Toughest Topps Sets from the 80s to Complete

[ALR-bishop]

Here is my list based on my experience. Anyone have additions or different order

1 Topps 1980 Coins
2 Topps 1982 Blackless
3 Topps 1985 Minis ( harder in blank back)
4 Topps 1984 Encased or Head in Box
5 Topps 1988 Cloth
6 Topps 1989 Yankee/Mets Double Headers... or the related proofs ( not the regular 89 issue)
7 Topps 1989 Batting Leaders
8 Topps Heads Up ( Big Head Suckers)

[frankhardy]

Am I missing something, Al? I know you are much more experienced than I when it comes to rare cards. Why are you listing the 1989 Topps Batting Leaders? Are you talking about the cards with a red border? I have the 2 Cardinals in that set and I don't remember them being tough at all.

[ALR-bishop]

You are probably right Shane. I remember getting frustrated trying to buy them one at a time and ended up buying a set with each card showing in a full (blaster ?) pack. And the "set" is still in the unopened packs. So maybe I should just start an list of annoying sets

[frankhardy]

I could see how that would be difficult. I wonder if anyone had tried a 1987, 1988, or 1989 Topps set of cello packs with the cards showing on the front? That would probably be very hard.

[rgpete]

1980 Topps Prototype Coins on a Topps Presentation Board

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Here is my list based on my experience. Anyone have additions or different order

1 Topps 1980 Coins
2 Topps 1982 Blackless
3 Topps 1985 Minis ( harder in blank back)
4 Topps 1984 Encased or Head in Box
5 Topps 1988 Cloth
6 Topps 1989 Yankee/Mets Double Headers... or the related proofs ( not the regular 89 issue)
7 Topps 1989 Batting Leaders
8 Topps Heads Up ( Big Head Suckers)

I am not sure a black back set of '85 mini's can even be completed.

-Z

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

I am not sure a black back set of '85 mini's can even be completed.

-Z

It would be possible in white blanks with considerable effort, but with only 5 tan back blank sheets reported it would be quite a super human project to locate all 132 in the rarest form. The Acme and Fuch proof version of the 85's that came to auction in 2015 can likely never be assembled as a set as only the 117 Acme cards and 100 Fuch cards are known. I was lucky enough to get type examples when TATSR broke the group up on eBay.

[ALR-bishop]

I have finished the 85 Minis in regular and blank back, but my blank back set has a mix of white and tan backs.... more white than tan

I also have about half of the set in red back only...regular back with no green ink. I have given up trying to complete it that way

[Jim65]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Here is my list based on my experience. Anyone have additions or different order

1 Topps 1980 Coins
2 Topps 1982 Blackless
3 Topps 1985 Minis ( harder in blank back)
4 Topps 1984 Encased or Head in Box
5 Topps 1988 Cloth
6 Topps 1989 Yankee/Mets Double Headers... or the related proofs ( not the regular 89 issue)
7 Topps 1989 Batting Leaders
8 Topps Heads Up ( Big Head Suckers)

I only started collecting these 1980's Mets players about 2 years ago, I need a couple of 1982 Blackless, 1 more 1988 Cloth, 1 more 1984 Encased. I completed the 1985 Minis and Topps Heads Ups. In 2 years I have found 1 of the 1989 Yankees/Mets Double Headers (Keith Hernandez) They are damn tough.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Here is my list based on my experience. Anyone have additions or different order

1 Topps 1980 Coins
2 Topps 1982 Blackless
3 Topps 1985 Minis ( harder in blank back)
4 Topps 1984 Encased or Head in Box
5 Topps 1988 Cloth
6 Topps 1989 Yankee/Mets Double Headers... or the related proofs ( not the regular 89 issue)
7 Topps 1989 Batting Leaders
8 Topps Heads Up ( Big Head Suckers)

While I have essentially cut off my collecting of Topps type cards at 1980, I have saved examples of their baseball issues from 1981 through the early 90's and also have bought the occasional test issue type after that, although I don't even have a list together of what I have. I admit I can get glazed and confused when all the post 1994 issues get discussed due to chase cards, Stadium Club, refractors and parallels and the like but I do try to follow anything that is considered a true test issue from Topps up until the sale to Eisner & Co. I'm more and more of the opinion that these listings should be divided between issued and unissued when having these discussions, realizing it's not always possible to tell! 1982 blackless and 1984 encased would be variations in a set to my mind, not standalones. Not nit-picking here (and Al knows I love him!) just trying to get some information I may use someday.

So what's a top ten list of issued sets through 2007 in terms of difficulty? Or even issued and unissued as separate entities?

I know what some of the rare sets are but don't really have a way to compare them as I don't track them carefully. Eisner's company bought Topps in March 2007 and turned it into a totally different company IMO --not necessarily a bad thing given their success--so probably didn't really influence things until 2008 releases. Curious what your different takes are on this subject.