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Tanner's Growing Wax 'Stache ... errr... Stash (Continuously Updated)

mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

Last year, my wife heavily hinted that the waxed stache needed to go, so I've decided grow another wax stash instead ... wax boxes that were released during my childhood.   I'll be periodically posting my newest pickups with memories, perhaps some customs based upon that specific year, video reviews, etc.  It should be good fun and I hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me!

Why am I doing this?
When I began collecting again as an adult, I (like many here) wanted to rekindle that childhood spark of collecting.  I did this by attempting to assemble a run of sets from 1980 to 1992/3 or so.  Somewhere along the way, I lost my excitement for doing this, and I sold everything.  I think I finally figured it out, though.  Buying sets was never too terribly exciting.  I loved them, but there was no mystery.  It was like, you bought the set and then you were done.  No reason for packs, no mystery, etc.  Wax on the other hand, gave you mystery, the thrill of the hunt and a reason to connect with friends for trading.  We didn't have much to chase compared to nowadays, but it was just pure unadulterated fun.

Like much of life, collecting isn't about the destination; it is about the journey.   Having wax boxes take me back to a time when I was most excited about collecting as a child.  Opening packs to see what was inside.  Did you catch that?  The excitement was not the cards themselves - it was opening the packs to see what cards were there.  This is ALL about the artwork, memories, tales and nostalgia of what has been wrapped around the cards from our youth.

To be blunt, this ...

image

Is not NEARLY as cool as this:

image

The bright colors, the memories of the artwork at the card shop, the player endorsement.  Just, wow.  The set itself is virtually worthless, but the wrappers and boxes we threw out as kids, though plentiful, are what make the memories exciting for me.

What will this collection be of?   Just junk wax?
To be honest, I don't want to JUST focus on the "junk wax era".  I consider this to be 1987 to 1992, by the way.  I'm actually hoping to go from my birth year, 1980 to 1992 or 1993.  I'm not sure which just yet.  There are some monsters from 1993 I may want to avoid (I'm looking at you, SP & Finest!)  I'd like to get as many close to mint examples of wax boxes (and perhaps cello / racks as well!) that are authenticated as being pulled from a sealed case.  While I don't have memories of ripping, say, 1984 Fleer, I DO have memories of seeing them at card shops and wanting to open them.

Why From a Sealed Case?
The term "From a Sealed Case", or FASC, is well known among wax collectors.  It can assure you of a number of things.  In particular ...
1) You are assured that they have been untouched.  Some of these boxes will be within 25-40 years old.  That is a LONG time for a box to sit by its lonesome.  One box could have lived for years on a dealer's shelf with its lip tucked in behind the packs for all kinds of kids to have rummaged through the packs.  It could have survived dozens of times relocating here and there, ultimately winding up in storage with junk packed on top of it before Darrell Sheets buys the storage unit it is in, then tosses it to his kid declaring "that's a 30 dollar bill right there."

2) Wax is notorious for having been tampered with.  Wax packs are super easy to open and re-seal - it is very difficult for novices to detect if they have been tampered with.  In fact, many boxes were packed out in sequence, so those "in the know" could open one pack, learn the order of things and dig down to the 4th pack on the 3rd row and pull the star of the set, then just refill that box with 2 other random packs.

Shoot, even the Cello packs were easy to mess with.  Check out my "custom" 1986 Topps Cello pack with Canseco on the front.  It looks great, however, you couldn't find Canseco in cello packs as he was only in the traded set.

image

3) I want to have an example of these just how I remember them in the 80's and 90's.

4)  This is the best way to pull a PSA 10.  I personally don't send cards out to be graded, but I DO like the idea of having a good chance of having PSA 10 cards in the boxes.

To contradict myself, I will likely be getting open boxes and packs from time to time, because this quest is about the nostalgia I have wrapped up into the boxes/packs and not just the cards themselves. 

Why Write About This Stuff?
For me, writing about what I get/create and the stories behind them, has become just as big a part of the hobby as actually collecting, and the same goes with the feedback & communication comes from you.  This is going to be my outlet to pour out my passion for the wax of my youth.

What about Canseco?
I'll still be collecting him, as passionately as ever.  I am super excited to passionately write about something other than him if for no other reason than for you to not have to hear me drone on and on about my cardboard-man crush.  Be warned though, he will make a cameo here and there just like he already has above!  :)

So, with all that said, stay tuned!  I'll update this thread as I can.  I would love to hear your stories on each as we go.  For instance, if I'm writing about 1988 Score, and it reminds you of going to the ER because your brother threw a pack of Score that hit you in the eye, awesome.  Or if your dog peed on your 1985 Topps Orel Hershiser?  Let's hear it!

I do hope you will come along and enjoy the ride.

If anyone has any for sale, please let me know! The boxes must be in beautiful condition, and preferably BBCE/FASC.

Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!

Comments

  • lahmejoonlahmejoon Posts: 1,666 ✭✭✭

    @mouschi said:
    Or if your dog peed on your 1985 Topps Orel Hershiser?

    I have to say, as an A's fan and Canseco being my favorite player as a kid, I would have cheered if this happened.

  • Huskies11Huskies11 Posts: 312 ✭✭✭

    Like much of life, collecting isn't about the destination; it is about the journey.   

    Aint that the truth! Good luck on your journey TanMan

    Currently Collecting:

    • Baseball: Griffey Jr, Red Sox, 80s/90s/00s
    • Basketball: Jordan, Bird, 80s/90s
    • Football: Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Patriots
    • Hockey: Gretzky, Buffalo Sabres

    Flickr: https://flickr.com/gp/184724292@N07/686763

  • Loyalty32Loyalty32 Posts: 497 ✭✭✭

    Looking forward to following you along on this one!

  • @mouschi said:
    Last year, my wife heavily hinted that the waxed stache needed to go, so I've decided grow another wax stash instead ... wax boxes that were released during my childhood.   I'll be periodically posting my newest pickups with memories, perhaps some customs based upon that specific year, video reviews, etc.  It should be good fun and I hope you enjoy going down memory lane with me!

    Why am I doing this?
    When I began collecting again as an adult, I (like many here) wanted to rekindle that childhood spark of collecting.  I did this by attempting to assemble a run of sets from 1980 to 1992/3 or so.  Somewhere along the way, I lost my excitement for doing this, and I sold everything.  I think I finally figured it out, though.  Buying sets was never too terribly exciting.  I loved them, but there was no mystery.  It was like, you bought the set and then you were done.  No reason for packs, no mystery, etc.  Wax on the other hand, gave you mystery, the thrill of the hunt and a reason to connect with friends for trading.  We didn't have much to chase compared to nowadays, but it was just pure unadulterated fun.

    Like much of life, collecting isn't about the destination; it is about the journey.   Having wax boxes take me back to a time when I was most excited about collecting as a child.  Opening packs to see what was inside.  Did you catch that?  The excitement was not the cards themselves - it was opening the packs to see what cards were there.  This is ALL about the artwork, memories, tales and nostalgia of what has been wrapped around the cards from our youth.

    To be blunt, this ...

    image

    Is not NEARLY as cool as this:

    image

    The bright colors, the memories of the artwork at the card shop, the player endorsement.  Just, wow.  The set itself is virtually worthless, but the wrappers and boxes we threw out as kids, though plentiful, are what make the memories exciting for me.

    What will this collection be of?   Just junk wax?
    To be honest, I don't want to JUST focus on the "junk wax era".  I consider this to be 1987 to 1992, by the way.  I'm actually hoping to go from my birth year, 1980 to 1992 or 1993.  I'm not sure which just yet.  There are some monsters from 1993 I may want to avoid (I'm looking at you, SP & Finest!)  I'd like to get as many close to mint examples of wax boxes (and perhaps cello / racks as well!) that are authenticated as being pulled from a sealed case.  While I don't have memories of ripping, say, 1984 Fleer, I DO have memories of seeing them at card shops and wanting to open them.

    Why From a Sealed Case?
    The term "From a Sealed Case", or FASC, is well known among wax collectors.  It can assure you of a number of things.  In particular ...
    1) You are assured that they have been untouched.  Some of these boxes will be within 25-40 years old.  That is a LONG time for a box to sit by its lonesome.  One box could have lived for years on a dealer's shelf with its lip tucked in behind the packs for all kinds of kids to have rummaged through the packs.  It could have survived dozens of times relocating here and there, ultimately winding up in storage with junk packed on top of it before Darrell Sheets buys the storage unit it is in, then tosses it to his kid declaring "that's a 30 dollar bill right there."

    2) Wax is notorious for having been tampered with.  Wax packs are super easy to open and re-seal - it is very difficult for novices to detect if they have been tampered with.  In fact, many boxes were packed out in sequence, so those "in the know" could open one pack, learn the order of things and dig down to the 4th pack on the 3rd row and pull the star of the set, then just refill that box with 2 other random packs.

    Shoot, even the Cello packs were easy to mess with.  Check out my "custom" 1986 Topps Cello pack with Canseco on the front.  It looks great, however, you couldn't find Canseco in cello packs as he was only in the traded set.

    image

    3) I want to have an example of these just how I remember them in the 80's and 90's.

    4)  This is the best way to pull a PSA 10.  I personally don't send cards out to be graded, but I DO like the idea of having a good chance of having PSA 10 cards in the boxes.

    To contradict myself, I will likely be getting open boxes and packs from time to time, because this quest is about the nostalgia I have wrapped up into the boxes/packs and not just the cards themselves. 

    Why Write About This Stuff?
    For me, writing about what I get/create and the stories behind them, has become just as big a part of the hobby as actually collecting, and the same goes with the feedback & communication comes from you.  This is going to be my outlet to pour out my passion for the wax of my youth.

    What about Canseco?
    I'll still be collecting him, as passionately as ever.  I am super excited to passionately write about something other than him if for no other reason than for you to not have to hear me drone on and on about my cardboard-man crush.  Be warned though, he will make a cameo here and there just like he already has above!  :)

    So, with all that said, stay tuned!  I'll update this thread as I can.  I would love to hear your stories on each as we go.  For instance, if I'm writing about 1988 Score, and it reminds you of going to the ER because your brother threw a pack of Score that hit you in the eye, awesome.  Or if your dog peed on your 1985 Topps Orel Hershiser?  Let's hear it!

    I do hope you will come along and enjoy the ride.

    If anyone has any for sale, please let me know! The boxes must be in beautiful condition, and preferably BBCE/FASC.

    I was a Canseco maniac myself. Also born in 1980.

    I have several signed pieces by him, some personalized, some I just bought.

    I played softball against him some & hit with him Vegas, never told him he was my first man crush.

    I played “professional” softball, known as Major ball for years, just retired, he will play at the tournaments in Vegas every once in a while.

    I couldn’t agree with your post more, we’re on the same journey.

    I’ve also been buying all the rookies from my childhood in PSA 9, 10’s get to be too much.

    The Gwynns, Sandbergs, Ripkens, Pucketts, Mattinglys, etc. are piling up now as I continue to add to the collection as my wife will allow.

    I’ve also recently started a run of every Diamond King card Perez did for Donruss, those I keep in Binders but would be 8’s or better.

    Of course I have tons of Canseco stuff lying around.

    Godspeed good sir.

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tanner, I love the mail day video. I, too, accumulate unopened wax from the 80s and 90s. Some has been FASC, but if I find a deal on a nice clean looking box from a reputable seller, that's good enough for me, since I like to pop the top, break the perforations, and display the full boxes on bookshelves as if I've gone back in time and walked into my local card shop. I, too, love the colors and packaging. I could care less what's inside, as I've likely handled 10s of thousands of cards from each box that have on display.

    I had meant to post this photograph after your original post in this thread, but got sidetracked. As you mentioned, this is probably some of the most worthless cards produced in the junk era, but this counter display takes me back to the small drugstore in my hometown, a place where I bought many, many cards, so I just had to have it. An added bonus is that it has smilin' Dale Murphy, taking me back to the WTBS Superstation America's Team Atlanta Braves and his back to back MVP seasons. I grew up a Royals fan, but back then, they were rarely on TV, and usually only for road games, so if you loved baseball like I did, it was WGN and the Cubbies with Harry Caray in the afternoon, then WTBS and the Braves with Skip Caray in the evening.

    Even though I know most think this is a bunch of worthless crap, I didn't buy it because it was "valuable", it's that I just love everything about this display, and you can't put a price on memories. I just thought I'd share.

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas said:
    Tanner, I love the mail day video. I, too, accumulate unopened wax from the 80s and 90s. Some has been FASC, but if I find a deal on a nice clean looking box from a reputable seller, that's good enough for me, since I like to pop the top, break the perforations, and display the full boxes on bookshelves as if I've gone back in time and walked into my local card shop. I, too, love the colors and packaging. I could care less what's inside, as I've likely handled 10s of thousands of cards from each box that have on display.

    I had meant to post this photograph after your original post in this thread, but got sidetracked. As you mentioned, this is probably some of the most worthless cards produced in the junk era, but this counter display takes me back to the small drugstore in my hometown, a place where I bought many, many cards, so I just had to have it. An added bonus is that it has smilin' Dale Murphy, taking me back to the WTBS Superstation America's Team Atlanta Braves and his back to back MVP seasons. I grew up a Royals fan, but back then, they were rarely on TV, and usually only for road games, so if you loved baseball like I did, it was WGN and the Cubbies with Harry Caray in the afternoon, then WTBS and the Braves with Skip Caray in the evening.

    Even though I know most think this is a bunch of worthless crap, I didn't buy it because it was "valuable", it's that I just love everything about this display, and you can't put a price on memories. I just thought I'd share.

    Thank you for sharing! Regarding that pic, well ... let's just say I have some similar items en route :) No doubt will I have some opened stuff laying around as the packs mean a lot to me too. I just don't have the nostalgia for say, 1982 Topps packs as I do 1990 Topps, because I simply never opened any. I just spent time at the card shop drooling over them and many others :)

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    I just caught was you said about Murphy having back to back MVP seasons. I had NO idea about that before - it made me check out his stats. Holy cow, he was much more of a stud than I thought! I can't believe he posted a 44 hr year one time also!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Yeah, for about 5 or 6 years in the National League, it was Mike Schmidt and Dale Murphy, and then everyone else.

  • Time4aGansettTime4aGansett Posts: 382 ✭✭✭

    Great stuff Tanner!

  • waxman2745waxman2745 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭

    Congrats on picking up that 1980 FASC box! Probably not many of those in existence.

    Adam
    buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
  • ReggieClevelandReggieCleveland Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rad. Doug I did the same, sort of, and picked up a 1990 Donruss display.

    Arthur

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ReggieCleveland said:
    Rad. Doug I did the same, sort of, and picked up a 1990 Donruss display.

    Arthur

    My apologies to Tanner, because I don't want to hijack his thread, but Arthur, I've never seen anything like that before. So, the retail place would display the boxes for sale in that wire holder? Only the top box would be open for single pack sales, I guess? I've seen some large cardboard 1990 Donruss 18 wax box displays and 12 cello box displays for sale, but never just a wire box holder. I don't think the advertising banner that you're showing was included in those either. Always cool to see others' items.

    @waxman2745 said:
    Congrats on picking up that 1980 FASC box! Probably not many of those in existence.

    Oh, and Tanner, while I did say I loved your video, I, too, should have complemented you in more detail on the great pickups, especially the 1980 FASC box. Outstanding!

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas said:

    My apologies to Tanner, because I don't want to hijack his thread, but Arthur, I've never seen anything like that before. So, the retail place would display the boxes for sale in that wire holder? Only the top box would be open for single pack sales, I guess? I've seen some large cardboard 1990 Donruss 18 wax box displays and 12 cello box displays for sale, but never just a wire box holder. I don't think the advertising banner that you're showing was included in those either. Always cool to see others' items.

    @waxman2745 said:
    Congrats on picking up that 1980 FASC box! Probably not many of those in existence.

    Oh, and Tanner, while I did say I loved your video, I, too, should have complemented you in more detail on the great pickups, especially the 1980 FASC box. Outstanding!

    That is what this thread is all about so feel free to discuss away about these things :) Thanks for the kudos also :)

    @ReggieCleveland said:

    Rad. Doug I did the same, sort of, and picked up a 1990 Donruss display.

    Arthur

    Arthur, I love that! If that poster were here, it would totally be on my wall :)

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • ReggieClevelandReggieCleveland Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks, guys!

    And yeah, I totally should have started with my compliments on the video. I accrued unopened wax for years. Recently, I went on a bit of an opening binge, it was a ton of fun. I still have a lot left unopened but it was a blast ripping boxes looking for PSA 10s.

    I'm looking forward to following along with this thread, it's right in my wheelhouse.

    Doug, it is an odd design. I suppose if you tore the lids off the other boxes you could fish out packs from the front two quads and then I assume packs would slide in to replace them? I've seen those monster displays you're talking about. I plan on scooping up a few at some point too but it seems like I keep scooping up stuff to display "later" when I "have room" and I'm starting to think that day may never come. I disassembled the above display and packed it all back into its box just for protection.

    Arthur

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    So, I was going to start my reviews today but another HUGE mail day happened, so I'll show off that :) Video below!

    Here is what the UPS man left me. Pic next to horse for size comparison :)
    image

    YES PLEASE! (This is only part of it.)
    image

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z922gbTbhYQ&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • coinspackscoinspacks Posts: 952 ✭✭✭✭

    We all recognize that blue box sealing tape :)

  • stevebaystevebay Posts: 289 ✭✭✭

    Hi Tanner (and other wax box lovers),

    Love reading your posts. Here's a quiz that I created and posted here back in 2012. Let's see how well you do.

    Try out the 1980's Baseball Wax Box Quiz.
    Note: Some boxes contain multiple players, but please specify the main player, or specify the card that is on the forefront.

    And here was the original thread back in 2012

    And another old thread...if you're birthday is between January and July, what's your Topps Birthday Card?

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @stevebay said:
    Hi Tanner (and other wax box lovers),

    Love reading your posts. Here's a quiz that I created and posted here back in 2012. Let's see how well you do.

    Try out the 1980's Baseball Wax Box Quiz.
    Note: Some boxes contain multiple players, but please specify the main player, or specify the card that is on the forefront.

    And here was the original thread back in 2012

    And another old thread...if you're birthday is between January and July, what's your Topps Birthday Card?

    That is pretty cool! Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, but also - the Topps birthday card? That is brilliant! Side note: Terry Puhl was on the cover of 1980 Topps? Yikes!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭
    edited May 25, 2018 12:16AM

    I don't know what it was, but one day I started reminiscing about wax.  This led me to do some research on wax boxes.  Much like PSA/BGS can magically transform something of relatively little value (like ... well ... ANY 80's key cards) and gives them value simply by assigning a numerical grade to them.  This helps buys to know they have a beautiful example ... no ... specimen of something they may have treasured as a kid.

    While I'm not huge on graded cards, I am huge on beautiful wax.  This is where my journey begins, with 1985 Donruss.

    image

    Quick, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Donruss?  Answer:  Rated Rookie!  While 1984 was the rookie year of the rated rookie, 1985 was the rookie year of the rated rookie logo we all know and love!  Growing up, 1985 Donruss always seemed a bit out of reach, because it was simply too expensive.  When you are used to shelling out 50 cents for a pack of cards, $10 a pop is a BIG ask.  To this day, I don't think I've ever opened a single pack of 1985 Donruss!  Someone opening up a box of this might be surprised to find how colorful the wrappings truly are.

    image

    How beautiful are those?!  I will never know, because I will not open my box, but hey - it is cool to at least know they are in there :)  The cards themselves do not present as loud and colorful.  Instead, they are mostly black and VERY condition sensitive.  To me, the entire design just screams something from Knight Rider or Tron.  I love it!

    I actually did a mash up of the 1985 Donruss design with a colorful feel to it for a Canseco card, and I had Jose sign it in red ink.

    1985 Donruss Red Ink Autograph Custom

    If you look closely, you will see the Donruss logo says "Tanner's" instead of Donruss.  Look even further ... notice the logo?  That's right!  It says "Mouschi's".  For the entire story on Mouschi's, you can click here.

    My closest memory of 1985 Donruss was walking into a shop and seeing a 1985 Leaf Clemens & Puckett.  I bought them because they were quite a bit cheaper than their Donruss counterparts, but felt like it was almost a cheap imitation of the real thing, due to the strange looking green leaf in the upper left corner.

    image

    I ended up picking up a box of 1985 Leaf as well.  It too is in beautiful condition, and has a few differences from the Donruss box.  Of course, you will notice some french language on the box itself, but you will also see that it says 35 cents.  The Donruss version is blank.  I wonder why!  Did Canada require prices to be printed on the box?  Who knows.  The most notable difference though, is that the Leaf box is about 2/3 as tall as the Donruss box.

    image

    With as much as I love my 1985 Donruss box, I just might love the 1985 Leaf box more, just because it feels a bit more exotic :)  Here is a video review of my 1985 Donruss box!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kroIX_dnouk

    http://tanmanbaseballfan.com/2018/05/1985-donruss-wax-box-sealed-case.html

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    I made a separate post about this already, but figured I'd keep this thread consistent and post here too. I am actually posting something right after, so I figured now would be a good time to post this!

    If you are a child of the 80's, you know what 1987 Topps is.  It was absolutely loaded with key rookies, but it was produced in such high numbers, I probably don't have enough space here to write out all of the zeroes.

    You may have heard that my dad has been in and out of the hospital for the past half year.  It has been very tough on us all, but no one can really understand what he has been through except for him.  Last night, I decided to take the family to visit him and have a little family fun:

    image

    36 packs of wood bordered glory that hasn't seen the light of day in thirty one years.  The man behind the box?  That's dad.  This man, along with my mom, faithfully took me to baseball card shops every weekend for years.  The first time they took me was with their friend's son in 1987.  I had NO idea about baseball cards at the time, but I was game.  My parent's friend's son bought a pack of 1987 Topps and I asked if I could get one also.  Sure enough, mom & dad let me have one.

    image

    He pulled a 1987 Topps Todd Worrell.  Me?  Some guy named Jose Canseco :)  The kid wanted to straight up trade ROY winners, but based upon his enthusiasm, I figured I'd hold off on letting Jose go.  A few years later, 9 year old Tanner found the Canseco rookie cup card while rummaging through a drawer, and the rest is history.  This is the reason the Rookie Cup Canseco means so much to me.  So much, in fact, I have well over 50 variations of the card itself including these three customs I've made:

    image

    The first one has an embedded wax wrapper and gum from a pack of 1987 Topps.  It is "slabbed" in a one touch and sealed with more wax pack wrapping.  The middle is a Simpsons version of the card I came up with and last but not least, is a custom made completely out of wood.  It just makes sense to have the wood bordered card made out of ... well ... wood!

    I wanted to bring some joy to dad, and, well ... let's face it:  Baseball cards are my love language.  My wife, son, mom and dad all got to ripping.  First, with the ritual of scratching the pack under the hat brim three times (something we did when I was much younger.)  It was great being able to tell everyone what cards to look for.  That the first pack-pulled bash brothers Topps cards in A's jerseys were in this.  The Bo Jackson Future Stars card, the 75 pound version of Barry Bonds rookie card ... the list goes on.

    We reminisced about the funny nicknames like Walt "Three Blind" Weiss (though not in 1987 Topps) and Sid "Coffee and" Bream.

    My son pulled a Barry Bonds, my wife pulled a Mark McGwire, I pulled a Bo Jackson and my mom pulled THE Jose Canseco - she is the one shielding herself from being in a picture in the bottom right corner :)  My dad?  He pulled nothing.

    image

    This is par for the course for him, as he has never really had much luck with wax.  He talked about the time 30 years ago when we were at a shop and he spent $7 on a pack of 1987 Fleer, only to get nothing.  The dealer opened one and got a good card.  Dad paid $7 for another ... and still got nothing.  I literally just talked about that very instance a few weeks ago, but was amazed that he remembered.

    In the end, we were left with a bunch of great wood bordered cards.  Many were off center, but it sure did make for a memorable evening.

    image

    As we left, I told dad we pulled not one but two McGwires so one was going to stay with him.  He said "Thanks, but ... what about Canseco?"  How can I refuse my own father a rookie cup Canseco?  He ended up keeping both the bash brothers cards :)

    image

    We all had a great bonding time together, and there were smiles all around - all because of a box of 1987 Topps.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-b--hTlehU

    [url]http://tanmanbaseballfan.com/2018/06/1987-topps-review-memories.html[/url]

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 4, 2018 8:42AM

    I'll just leave this right here ...

    (not mine!)

    image

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • waxman2745waxman2745 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭

    @mouschi said:
    I'll just leave this right here ...

    (not mine!)

    image

    $200 can buy an entire wax case of this stuff (720 raw packs).

    Adam
    buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thought that was a "typo" - wow Tanner what am I missing?

    Mike
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @Stone193 said:
    Thought that was a "typo" - wow Tanner what am I missing?

    Yeah, how crazy is that huh? I think a 1989 Topps PSA 10 pack went for over $150 as well!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • dennis07dennis07 Posts: 1,842 ✭✭✭

    Pop 1 of 6. This time next year it'll be 1 of 60

    Collecting 1970 Topps baseball
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @dennis07 said:
    Pop 1 of 6. This time next year it'll be 1 of 60

    This is precisely the thing that concerns me about graded stuff, especially from the junk wax era. There was a psa 10 1987 OPC Canseco that sold over over $200 a few months back pop 2. It made me wonder ... what would stop there from being 300 of them in a year? There surely are enough out there!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 9, 2018 9:28AM

    Transformers!  Robots in disguise!

    Weren't transformers the coolest?  I loved them.  I never caught on with the new movies, but man let me tell you - the toys were awesome.

    image

    Perhaps that is one of the reasons why these next baseball cards I'm about to show are so interesting to me.  My latest wax excursion has been so, so, SO much more about the packs, boxes and displays, than the cards themselves.  This next haul really takes the cake for me.  I grabbed a 1986, 1987 and 1989 Donruss counter top display case.  I don't know why I hadn't seen these before (at least as an adult) but let me tell you ... these things are AWESOME.  Check it out!  This ugly brown box (boooo)

    image

    Becomes this:

    image

    Pardon the voice in the background of my wife criticizing me for taking pictures with the pantry door open.  :)

    The colors, the display, the case itself - everything speaks to me.  These came with 216 packs, so there are probably numerous Griffey rated rookies within.

    The 1987 is a different animal:

    image

    With 4 boxes worth of packs, the bottom 2 compartments are actually packs of jumbo cards with all star pop-ups.  Remember those?  The box itself was a touch more difficult than I would have liked for it to have been to setup.  But good golly, miss molly.  Look at the colors!  The colors!

    Last but not least, my home boy Jose's claim to cardboard fame:  1986 Donruss.

    image

    Junk wax eye candy at its finest!  Okay, so 1986 isn't considered junk wax, but "junk wax eye candy" has a ring to it, doesn't it?  The yellow, blue and red all work together wonderfully.  A gorgeous 32 year old case with 4 boxes worth of regular packs and bunches of jumbo card packs (read: I'm too lazy to see how many there actually are in the case).  To top it off, I set my PSA 10 Canseco to show off with it - The card in the grade that all other cards in the entombed packs strive to be.

    These "transformer" baseball cards truly took me back, and they are a joy to have on display - even if I don't open a single pack!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b02gtC0YBs

    http://tanmanbaseballfan.com/2018/06/baseball-cards-became-transformers.html

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love that you picked up some displays! You articulated my thoughts, exactly, in both your write-up and the video. I had to get the 88 version first, simply because of it being less generic looking than the others with the prominent display of Dale Murphy's smiling mug. I'm sure I will be adding ones just like yours to my collection at some point. I agree that the value isn't in the cards themselves, but the display. We share that same geeked up feeling that the junk wax shouldn't give us, but does, because of the nostalgia just dripping off!...

  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Tanner, I haven't seen you mention it yet, but are you going to be getting the wrapper variation boxes to go along with the regular wax wrappers for the 89, 90, and 91 Topps? I think at one time, they were referred to as the "Michigan test issues" for those years, because of the similarity to the 1983 test wrapper variation. I think it's been debunked since then that they were specific only to Michigan, although I really know very little about them. I've done some Google searches, and old CU threads with comments from ReggieCleveland and Grote15, as well as others, have surfaced from 5+ years ago. It may not be worth starting a new thread about these oddities, but since you're doing the wax run that includes these years, I'm just curious if you have any knowledge about these, or, I guess, if anyone else wants to chime in.

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas said:
    Tanner, I haven't seen you mention it yet, but are you going to be getting the wrapper variation boxes to go along with the regular wax wrappers for the 89, 90, and 91 Topps? I think at one time, they were referred to as the "Michigan test issues" for those years, because of the similarity to the 1983 test wrapper variation. I think it's been debunked since then that they were specific only to Michigan, although I really know very little about them. I've done some Google searches, and old CU threads with comments from ReggieCleveland and Grote15, as well as others, have surfaced from 5+ years ago. It may not be worth starting a new thread about these oddities, but since you're doing the wax run that includes these years, I'm just curious if you have any knowledge about these, or, I guess, if anyone else wants to chime in.

    I've gone back and forth about this. I am not sure just yet - I may just stick with the "classics", but you never know! :)

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • ReggieClevelandReggieCleveland Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    YES. Tanner, Doug, my brothers from other mothers. We share the same love. These displays are right in my wheelhouse.

    Doug, I think BBCE started calling those Topps wrappers Alternate Wrap. I think that is more accurate. Turns out they're not that rare so there's no real premium attached since there's basically like 5 of us that care about stuff like that. What is tough is finding the ones that are wrapped in cello but are normal pack size and in normal wax boxes. Those have eluded me. But these days I find I'm on an unhealthy obsession with all things Donruss so that's my main focus.

    Arthur

  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭

    I have a box of 1989 Topps that is wrapped in the cello wrapping. The box is a little bit wider than a normal wax box, you can tell by the space on each side of the picture on the top flap. The price though is still $0.45 on the box.

  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 7,940 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Is that a Norman Rockwell print to the left of the pantry door?

    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • rexvosrexvos Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I cannot keep anything unopened but I absolutely love those Donruss displays. If and when I get all my stuff organized the way I want it, I may have to grab some of those to display as well

    Looking for FB HOF Rookies
  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @BLUEJAYWAY said:
    Is that a Norman Rockwell print to the left of the pantry door?

    Yes sir!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • countdouglascountdouglas Posts: 2,271 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I am not sure that "collect" is the proper word for my 80s unopened acquisitions, but more like "accumulate". Haha! Anyway, Tanner, I have since added several 80s era FASC wax boxes, as well as a 1987 Donruss and 1989 Donruss counter display to go along with my 1988 display that I mentioned previously. There's no need for me to add any additional photos, as you've already adequately shown just how neat all of that stuff is. HOWEVER....I also recently added this:

    A 1988 Donruss cello case with floor stand display! There was one exactly like this in the grocery store on the other side of my home town, and I can remember seeing it, and not having any money on me. Once I got home, I scraped together what I could, hopped on the bicycle, and raced back to the grocery store. I won't bore everyone with the details of the trip there and home, but it was eventful, to say the least. So, again, this is a "worthless" relic of the junk wax era, but one with a heavy dose of nostalgia for me, as everything about that day comes roaring back when I look at this.

    The boxes in this case all showed various stages of wear, as they appear to have jostled against each other for 30 years. There is 12 boxes, stacked 2 deep. The bottom 3 boxes in the front row sustained such heavy damage to their lids that I decided to remove the packs and display them loose across the top. There was nothing of consequence showing on those packs except a couple Bo Jacksons and a McGwire on top and another McGwire and Bonds on back. I have not looked through the other 9 boxes, yet. At my grocery store, they had set the entire display up with loose packs, and over the summer, would add to it, as needed, so I was always rummaging through the cellos. Anyway, it does take up quite a bit of room, but I have a spot in mind where I'll keep it permanently assembled. I just have to relocate what is there, currently. I just thought I'd share this cool item.

  • mouschimouschi Posts: 687 ✭✭✭✭

    @countdouglas said:
    I am not sure that "collect" is the proper word for my 80s unopened acquisitions, but more like "accumulate". Haha! Anyway, Tanner, I have since added several 80s era FASC wax boxes, as well as a 1987 Donruss and 1989 Donruss counter display to go along with my 1988 display that I mentioned previously. There's no need for me to add any additional photos, as you've already adequately shown just how neat all of that stuff is. HOWEVER....I also recently added this:

    A 1988 Donruss cello case with floor stand display! There was one exactly like this in the grocery store on the other side of my home town, and I can remember seeing it, and not having any money on me. Once I got home, I scraped together what I could, hopped on the bicycle, and raced back to the grocery store. I won't bore everyone with the details of the trip there and home, but it was eventful, to say the least. So, again, this is a "worthless" relic of the junk wax era, but one with a heavy dose of nostalgia for me, as everything about that day comes roaring back when I look at this.

    The boxes in this case all showed various stages of wear, as they appear to have jostled against each other for 30 years. There is 12 boxes, stacked 2 deep. The bottom 3 boxes in the front row sustained such heavy damage to their lids that I decided to remove the packs and display them loose across the top. There was nothing of consequence showing on those packs except a couple Bo Jacksons and a McGwire on top and another McGwire and Bonds on back. I have not looked through the other 9 boxes, yet. At my grocery store, they had set the entire display up with loose packs, and over the summer, would add to it, as needed, so I was always rummaging through the cellos. Anyway, it does take up quite a bit of room, but I have a spot in mind where I'll keep it permanently assembled. I just have to relocate what is there, currently. I just thought I'd share this cool item.

    Ah yeah! That's a cool piece!

    Tanner Jones, Author of Confessions of a Baseball Card Addict - Now Available on Amazon!
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Doug - that's one really cool display piece.

    I like it!

    Mike
  • ReggieClevelandReggieCleveland Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Outstanding, Doug!

    Arthur

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