The 1980's...

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by David W

Our local card dealer "Snyders Coin Shop" had a sign on his marquee back in the day "Buying Eric Davis rookies $10".

The interesting thing was back in 87 or so when they were hot, people really only wanted Topps, now looking back Fleer and Donruss were a lot tougher to find.

When I was a weekend warrior in the late 80's and early 90's my partner and I sold a ton of Eric Davis Topps rookies in the $12-15 range, Topps Boggs rookies for about $30 and some others like unopened Donruss as Canseco after his 40/40 season enabled us to get a lot of $ for unopened packs, which we had hundreds of and had paid ten cents each for when they got blown out in discount stores after the season.

Everyone bitches about worthless, overproduced 80's cards today but if you had them at the right time you could do well. We had picked everything up at retail or cheaper as collectors at the time of issue and I remember we knew the runs for the Boggs rookie in '83 so picked up a zillion supermarket tray packs and always hit. All I can say is if you see a Tony Perez peeking thru a clear cello pack in 83 Topps, Wade Boggs will be under it!

[4815162342]

I collected Ryne Sandberg growing up in the 80's and 90's. In 1994, I had every card of his that was in Beckett, except for the Donruss Elite cards, which I would circle in every Beckett but know that I could never afford!

[jb217676]

Good stuff guys. Here are some other 'grails' from the '80's. If you had these, you ruled the schoolyard! (Back in the day, the McGriff RC was HUGE in Toronto!)

[FUBAR]

Jeff, your Canadian, you need the Leaf version of the Mcgriff!

[jb217676]

Originally Posted by FUBAR

Jeff, your Canadian, you need the Leaf version of the Mcgriff!

Jim, you were laughed at if you had a Leaf instead of a Donruss!

[FUBAR]

id rather have the Leaf, little more rare then the Donruss.... i might have an extra u can have....id have to look though

[cdn_collector]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Jim, you were laughed at if you had a Leaf instead of a Donruss!

Yup....Even the 'best' card would lose a bit of it's luster if it was the Leaf or OPC equivalent and not the Donruss or Topps version.


Regards,

Richard.

[JasonL]

not quite as sought after, and certainly ended quickly, but I recall chasing after Fernando Valenzuela, Tim Raines, Kal Daniels, Cory Snyder, and Juan Samuel rookies in their respective years...

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Jim, you were laughed at if you had a Leaf instead of a Donruss!

I was there for it! Nobody wanted Leaf, OPC baseball or Canadian Score Hockey!

This thread is not complete without at least mentioning Gregg Jeffries! The '88 Score was stellar!

[FUBAR]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

I was there for it! Nobody wanted Leaf, OPC baseball or Canadian Score Hockey!

Wow, we must be different out west.... no one wanted score american where i was... why would you want something that costs the same to buy but has half the value once opened? Air must be different in the east, god thing i moved from there in 77

[TexasLeaguer]

Originally Posted by jb217676

Jim, you were laughed at if you had a Leaf instead of a Donruss!

I can take your slings and arrows, so laugh it up.

[curch]

oh wow, this is an awesome thread. Just last year I went back and purchased the following sets. 84 Donruss and Fleer, 86 Donruss, 89 Score football, 90 Leaf and 92 Bowman baseball, football and hockey. Ok, so not all were from the 80's but some of my favorite cards were in those sets back when I was younger and just starting to collect. Couldn't afford them then, so it was fun to get them now. Oh yeah, and I was also able to pick up a Jordan Rookie for next to nothing. Not in the greatest shape, but still fun to have.

Joe

[19cbb]

Originally Posted by toppcat

All I can say is if you see a Tony Perez peeking thru a clear cello pack in 83 Topps, Wade Boggs will be under it!

Wish I knew that when I was 9!
Started collecting that year and I think that 83 Donruss Ty Cobb puzzle (Which I still have framed) got me into vintage baseball.

[Irwin Fletcher]

Great thread guys.

Growing up in the 1980s and a Yankees fan, the "holy grail" card for me was definitely the 1984 Donruss Mattingly RC. I remember the card was so expensive, though, that it was always out of my price range. When I got back into collecting last year, I eagerly snatched up an SGC 96 example for around $35.

Also, don't lump Tim Raines in with flameouts like Juan Samuel and Kal Daniels! Raines should be in the HOF.

Speaking of rookie card flameouts, anyone remember Ricky Jordan and Jerome Walton?

[jb217676]

I remember Ricky Jordan and Jerome Walton very well. I also remember Eric Anthony, another bust.

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by Irwin Fletcher

Speaking of rookie card flameouts, anyone remember Ricky Jordan and Jerome Walton?

Wow Jerome Walton...there is a name for you, Dwight Smith to a lesser extent too.

I remember 1987 Bo Jackson Donruss Rated Rookie cards going for a premium as well...

[JasonL]

I was speaking more about how the cards and interest in them seemed to flameout...sometimes that happens to solid players. I recall a ton of interest in his cards for awhile and then that seemed to really die back alot...that's what I was referring to, not his career. I share your opinion of him.

and don't forget Dave Magidan!

[David W]

Originally Posted by Robextend

Wow Jerome Walton...there is a name for you, Dwight Smith to a lesser extent too.

I remember 1987 Bo Jackson Donruss Rated Rookie cards going for a premium as well...

Somewhere I've still got my 1990 Fleer card orders written down. I used to be able to walk into a store, look at the top card on the pack, and know if Walton or Smith were in that pack.

[slidekellyslide]

Anyone remember the hype for Wally Joyner cards?

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Anyone remember the hype for Wally Joyner cards?

.........yes, and the Bo Jackson b/w Score card with football/baseball.

[Beatles Guy]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Anyone remember the hype for Wally Joyner cards?

Kevin Seitzer and Chris Sabo too.

[vintagechris]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Anyone remember the hype for Wally Joyner cards?

Speaking of Wally World, those 1986 Donruss Rookie sets were super hot!

[sb32]

For a while, the 1987 Fleer Will Clark was red hot. Think it peaked in the $30s. Maybe higher. Another very solid player whose card values just dropped off a cliff. One of my personal favorites from the era.

How about fan favorite Pete "Inky" Incaviglia? Breaking the wall with a spring training home run. Stuff of legends.

Don't think the price got very high, but I remember a decent amount of hype for Ty Griffin (1988 Topps Olympic set).