Topps Baseball Case tagged 362-PC
 

I have an unopened case of Topps Baseball that has the number 362-PC on it. Most examples I've found on the internet show cases with 362 and then a year (362-87, 362-88, etc.)

The case is probably from 1985/86/87. Does anyone have an idea of why the "PC" designation rather than a year.

Going crazy here because my memory is failing lol Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Did you try calling or emailing BBCE or JustCollect? I'm sure they have the best records.

Thanks John. I did email BBCE and Topps Corp. So hoping for a response. I was hoping someone on this site would have seen this tagging previously.

I'll try JustCollect too. Thanks for the suggestion.

You won't hear from Topps.

PCO stands for "Price Club". The case is larger than a standard wax case is it not? I believe they contain 20 jumbo cello 36 pack boxes which makes it an oversized case. It must have been special issue specifically for Price Club stores as it got its own designation.

Thanks West. I've measured the 86 case against an 87 case.

1987 Topps case - 15"wide x 11 1/2"deep x 18" high.

1986 Topps case - 15 1/2"wide x 11 1/2"deep x 16 1/5" high.

So the '86 case is 1/2 inch wider but 1 1/2 inches lower.

Does that tally with what you believe?

You didn't mention what kind of cases the '86 and '87 that you measured are. Are they PCO or something else?

Sorry. The '87 case is tagged 362-87 and states 20/36 ct. and 40cents.

The other case besides being tagged 362-pc states 20/36 ct. and 35cents.

Does that help any?

Btw, appreciate your help. Thanks.

Also, there's a stamped number on the bottom front "331961."

Can you post a picture? If you can, I think I can answer your question.
kevin

Here you go. And thanks. There's a stamp at the bottom of the case that reads "331961" if that helps any.

Picture helps. That is a standard wax box that has a replacement label that probably was put on by the shipping dept at Duryea. I've seen one or two of those. If you peel off that label you should see a 362-86 underneath.

By 1989-1990 they started printing boxes with an actual printed label reading 362-PCO instead of the replacement label with black type on white paper like you have.

Your serial number of 331961 also lines up with it being an '86 case. That was shipped out on Sept 31, 1986 by the first shift of that day.

Thanks West. I'm always amazed with the amount of knowledge on this site and the willingness of its members to share that knowledge.

I have nothing to add other than cases of 1986 Topps at the Price Club brings back some memories. I was living in San Diego at the time attending UCSD and I used to go to the Price Club all the time to buy up for my fraternity (I was 21), and I remember picking up some boxes of 1986 Topps at the Price Club on a lark. First wax I'd busted in 5 years.

Thank you for posting the photo. What you have, I believe, is quite rare. Topps usually sold wax boxes in cases like yours, but once the case was opened the boxes themselves weren't sealed in any particular way. In 1986, that changed in limited circumstances. Topps factory sealed wax boxes in three different ways that year, for sale at "wholesale clubs" like Sams and Costco. Some boxes had plain yellow tape sealing them, some had yellow tape with a "SWC" and a number printed on the tape in red, and even fewer were factory wrapped in cellophane. This was not shrink wrap like BBCE wraps its boxes with, but was actual cellophane with folds on the ends that looked like a cello pack. What you have, I believe, is a factory sealed case of the cellophane wrapped boxes. You should be able to look straight down on the top of the case, and if there is a small opening between the two main flaps, you should be able to shine a light down and it will reflect on the cellophane. I would keep that case sealed, as it's a pretty neat rarity for 1986 wax cases.
kevin

There was a small opening between the two flaps and my flashlight did shine on something shiny. So.............BINGO!

this place is fascinating. a detail nerd like myself is floored by all of this info. great stuff.

Glad we could help! That is a neat case. Keep it and keep it sealed.
kevin

Thanks everyone. And Tulsaboy, did my pm get thru to you?

ocjakc, no it didn't. You are welcome to email me at:

univtulsa at yahoo dot com

That's an easy way to get me.
kevin

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but since it follows the thread above I'll put it here. If this violates any rule, please delete or move as you see fit.

With thanks to all of the people above who chimed in with information about this Topps case (and as said above, I am always amazed at the amount of knowledge on this site and the willingness to share their knowledge).

So, I will accept offers from anyone on this site that is interested in this case. Shipping is an obvious issue and fwiw, I'm located in SoCal.

If interested, please private message me and let me know.

Again, Thanks to everyone who helped me identify this case.