with ‘89 Donruss a couple months earlier. I didn’t even know card shops existed at this time, had just been getting them at corner stores, and super markets. I asked if he’d sell it to me, and got whatever money I had, probably 2 bucks…after we did the exchange I remember him under his breath to his younger brother saying “it’s cool, we can buy a the latest one now!…” haha. Ahhh, I soon realized it was a monthly thing, and not rare!
All these great rips by Chris (UFFDAH) and Scott have me itching to see a few untouched 1980 Topps cards. I really appreciate both of their threads! Seeing fresh rips is what makes this hobby fun. Here goes a 1980 Topps baseball vending box…
@BBBrkrr said:
Good luck man. The 1980 rips are always 50/50 for me. Lots of cool cards but so much terrible centering.
Here’s to yours all being perfect!
I appreciate it. Similar to your experience, centering is almost always a mess every time I open these. This was no different, unfortunately. Here are the piles of stars and rookies from this rip and my previous ones that miss the mark of perfection…
I did get lucky and pull a Rickey RC and a Nolan. These are great examples of the centering throughout the box. Great looking cards, but poorly centered…
There were only three candidates for PSA 10 in the entire 500 card vending box, reiterating just how hard it is to find dead centered PSA 10 caliber cards…
There were only three candidates for PSA 10 in the entire 500 card vending box, reiterating just how hard it is to find dead centered PSA 10 caliber cards…
Trying to decide if Herr or Ward is the "key" rookie there.
@JoeBanzai said:
Great to see you back in action! Too bad the Henderson and Ryan cards weren't better centered.
Thanks Joe! With the grading costs still too high, breaking for PSA 10 commons doesn’t make sense…not that it ever did 🤣. I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t been posting. Planning to share more rips going forward. Hope you are well.
Trying to decide if Herr or Ward is the "key" rookie there.
Yeah, aside from Mike Scott and Dan Quisenberry the “Future Stars” predictions were brutal in 1980. I have always liked the look of the Rick Sutcliffe RC, but there is only one notable RC in this set.
There were only three candidates for PSA 10 in the entire 500 card vending box, reiterating just how hard it is to find dead centered PSA 10 caliber cards…
Trying to decide if Herr or Ward is the "key" rookie there.
@JoeBanzai said:
Great to see you back in action! Too bad the Henderson and Ryan cards weren't better centered.
Thanks Joe! With the grading costs still too high, breaking for PSA 10 commons doesn’t make sense…not that it ever did 🤣. I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t been posting. Planning to share more rips going forward. Hope you are well.
Trying to decide if Herr or Ward is the "key" rookie there.
Yeah, aside from Mike Scott and Dan Quisenberry the “Future Stars” predictions were brutal in 1980. I have always liked the look of the Rick Sutcliffe RC, but there is only one notable RC in this set.
I was wondering how you were pulling this off. How many PSA 10's did you accumulate before the price hikes and backlog? I love looking at those 80s gems. I was a kid born in 1975, so those are etched into my mind.
@jordangretzkyfan said:
I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t >been posting.
@JoeBanzai said:
Great to see you back in action! Too bad the Henderson and Ryan cards weren't better centered.
Thanks Joe! With the grading costs still too high, breaking for PSA 10 commons doesn’t make sense…not that it ever did 🤣. I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t been posting. Planning to share more rips going forward. Hope you are well.
I'd be bored if 10s had suddenly become more common. Always interesting to see how scarce they are.
@JoeBanzai said:
Great to see you back in action! Too bad the Henderson and Ryan cards weren't better centered.
Thanks Joe! With the grading costs still too high, breaking for PSA 10 commons doesn’t make sense…not that it ever did 🤣. I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t been posting. Planning to share more rips going forward. Hope you are well.
I'd be bored if 10s had suddenly become more common. Always interesting to see how scarce they are.
Each card should be judged on it's merits.
I ripped about 12,000 1987 Topps baseball just before the price jump and submitted 150 or so. I got a large amount of 9's that were/are perfect.
Luckily I got enough 10's to actually make a small profit, but I ended up with a lot of cards that I can't sell for even the $9.00 grading fee that I paid.
TPG's shouldn't be concerned with 10's becoming "too common", they should be grading each card individually, wether it's a common or a HOFer.
That doesn't seem to be the case.
2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
Hi guys!
Reviving this thread as I just purchased a rack box of 1985 Topps from BBCE to rip.
Celebrating the sale of my house that was a 5 month ordeal.
A few years ago I bought a wax box of the same and was bitterly disappointed, no McGwire, no Puckett and one Clemens with a HUGE print spot on the back. Of course a lot of cards ruined by wax and melted gum. Decided never to rip wax again!
While (impatiently) waiting for my item, I noticed there were some pretty good cards other than the "big three". Anyone out there have any thoughts on cards to look for?
I would also be interested in selling any rack packs with stars showing if someone is interested.
Let me know what you think!
2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
Thanks guys!
I knew about McGwire, Clemens and Puckett, but didn't think Davis would be worth much. Gooden can go for a nice amount too! Nolan Ryan always seems to be valuable.
Of course I am assuming card must be a 10 to be worth grading.
2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
Comments
Kirby Puckett was the spark plug that made the Twins go for nearly two decades. Kirby was small in stature, but mighty at the plate and in the field. A 10x all-star and 6x gold glove winner, Puckett was most known for his discipline at the plate. His .318 career average ranks him right near the top of his generation along with Gwynn and Boggs. I had the privilege to meet Kirby as a kid back in 1991 as the Twins were coming into town to face the Baltimore Orioles. I was in the hotel lobby they were staying at and he walked in from the team bus. I was the first to recognize him and said hello. He happily shook my hand and spent a few minutes talking to me about baseball. Always amazing when you have a moment to interact with a childhood hero.
His 1984 Fleer Update card is the no-brainer Puckett RC to own. This set was very limited compared to other 1980’s issues and finding dead centered examples is a real challenge. I never owned this card as a kid and only recall seeing it once at a show. I love this image of a young Kirby getting ready to launch into his HOF career.
Next up is pitching’s equivalent to Barry Bonds. Easily the most dominate pitcher of the modern era, Roger Clemens is a top 15 player of all-time. With a record 7x Cy Awards, 354 Wins (2nd most in modern era only 1 win behind Maddux), 3rd most strikeouts of all-time, Roger simply dominated competition for two decades. To put into context just how dominant Clemens was…in MLB history there have only been 23 perfect games, 18 games in which a player hit four home runs or more, and only 5 nine-inning games a pitcher has struck out 20 batters. Of those five occurrences, Clemens did it twice!! The fact that fellow Red Sox David Ortiz is in the HOF with a failed PED test and mediocre career stats, while Clemens sits outside having never failed a PED test is a testimony to what a joke the HOF has become.
As I mentioned before, there are certain players where one RC just isn’t enough. The obvious choice for Clemens is his iconic 1984 Fleer Update. Limited production and centering challenges make this card a “must have” for any 80’s collection. However, my personal favorite is his 1984 Pawtucket minor league rookie. With only 39 ever graded PSA 9 and zero PSA 10s in existence, this card is severely undervalued for the most dominate pitcher of the modern era.
Dwight Gooden burst onto the scene in 1985 with one of the most dominate pitching seasons ever. A year later he was helping the Mets win the World Series. In the 80s, the debate was whether Gooden or Clemens would go down as the top pitcher of their era. Unfortunately, Gooden’s addictions caught up to him and he never reached his career potential. Regardless, he is cemented as a marquise star of the 80s and critical to any RC collection.
I couldn’t decide between his 1984 Topps Traded and 1984 Fleer Update rookie, so I had to include both. I have always wished that Clemens and Puckett also made the 1984 Topps Traded set…those would have been sweet cards!
You cannot have one 1986 Mets’ star without the other. I started collecting in late 1986 before going all in by 1987. Clearly the Mets were all the rage having just won the World Series with the young nucleus of Gooden and Strawberry. Darryl was the first superstar card I coveted. I still contend that Strawberry’s 1987 Topps is one of the best looking cards of the 80s. Darryl was pure power at the plate and always came up clutch in big moments. He seemed like a lock for the HOF in the early stages of his career. He finished with 335 HR and was a 3x World Series champion before retiring. Simply an iconic star of the 80s.
Strawberry’s 1983 Topps Traded beautifully captures his left handed swing and was a rarity to find at card shows as a kid. I could always locate his 1984 cards for sale, but the 83TT seemed to allude me. The biggest challenge on the 83TT card is centering for sure. I’m happy to have these two in my collection.
One of the top 10 second basemen of all-time, Sandberg set the standard in the 80s and 90s for a power hitting, gold glove winning two bagger. His 1989 season was outstanding as he led the Cubs to the NLCS before falling short to the San Francisco Giants. To put into perspective just how good a fielder Ryne was, he once had a streak of 123 errorless innings! That stretch saw him execute on 582 consecutive chances without an error.
Sandberg’s 1983 Topps is the most aesthetically pleasing card of the 80s for me. Something about the beautiful dual front photo design in 1983 that is matched with a great balance of whites, sky blue and purples that really make this card jump out in any display case. I loved this RC as a kid and that has never changed for me.
Great thread!
The history of the game, this is what card collecting is about for me. I have a similar project going for hockey, not as well organized but flipping through the greats of the game, holding the cards. It's the reason I collect today, collected as a kid and teen, and will collect as an old fart.
Good stuff and a good reminder of where the hobby really comes from.
Thanks…I appreciate the kind words! I completely agree, it’s about holding the cards of our childhood idols and enjoying the nostalgia. Would love to see your hockey project.
Next up in the epic rookie class of 1983 is the second best pure hitter of his generation. Wade Boggs made hitting look effortless as he perfected his .328 career batting average, trailing only behind Tony Gwynn for the era. A 5x batting champion, Wade is a member of the 3000 hit club and has a WAR of 91.4 ranking him 43rd all-time. He is one of only two players to record a HR as his 3000 career hit, which is ironic since Boggs was not known for his power. My favorite Boggs trait is that he ate fried chicken before every game as a superstition. Seriously, how can this RC not be in a collection?!?
Far and away his best RC, 1983 Topps is often referred to as the best set design in the 80s. This card is iconic and captures one of the game’s greats as he stretches his lead off the bases he frequented often.
Rounding out the RC class of 1983 is Tony Gwynn. The best pure hitter of his era, Tony amassed an amazing 8x batting titles. This was only bested by Ty Cobb who had 9x batting titles. A member of the 3000 Hit Club, Gwynn was also an outstanding fielder bringing home 5x gold gloves.
The best RC is once again 1983 Topps, but his minor league rookie provides a very limited alternative and is undervalued in my opinion.
MLB has a handful of historic moments that transcend time, and one of those immortalized in our minds belongs to the Iron Man. Baseball needed a hero after the 1994 strike to bring class and humility back to the game. Enter Cal Ripken. I can still recall Chris Berman’s vioce as Cal officially broke Lou Gerig’s record for consecutive games played. Unscripted, the game paused and Ripken instinctively decided to walk the perimeter of Camden Yards shaking hands with the fans who made his childhood dream a reality. This is the stuff of legends. And oh, by the way, Cal won 2x MVP, is a member of the 3000 Hit Club, has over 400 HR and was a gold glove winning SS. He is among the pinnacle of baseballs top 50 and might be the classiest to ever play the game.
For the best of the best, they get two RCs in my book. Both of these rookies are iconic and a mandatory addition to any 80’s collection. Simply one of my very favorites.
Down to my final two key RCs of the 80s, both have something in common. Raines was a 7x all-star who wreaked havoc on the base paths. He amassed over 2600 career hits and over 800 stolen bases, ranking him fifth all time. Tim was a highly feared lead off hitter who helped to change the game by manufacturing runs for his team.
His 1981 Topps Traded is his more difficult RC. Centering on this card is the key challenge. This is an underrated and undervalued card in my book.
To close out my collection of the top RCs of the 80s is none other than the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time. Henderson is an all-time top 20 MLB player and fittingly is the leadoff RC of the decade. Rickey ranks 1st in all-time stolen bases, runs, leadoff HRs and mentioning himself in the third person. Rickey likes this!
This RC is easily in the top five iconic cards of the decade. Aside from the Sandberg RC, this is my favorite aesthetically. The flow of white, green and yellow set against the dark dugout backdrop make his iconic batting stance pop. Simply a “must own” for any collection. Centering, print spots and edge chipping plague this card. Finding a high end PSA 9 is worth the wait and will present a solid challenge.
Thanks to those who shared in this journey with me.
Thank you for sharing!
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
I love early Raines cards. Those expos colours plus Raines just being a badass makes those cards special. Have good memories watching games at Olympic Stadium, Dawson and Raines.
I have to agree with you. 81D is badass Raines.
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
@jordangretzkyfan
Spectacular series!!!
Thank you so much for adding such value to these collector boards.
Live long, and prosper.
If you grew up collecting in the 80s, this has to easily go down as being one of the greatest CU threads of all time. It’s got unopened, it’s got unopened being opened, it’s got post after post after post of 1980s nostalgic awesomeness. And then a side step into features top rookie cards of the decade!
As for your last couple showcased stars, to be honest Raines flew under my radar as a kid. He was a decent pull, but never made it into the binder. Big miss on my part.
Henderson on the other hand was huge in my town. We were thrilled when he came to the Yankees. Snap catch and all! I was able to secure my 1980 specimen in a 3 way trade with my cousin and an unknown third party. I don’t remember all of the details, but fishing tackle was involved - true story.
Of course I still have my Rickey, which is maybe a 4-5. Only one I own and probably will ever own.
John
Thank you for all the kind words. I am blessed to have this forum of great collectors who enjoy a common nostalgia and to share memories with. Your comments are what keeps this fresh!
Love this admission and story. You know $h!t# is getting real when fishing tackle enters the trade 🤣🤣. Man we were funny as kids. I remember trading my Mike Tyson’s Punch Out video game along with my Vision Gator Skateboard for an 87/88 Fleer basketball set back in 1992. Like most kids, I missed the boat on 80’s basketball cards before the first Beckett Basketball Magazine hit the shelves. My buddy thought he had totally ripped me off since he bought the set back in 1988 for $5. Little did he know, I would have thrown in my Beastie Boys cassette too! 🤣🤣
Seems like a good day to rip a box of 1987 Donruss. So many RCs, this never gets old to open…
Always enjoy pulling these childhood iconic rookies. Here are the growing stacks of pack fresh cards that miss the mark for PSA 10…
I pulled these 6 key RCs from the set. There is something majestic about the Bo Jackson Rated Rookie card. His jersey pops against the dark background…
I was happy to find 7 candidates for PSA 10 in this difficult black bordered set. Add the solid star power to it, and I certainly came out ahead on this round…
NICE!
I agree with you on that 87D Bo. I bought that single from a local shop in the early 90’s and it just felt like the coolest thing ever.
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
Love the Bo and Mac RR, they are and always will be epic cards to me. And for whatever reason the Santiago was always a huge fave as a kid. Didn’t hurt that it was his only regular issue 87 card for a kid starting out collecting in 87. He was bad ass throwing from his knees.
I always liked the Carlton card...the white jersey with a super dark, almost black background was a real stunner. I also think the Bo Jackson has the same sort of contrast going for it. The Gwynn card always puzzled me...for such a great player, I remember thinking the card was kind of a dud.
Great cards!
kevin
Hiya Chris
Just got caught up on your quest.
Unbelievable!
One of the best ongoing threads here.
Thanx buddy.
Always loved the Mattingly card. Was such a big pull for me back in the day when there was no one bigger in baseball and opening an 87D pack was a serious luxury.
Thanks for the continued comments guys. Let’s add to the Madness of March with a 1980 Topps baseball vending box rip. These are always a complete roll of the dice, but a blast to open regardless…
Late to the party, but agree on the 87 Bo. That card captures how confident he was, kind of a whatevs pose, just a unicorn athlete.
This is why it is always risky to rip early 80s vending. Amazing nostalgia, with less than stellar results. Here are the piles and piles of fresh 1980 Topps stars and rookies that miss the grade as PSA 10 candidates. Centering is the biggest obstacle as 95% of the cards are less than 50/50. Then the print dots, edge and corner wear take over. Most are PSA 7-8 condition untouched and direct from the factory. Makes me appreciate the GEMs that much more…
No Henderson RC this round, but did pull this nice Ryan. Likely a PSA 7…
There were three contenders for PSA 10 in this box…
Thanks for sharing! I have a 79 and a 80 vending box that are calling me but I continue to stay strong. Maybe I should satisfy my urge to rip with a newly purchased 84 Donruss and look for that Donnie Baseball in a 10?
Thank you as always for sharing these rips! I love 1980s Topps. The last of something, and the first of something to me. The last vintage set, or first modern set depending on how you look at it. On a personal note I love it because the first Beckett I ever bought was a 1989 issue with Rickey Henderson on the cover with his ‘80s Topps rookie. A neighborhood kid came by with it, and I couldn’t believe there was a price guide for what I’d started collecting with ‘89 Donruss a couple months earlier. I didn’t even know card shops existed at this time, had just been getting them at corner stores, and super markets. I asked if he’d sell it to me, and got whatever money I had, probably 2 bucks…after we did the exchange I remember him under his breath to his younger brother saying “it’s cool, we can buy a the latest one now!…” haha. Ahhh, I soon realized it was a monthly thing, and not rare!
Might not be a mint one, but it's still a beauty!
As a 13 year old Cub fan, I really wanted Karl Pagel to be a star! Still the best thread on the board. Good luck!!
I’m still sitting on 5 unopened boxes of 1982 Fleer from a case I bought back in the 80’s.
If anyone wants to chase some Ripken rc……..
MULLINS5,1966CUDA,nam812,nightcrawler,OAKESY25,PowderedH2O,relaxed,RonBurgundy,samsgirl214,shagrotn77,swartz1,slantycouch,Statman,Wabittwax
All these great rips by Chris (UFFDAH) and Scott have me itching to see a few untouched 1980 Topps cards. I really appreciate both of their threads! Seeing fresh rips is what makes this hobby fun. Here goes a 1980 Topps baseball vending box…
Good luck man. The 1980 rips are always 50/50 for me. Lots of cool cards but so much terrible centering.
Here’s to yours all being perfect!
I appreciate it. Similar to your experience, centering is almost always a mess every time I open these. This was no different, unfortunately. Here are the piles of stars and rookies from this rip and my previous ones that miss the mark of perfection…
I did get lucky and pull a Rickey RC and a Nolan. These are great examples of the centering throughout the box. Great looking cards, but poorly centered…
There were only three candidates for PSA 10 in the entire 500 card vending box, reiterating just how hard it is to find dead centered PSA 10 caliber cards…
Great to see you back in action! Too bad the Henderson and Ryan cards weren't better centered.
Trying to decide if Herr or Ward is the "key" rookie there.
Thanks Joe! With the grading costs still too high, breaking for PSA 10 commons doesn’t make sense…not that it ever did 🤣. I have been ripping lots of 1987 Topps, Fleer and Donruss still, but figured people would get bored with those so I hadn’t been posting. Planning to share more rips going forward. Hope you are well.
Yeah, aside from Mike Scott and Dan Quisenberry the “Future Stars” predictions were brutal in 1980. I have always liked the look of the Rick Sutcliffe RC, but there is only one notable RC in this set.
Tommy Herr all the way! No bias here at all.
Shane
I was wondering how you were pulling this off. How many PSA 10's did you accumulate before the price hikes and backlog? I love looking at those 80s gems. I was a kid born in 1975, so those are etched into my mind.
Shane
You sir would be wrong!!
I'd be bored if 10s had suddenly become more common. Always interesting to see how scarce they are.
Each card should be judged on it's merits.
I ripped about 12,000 1987 Topps baseball just before the price jump and submitted 150 or so. I got a large amount of 9's that were/are perfect.
Luckily I got enough 10's to actually make a small profit, but I ended up with a lot of cards that I can't sell for even the $9.00 grading fee that I paid.
TPG's shouldn't be concerned with 10's becoming "too common", they should be grading each card individually, wether it's a common or a HOFer.
That doesn't seem to be the case.
Hi guys!
Reviving this thread as I just purchased a rack box of 1985 Topps from BBCE to rip.
Celebrating the sale of my house that was a 5 month ordeal.
A few years ago I bought a wax box of the same and was bitterly disappointed, no McGwire, no Puckett and one Clemens with a HUGE print spot on the back. Of course a lot of cards ruined by wax and melted gum. Decided never to rip wax again!
While (impatiently) waiting for my item, I noticed there were some pretty good cards other than the "big three". Anyone out there have any thoughts on cards to look for?
I would also be interested in selling any rack packs with stars showing if someone is interested.
Let me know what you think!
SEAVER, ERIC DAVIS,(RC) RYAN , HERSHISER (RC)
Lots of good options.. I listed a few below. They won't bring home millions, but these were some good players in their time.
https://tcdb.com/Rookies.cfm/sid/103/1985-Topps
23 Bret Saberhagen RC
181 Roger Clemens RC
193 Jimmy Key RC
238 Jose Rijo RC
280 Shawon Dunston FRDP, RC
346 Terry Pendleton RC
401 Mark McGwire OLY, RC
493 Orel Hershiser RC
536 Kirby Puckett RC
620 Dwight Gooden RC
625 Mark Langston RC
627 Eric Davis RC
Nic
Guides Authored - Graded Card Scanning Guide PDF | History of the PSA Label PDF
Thanks guys!
I knew about McGwire, Clemens and Puckett, but didn't think Davis would be worth much. Gooden can go for a nice amount too! Nolan Ryan always seems to be valuable.
Of course I am assuming card must be a 10 to be worth grading.