1971 TOPPS BIG BASEBALL CARDS

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The 1971 Topps Big baseball card set is one of the more interesting and collectible issues from the early 1970s. With its oversized 3 1/2-inch by 5-inch card format, the set showcased enlarged photographs of major league players and stood out compared to standard baseball cards of the time. While production lasted only from 1969-1971, the Bigs retain a strong cult following among collectors decades later for their unique visual style.

Topps debuted the big card format in 1969, producing sets focused on Major League Baseball as well as the National and American Leagues. Featuring a small run of 50 cards each, these initial Big issues were marketed primarily as novelty items meant to capitalize on the growing popularity of the modern baseball card collecting craze that emerged in the late 1960s. Cards maintained all standard statistical and biographical information common to Topps regular issues but did so utilizing the larger visual canvas afforded by the bigger physical size.

In 1971, Topps expanded the concept substantially by releasing its first true Big card set devoted solely to MLB players. The 144 card checklist covered all 24 major league teams from that season, representing a sizable jump from earlier 50 card Big trial runs. The much larger lineup made the 1971 Bigs a true comprehensive baseball card product on par with Topps’ flagship regular-sized issues of the era as well as Bowman and Fleer competitors.

Standout features of the 1971 Topps Big set include its sharp black and white photography showcasing individual ballplayers against plain studio-style backdrops. Photos utilize the bigger physical real estate of the large size to frame tight headshots often cutting out anything but the subject’s uniform from frame. This laser focus creates a distinctive graphic intensity compared to Topps standard issues also released that year side by side.

The 1971 Big cards follow standard design patterns of the time with white borders encasing photos while leaving plenty of blank space around edges for player names, stats, and team logo placements. Backs list full career stats for each player up to the 1971 season as well as short bios, but utilize the large size to do so in bigger easy-to-read text blocks compared to regular card backs crammed with tiny stat tables. Most also feature a noticeable lack of advertisements common to contemporary card issues seeking to maximize available space.

While the 1971 Topps Big set contained all teams and many familiar star players, several notable names are missing due to various factors. Rookies like Earl Weaver and Mike Schmidt would debut in regular Topps issues rather than the Bigs. Others like Nolan Ryan opted out of photography due to contract disputes or injuries keeping them off Topps photo shoot schedules altogether. Still, the 144 card checklist provides a compelling snapshot of the MLB talent landscape at the dawn of the new decade.

For collectors, demand for high quality 1971 Topps Big cards still runs hot today. Near mint to gem mint exemplars regularly command prices well above those for common regular issues from the same period. Star rookie cards of the likes of Johnny Bench in particular hold significant perceived value. Completed sets themselves constantly trade hands for thousands of dollars even in worn lower grade states due to scarcity.

In the years since, Topps only produced a few other experimental Big baseball card issues through the 1970s and all similarly short-lived. However, 1971 stands out as the true comprehensive and high water mark for the classic oversize baseball card concept before the much larger and premium framed sets of the 1990s. For capturing the feel of the era in an striking large format, 1971 Topps Big cards remain a unique and cherished niche in the collecting world. While a short chapter in overall cardboard history, their sizable visual impact keeps the hobby’s interest in these giants of the game going strong a half century later.

TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS 1997

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The 1997 Topps baseball card set was the 66th annual card release from Topps and marked an important transition period for the brand. The 1997 set featured cards of all Major League players and managers as well as retired stars and significant rookie cards. Some of the key stories and highlights from the 1997 Topps baseball card set include:

The 1997 set marked the first year that Topps lost its monopoly on Major League Baseball player licenses after decades as the exclusive producer. Both Upper Deck and Score entered the baseball card market in 1997 with licenses to use MLB player names and photos on trading cards. This ended Topps’ exclusive reign and forced the brand to face competition for the first time. In response to this major change, Topps redesigned its logo and gave the 1997 set a cleaner and more modern design compared to previous years in an effort to remain appealing to collectors.

Rookie cards of future superstars Vladimir Guerrero, Nomar Garciaparra and Chipper Jones were included in the 1997 Topps set. These 3 players went on to have hall of fame caliber careers and their rookie cards from this set are still highly sought after by collectors. Guerrero’s card is one of the most valuable from the entire release due to his legendary career and the smaller print run of Expos players in the late 1990s. Other notable rookies included Eric Chavez, Todd Helton, Kevin Millar, Jorge Posada and Bronson Arroyo.

Veteran stars featured in the 1997 Topps set included Ken Griffey Jr, Cal Ripken Jr, Tony Gwynn, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Larry Walker, Jeff Bagwell, Roberto Alomar and Mike Piazza. Griffey appeared on the very first card in the set due to his status as one of the game’s biggest stars and most popular players at the time. Ripken and Gwynn also had iconic careers wearing only the uniforms of the Orioles and Padres, respectively.

The 1997 Topps set had 708 total cards as was standard for baseball releases at the time. The design consisted primarily of white borders surrounding each full bleed color photo. Player names were featured prominently at the top with team logos included. Turning the cards over found stats on the front with a write-up on the back detailing career highlights or fun facts about each player. Managers, retired stars and special promotional inserts rounded out the checklist.

One of the insert sets included in 1997 Topps was “Topps Finest”. Featuring colorful refractors and parallels of star players, these remained a popular and valuable insert throughout the release’s lifespan. Other inserts and serially numbered parallel versions like Gold and Silver supplemented packs. Topps also produced high end sets exclusively for the higher end collector with limited production runs and autographed memorabilia cards.

While no longer the exclusive producer, Topps managed to maintain its position as the leading brand in the baseball card market for 1997. Strong tradition, brand recognition and updated designs allowed them to navigate the new competitive landscape with Upper Deck and Score entering the scene. The vintage cards from sets like 1997 Topps remain popular with collectors today, especially the expensive rookie cards and memorabilia inserts. This release paved the way for incremental changes by Topps to meet the rising challenge from other companies going forward as the baseball card industry continued to evolve and grow more robust through the late 90s and 2000s.

The 1997 Topps baseball card set marked an important period of transition as Topps lost its monopoly but managed to adapt. Featuring legendary players and some of the most valuable modern rookie cards, 1997 Topps cards retain nostalgia and collectors value today. The core 708 card base set with traditional yet updated design served as a bridge into Topps facing new threats while staying beloved with traditional collectors and speculators alike.

BASEBALL CARDS WORTH MOST MONEY

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Baseball cards have been around since the late 1800s, with companies like American Tobacco Company and Goodwin & Company producing some of the earliest known examples. Over the decades, certain baseball cards have increased tremendously in value based on their rarity, condition, and historical significance. Whether it’s rookie cards of legends like Mickey Mantle and Honus Wagner or unique error variants, some baseball cards today are worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Perhaps the most famous and valuable baseball card is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Produced by the American Tobacco Company as part of their landmark T206 series, it’s estimated only 50-200 examples exist today in varying conditions. What makes the Honus Wagner so rare is that the legendary shortstop demanded his card be pulled from production since he did not want to promote tobacco. In the most recent auction in 2016, a PSA NM-MT 8 example sold for $3.12 million, setting a new record. Other high grade T206 Wagners have also sold for well over $1 million.

Another extremely valuable early issue card is the 1913 Baltimore News Babe Ruth rookie card. Considered one of, if not the, key rookie card in all of sports collecting. Produced during Ruth’s time with the minor league Baltimore Orioles, it predates his legendary career with the Red Sox and Yankees. In January 2020, a PSA EX-MT 5 example achieved $996,000 at auction. Other high grades have also topped $500,000. Like the Wagner, the scarcity of surviving examples in good condition contributes greatly to its worth.

For Mantle, his most coveted and valuable card is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie. As one of the most iconic cards in the hobby, it gained further notoriety after being featured in the movie “The Rookie.” In pristine PSA Gem Mint 10 condition, examples have sold for over $2 million. But there is a special 1/1 printing plate variant that was discovered in the 1980s that surpasses all other Mantle cards. In 2001, it was privately sold for $100,000. Its rarity and historical significance as the only known printing plate makes it arguably worth over $1 million today.

While the above cards are undisputed million dollar gems, there are plenty of post-war vintage issues that can also fetch impressive five and six figure prices. A prime example is the 1957 Topps Hank Aaron rookie card, which has reached $350,000 for high graded copies. The 1952 Topps Willie Mays and 1954 Topps Sandy Koufax rookie are other hugely valuable 1950’s issues. For the 1960s, the 1969 Topps Willie McCovey and Roberto Clemente rookie cards consistently sell for $50,000-$100,000 in top condition.

Error variants and one-of-a-kind misprints can also provide tremendous value given their unique nature. In 2010, a 1909-11 T206 Eddie Plank card discovered to have “Philadelphia” on the front instead of “Athletics” sold for $25,600. A 1978 O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie card missing the NHL logo patch fetched $26,300 in 2009. But the error card king is likely a rare 1978 Topps Nolan Ryan missing the photo variant that netted an astounding $277,500 back in 2013.

While the above cards focus on the pre-1980 era, there are modern rookie cards appreciating rapidly given the players’ ongoing accomplishments. A notable example is the 2009 Bowman Draft Patrick Mahomes Prospect card, which routinely sells for $500-$1,000 now that he has become a Super Bowl champion quarterback. The 2001 Bowman Chrome Mike Trout rookie has also exploded in value, with PSA 10 gems reaching $400,000 after his career achievements so far. The 1991 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie remains a consistent six-figure card as well.

The rarer the card, the better its condition, the more historically significant the player, and the earlier the issue year, the more valuable it will be when it hits the auction block or private market. While the most expensive cards will remain out of reach except for the deepest of pockets, there is a wide range of affordable vintage and modern issues that can provide enjoyment as investments too. With careful grading, holding and market timing, today’s popular rookies could become the million-dollar treasures of tomorrow.

AMERICAN BEAUTY CIGARETTES BASEBALL CARDS

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American Beauty was a brand of cigarettes introduced in 1908 by the American Tobacco Company. One of the unique marketing strategies employed by American Tobacco to boost sales of their new American Beauty brand was including premiums and collectibles inside cigarette packs. Beginning in the 1920s, American Beauty packs contained printable items like coupons, paper hats, and paper dolls for nearly a decade before switching to inclusion of small size photos and trading cards featuring various topics starting in the late 1920s and continuing through the 1950s. Baseball cards became one of the most popular premium inclusions distributed by American Beauty and other cigarette brands, helping to fuel the rise of baseball card collecting as a hobby in the post-World War II era.

The American Tobacco Company was one of the “Big Three” major tobacco conglomerates in the early 20th century, along with Liggett & Myers and R.J. Reynolds. Seeking to compete against brands like Camel and Lucky Strike, American debuted American Beauty cigarettes featuring a floral design motif on its packs in 1908. While the cigarettes themselves offered nothing unique, American Tobacco executive James B. Duke aggressively marketed American Beauty using promotions, premiums, and novel packaging ideas. One strategy was including small printed items inside packs as a bonus for customers starting in the late 1910s. Early premiums were practical printed sheets containing coupons, paper cutouts, and diagrams for items like paper dolls, hats, and other novelty cuts.

As photography became more widespread and affordable in the late 1920s, American Tobacco began using small photo prints as premiums enclosed in American Beauty cigarette packs. Early photos depicted scenic landscapes, celebrities, historic figures, and other generic subjects. The inklings of using sports imagery and collectible cards as premiums began emerging. In 1930, American Tobacco’s L&M brand became one of the first to include small photo cards featuring individual professional baseball players as premiums inside packs sold nationwide. The simple novelty of enclosing collectible photos proved an instant hit with smokers, especially young males.

Building on this, American Beauty followed suit in 1931 by including individual 2″ x 2.5″ size color photo cards of baseball players as pack premiums for the first season. Issued without gum or candy, these early American Beauty baseball cards focused on capturing single headshot portraits of players from 1930 MLB rosters. Early subjects getting their likeness on an American Beauty baseball card included legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx. While no rarity scale existed yet, the inaugural 1931 set is among the most complete issues due to high initial production and distribution numbers by American Tobacco. Finding an intact 1931 American Beauty card in average condition today remains quite achievable for collectors.

In 1932, American Tobacco upped the ante on their baseball card premiums. American Beauty cards transitioned to a larger 2.5″ x 3″ size with more vivid color portraits and cropped head-and-shoulder shots. Basic stats for batting average, home runs, and runs batted in were listed on the reverse of each card for the 1931 season. This added level of player stats and larger colorful images made the cards more data-rich and enticing for young collectors. Popular stars of the day like Joe DiMaggio, Dizzy Dean, and Bill Dickey had their early careers memorialized on American Beauty cardboard. Scarcity remains moderate for the 1932 set compared to later Depression-era issues.

During the early-to-mid 1930s, American Beauty improved on the evolving baseball card concept with each successive season issue. The 1933 and 1934 American Beauty sets took on cleaner graphic designs befitting the Art Deco era. Meanwhile, the inclusion of additional stats like pitching records and career year-by-year lines for hitters enriched the statistical value of each card. More obscure 1920s-era veterans made their baseball card debuts alongside established superstars. Unfortunately, the worsening Great Depression took a steep toll on both the tobacco industry and the fledgling hobby of baseball card collecting during this period. Cigarette sales plunged over 40% by 1933 as disposable incomes dried up across America. In response, American Tobacco was reluctantly forced cut costs by dialing back premium distributions in packs.

Through 1934 and 1935, the scarcity of surviving American Beauty baseball cards grew substantially due to economic hardship reducing pack sales and numbers issued. While many early 20th century cards saw heavy usage as playthings or advertisements before acquiringcollector value later on, Depression conditions ensured fewer fans could afford packswith premiums. This makes intact high-grade samples from 1933-1935 among the most coveted and expensive in the entire vintage tobacco era genre today due to their rarity versus quality surviving. Examples can easily fetch thousands of dollars even in lower grades.

By 1936, the tobacco industry regained stability against the backdrop of FDR’s New Deal revitalizing the American economy. Looking to regain lost market share, American Beauty splurged on its most ambitious baseball card production yet for the latest MLB season. The 1936 tobacco issue ballooned the set count to an unheard of 110 distinct cards. Even fringe players received the baseball card treatment alongside true heroes like Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, and Mel Ott. A generous distribution helped ensure good survival rates to the present day, making 1936 American Beauty’s one of the most attainable and affordable vintage tobacco issues for collectors. The large numbers printed also helped restore popular demand for sports card collecting after the lean Depression years.

In the late 1930s, tobacco premium policies began trending towards more generic photographs rather than sports-specific cards. This was partly due to rising MLB salaries making sports rights more expensive, and a push to broaden appeal beyond male demographics. As such, the 1939 American Beauty baseball card set would be the brand’s last true sports-based premium for over a decade. Featuring smaller 1.5″ x 2″ landscape photos fitted with player stats on the reverse, the 1939 tobacco issue commemorated the final season before WWII impacted the baseball landscape. Scarcity remained light, preserving its status as a key affordable set within the vintage era.

After a four year hiatus due to WWII resource constraints, American Beauty reintroduced baseball cards alongside its competitors in 1948 as the country emerged victorious and optimistic. By this time, the simple sports images inside cigarette packs had evolved into a bonafide national past time, especially among the burgeoning Baby Boomer generation. The 1948-1952 Topps Gum Company issues are hailed as kickstarting the modern era of sports card mass production and speculative collecting. Meanwhile, American Beauty stuck to its roots issuing 148 player photos across its 1948-1952 baseball card sets. While less ornate than Topps counterparts, these tobacco-era offerings from the post-war bubble served an important role preserving the early careers of legends like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Sandy Koufax for collectors today.

In conclusion, American Beauty cigarette packs played an integral pioneering part in the development of sports card collecting as a popular American hobby through their baseball card premiums from the 1930s onward. With increased quality, quantities, and relevance over successive season issues, these early tobacco-based baseball cards helped ignite interest during a bleak period that carried forward enthusiastically after WWII. Although lacking frills compared to later glossy competitors, American Beauty’s contributions to commemorating MLB’s Golden Age deserve recognition among vintage collectors today due to their historic significance as forefathers of the collectibles industry. Finding conditioned samples from their heyday production between 1931-1952 remains quite achievable within most budgets.

BASEBALL CARDS ALTOONA PA

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The history of baseball cards in Altoona, Pennsylvania stretches back over 100 years. Altoona was always a hotbed for baseball fandom due to its proximity to major league teams in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. As early as the 1880s, Altoona residents would eagerly await the arrival of tobacco products featuring images of their favorite ballplayers.

Some of the earliest baseball cards to feature in Altoona were printed by cigarette and tobacco companies as a promotional marketing strategy. Starting in the late 1880s, companies like Goodwin & Company and Allen & Ginter began inserting lithographed cards into packages and tins of tobacco. These cards helped advertise both the players and the tobacco products themselves. Altoona residents got their first tastes of stars like Buck Ewing, King Kelly, and Amos Rusie through these early tobacco inserts.

In the early 1900s, Altoona became a hub for the regional minor league known as the Pennsylvania State League. Teams in the PSL like the Altoona Mountaineers gave local baseball fans quality local baseball to root for during the summer months. As baseball card production expanded nationwide in the early 20th century, Altoona shops and drug stores stocked brands like T206 White Border cards, featuring players from both the major and minor leagues. Altoona players occasionally received their own baseball cards as well, further cementing the city’s love affair with the sport.

The 1930s saw the rise of gum and candy cards inserted in packages as a marketing strategy. Brands like Goudey and Play Ball gave Altoona kids affordable packs of cards to collect and trade. Sets from this era are still prized by collectors today, featuring legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmie Foxx. Altoona’s own native son, Hall of Famer Chuck Klein, received multiple baseball cards during his playing career in the 1930s as well. Klein’s hometown fans eagerly collected any cards featuring their local hero.

During World War II, baseball card production was limited due to rationing of supplies. But Altoona’s love of the cards never wavered. After the war, production ramped up again with brands like Topps leading the way. In the 1950s, Altoona was fully immersed in the baseball card craze sweeping the nation. Kids could be found trading, arguing, and playing with their cards on every street and playground in the city. Stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron became household names in Altoona thanks to their ubiquitous cardboard appearances.

The 1960s saw the dawn of the modern baseball card era. Topps secured the exclusive rights to produce major league player cards and introduced innovative new designs each year. They also began issuing cards featuring the growing list of Hall of Famers. Altoona collectors rushed to complete each new Topps set as it was released year after year. The city’s card shops did booming business selling packs, boxes, and individual cards to keep up with demand.

Into the 1970s and 1980s, Altoona remained a hotbed for baseball card collectors of all ages. The rise of specialty and oddball card issues from brands like Fleer and Donruss added to the excitement. Stores hosted frequent baseball card shows, allowing collectors to buy, sell and trade with fellow fans. Altoona native players like Dave Parker and Lee Lacy received their own rookie cards, delighting their local supporters. The rise of wax packs and oddball inserts like Kellogg’s 3-D cards kept the hobby fresh.

In the modern era, Altoona has transitioned into the internet age of card collecting like the rest of the hobby. Online groups like Altoona Card Collectors on Facebook keep the local community connected, sharing information about new releases, vintage finds and collection updates. While brick-and-mortar card shops have dwindled, the passion for the cardboard keeps Altoona firmly planted among the top baseball card collecting cities in America. Over 130 years after those first tobacco inserts arrived, Altoona’s love affair with the baseball card shows no signs of slowing down.

1952 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS SIZE

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The 1952 Topps baseball card set was the second iteration of Topps’ original design, following their debut 1951 set. Unlike the earlier release which featured true rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays and Rose, the ‘52 set focused on highlighting star players from the previous season. Though similar in design and style to the year prior, the 1952 Topps cards stand out for having a smaller card size than later classic issues.

Measuring 2 1⁄2 inches by 3 1⁄2 inches, the 1952 Topps baseball cards were noticeably trimmer than the standard 3 1⁄2 by 2 1⁄2 inch card size that became the industry standard in later decades. This smaller dimensions meant the photographs and player stats/information had to be condensed into a tighter space compared to later full-sized sets. While smaller in size, the ‘52 Topps cards made up for it with vibrant colored graphics and eye-catching layouts that managed to elegantly fit everything needed onto the postage stamp-sized pieces of cardstock.

Because of their diminutive stature, the 1952 Topps set is often overlooked by collectors in comparison to the 1953 issue which marked Topps’ transition to the larger 3 1⁄2 x 2 1⁄2 size. This scarcity has led to the 1952s achieving significant value in the hobby, especially for stars of the era. The compact card format was likely an attempt by Topps to cut production costs in only their second year of baseball card production. Producing smaller cards used less paper and kept overhead lower as the fledgling company aimed to establish itself in the collectibles market.

Strangely, the 1952 Topps design is not entirely consistent with its size between the two series contained within the set. The first series dated to Spring 1952 measured the standard 2 1⁄2 x 3 1⁄2, but the smaller Fall 1952 update portion was trimmed down slightly further to 2 3/8 x 3 3/8 inches. This tiny negligible difference has led to speculation amongst historians that Topps may have had production issues with their original sized cardstock midway through and opted to go even smaller to use up existing inventory. Whatever the true reason, it presents an anomaly within the set’s uniform design.

As with other early Topps sets, the photography and stats presented on the 1952 cards were also scaled down significantly compared to modern standards. Photos are small tightly cropped headshots rather than full body images. Statistics featured basic career totals to that point rather than advanced metrics. Information was condensed to a single line of text with each player’s team just spelled out rather than featuring an logo or insignia. These were all necessities of the reduced card size Topps was working with that first decade.

Despite their wee size, the 1952 Topps baseball card set remains a highly collectible and iconic piece of the hobby’s history. Featuring future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron,Richie Ashburn, and others in their compact photo debuts, these tiny cardboard treasures provide a fascinating snapshot of the cards’ humble beginnings as Topps established the modern model that would come to dominate the pastime. While petite in stature, their impact and charm continues to resonate decades later with vintage collectors.

While often maligned for their diminutive size, the 1952 Topps baseball card set played an important role in the evolution of the modern sports card industry. Produced during Topps’ infant stage as they aimed to compete with Bowman, the petite 2 1⁄2 x 3 1⁄2 and 2 3/8 x 3 3/8 card dimensions were likely a budget necessity. Despite tight confines, the colorful designs, sharp photos and early stats of legends managed to elegantly tell the story on a postage stamp scale. Even 70 years later, their Lilliputian largesse remains a set prized by collectors seeking a link to the pioneering past of our hobby.

1987 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS UNOPENED PACK

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The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered a classic among collectors and holds significant nostalgia for those who remember opening packs as children in the late 80s. Although not the most valuable set in the hobby, finding an unopened 1987 Topps pack today still holds thrill and excitement for collectors thanks to the mystery of what cards could be hiding inside. Let’s take a deeper look at these beloved cards and what finding an unopened pack from 1987 could mean for collectors today.

The 1987 Topps set was the 66th series of Topps baseball cards released and marked several milestones. It was the first year cards were issued with the new 1 3/8″ x 2 1/2″ size that remains the standard in the industry today. The set totaled 792 cards and included rookie cards for future Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell. It also included the final cards issued for retiring legends like Pete Rose, Jim Palmer, and Steve Garvey.

Inside each wax pack from 1987, collectors could find 11 randomly inserted cardboard trading cards. The front of each card featured a color photo of a player in action along with their name, team, and statistics. The back provided more stats and a short career summary. Topps used this same basic template for decades, helping younger collectors easly transition to the hobby. Each 1987 Topps pack retailed for $1, a price point that helped the brand reach mainstream popularity.

Although not extremely valuable graded and on the secondary market today, 1987 Topps cards retain nostalgia because they represent childhood memories for a generation of fans and players who are now in their 40s and 50s. Finding an unopened pack time-warped to 1987 presents the excitement of not knowing which future stars or franchise faces may be revealed inside. Will there be a rookie fantasy pick? A favorite player? An error card? It’s the mystery that keeps collectors of all ages hunting for vintage sealed wax to this day.

The odds of finding an intact 1987 Topps unopened pack are low due to the set being over 30 years old. There are a few ways they surface occasionally. Some were purchased at release but forgotten about in attics or storage units for decades. Occasionally a former player or staff member from the 80s will put memorabilia up for sale, including sealed product. Industry insiders also buy out collections including unopened wax to later resell. Whenever one hits the market, it draws worldwide attention from collectors hoping for a blast from the past.

Graded gem mint 10 1987 Topps unopened wax recently sold on eBay for over $1,000, showing there is strong demand among enthusiasts when a sealed pack surfaces. But most find their way to PWCC Marketplace or Classic Auctions for thousands of dollars. Condition is key, as a worn pack with rounded edges will be considerably less valuable. Even lower grade wax holds value just for the opportunity to live out the 1987 experience again of not knowing which legends may emerge.

Besides the thrill of the vintage hunt, 1987 Topps packs remain desirable because the set is considered the apex of 1980s design with classic airbrushed photography and vibrant colors. Stats aren’t inflated and many stars were still in their primes. The timeless design also makes the cards easily recognizeable to modern collectors just starting out. For these reasons, finding an unsealed pack is like unwrapping a time capsule that immediately transports collectors back over 30 years.

The 1987 Topps baseball card set will always be beloved for capturing the tail end of a legendary era in the game. Finding an unopened wax pack presents a special experience that can’t truly be replicated. The mystery of the random insert combined nostalgia for simpler times is part of what fuels the hobby. As long as collectors remain, the chase for vintage sealed 1987 Topps will continue as one of the holy grails of the set.

VINTAGE BASEBALL CARDS PORTLAND OREGON

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Portland has a rich history with vintage baseball cards dating back over a century. Some of the earliest known baseball card collectors and dealers started in the Rose City in the early 1900s as the hobby began to take shape nationally. Even today, Portland remains a hotbed for vintage baseball card collecting, dealing, and the lively community that has grown up around the nostalgic pieces of memorabilia.

One of the first major baseball card collectors and dealers to operate in Portland was Ray A. Schweisguth, who started a small business called Ray’s Sport Shop in downtown Portland in the 1930s. Ray’s became a popular hangout for local kids who would trade and sell their baseball cards. Ray amassed a huge collection himself over the decades and was instrumental in growing the hobby’s popularity in the region. His passion helped spark baseball card collecting as a mainstream pastime in Portland in those early formative years.

Throughout the middle decades of the 20th century, many iconic Portland shops like Ray’s and Bailes Sporting Goods served as hubs where collectors could search through boxes and interact with others. This helped cultivate a tight-knit community. Vintage baseball cards were frequently bought, sold, and traded at shops and card shows around the city. Local dealers like Bob Lemons also traveled around attending shows, moving valuable vintage stock.

The 1970s marked a renaissance in popularity for baseball cards nationwide as stars like Ozzie Smith and George Brett captured imaginations on the field. In Portland, dedicated hobby shops like the venerable Vancouver Card House opened in 1973 and fueled renewed collecting fervor. Meanwhile, a landmark local event, the Portland Rose Festival Collector Extravaganza, has been held annually since the mid-1970s, bringing collectors together.

As the 1980s arrived, inflation and other economic factors caused the baseball card market to crash. Still, dedicated collectors in Portland persevered, enjoying the hunt for treasure in dime boxes. Card shows and shop stock continued providing outlets. Stores like the 9th Inning in NW Portland stocked full boxes through the lean times. This helped ensure the community and hobby survived to see renewed golden ages.

Speak to any vintage baseball card collector in Portland today and they’ll tell you the early 1990s ushered in an unprecedented renaissance and skyrocketing prices for the items. Stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds created a bundle of new collectors. The increased media exposure and national nostalgia for childhood pastimes also fueled fresh interest. In Portland, dedicated shops like Beckett’s, Portal, and Showcase Gallery met demand and thrived on the vintage and high-end modern issues.

As prices soared in the 1990s, some unscrupulous individuals took advantage to pull unseemly stunts. Most notoriously, in 1993, a massive private collection of over 350,000 vintage cards was stolen in a brazen robbery at a warehouse in NW Portland. The collection, valued at well over $1 million, was never recovered. While unethical, events like this only served to heighten intrigue in the hobby during its peak era.

Now in the 2020s, the vibrant Portland vintage baseball card community continues to thrive. Hundreds of dedicated collectors stay engaged through online groups, card shows, and a thriving local shop scene despite economic turbulence. Iconic surviving shops like the Vancouver Card House and Portal Collectibles are meccas where visitors can connect over their passions. Meanwhile, annual flagship events like the Portland Rose Festival cards show keep the tradition alive and help recruit new generations to appreciate baseball, its history, and the nostalgic pieces of cardboard that immortalize it.

Through ups and downs over decades, Portland’s vibrant vintage baseball card community has survived and grown. Its dedicated collectors, shops, and events have nurtured connections and kept the hobby thriving generation after generation. The Rose City’s deep baseball card history and living vintage community make it an epicenter for appreciating these nostalgic pieces of memorabilia that continue to hold value and spark memories across generations.

SELLING BASEBALL CARDS IN JACKSONVILLE

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Selling Baseball Cards in Jacksonville – An Overview of the Local Market

Jacksonville, Florida has a rich history with baseball and as a result, the hobby of collecting baseball cards has long been a popular pastime for residents of the area. With the city’s minor league affiliate of the Miami Marlins regularly drawing fans to the ballpark and local card shops continuing to do a bustling business, selling baseball cards remains a viable endeavor for those looking to liquidate parts of their collection or start a side business dealing in the sport’s historic memorabilia. In this article, we will provide an overview of some of the key considerations for those interested in selling baseball cards locally in Jacksonville.

First, it is important to understand the current baseball card market conditions in the area. Like most mid-sized cities, the Jacksonville market is quite affordable compared to major metropolitan areas but also lacks the high-end collectors that can drive up prices. Common vintage rookie cards from the 1970s and 1980s in mint condition may sell for $50-100 each while rare modern parallels and autographs can fetch prices upwards of $500 with the right buyer. Most transactions at local card shops involve sales of $10-50. Condition is critical, so make sure to carefully grade your cards to match the appropriate buyer level. Another useful tip is to research recent eBay “sold” listings of comparable cards to get a sense of market value.

In Jacksonville, the three main options for selling baseball cards are through local card shops, selling directly to other collectors online/at card shows, or utilizing online auction platforms. When selling to card shops, you sacrifice some potential profit but gain convenience as the shop handles grading, pricing and finding buyers. Most shops in Jacksonville pay 50-70% of a card’s book value, depending on demand, condition and whether you accept cash or store credit. A few of the largest and most respected shops are Play It Again Sports (several locations), Great Escape Comics, and Sportstown USA.

Selling directly to other collectors offers the opportunity for higher prices but requires more effort on your part. You’ll need to carefully organize your collection, research values, market listings locally on sites like Facebook Marketplace, and be available to meet buyers. Popular local events to sell at include the North Florida Sports Card Show held 4-5 times annually as well as large comic conventions. Again, sharp photos showcasing condition are crucial. Another benefit of direct sales to collectors is the ability to potentially trade cards to fill holes in your collection.

Online marketplaces give exposure to the widest potential buyer base but take a commission of 10-15% plus shipping costs. Key platforms to consider include eBay, Comc.com, Collectable.com and Sportscardforum.com. With eBay, take advantage of features like free global listings, auction/Buy-It-Now pricing flexibility, and careful photography/description writing. Completing a few small sales helps build seller stats to command higher prices. Also remember to carefully package cards for shipping to avoid damage in transit.

One of the intriguing aspects of selling baseball cards is the potential to hold valuable vintage pieces that truly appreciate with time. But The Jacksonville market values modern rookies, stars, autographed/memorabilia cards the most. Having a strategy to continuously scan what’s hot and sell each off-season allows turning over inventory for profits. With some effort researching values, vetting buyers and sharpening sales skills, local collectors in Jacksonville can earn supplemental income by flipping cards on the ever-evolving secondary market.

EBAY 1980 BASEBALL CARDS

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The early days of eBay and the boom in collecting 1980s baseball cards:

In the late 1990s, a new website called eBay was starting to gain popularity as a platform for buying and selling all sorts of collectibles online. One of the hottest collecting categories on the nascent eBay marketplace was 1980s baseball cards. Cards from sets released in the early 1980s had been largely overlooked by collectors for years but were about to experience a surge in demand and skyrocketing prices.

Several factors contributed to the sudden interest in 1980s baseball cards on eBay in the late 90s. Many kids who collected cards in the early 80s were now young adults with more discretionary income. They were looking to reconnect with their childhood hobby and wanted to rebuild sets they may have incomplete as kids. Stars from the 1980s like Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens were still active players generating new interest.

A key 1980s set that was driving a lot of eBay sales was the 1981 Topps baseball card release. This set featured rookie cards of Hall of Famers like Fernando Valenzuela, Rollie Fingers, and Nolan Ryan. But for years, the 1981 Topps set had largely been ignored. In the early 1980s, the 1979 and 1980 Topps sets were considered much more desirable among collectors. But by the late 1990s, people were realizing that stars from the 1981 rookie class had Hall of Fame careers. This led demand and prices for 1981 Topps cards to surge.

Another factor was the internet itself. eBay gave collectors an easy way to browse through thousands of baseball cards being auctioned online from all over the world. You no longer had to rely on your local card shop’s inventory or visiting shows and flea markets to find certain cards. This massively increased liquidity in the market. Sellers also had access to a huge pool of potential buyers. The combination of increased interest in 1980s players plus the reach of eBay was a perfect storm that supercharged prices.

Some key 1980s baseball cards that saw enormous price spikes on eBay in the late 1990s include Rickey Henderson’s 1981 Topps rookie card, Wade Boggs’ 1982 Topps rookie, and Nolan Ryan’s 1968 Topps rookie. Henderson and Boggs cards that may have sold for $5-10 in the early 1990s were now commanding $50-100 on eBay. The ultra-rare 1968 Nolan Ryan rookie jumped from $500 to $5,000.

The increased activity and price gains caught the attention of mainstream media. Articles started appearing that documented the unexpected revival in interest in 1980s cards. This further fueled speculation and demand as more collectors wanted to get in on the action. Soon, it seemed like every sports card collector had an eBay account and was scouring listings for deals.

By the late 1990s, the 1980s card boom was in full swing. Entire sets from 1981 Topps, 1982 Topps, and 1983 Topps that may have been completeable for $100-200 just a few years earlier were now costing collectors thousands to finish. Individual key rookie and star cards were reaching five figures. The sudden parabolic rise understandably caused concerns that a speculative bubble had formed. But strong demand continued through the late 90s-early 2000s as the core group of 1980s stars remained active players.

The growth of eBay allowed the market for 1980s baseball cards to reach new heights. It gave both casual collectors and intense speculators easy access to pursue sets and rookies from their childhood that were suddenly hot commodities. While prices have settled down from the late 90s peak, 1980s cards, especially key rookies, remain a strong segment of the sports card market today. The early days of eBay fueled one of the most unexpected booms in the hobby. It supercharged demand that made 1980s cards a major asset class for collectors.