Anyone collect vintage rack packs?

[Belfast1933]

I’m wondering if anyone here veers into vintage unopened rack packs? Like most here, I am a singles collector for 99% of my collection but am thinking of picking up one rack pack for my primary years of collecting as a kid (‘76 to ‘80)

Man, these suckers are NOT cheap! I wonder if these will hold their value over time… looks like BBCE is the best way to validate authenticity - but I sure wish their wraps were a little less intrusive (logo’s cover the cards which I really don’t love)

I only have one currently (a ‘79 with one of my childhood faves, Jim Rice, on top)

Anyone find their way into these from time to time?

Jeff

[53toppscollector]

I like the idea of unopened packs in theory, but given all of the transgressions in the last few years about "unopened" product, and the problems BBCE has had, its really honestly hard to trust it.

I think collecting the pack wrappers would actually be cool, and likely much less expensive than the sealed packs themselves.

[philliesfan]

I agree. Collecting wrappers is really cool. I love the graphics of the design. I always liked this one for some reason.

1968 Topps Wrapper494.jpg

[bigfanNY]

At one time I had a decent collection of packs 64 to 77 the years of my early collection. My 64 pack was a cello with a coin but the rest wax. Sold as a group in 2013. But I did hold a couple of cellos 76 and 77. I like unopened but I am always Always tempted to open. Despite knowing that unopened is always growing in scarcity and value over time.
My suggestion is find the earliest first. Good luck. ( gotta dig but will post pics later)

[jmoran19]

I have a run from the late 60’s till the mid 80’s for baseball and FB. There is a Facebook group called vintage wax and packs where many of us post our packs if you can weed thru the 1988-1990 junk haha

John

P.S. for the 60’s no known physical examples of 1964 and 1965. As far as I know only one example for 1962 and 1963.

[puckpaul]

I wanted to do the same given the memory is such a fond one for me of ripping open those great rack packs in the mid-70’s for me. I bought only one thus far, a 1975 one (was pricey…about $1200). Looking to add 71-73 ones at some point…maybe! (Not a big fan of the 74 set..). I would like them to go with the complete sets I have from those years.

[mrreality68]

I personally do not collect vintage packs because I like to see, touch, and enjoy the cards I picked up.

Also my definition of Vintage is pre 1939 and there is not many unopened from back then

[7nohitter]

I'll pick up cellos and racks when I can with Nolan Ryan showing. I believe my oldest is a '79....the rest are mainly '80's.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

But I did hold a couple of cellos 76 and 77. I like unopened but I am always Always tempted to open.

The years you kept wouldn't be terribly tempting to open to me, especially '76. Maybe the most ho-hum set of the decade for rookie power.

[toledo_mudhen]

I have ended up with several 1980 Topps "Grocery Trays" over the years - they're pretty cool.

[ALBB]

a wax wrapper is a cheaper alternative no doubt, and folding it up with some current cards and a fake stick of gum...makes a cool addition to a set of that particular year

[GiantsDude24]

I love collecting older rack packs. On these boards vintage is pre war, but to me growing up in the 80s, 1970s and 80s football racks are pretty cool.

[JollyElm]

Is there anyone who DOESN'T immediately get the taste of Topps gum in their mouth when seeing one of these unopened packs??????*






*Yes, I realize the rack packs didn't come with gum.

[Kevin]

I parked in Lynbrook today and took train to my parents in Seaford. My son, a train nut, wanted to take a ride on the LIRR to visit his grandparents (my mom and dad). We parked in front of a local card shop. I popped in there and he had a 1951 Topps wrapper selling for $95. Does that sound right?

[deweyinthehall]

I have packs from all my sets from 1981 onward, but only wrappers from before then.

The exception is 1978, which was the first year I collected so when I expanded my '78 set 10 years ago or so to include not just the 726 cards but a lot of related items (empty boxes, uncut sheets, Topps vault production items, etc.) I added a sampling of packs. I can't recall for sure, but I am positive I didn't pay more than 30-50 for the rack, and then less for the cello and wax. It'd be a different story today for sure.

[raulus]

Looks like someone decided to make a big splash by paying $216k to pick up 36 unopened cello packs from 1960.

1960 Topps Baseball (All Series) Cello Box with 36 Unopened Packs.... https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-c.../50063-80042.s