Fun time....Show-n-Tell us of experiences pulling cards from wax-packs in your youth

[robw1959]

I remember first buying Topps wax packs in 1969. No matter how many I bought with my brother and our combined allowance money, we could never get a Mantle. But we did get probably 8-9 cards of some nobody called "Rod Carew". Who knew?

I was even more into cards in 1970, and remember pulling quite a few major stars like Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Mays, Clemente, and even Johnny Bench, just to name a few. I loved the gray borders and clean look compared to 1969 Topps. Just to get those took a lot of buying. Once I made the mistake of opening a pack right outside the drug store. Another kid, watching me thumb through the cards, had the temerity to tell me, "They all stink!" And he was right!

In 1971 I was even more impressed by the black border design Topps put out. But for some reason, my interest waned at that time, and it didn't return until age 16 when a good friend of mine told me there was value in old cards. Up until then I had no idea that old cards could even be bought! So starting in 1976, I began buying 1950s HOFers in great condition. The first mail order I placed included a 1958 Topps card of Brooks Robinson for 75 cents. It seemed a bit expensive to me at the time, but at least I didn't have to suffer the disappointment of opening pack after pack only to find scrub after scrub.

I had big plans during the summer of '77 when I landed a job toward the end of the school year at the local GNC store stocking shelves. I was calculating how long it would take me to save up for two baseball sets I was planning to buy: a 1956 Topps set ($300-NM) and a 1958 Topps set ($100-EX). I was going to get the '58 set first, but they laid me off due to summer cutbacks, so it never happened.

In '78, I was off with the Marines, and really didn't get back into the hobby again until about 2002.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by robw1959

I remember first buying Topps wax packs in 1969. No matter how many I bought with my brother and our combined allowance money, we could never get a Mantle. But we did get probably 8-9 cards of some nobody called "Rod Carew". Who knew?

I was even more into cards in 1970, and remember pulling quite a few major stars like Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Mays, Clemente, and even Johnny Bench, just to name a few. I loved the gray borders and clean look compared to 1969 Topps. Just to get those took a lot of buying. Once I made the mistake of opening a pack right outside the drug store. Another kid, watching me thumb through the cards, had the temerity to tell me, "They all stink!" And he was right!

In 1971 I was even more impressed by the black border design Topps put out. But for some reason, my interest waned at that time, and it didn't return until age 16 when a good friend of mine told me there was value in old cards. Up until then I had no idea that old cards could even be bought! So starting in 1976, I began buying 1950s HOFers in great condition. The first mail order I placed included a 1958 Topps card of Brooks Robinson for 75 cents. It seemed a bit expensive to me at the time, but at least I didn't have to suffer the disappointment of opening pack after pack only to find scrub after scrub.

I had big plans during the summer of '77 when I landed a job toward the end of the school year at the local GNC store stocking shelves. I was calculating how long it would take me to save up for two baseball sets I was planning to buy: a 1956 Topps set ($300-NM) and a 1958 Topps set ($100-EX). I was going to get the '58 set first, but they laid me off due to summer cutbacks, so it never happened.

In '78, I was off with the Marines, and really didn't get back into the hobby again until about 2002.

Hi Rob

Thanks for posting your story, "Gyrene".....and thanks for your Service to our Country.

I was a "Fly-Boy" (USAF) in the 1960's. Speaking about the 1960's.....here you go......
a normal 1969 Mickey Mantle card; and, an extremely rare blue variation card.
I've never seen another 1969 MM like this one. These are my only 1969 cards.



----


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hi Rob

Thanks for posting your story, "Gyrene".....and thanks for your Service to our Country.

I was a "Fly-Boy" (USAF) in the 1960's. Speaking about the 1960's.....here you go......
a normal 1969 Mickey Mantle card; and, an extremely rare blue variation card.
I've never seen another 1969 MM like this one. These are my only 1969 cards.



----


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

while not as dramatic, Ted...this one in sterlings current auction is kinda blue?

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

while not as dramatic, Ted...this one in sterlings current auction is kinda blue?

Hi Pete

Please excuse the pun, but it "pales by comparison"

My Mantle has a "deeper rich blue" color.

And, really Pete....I acquired this card 35 years, and I have searched for another MM like it since then.....to no avail.

Or, for that matter any other 1969 gray background card having this type of blue background. It really mystifies me.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hi Pete

Please excuse the pun, but it "pales by comparison"

My Mantle has a "deeper rich blue" color.

And, really Pete....I acquired this card 35 years, and I have searched for another MM like it since then.....to no avail.

Or, for that matter any other 1969 gray background card having this type of blue background. It really mystifies me.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ya I suppose..."it's a lighter shade of pale!" I suppose yours is "Some kinda blue!"

The things that keep us up at night!!!!!

[Marslife]

gr8 stuff fellas! found an old picture of me pulling "Wax" from my Xmas stocking 1967!

enjoy...

1967 non sports wax.jpg

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by robw1959

I remember first buying Topps wax packs in 1969. No matter how many I bought with my brother and our combined allowance money, we could never get a Mantle. But we did get probably 8-9 cards of some nobody called "Rod Carew". Who knew?

I was even more into cards in 1970, and remember pulling quite a few major stars like Hank Aaron, Brooks Robinson, Mays, Clemente, and even Johnny Bench, just to name a few. I loved the gray borders and clean look compared to 1969 Topps. Just to get those took a lot of buying. Once I made the mistake of opening a pack right outside the drug store. Another kid, watching me thumb through the cards, had the temerity to tell me, "They all stink!" And he was right!

In 1971 I was even more impressed by the black border design Topps put out. But for some reason, my interest waned at that time, and it didn't return until age 16 when a good friend of mine told me there was value in old cards. Up until then I had no idea that old cards could even be bought! So starting in 1976, I began buying 1950s HOFers in great condition. The first mail order I placed included a 1958 Topps card of Brooks Robinson for 75 cents. It seemed a bit expensive to me at the time, but at least I didn't have to suffer the disappointment of opening pack after pack only to find scrub after scrub.

I had big plans during the summer of '77 when I landed a job toward the end of the school year at the local GNC store stocking shelves. I was calculating how long it would take me to save up for two baseball sets I was planning to buy: a 1956 Topps set ($300-NM) and a 1958 Topps set ($100-EX). I was going to get the '58 set first, but they laid me off due to summer cutbacks, so it never happened.

In '78, I was off with the Marines, and really didn't get back into the hobby again until about 2002.

Hey Rob,

Glad you reached out to me on NET54 the other day. It was great talking to you yesterday! Your memory is so much better than mine, but I do like the story about us going to a card shop looking for Babe Ruth cards back then.

Rob and I, living in different neighborhoods, were bused to Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, back when race-integration busing started. We became quick friends. I have a school class photo from back then of us, so I sent him a copy.

It's funny that we both joined the military in 1978, both collect sports cards, and have been on NET54 since 2011/2012. Rob saw a few of my posts, where I stated I was from Syracuse, NY, graduated from Henninger High School, so he thought "could this be the same Tony Baldwin I went to elementary school with?" He reached out to me on NET54, and turns out, yes I was. We talked for over an hour yesterday, and it was great to catch up on what we've done over the years.

We will now keep in touch! What a great experience! I don't want to create a new post, but I would like to hear if any of you have had the same experience. Either someone from your past who reached out to you on a site you were on, or you reaching out to someone from your past.

Again, thanks for reaching out Rob!!!!

Thanks, Tony

[Eric72]

We’ll miss you, Ted. Thank you for taking the time to write (and show)the things you posted here.

*********

Check out the Mantle pack in post 36. An image nearly as legendary as the man who posted it.

[Phishphan21]

Super common story

87 topps on Christmas morning

[uniship]

thanks for resurrecting this amazing thread. Wonderful read.

[brunswickreeves]

Here are some Ken Griffey Jrs I pulled from packs in my youth. I also have a display of 80s/90s unopened packs to show these vibrant eye candy designs. I open these up occasionally with the kids, brings me right back to my youth and time spent with my brother at our local card shop.