Can rack packs be resealed?

redbull · May 15, 2011 4:02AM

hoping for the answer of no but i'm prepared for the worst.

grote15 · May 15, 2011 4:19AM

Yes, most definitely. There is a very prolific resealer of rack packs down in the Carolinas, and cpamike recently opened a 1970 baseball rack he was skeptical about only to find that it was indeed resealed. Star packs in particular should be scrutinized. A fake 78 rack with Murray on top sold not too long ago on ebay for over $200.

calaban7 · May 15, 2011 9:58AM

I bought some 83 Topps baseball rack packs , from a great guy , at a great price , here on the boards. I was very dissappointed to be finding no stars then when looking at the remaining packs , to find that the rest appeared to have been resealed. Someone had used a clear glue in very small drops . When opening some , it wasn't a zipper pull , put an inconsistant pull. also the wrappers didn't quite line up in some.

I think the seller had probably purchased them as such , but I had done so much business , and got them at a great price , so I let it slide. I haven't bought anything unopened from him since but chalked up as a , hopefully , small lesson learned.

I still think the seller is a great guy.---- Sonny

summerof68 · May 15, 2011 2:32PM

<< Yes, most definitely. There is a very prolific resealer of rack packs down in the Carolinas, and cpamike recently opened a 1970 baseball rack he was skeptical about only to find that it was indeed resealed. Star packs in particular should be scrutinized. A fake 78 rack with Murray on top sold not too long ago on ebay for over $200. >>

Grote15 is absolutely correct. On May 22, '09 Steve Hart wrote in his blog that many resealed vintage racks were coming into his store for sell. This included 1968, 1971 & 1975 Topps baseball racks. It also included 1971 Topps football racks. He also mentioned in another blog that resealed vintage racks was the biggest problem in the hobby today. He added that with '74 and earlier racks if a star is showing on top be very careful. And if two stars are on top be extremely careful. Just within the last two weeks I saw a counterfeit pre '75 Topps rack sell on ebay. The rack had the wrong header and just by coincidence it had not one but two Hall of Famers showing on top--it really is that big of a problem in our hobby!

Even wax trays can be resealed. If a machine can produce it then there will be someone out there who can reproduce it!

Probstein123 · May 15, 2011 8:47PM

sorry, but yes , there are large amounts of tampered raks on the market

stevek · May 15, 2011 9:20PM

Just a guess but I wonder if a blacklight could expose a resealed pack?

I imagine that it probably could? Wouldn't it be able to spot that glue or perhaps other tampering? Maybe I'm wrong.

summerof68 · May 16, 2011 5:59AM

<< It would probably be helpful to the OP (and everyone else) if those who have experience with resealed rack packs could either post scans or a description of what to look for. >>

Off the top of my head I could probably come with 20 or so critical points to look at on a rack in question. However there are rack counterfeiters who read our boards regularly so perhaps it is best I remain silent--for once.

cellos · May 16, 2011 6:35AM

Does anyone happen to know the first year rack packs were produced? I'm not talking about xmas packs either but the real thing.

EchoCanyon · May 16, 2011 6:45AM

Speaking of rack packs, check out what this guy is selling:

Motherload of 77 racks

summerof68 · May 16, 2011 9:09AM

<< Does anyone happen to know the first year rack packs were produced? I'm not talking about xmas packs either but the real thing. >>

The first year Topps produced rack packs was 1960. Topps did however produce a 1951 rack pack which contained 1951 Topps "game" cards commonly known as red backs.
A few '58 Topps baseball racks have surfaced but they are counterfeits.

grote15 · May 16, 2011 9:25AM

Summer is correct...1960 is the first legitimate date for Topps rack packs..

cpamike · May 16, 2011 11:13AM

Grote is absolutely right, rack packs can most definitely be sealed. I unfortunately found out first hand by buying from one of the best counterfeiters in the business, letsgetitstarted1. The only way I could tell for sure was to open it up.

Paleoanthroman · April 11, 2012 11:57PM

Can anyone talk about the types of plastics used to make the racks. it appears that 77 and later have a clearer, thiner plastic and 76 and earlier have a thicker plastic. In fact, the ’77 racks have aged so well that it makes me worried that some of mine are modern fabrications. Without posting pics, can anyone talk about the ’77 plastic and comment on how well some of these racks look next to their one year older cousins, the 76’s.

grote15 · April 12, 2012 12:04AM

Topps used thicker cello wrap prior to 1977 and that is why you will often see more discoloration in those racks and splits and cracks between the seams. They used even thinner cello wrap beginning in 1978 when Topps changed the header card and unit price to 59 cents so though 1977 racks hold up a lot better than racks produced prior to that you will still see splits between sections on some 77 racks that haven't been properly stored.

1960toppsguy · April 12, 2012 1:29AM

in this era, everything can be reproduced

mrmint23 · April 12, 2012 1:45AM

How does this 84 Donruss Rack look?

84 donruss pack

StarPaxMan · April 12, 2012 5:23AM

<< Does anyone happen to know the first year rack packs were produced? I'm not talking about xmas packs either but the real thing. >>

The 1st topps regular rack pack was produced in 1959 for football, the 1st baseball followed in 1960 using the same format as the 1959 FB, many times topps tested on FBall first
and followed-up in the next baseball production like the seal in cello packs change in 1961 FBall 1se then 1962, Bball cello wrapper w/logo 1st 1972 Fball then 1973 Bbal,l super cello
1978 FBall 1st then 1979 Bball followed, just a few examples,,,,,,,,,Jose

Griffins · April 12, 2012 5:38AM

This might be the first rack pack- contained the '51 Red Back set, as a few team cards and Connie Mack All Stars.
However, I've read credible reports by several that stated they were not a Topps product, so it may not prove anything.
This sold for $15k in '09, and $7600 in '11.

StarPaxMan · April 12, 2012 7:31AM

<< Yes, most definitely. There is a very prolific resealer of rack packs down in the Carolinas, and cpamike recently opened a 1970 baseball rack he was skeptical about only to find that it was indeed resealed. Star packs in particular should be scrutinized. A fake 78 rack with Murray on top sold not too long ago on ebay for over $200. >>

I think the one Tim is talking about is in the pic below in both original form and tampered with.

grote15 · April 12, 2012 7:51AM

<< 

<< Yes, most definitely. There is a very prolific resealer of rack packs down in the Carolinas, and cpamike recently opened a 1970 baseball rack he was skeptical about only to find that it was indeed resealed. Star packs in particular should be scrutinized. A fake 78 rack with Murray on top sold not too long ago on ebay for over $200. >>

I think the one Tim is talking about is in the pic below in both original form and tampered with.

>>

That's it Jose! Thanks for posting it!

HoneyBadger · April 12, 2012 8:19AM

Yes they can, sadly! Add to that people knowing the collation patterns and you have a real problem!

jmmiller777 · April 12, 2012 11:09AM

Wow, Jose! That is incredible! Why aren't these people exposed????

lifeshouldbefun · April 12, 2012 11:13AM

Can't these "prolific" crooks be turned into the Federal Authorities ?

Can rack packs be resealed?

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