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I'm going back to 1992 - and a small contest added in - we have our winners!
Stone193
Posts: 24,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
It was the summer of 1992 – my wife and my son Justin jumped into our SUV and we were off to Atlanta from Ft. Gordon, GA – on our way to our first family National!
We had the time of our lives – I’d like to make one now – since there’s tons of people who attend who I have made good friends with and would like to meet/see again before I kick the bucket.
Let’s get to the contest first. I spent between 300 and 700$ at the National. The first five people to get the closest – without going over - will have their choice of 2 hot items either sold at the national or highly touted – you can have a factory ’92 UD Fanfest set or a complete ’92 Classic Bkb set with the first Shaq RC card!
Now - the purpose of all this – I would like to go back almost 20 yrs and just talk a little about the hobby in 1992.
First, SCD was king and the internet was just coming alive in the hobby with “Sportsnet” which dealers used to flip items or get a quick shot at picking up hot cases to sell in their shops.
I picked this SCD – since it was just after the National and one can readily get a feel for some items for sale that were – IMO – great buys! Moreover, I’m gonna post some of the hottest handouts from the National that went for hundreds until people realized they printed them in the zillions! I’m talking about the Classic Shaq promos!!!!!
The two on the bottom are the Shaq promos I’m talking about:
Now let’s quickly jump to the most overproduced, over-hyped, over-rated set on the planet back then – the Scoreboard’s own Classic 1992 Draft pick set!!!
I made back my money on the boxes by selling the inserts but couldn’t give away the set!!! What screwed the set to the wall? Even though they hyped it as the ONLY RC of Shaq for 1992 – UD – for one – did a “draft pick” RC redemption card – which people liked way more than his Classic card.
Back to SCD – good buys with respect to today? Yes – especially on ‘prewar’ cards that hadn’t totally caught fire yet. Also, of note – Mark Murphy, aka BBCardKid, was selling this gem for under 2K – I consider it a ‘fish that got away.’
There were some really nice modern deals back then also – like this 53B Color Mantle!
And – back then – SCD – had a serious amount of advertisers – that would make their bottom line moan today if they were to look back!!!!!
And, back in ’92, there were some “must have” cards that everyone chased and if they didn’t pull it, they definitely overpaid for it.
Like – the Jordan UD SP card:
Shops were buying these at 15$ a pop and flipping them for 20$ all day long!
I also learned a lot that year – I realized there were more crooks than I ever imagined – doing stuff like over-grading, slicing and dicing, re-coloring and just about anything one could imagine.
But, it was fun! The hobby was alive and there was “buzz” in the air! Even small shows had people standing 3 deep at the tables!
Downside? Every card company let the printers RUN WILD - zillions of cases!!!!! The beginning of the end? Perhaps.
And, PSA was a relative ‘babe in the woods’ back then – I met Mike Baker at the National – found him to be very personable. He walked me over to where they had the T206 PSA 8 Wagner card on display – which we all know could’ve been had for 25 bucks back in 1958!
So, has the hobby changed? You bet. Is it still fun? You bet. Do ya have to stay on your toes? You bet.
The hobby in some ways is better now IMO. For one thing – ebay has allowed me to pick up items that I would have to hunt for eons to find with respect to board games and sheet music.
Sorry for the length – this was a lot to cover – and I could’ve gone on for another 20 pages but I figure ya got the drift.
Thanx - Mike
We had the time of our lives – I’d like to make one now – since there’s tons of people who attend who I have made good friends with and would like to meet/see again before I kick the bucket.
Let’s get to the contest first. I spent between 300 and 700$ at the National. The first five people to get the closest – without going over - will have their choice of 2 hot items either sold at the national or highly touted – you can have a factory ’92 UD Fanfest set or a complete ’92 Classic Bkb set with the first Shaq RC card!
Now - the purpose of all this – I would like to go back almost 20 yrs and just talk a little about the hobby in 1992.
First, SCD was king and the internet was just coming alive in the hobby with “Sportsnet” which dealers used to flip items or get a quick shot at picking up hot cases to sell in their shops.
I picked this SCD – since it was just after the National and one can readily get a feel for some items for sale that were – IMO – great buys! Moreover, I’m gonna post some of the hottest handouts from the National that went for hundreds until people realized they printed them in the zillions! I’m talking about the Classic Shaq promos!!!!!
The two on the bottom are the Shaq promos I’m talking about:
Now let’s quickly jump to the most overproduced, over-hyped, over-rated set on the planet back then – the Scoreboard’s own Classic 1992 Draft pick set!!!
I made back my money on the boxes by selling the inserts but couldn’t give away the set!!! What screwed the set to the wall? Even though they hyped it as the ONLY RC of Shaq for 1992 – UD – for one – did a “draft pick” RC redemption card – which people liked way more than his Classic card.
Back to SCD – good buys with respect to today? Yes – especially on ‘prewar’ cards that hadn’t totally caught fire yet. Also, of note – Mark Murphy, aka BBCardKid, was selling this gem for under 2K – I consider it a ‘fish that got away.’
There were some really nice modern deals back then also – like this 53B Color Mantle!
And – back then – SCD – had a serious amount of advertisers – that would make their bottom line moan today if they were to look back!!!!!
And, back in ’92, there were some “must have” cards that everyone chased and if they didn’t pull it, they definitely overpaid for it.
Like – the Jordan UD SP card:
Shops were buying these at 15$ a pop and flipping them for 20$ all day long!
I also learned a lot that year – I realized there were more crooks than I ever imagined – doing stuff like over-grading, slicing and dicing, re-coloring and just about anything one could imagine.
But, it was fun! The hobby was alive and there was “buzz” in the air! Even small shows had people standing 3 deep at the tables!
Downside? Every card company let the printers RUN WILD - zillions of cases!!!!! The beginning of the end? Perhaps.
And, PSA was a relative ‘babe in the woods’ back then – I met Mike Baker at the National – found him to be very personable. He walked me over to where they had the T206 PSA 8 Wagner card on display – which we all know could’ve been had for 25 bucks back in 1958!
So, has the hobby changed? You bet. Is it still fun? You bet. Do ya have to stay on your toes? You bet.
The hobby in some ways is better now IMO. For one thing – ebay has allowed me to pick up items that I would have to hunt for eons to find with respect to board games and sheet music.
Sorry for the length – this was a lot to cover – and I could’ve gone on for another 20 pages but I figure ya got the drift.
Thanx - Mike
Mike
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Always looking for Chipper Jones cards.
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Mike
I wonder what happened to my 1992 Upper Deck Jordan - I will have to look for it.
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It was 1992 that I saw the end coming and bailed from the local show circuit. I set up almost every weekend from 88-92, then when the glossy, holographic, gold layered stuff started coming out and the price points began to change^^ I decided it was time to move on. Started getting game worn jerseys from the Celtics and did jerseys for almost 10 years. Now I dabble in both, but still no more shows!
Steve
Hoarding silver and collecting history
Thanks for the trip down memory lane in the hobby.
----------------------
Working on:
Football
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (99.81%)
1976 Topps PSA 9+ (36.36%)
1977 Topps PSA 9+ (100%)
Baseball
1938 Goudey (56.25%)
1951 Topps Redbacks PSA 8 (100%)
1952 Bowman PSA 7+ (63.10%)
1953 Topps PSA 5+ (91.24%)
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (70.76%)
1985 Fleer PSA 10 (54.85%)
Thank You Mike!
92 was the last year of my childhood collecting.
I couldn't wait for this to arrive every month.
CDsNuts, 1/9/15
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I saw the Thomas - alone - selling for as much as 20 bucks!
mike
I get a kick out of going back and looking at prices in Baseball Cards Magazine and Beckett from the 80's. Thanks for the contest.
Great post, Stone!
That was a great summer Mike, thanks for bringing me back. I remember paying $5-$10 a pack for Stadium Club, UD, and Ultra while chasing the Shaq and Mourning rookies. I wish I had taken all that cash I threw at packs then and
spent more of it on vintage.
T222's PSA 1 or better
I reminisce I reminisce
Topps White Out (silver) letters Alex Gordon
80 Topps Greg Pryor “No Name"
90 ProSet Dexter Manley error
90 Topps Jeff King Yellow back
1958 Topps Pancho Herrera (no“a”)
81 Topps Art Howe (black smear above hat)
91 D A. Hawkins BC-12 “Pitcher”
Can anyone guess who's on the back???
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Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
eyebone
If by chance I win, give it to some one with kids who will enjoy it
I recall some collectors actual complained that the SCD had too many pages back then... 350+ sometimes, it was a blast each week.
Mike
Like Tedw9 said, there was so much frantic chasing of the NBA rookies that year. The card I remember most from that year was the 92-93 Fleer Ultra All-Rookie card of Shaq. I think it booked at $300 or $350 when it first came out. EVERYONE at card shows was trying to get that card and people were driving from show to show and store to store trying to find packs. I happened into a gas station one day that had just gotten a box and I think I bought 5 or 6 packs ($3.25 each?) to try to find one. Never did. Now that card books for around $25.
I'll take a stab and guess that you spent $375.
Thanks for the great thread and all the great memories it brought back!
- John Wooden
Kiss me twice.....let's party.
mike
A smart dealer could make money all day long flipping stuff as people were ripping anything and everything, selling their pulls to get more money to rip.
<< <i>1992 was the best year ever for cards. Every sport was on absolute fire and shops couldn't keep anything in stock. Even the sets with no rookies or inserts were selling (Stadium Club Baseball, Score football, etc...). It was also the year inserts really took off- Topps gold, Stadium Club Beam Team, Donruss Diamond Kings (first time as an insert set) and Elite, Ultra All Stars and Rookies, Wild Card Stripe madness, Fleer Rookie Sensations, All Stars, Team Leaders and Clemens/Larry Johnson/Steve Young Autos, Shaq mania. Classic 4 sport was probably the hottest overall product which is funny because now you can't give it away, even with guys like Jeter and Shaq in the sets.
A smart dealer could make money all day long flipping stuff as people were ripping anything and everything, selling their pulls to get more money to rip. >>
Totally agree Lee!
I had a great time that year - including the fact it was my first National!
Remember these? The Fleer jumbo packs were as hot as the UD jumbos - but also the racks were popular - they had the team leader cards or another card - just can't remember what it was?
The jumbo retailed for 2 bucks and were selling for up to 8! The racks - also about 2 bucks and selling for like 4 to 5 - we had a drug store next to our house that got them and my wife would get them before they were gone - I still have quite a few. The Team leader cards got hot again when the basketball team leaders got hot - around 1994 - but it totally dropped out of sight again.
BTW - you can see the insert on the bottom sticking out - it's not a team leader which was green - that's the black card that I can't remember what it was?
Don't have any jumbos - the rookie sensations were just hot, hot, hot!
mike
The five people closest - and I added in one extra person because he went over by only 2.75!!!!
1. digdug - 512.34
2. bigwilli - 527.27
3. bottom9th - 511.11
4. Tedw9 - 525
5. Richtree - 538
6. lbcoach20 - who guessed $552.75.
Please PM me your addy and choice - either the Fanfest set or the 92C draftpick set.
I had a great weekend!!!