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Topps baseball cards

BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
edited June 2008 in General Discussion
I think I may have talked to Cubs about this a year or two ago but here goes. I have a shoe box 1/2 full of Topps 1988 baseball cards. I just found them again and would like to muddle my way through and see if they are worth anything. What is the guide I need to get? If I do have some worth something where do I sell them? I am not really excited about selling them on That other site but don't want to get pennies on the dollar (if there is any dollars involved) by trying to find a dealer either. What is the scoop? Thanks.

Comments

  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,754 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Beckett magazine or Tuff stuff are a couple of magazines that list the prices of cards(at least they did when I collected cards years ago).

    Jon
  • CubsloverCubslover Member Posts: 18,601 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    +
    Half of the lives they tell about me aren't true.
  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks guys, I will look for one and see if I can help finance a 10mm or maybe some .22 ammo.

    I really don't know much about baseball cards. Are there any particular players that you can think of that I should look out for? These are from 1988. Thanks.
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by BHAVIN
    Thanks guys, I will look for one and see if I can help finance a 10mm or maybe some .22 ammo.

    I really don't know much about baseball cards. Are there any particular players that you can think of that I should look out for? These are from 1988. Thanks.

    You might find a Bo Jackson or Tom Glavine rookie card but you can throw those "guide books" like Beckett's and Tuff Stuff away as they're desperately trying to save the hobby as well as their subscriber bases. In reality, most modern baseball cards have gone through the floor and are down there with "Beanie Babies" as investments. I've seen cards with book values of $100 and more bringing $1-$2 and less on eBay, if they sell at all. TOPPS are the most common and bring the least money. Just do a search for 1988 Topps on eBay and you'll see what they're really bringing.

    As an alternative, I donated 12,000 baseball cards to my local YMCA, got a receipt, and was able to deduct their book value from my taxes. Rather than going through each card, I used the lowest value of 10 cents per card which gave me a legitimate $1,200 charitable deduction. Just a thought. Good luck!
  • MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am a baseball card dealer and have been for years. The 88 Topps set unfortunately has nothing in it . The whole set is worth about $10 all 700+ cards. Back in 1986 Topps started to mass produce all the cards and the values dropped completely out of whack. Remember supply and demand rule the card market. Once I get to the shop I will tell you what cards if any have any value at all .
  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you, Spider.

    MFI, I would appreciate that. That would save me a bunch of time. IF you like you can email me at bjn894@earthlink.net
  • Sig220_Ruger77Sig220_Ruger77 Member Posts: 12,754 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Now after reading this thread I am going to have to go dig through my old card collection. Don't have a lot of great cards, but I do have a Roger Maris rookie card and a Emmitt Smith autographed card.

    Jon
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Jon0322
    Now after reading this thread I am going to have to go dig through my old card collection. Don't have a lot of great cards, but I do have a Roger Maris rookie card and a Emmitt Smith autographed card.

    Jon
    Even the older cards have dropped like a stone, mainly to the increased availability of them through the internet, the steroid scandal and disinterest in basebal since the 1994 strike which cancelled the World Series. For example, in 1992, a Nolan Ryan 1968 Topps #177 rookie card booked for $1,600. Do a search on eBay for one now: There's one for $41 with no reserve (item 160251567103) and many more for less than $100!
  • reloader44magreloader44mag Member Posts: 18,783 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The 1988 Topps Factory regular set in unopened condition may bring $15.00. If the cards have been stored in a shoebox, my guess would be that the condition of the cards would be at issue. Any bent,or nicked up edges or corners would make the 1988 Topps cards near worthless. Get a price guide and check the cards out. There may be cards of a different year/brand that may have a greater value mixed in. If the cards number on the back have a "T" after the number, those cards would be from the Topps traded set and there are a couple in the 1988 Topps set that may bring a dollar or two. Good luck.
  • brickmaster1248brickmaster1248 Member Posts: 3,344
    edited November -1
    Before i was old enough to have guns i collected All kinds of cards. I have several unopened sets of Upperdeck (89-92). are they worth the paper they are printed on?
  • txlawdogtxlawdog Member Posts: 10,039 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't have any sets, but I have a bunch of individual cards, I was going to give them to my nephews, I guess I will just get some clothespins and show them how to make their bikes sound cool, that might be all they are worth!
  • reloader44magreloader44mag Member Posts: 18,783 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by brickmaster1248
    Before i was old enough to have guns i collected All kinds of cards. I have several unopened sets of Upperdeck (89-92). are they worth the paper they are printed on?
    The 1989 Upper deck Factory baseball set(700), is desireable to a collector. It contains the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. That card is the highlight of the set and drives the sets value.
  • brickmaster1248brickmaster1248 Member Posts: 3,344
    edited November -1
    ill probably just leave the sets in a box with the other several thousand cards i have. maybe one day ill pass them on.
  • reloader44magreloader44mag Member Posts: 18,783 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I got caught up in the craze in the late 80's and early 90's..Ive probably got 40,000 cards of all types/sports........coulda bought alot of guns with that money[V]...
  • brickmaster1248brickmaster1248 Member Posts: 3,344
    edited November -1
    yeah me too but like i said i couldnt bye guns over the counter but i couldve out of trunks though
  • oldgunmanoldgunman Member Posts: 1,779 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sports cards! I used to be addicted to them also and probably have at least 300,000 + stashed away even in 50 gallon drums. Most I would buy and never even open the box. Spent endless hours and money and promised my oldest son that one day we would sell them and split the money. Another rainy day project.[:)]
  • Wolf.Wolf. Member Posts: 2,223 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    =====
    manoldgun,
    I have a buddy who did like you. He bought every baseball card, every card packet, every box of cards, etc. etc. he could get his hands on. He has so many that he had to rent a u-store-it place to wharehouse them. Today, I don't think they are worth two months' rent on the storage facility.

    I believe I did see a few months ago (could be wrong) where the pristine Honus Waggoner card from back around 1898-1901 or something like that, the one that has been owned at one time or another by a couple well-known sports figures including hockey star Wayne Gretzki(sp?), sold for around a half million dollars.
  • DancesWithSheepDancesWithSheep Member Posts: 12,938 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Growing up in the fifties I remember all the neighborhood kids collecting baseball cards. I didn't understand why. I still don't.
  • BHAVINBHAVIN Member Posts: 3,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I never got caught up in the sports card craze. I just couldn't understand why I would want to spend my hard earned money on pictures of guys! The ones I have came from an unopened case that another guy and I found at the landfill while dumping roofing scrap in 1988. We split the case I ate the gum and sorted the cards by teams and that was that.

    MFI, where are you with that suitcase full of large denomination US dollars for my obviously priceless heirlooms???
  • MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Those sets you talk about MUST be wrapped in cellophane. If they are hand collated sets then your value drops like a rock. As I remember Tom GLavine rookie is in that set which can be had everywhere for .50 cents or less. After that you will have Bonds 2nd year card, Brett, Ryan, Schmidt, Mattingly, Clemens and additional stars that book at .25C to -.50C .
  • mrseatlemrseatle Member Posts: 15,467 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Topps Garbage Pail Kids are a much better investment[:p]
  • 204targetman204targetman Member Posts: 3,493
    edited November -1
    Professionally graded cards have taken over the market. Thats about the only way cards will bring anything. PSA is the leading grader.
  • yearofspideryearofspider Member Posts: 1,657 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by reloader44mag
    quote:Originally posted by brickmaster1248
    Before i was old enough to have guns i collected All kinds of cards. I have several unopened sets of Upperdeck (89-92). are they worth the paper they are printed on?
    The 1989 Upper deck Factory baseball set(700), is desireable to a collector. It contains the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. That card is the highlight of the set and drives the sets value.


    I have an '89 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie graded PSA Gem mint 10. Any idea as to what it might be worth?
  • 204targetman204targetman Member Posts: 3,493
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by yearofspider
    quote:Originally posted by reloader44mag
    quote:Originally posted by brickmaster1248
    Before i was old enough to have guns i collected All kinds of cards. I have several unopened sets of Upperdeck (89-92). are they worth the paper they are printed on?
    The 1989 Upper deck Factory baseball set(700), is desireable to a collector. It contains the Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. That card is the highlight of the set and drives the sets value.


    I have an '89 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie graded PSA Gem mint 10. Any idea as to what it might be worth?

    Probably around 250 to 300 dollars. All depends on how many have been graded gem mint 10. They keep those records. Actually put out an annual report. Some follow it like the stock market.
  • 204targetman204targetman Member Posts: 3,493
    edited November -1
    The price I suggested was for the Upper Deck card. I forgot to ask you which one you had. The other brands are usually alot lower...
  • yearofspideryearofspider Member Posts: 1,657 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sweet!!I paid a $100 bucks a few years back for it. It is an '89 UD rookie. I figured it would go up a bit in value since he has finally reached the 600 home run club.
  • 204targetman204targetman Member Posts: 3,493
    edited November -1
    The biggest problem is that now that he has reached the 600 mark. Plenty of unopened packs out there that probably contain perfect cards. People will be cracking those open and sending them into get graded. The more gem mint cards that show up. The less the value will be. Right now might be the best time to unload a gem mint 10 if you want to part with it.
  • oldgunmanoldgunman Member Posts: 1,779 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Originally posted by Wolf.
    =====
    manoldgun,
    I have a buddy who did like you. He bought every baseball card, every card packet, every box of cards, etc. etc. he could get his hands on. He has so many that he had to rent a u-store-it place to wharehouse them. Today, I don't think they are worth two months' rent on the storage facility.

    Wolf---Know exactly what you are saying. It was a very fun and expensive hobby and addiction. Everything we invest our money in is a gamble. I've been told that my gun hobby now is the same but I believe in collecting those things that make you happy.[:)]
  • yearofspideryearofspider Member Posts: 1,657 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 204targetman
    The biggest problem is that now that he has reached the 600 mark. Plenty of unopened packs out there that probably contain perfect cards. People will be cracking those open and sending them into get graded. The more gem mint cards that show up. The less the value will be. Right now might be the best time to unload a gem mint 10 if you want to part with it.


    No interest in parting with it. This is one that will be handed down 30 or so years from now. I do have well over a 1000 Ken Griffey Jr. cards ranging from 1989 to 1996 that I will probabaly sell off when ever he retires. Hopefully, they will bring me enough to buy a new gun[:D]
  • MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    We buy un opened wax boxes all the time . You got something you need appraised or you want to sell let me know.
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