1968 Topps Baseball Plaks

[Archive]

Posted By: Karl

Anyone have any opinions on just how insane it might be to spend around a grand on one of these little plastic things? I owned most of the set in the 1980s (bought a group of them from a Seattle dealer for an average of about $30 each), then foolishly sold them around 20 years ago. I now collect only pre-1971 Killebrew items, and I've never had a chance to replace the Killebrew plak I once had until now. However, Mile High is asking $1500 for their Killebrew (despite their having recently sold one on eBay for "only" $600 and change).

I can afford to buy one, but don't want to set a world record price doing so. Can anyone comment on the scarcity and possible re-sale value of such an item? I suspect that there are only a handful of collectors interested in them at such fancy prices, and if I get hit by a bus my wife won't be able to sell it for half what I (might) pay...

Also, I'm pretty sure I owned a Drysdale plak at one time, but Mile High quickly dismissed me, saying that Advanced Collectors tell them it never existed (I guess I'm not Advanced, even though at one time I owned tons of rare Topps Test issues). Anyone else ever see a Drysdale plak?

Thanks.

[Archive]

Posted By: larry

hi
you should be able to negotiate that price a few hundred
as for the drysdale and 4 others existing
youre the 1st to come forward and say you had one
i think they may exist, as mile high find may just have the group of 12 triples,consisting of 19 players, but no one has come forward yet with a scan

[Archive]

Posted By: Karl

Larry, thanks for the reply, and my apologies for not seeing your other Plaks post.

I would not swear to ever owning a Drysdale plak. It was nearly 20 years ago, and I kept no evidence. My recollection is that I owned 13 individual Plaks, and none of the 5 "missing" ones except PERHAPS the Drysdale. I believe I sold most of them through SCD classifieds (and, I think, to 707 Sportscards). If anyone has all the SCDs from about 1986-1991, it's possible I listed what I had in those classified ads.

I think it's interesting that collectors assume some things don't exist just because no one has many ownership claims over the decades (but in the absence of evidence, I guess it's the safest assumption). I was a very private collector. I started in 1981 when I lived in Minneapolis. A work transfer took me to Philly from 1984-86, and that's when I had the opportunity to really acquire stuff. I had to move 2 more times in the next 5 years, and consequently just sold off everything. I got the itch to collect again about 5 years ago, but I've limited it to Harmon Killebrew stuff.

Anyways, despite all the deals I did with Rosen and the major dealers on the east coast, none of them would have a clue as to who I am or what I owned. This is the first baseball card board I've ever posted on, and I only stumbled across it after researching a non-sports question via Google.

I'll probably make an offer on Mile High's Killebrew Plak, but I probably won't be comfortable paying much more than 1/2 their asking price. Having sold mine for somewhere around $80 less than 15 years ago, paying 4 figures would be painful. I also wonder how many of each player they really found? I've been involved in other hobbies where the "finds" were much greater than disclosed, and the items "bled out" over time so as not to crash the values - but the values ultimately went down dramatically.

FYI, besides the Plak, I'm also looking for some other Killebrew test issues: 1967 Stand-Up (had a chance to buy this for $300 15 years ago and thought it was too expensive at the time), 1970 Candy Lid (Columbia City has one, but I'm not sure I like the condition or the price), 1968 Disc (I've never seen this one). I also need the 1961 Franklin Milk carton which has proved elusive.

Thanks.

[Archive]

Posted By: larry

67 standup thick version will run several thousand, sold my double last year in rea
the thin proof maybe half that
68 disc i do not have in my own collection
61 milk carton i have 2...they show up in mastro or rea once in awhile
70 candy lid should not be too difficult

[Archive]

Posted By: Karl

Larry, I broke down and bought one of the Killebrew plaks from Mile High, and was able to get it for pretty close to the price I wanted. I'm not sure it will ever be worth more than that, however, because I inferred from my chats with Mile High that mine was at least the 5th or 6th Killebrew they had sold (as a single), and that they had more available.

Please let me know if you can help me locate any other tough pre-1971 Killebrew items (I posted my want list on the buy/sell board, but haven't really gotten any responses).

Do you have any idea if the 1970 Topps candy lids ever saw distribution? Are there any complete tubs with lids affixed? I'm wondering if these come in different varieties (proofs, unissued, issued with bent tabs).

If you have time, please continue to post examples of tough stuff from your collection! I once dreamed of owning all the Topps test issues, but only got about a quarter of the way there - I love to see pix of the stuff I was never able to acquire!

Thanks.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dave Hornish

Mile High has a display box of Plaks in their latest auction. Interestingly, it has a 1967 production code. Was this ever noticed before?

[Archive]

Posted By: Red

Several years ago Mastro had an uncut proof sheet of display boxes. They identified it as 1967. In auctions that followed it was apparent that somebody cut out some boxes and folded them up to make nice minty display boxes. I don't know if numbers changed from proof to production but it would be interesting to check the number on the wrapper or date printed on the wrapper.

[Archive]

Posted By: JohnnyH

One of the few regrets I really have is selling my Killebrew collection I put together from 1982-1991. I mowed so many lawns to get whatever I could find in the early 80's. I traded some high grade Mantle for some test issues and a couple 70 Candy lids in the late 80's and really had a great collection going. I sold most of my collection during college but vowed to never sell my Killebrew. I moved to Atlanta and when I moved back to MN was hurting for money so I sold it to pay for a few months rent. The local dealer was really cool and new everything about vintage but hadn't ever seen many of the cards I had, I haven't been able to collect the Killer since but congrats on your rebuild. Here is something you might need if you don't have it- not sure if it is priced high or even that scarce but I never had this one-

http://cgi.ebay.com/1969-TRANSOGRAM-WITH-BOX-STATUE-HARMON-KILLEBREW-11_W0QQitemZ130289688596QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_S ports_Cards?hash=item130289688596&_trksid=p3911.c0 .m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3 A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[quitcrab]

Is anyone still looking for a Killebrew Plak? let me know Thanks Scott

[frankhardy]

No, but I'm looking for Cepeda!

[ALR-bishop]

Just get any one of them and tell folks it is Cepeda. I have the set and can not tell one from the other but for the names on the pedestals

[alan1032]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

No, but I'm looking for Cepeda!

I have #200 Cepeda. The card is in mint condition, but the image is a bit blurry. I have about 150 other 1968 cards, if you are still looking to complete 1968.

[ALR-bishop]

....not a card