First year of the unopened complete sets?

Baez578 · March 25, 2013 7:54AM

I'm curious... does anyone know when Topps, Donruss, and Fleer baseball began offering unopened sets?

grote15 · March 25, 2013 7:56AM

For Topps, I'm pretty certain it was 1974.

ldferg · March 25, 2013 8:09AM

Donruss was 82 from the factory.

CubsKiller99 · March 25, 2013 8:21AM

Fleer was 1981.

esquiresports · March 25, 2013 9:11AM

Topps made a factory set in 1974, as mentioned. The next factory set, however, was not until 1982. Those were sold through JC Penny. There were a few plain-brown box sets in 1983 and/or 1984. A three-color boxed set was offered in very limited quantities in 1985, and full color boxes beginning in 1986. I can confirm Donruss factory sets began in 1982. I believe Fleer only offered "vending" boxes from 1981-1985. If you took four vending boxes, I believe you could make three sets. Something like that. Actual factory sets from Fleer began in 1986, I believe (aside from the 1984 Fleer Update set).

ChiefsFan1st · March 25, 2013 9:21AM

With fleer, did they actually come sealed? I have a 1987 set that aint sealed but doesnt look
like its been out of the box but I dont know

edited: mine aint sealed

CubsKiller99 · March 25, 2013 10:17AM

My 1981 was sealed in cellophane; I saw 1989,1990 recently that weren't
in cello but had a white factory seal affixed with "Fleer" printed on it.

I'm not sure how easy it is to crack that without detection.

mygotta · March 25, 2013 10:32AM

Fleer 87 had the Glossy Tin sets. I dont recall standard factory sets. Dont know from 86. But I do know that, yet, 1981 they made Vending sets, where you buy them numbered; 1-4, and from them you can just about guarantee 3 sets. They came with instructions as well.

mcadams · March 25, 2013 10:37AM

<< <i> Those were sold through JC Penny. There were a few plain-brown box sets in 1983 and/or 1984. >>

JCPenney offered the plain brown box in 1984. I still have mine :>

esquiresports · March 25, 2013 11:14AM

<< <i>With fleer, did they actually come sealed? I have a 1987 set that aint sealed but doesnt look
like its been out of the box but I dont know

edited: mine aint sealed >>

I'll have to see if I can dig up my 1987 Fleer set. I recall them having a tape seal at the center of the set where the flap sits. A single white piece of tape. Glossy sets were wrapped in Fleer cello. 1988- full color set boxes were also wrapped. 1986-1989 Fleer basic sets were not cello wrapped from the factory.

ChiefsFan1st · March 25, 2013 11:44AM

<< <i>

<< <i>With fleer, did they actually come sealed? I have a 1987 set that aint sealed but doesnt look
like its been out of the box but I dont know

edited: mine aint sealed >>

I'll have to see if I can dig up my 1987 Fleer set. I recall them having a tape seal at the center of the set where the flap sits. A single white piece of tape. Glossy sets were wrapped in Fleer cello. 1988- full color set boxes were also wrapped. 1986-1989 Fleer basic sets were not cello wrapped from the factory. >>

I just went and looked. I dont think my set ever had a sticker sealing the box. (Crappy cell phone pic)

First year of the unopened complete sets?

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