Anyone Else Collecting a 1987 Topps Autographed Set?

[Topps206]

I sent this back out in June. It looks like he's catching up on his mail. Thank you, Mr. Rasmussen.

430/792

[sreader3]

I am at 252/792, although I don't have a laser focus on 87 Topps. Casting a wider net. It has been a quiet summer. Here's my most recent 87T TTM:

[mr2686]

That's a great card of Plunk. I played softwall with a guy they caught him in the minors, and he said that Plunk was one nasty SOB. Took his name to heart, and would plunk anyone at anytime. LOL

[sreader3]

Originally Posted by mr2686

That's a great card of Plunk. I played softwall with a guy they caught him in the minors, and he said that Plunk was one nasty SOB. Took his name to heart, and would plunk anyone at anytime. LOL

Thanks. And fun story!

[mantleman]

Always elusive to me when I was trying to put this set together. Keith Hernandez is now with PastPros!!

[mrmopar]

Originally Posted by Hot Springs Bathers

Just curious, does Ricky Wright sign other years cards?

I am just making an educated guess here, but I have several Wright items on team themed things. Ball, paper sheet. I have his 83 Fleer as well and it was nowhere near $200, maybe not even 1/10th of that. I think he signed OK when he played or at least the early years. In fact, I just won a lot of singled hotel postcards with mostly Dodgers from around 1982 and one was his and they averaged $1 each ($20 delivered for 20 signed postcards) and also included Welch, Howe, Lasorda, Belanger, Garvey and others. They all look spot on and I am sure it was just someone hitting up players at the hotel they likely stayed at on road trips (Dodgers and Padres + Tony Pena), or maybe one of several on the rotation. These were Pittsburgh Hilton PCs.

I believe that he may have stopped signing in general and that lead everyone to believe that ALL of his signatures are worth a fortune, but that is not the case.

[David Cameron]

Prior to the 1987 spring training Ricky Wright was trying to catch on with the minor league Tigers and, with another friend from California we went to FL for the 1987 spring training. Both of us were working on signed sets and the Topps set was among them. Together we went to the Tigers camp the day before the major league players were scheduled to arrive and both of us were fortunate to see Ricky and we spoke with him for about an hour on the pretty much empty field. Ricky had decided to not sign card 202 as that card was to be signed and then auctioned for funds for his high school team to be able to build their own baseball field. In short time, however, the high school workouts merged with the jr college workout field and the need to auction for card was no longer necesarry and Ricky simply shelved the idea and his family pushed him to not sign that particular card, possibly ever, even though Ricky had promised the eventual gift of the signed Topps card to my friend and to myself. Both of us need only that one card to complete our signed sets. And yes, we do have the Ranger team card signed which pictures Wright on the mound with the manager there as well. Rumors that say Wright does not sign any other cards is not true although the family limits the fan mail reaching him.

[mrmopar]

His "family" sounds like a piece of work.

No reason to hold out on something so long. If it was meant to create a great demand, you'd think they would have pulled the trigger by now on cashing in.

UNLESS, he signed a bunch and they are just waiting in limbo, maybe until he dies? I imagine if such a rare and desired card was released in small quantities after he had died, the demand would probably be the greatest then.

Originally Posted by David Cameron

Prior to the 1987 spring training Ricky Wright was trying to catch on with the minor league Tigers and, with another friend from California we went to FL for the 1987 spring training. Both of us were working on signed sets and the Topps set was among them. Together we went to the Tigers camp the day before the major league players were scheduled to arrive and both of us were fortunate to see Ricky and we spoke with him for about an hour on the pretty much empty field. Ricky had decided to not sign card 202 as that card was to be signed and then auctioned for funds for his high school team to be able to build their own baseball field. In short time, however, the high school workouts merged with the jr college workout field and the need to auction for card was no longer necesarry and Ricky simply shelved the idea and his family pushed him to not sign that particular card, possibly ever, even though Ricky had promised the eventual gift of the signed Topps card to my friend and to myself. Both of us need only that one card to complete our signed sets. And yes, we do have the Ranger team card signed which pictures Wright on the mound with the manager there as well. Rumors that say Wright does not sign any other cards is not true although the family limits the fan mail reaching him.

[Topps206]

Here are some ones I've gotten through the PastPros submissions.

432/792

[sreader3]

Nothing terribly exciting but I got a nice return from Gene Nelson which gets me to ... 255. Edited to add my other recent additions since Plunk last summer: Youmans and Schroeder.

[Topps206]

Here's one from Henry Cotto.

433/792

[Topps206]

This was badly smudged, and I'll have to send a new one, but it counts.

434/792

[Topps206]

I paid the fee for Jesse Orosco, and got this back.

435/792.

[sreader3]

Thad Bosley
Pat Clements
Jim Dwyer (second attempt)
Jesse Orosco (small donation)
Shane Rawley (took a couple of years)
Milt Thompson
Chris Welsh
Rich Yett (second attempt)

263/792

[mrreality68]

not my era of collecting but it is a nice set.

And I love the ones that were autographed

[Topps206]

Here are my newest adds to the set. Perry was c/o PastPros, while McGaffigan took a while.

437/792

[Topps206]

Make it 438/792 now.

[Topps206]

I met Mike LaValliere at a show in St. Louis today - very nice, lighthearted man.

439/792

[Topps206]

I was not expecting this, but a friend of the family was very kind enough to surprise me gifting me this.

440/792

[SyrNy1960]

First, great thread. I’ve really enjoyed following your journeys.

Came across this site this morning. Interesting about why some players won’t sign some cards. Includes Kelly Gruber: won’t sign any leaf cards; only signs for family.

https://www.dfwgrapher.com/links-and...yers-wont-sign

[Topps206]

I got two more additions to the set.

442/792

[Angyale]

PM or email me if so.




Angyale

[DFWGrapher]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

First, great thread. I’ve really enjoyed following your journeys.

Came across this site this morning. Interesting about why some players won’t sign some cards. Includes Kelly Gruber: won’t sign any leaf cards; only signs for family.

https://www.dfwgrapher.com/links-and...yers-wont-sign

Thanks for checking out my site!

Sometimes I think it would be easier to name collectors who AREN'T working on the 1987 Topps set. Super popular, and I considered doing it for a while since it's one of my favorites. And then I saw how many were doing it and kicked any thoughts about it to the curb.

I do have several I'd trade potentially if anyone needs them and can help out with my projects.

7, 19, 22, 47, 67, 72, 77, 78, 98, 104, 110, 114, 127, 147, 157, 165, 169, 186, 190, 191, 192, 199, 209, 225, 229, 243, 279, 283, 292, 293, 297, 322, 343, 349, 351, 384, 391, 401, 402, 407, 408, 426, 432, 433, 447, 451, 453, 457, 465, 470, 524, 526, 538, 558, 585, 605, 619, 623, 634, 651, 674, 683, 690, 698, 703, 708, 721, 726, 728, 742, 751, 771, 780, 786, 788, 789

[Republicaninmass]

Anyone looking for a Beckett slabbed 87 topps lasorda? I posted over on the bst board

Thanks

[Topps206]

I went to the Moeller Show in Cincinnati today, added Tom Browning.

443/792

[Topps206]

Here's the Browning card.

[scmavl]

I've listened to the audio of Browning's perfect game so many dozens of times. Appreciate you keeping this thread going, Topps206.

[Topps206]

Originally Posted by scmavl

I've listened to the audio of Browning's perfect game so many dozens of times. Appreciate you keeping this thread going, Topps206.

Sure, my pleasure, and I’m sure you know about him nearly getting another one until Dickie Thon broke it up July 4, 1989.

[dgo71]

Has anyone noticed the insane prices some 87T are going for in recent ebay sales? In the last few weeks I've seen Frank Wills go for $271, Tony Bernazard for over $200, a Frank Williams Traded (in black, and smudged!) for over $230...up now are Tony Phillips, Sammy Stewart and Brian Downing, each closing in on $100, and a personalized Joe Niekro Traded that's over $170 already. All this during a recession. Mind boggling. I realize all these guys (except Bernazard and Downing) are deceased but it's shocking to see how quickly these cards have jumped in the years since the pandemic. I guess all the 80s kids are fully formed adults with deep pockets now. Nostalgia sells.

[sreader3]

Correct. Nostalgia sells. But, more specifically, there are signed sets such as 52 Topps, 72 Topps and 87 Topps that collectors pursue very, very aggressively.

[sreader3]

Also, Brian Downing has not signed anything for years (unless there is a private signing that I do not know about). So no surprise there.

[dgo71]

Yes, Downing is definitely a toughie, as are a lot of the others I mentioned. And I realize 87T is collected by seemingly 4 out of every 5 collectors. Still, the prices being realized are orders of magnitude greater than pre-pandemic. $230+ for a personalized Joe Niekro, who wasn't a tough signature by any stretch. The Steve Lake that sold for over $50 looked like it was signed in pencil. I'm certainly not complaining or judging, but it's still pretty surprising to me.

[sreader3]

I get it. But in autographed cards:

P = f {set, player, card quality, auto quality}

Some sets are collected way more than others.

Is what it is.

[Topps206]

I went to the Night of Memories event in Evansville yesterday. I added Graig Nettles on a couple of items, including this one right here.

444/792

[sreader3]

Wow great card and, more importantly, great auto!

[Topps206]

Thanks. It was nice to get this one.

[Topps206]

I got this Wally Backman card from PastPros.

445/792

[sbfinley]

Anyone here pick up the Ricky Wright that ended on eBay last week? Ended up as underbidder and felt it was worth taking a shot at.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

Anyone here pick up the Ricky Wright that ended on eBay last week? Ended up as underbidder and felt it was worth taking a shot at.

"AUTOD BY HIM 15 YEARS AGO FOR HIS SIGNING FEE"

Um, no. There has never been a "signing fee" that's swayed him in relation to this card. Fake story.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Funny how, after over 3500 feedback ratings, he can't take clear photos of some things, but the Ron Kittle is crystal clear. Sheesh.

I couldn't be bothered looking too deeply into this after seeing that, but this "Bonds" is ridiculous.

"AUTOD BY HIM 20 YEARS AGO OUTSIDE VETERANS STADIUM"

https://www.ebay.com/itm/19559954384...gAAOSwEgxj7DC0

[Hankphenom]

What a fascinating thread, and I'm not even an autograph guy! Just seems like such a daunting task to get anywhere near a complete set of signed cards from so long ago. And someone mentioned there are collectors pursuing 52T sets? Holy cow!

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

What a fascinating thread, and I'm not even an autograph guy! Just seems like such a daunting task to get anywhere near a complete set of signed cards from so long ago. And someone mentioned there are collectors pursuing 52T sets? Holy cow!

I'm with you.

[Stanesq]

I am breaking my 1987 Topps partial set of over 500 if anyone wants to send me a wantlist, I can also text pictures of card you are interested in

[EldoEsq]

Sorry to spam here, but seems like the place! $90 shipped paypal goods!

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[Topps206]

Some new additions. I saw Kelly Downs was starting to sign some, got in on that, plus Berenyi I paid his $5 fee for.

447/792

[Topps206]

I added Bip Roberts, using PastPros.

448/792

[Topps206]

I added Ted Simmons at Night of Memories. He was $50, compared to $80 at larger shows.

449/792

[Topps206]

I dropped this off at the St. Louis Show earlier this month, with Jeff Lahti signing for me and I just got my order received back yesterday to me.

450/792

[Topps206]

A couple more came back by mail recently. I guess someone wrote for Sierra inside not to send a check next time, as I'm sure many of you know he's signing for $10 per card.

I'll have another update on Sunday.

452/792

[Topps206]

I added Mike Moore yesterday at the St. Louis show.

453/792