Question about grading 80s cards

animist · May 21, 2009 6:08AM

I'm a vintage non-sport card collector (Pre 1900 and pre war mainly), but for fun I participated in the 1980s baseball and football group break. I collected baseball cards in the 80s as a kid, so it was kind of nostalgic. I ripped the packs last night and will post scans tonight.

What I was wondering, other than the HOF rookies, are any other 1980s baseball and football cards worth grading, assuming that they will likely get a PSA 9 with a chance for a 10? I'd only submit cards that looked like they had a chance for a 10. I submit on average a thousand cards a year, so assume that they would be submitted at bulk price or as part of a PSA special (so $5-$6 a card). Since I am not building PSA graded sets, are there any sets where it would ever be worth it to submit second tier HOFers or commons, like 81 or 82 Topps or 84 Donruss?

Thanks for your opinions.

bobsbbcards · May 21, 2009 6:09AM

I just submitted a batch of 1985 Topps Minis. Those were certainly rare enough to make it worthwhile.

DavidPuddy · May 21, 2009 6:20AM

In my opinion, if you think the card is a LOCK 10 then send it in. If you do it this way you should get enough 10s to make some money.
I think a lot of people send in cards that look like 9/10 ish., and they get to many 9s to make it worth their time.

There are a lot of people of the boards that say don't ever send in 80's commons, but I think if you have a good enough eye you can come out ahead.

Of course there are always oddball/test issues that can bring nice money in high grade. Check out some of the player set registries for tough cards of non-HOFers.

animist · May 21, 2009 6:44AM

My modern eye is not great...yet....as I spend most of my time differentiating between PSA 2-7s on pre war cards. I'm waiting on a bulk sub that included some 1981 donruss golf, 1983 topps baseball HOFers and 1987 and 1988 Fleer Basketball cards from past group rips. When I get those results, I think I will know a lot more about grading modern cards.

Thanks for the advise so far.

che · May 21, 2009 6:46AM

Some of the toughest cards to grade in the 80's (baseball) are the 1981 topps and 84 Topps and Donruss. I have opened a few boxes that pretty much had nothing gradable. But then again, some boxes are more favorable than others. It's like Seinfeld says, "Buying fruit is a gamble. We all know that going into the supermarket." Card collecting and submitting is also a small gamble--and what makes it so exciting for a lot of us. I always wonder if the wax packs will ever die out from the 80s? They have got to be close to almost GONE. I mean, these packs are finite but seem to be endlessly listed on eBay. What is the deal with that?

ElToroLoco · May 21, 2009 7:03AM

<< <i>I always wonder if the wax packs will ever die out from the 80s? They have got to be close to almost GONE >>

Haha, that's a good one. I suppose it's all relative to the lifetime of a human being or the lifetime of Topps gum.

akuracy503 · May 21, 2009 7:09AM

Gum has an infinite shelf life so we are good there.

summerof68 · May 21, 2009 9:40AM

I specialize in unopened material and there is still tons of factory sealed cases of sportscards going back to 1978 still stashed away all across this nation. Late '80s material was hoarded in such astronomical quantities that even 20 years from now it will still be readily available at or near the prices it originally sold for.

I personally have a friend who lives in Vallejo, California. In 1989 when Upper Deck first came out he thought those cards with the holograms were the greatist thing since apple pie--he wasn't alone. So he filled a 20 ft. ocean going container in his back yard completely full of factory sealed cases as in investment.

Well those cases are still sitting there untouched--he should of sold them on ebay seven or eight years ago while Griffey was still relevant!

viking7 · May 21, 2009 9:42AM

Hi, if you have some 82 Topps that would grade 9/10 shoot me a pm and maybe we can work something out. Thanks-Steve

animist · May 21, 2009 11:29AM

I'll check the 82s when I get home tonight.

ajw · May 22, 2009 2:38AM

<< <i>
I personally have a friend who lives in Vallejo, California. In 1989 when Upper Deck first came out he thought those cards with the holograms were the greatist thing since apple pie--he wasn't alone. So he filled a 20 ft. ocean going container in his back yard completely full of factory sealed cases as in investment.
>>

How many cases is that?

More importantly, what do his neighbors think about his landscaping choices?

bsidegrve · May 22, 2009 2:55AM

1985 Topps Football
I would grade any that you thought had a real shot at a PSA 10
With the black border though its VERY hard to get a 10

Question about grading 80s cards

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