1983 Topps Boxes - Crack or Leave
 

I’ve been picking up some unopened packs and boxes recently. 83 Topps was my favorite set as a kid. I have some BBCE wax boxes that are tempting me. It would be really fun and nostalgic to crack but I don’t necessarily want a to deal with a couple hundred commons. What are the odds of pulling some high grade Gwynn, Boggs, or Sandbergs? I know there’s no right or wrong here but any thoughts or experiences?

At this point, tossing the commons is doing the hobby a favor!

https://forums.collectors.com/discus...ss-psa-10-sets
There's a good thread to waste an hour reading. TL;DR: Guy busts hundreds of wax boxes from the 80s, but hasn't yet actually sent any in for grading.
Edit: noticed one of his recent posts talks about wanting to complete a full set before sending any in, so that they all have consecutive cert numbers. For a 700-card set, that's like $5,000 each set. But maybe if he puts 10 sets together and has a 7,000 card submission, he can negotiate down to $4 or something a card.

*double post*

Eh, with a 792 card set I doubt you'd get all 3...maybe 2...so yeah hundreds of commons...and centering can be brutal too....fun box though! 2nd year Cal is a nice card

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I bought a box and opened it with a friend a couple of years back. He got Gwynn and Boggs and I got a Sandberg and a Ripken. It was fun to open but the big cards were not 10s. I'm sure we didn't come out ahead financially, but if i had another i would open it too.

If you read the thread someone else mentioned here from Collector's Universe, it is really informative in terms of statistical probabilities of potential 10s out of wax, vending, rack and cello packs. You should look there because he regularly posts his statistics, but based on his selections of cards worthy of being submitted as potential 10s, he is running at sub-5% on every year, every brand, every type of packaging. Several of them are down around 1%. so for a standard wax box of 540 cards, you are looking at potentially between 5 and 25 potential 10s. But most likely around the lower number based on this guy's stats. It is a really good insight into the harsh reality that even though there was mass production of most every year in the 1980's, the quality control (and survival of quality examples) is pretty brutal. Pop open the 1983's if you want to have a fun nostalgia trip, but the chances of getting one of the big 3 in perfect shape is nil.
kevin

Odds may be low you'll end up with anything in a 10 that you want to keep, but one way or another, you'll have to figure out what you want to do with them, either unopened or opened. What would you do with the unopened packs? If you don't have a good answer to that question, might as well open them up and see what you get. The nostalgia is probably more enjoyable (and therefore worth more) than having an unopened box of 83s in the back of the closet.

Thanks for that thoughts and the link. Definitely a fun read if you started collecting in the early 80’s. Brings back a lot of memories. I bought 83 strictly for the nostalgia, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping deep down to pull some high grade rookies.

I’m having minor knee surgery in a couple weeks. Can’t think of anything better than sitting on the couch and opening a box. Maybe insurance will cover it as part of rehab haha. I’ll report back on the results and if anyone is starting or building an 83 set I’d be happy to send the contents.

I actually think the guy doing all the rips on CU/PSA board is too harsh on his own grading. I think he's too strict on centering compared to what would actually need to be a PSA 10.

Should be fun. I am aware that the cards of 1980s are not overly valuable but I definitely enjoy looking through my sets from 1980s and do so weekly. I would probably have a good time opening the packs as well.

I love the '83 set. Great design and photos, one of my favorites.