PDA

View Full Version : 1955 Topps Cello Ripped Open


jbhofmann
12-02-2015, 05:58 AM
Didn't see this posted anywhere and thought I'd bring it to the big board.

https://forums.collectors.com/messageview.aspx?catid=11&threadid=955332&FTVAR_STKEYWORDFRM=&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

ullmandds
12-02-2015, 06:05 AM
very cool!

Danny Smith
12-02-2015, 06:21 AM
So much fun

JustinD
12-02-2015, 06:23 AM
That was fun.

iwantitiwinit
12-02-2015, 06:28 AM
Agree very cool. I'd get a lot of enjoyment from being the one to rip that open.

ZachS
12-02-2015, 06:30 AM
Holy crap! That guy scored big. There's no way I would have gotten that lucky.

Buythatcard
12-02-2015, 06:35 AM
That was an awesome rip. What did he originally pay for the cello pack?

WillBBC
12-02-2015, 06:37 AM
$2030 according to the CU thread. What an incredible pack. That Clemente is beautiful!

slidekellyslide
12-02-2015, 06:42 AM
I wonder if the consignor of that pack has seen that thread. Incredible!

GregMitch34
12-02-2015, 07:07 AM
This might be an apt moment to ask: How do people judge the legitimacy of packs offered for sale--ones that are not graded? Is it pure blind or do you put stock in auction house claims or what? What is track record? If this guy didn't pull a 2nd Mays and a Clemente wouldn't you have guessed that maybe pack tampered? I've always been tempted to take this plunge but never enough faith that getting legit pack. Willing to take chance on getting non-star cards but only if believe not tampered....

Beatles Guy
12-02-2015, 07:21 AM
Goosebumps, wow!

Orioles1954
12-02-2015, 07:43 AM
Let's just say the consignor is a reliable source and is probably thrilled.

bwbc917
12-02-2015, 08:44 AM
Thanks for the post. That was a lot of fun!!!

Rookiemonster
12-02-2015, 09:43 AM
Nice ! Cool post but it was kinda funny how off centered they were and he was like it's improving hahahah

Section103
12-02-2015, 10:37 AM
Really, really wish it had been on video; but fun all the same. I think the last thing I ripped was a box of 88 Donruss. :rolleyes:

ullmandds
12-02-2015, 10:44 AM
this should definitely help the hammer on the next older unopened pack(s) that hit the block!

D. Bergin
12-02-2015, 12:06 PM
Nice! I ripped enough packs in my day to deduce, I probably shouldn't be ripping packs, unless I found myself caught right in the middle of Billy Ripken FF Fever. :D

bbcard1
12-02-2015, 12:13 PM
do you think he did much better than $2000?

vintagetoppsguy
12-02-2015, 12:24 PM
do you think he did much better than $2000?

Probably a little, but not much. That Clemente is probably a 8 PD which is worth maybe $2000? The Mays an 8 OC, which is maybe worth $500?

Republicaninmass
12-02-2015, 02:34 PM
Lots of low pop cards in there, if they had only been straight 8's all around!

baseball tourist
12-02-2015, 03:12 PM
Probably a little, but not much. That Clemente is probably a 8 PD which is worth maybe $2000? The Mays an 8 OC, which is maybe worth $500?

There were two Mays.

MW1
12-02-2015, 05:06 PM
Probably a little, but not much. That Clemente is probably a 8 PD which is worth maybe $2000? The Mays an 8 OC, which is maybe worth $500?An 8 PD Clemente would sell for much more than $2000. That's at least a $5000 card...maybe more.

slidekellyslide
12-02-2015, 07:41 PM
So if this is all legit then Topps cello packs were a mixture of low numbers and high numbers in 55? Is there any other documented 55 cello rips? Also why wouldn't you take video opening a $1700 pack of cards?

vintagetoppsguy
12-02-2015, 08:28 PM
That's at least a $5000 card...maybe more.

I respectfully disagree. I think my guess was a best case scenario. What if there's a small surface wrinkle? Then it's a 5 PD. How much is it worth then?

I also agree with Dan, I'm a little skeptical of the whole thing. It's funny how every card was OC with the exception of the Clemente.

MW1
12-02-2015, 09:14 PM
I respectfully disagree. I think my guess was a best case scenario. What if there's a small surface wrinkle? Then it's a 5 PD. How much is it worth then?

I also agree with Dan, I'm a little skeptical of the whole thing. It's funny how every card was OC with the exception of the Clemente.

Even if the card were only graded a 7 PD, it would still probably reach $5000 but the corners look stronger than "NM." I was trying to be conservative in my estimate. The last two unqualified 8s to sell in auction realized over $35K and $44k. The Clemente rookie has risen considerably in value over the last two years as have many other key rc's from the 1950s.

I haven't opened any cellos from 1955 Topps but I have opened wax packs and the centering does indeed vary so yes, I would say that the Clemente could definitely be a legitimate card in that sequence.

midwaylandscaping
12-02-2015, 09:14 PM
No pink elephants in that room:rolleyes:

Edit: Or I should just say, I agree with SlideKellySlide, and i'll leave it at that.

jason.1969
12-02-2015, 09:24 PM
I also agree with Dan, I'm a little skeptical of the whole thing. It's funny how every card was OC with the exception of the Clemente.

Not sure I'm reading this right. Are you saying the pack had been opened before but that the real cards were replaced with 2 Mays cards and a Clemente RC?

Or that the guy who bought it didn't really get those cards and just pretended to?

vintagetoppsguy
12-02-2015, 09:48 PM
Or that the guy who bought it didn't really get those cards and just pretended to?

Come on, would it really be the first time a CU member faked a pack rip?

https://forums.collectors.com/messageview.aspx?catid=11&threadid=697481&highlight_key=y&keyword1=jordan+rip

vintagetoppsguy
12-02-2015, 10:00 PM
19 horribly off centered cards and 1 dead centered Clemente. It's a Christmas miracle.

PM770
12-03-2015, 07:19 AM
Thanks for posting that CU link. It got threadjacked a couple of times but was still a $h!+storm all the way through

jason.1969
12-03-2015, 07:34 AM
Come on, would it really be the first time a CU member faked a pack rip?

https://forums.collectors.com/messageview.aspx?catid=11&threadid=697481&highlight_key=y&keyword1=jordan+rip
Wow! I see what you mean. And add to it the drama of the RC being the very last card!

Donscards
12-03-2015, 08:05 AM
I opened a 1955 topps cello pack maybe 25 years ago---it had 24 cards--20 cards were high numbered and 4 were low---the centering was very nice and it was loaded--I will not say what I got out of the pack because u wouldn't believe me---but my point is the cello pack was mixed---Don

the 'stache
12-03-2015, 08:10 AM
I hate to be the cynic in the room, but we're expected to believe that he ripped open a '55 Topps cello pack, pulled out not one, but two Willie Mays cards, and then a Clemente rookie that's perfectly centered when every other card in the pack is at least 90/10 off center? :rolleyes:

If I had a '55 Topps cello pack to rip, you can bet your sweet bippy the rip would be recorded, and posted unedited. What, he can afford to drop $2k on a 60 year old baseball card pack, but he has no capability to record said rip? Really? A little later in the same thread, somebody mentions the same guy ripped a '79/'80 O-Pee-Che pack, and pulled out a Gretzky rookie. Either this guy has the greatest luck, or something is rotten in Denmark.

jason.1969
12-03-2015, 08:18 AM
I once ripped a pack and pulled a Ruth. Unfortunately it was a pack of 1991 Conlon Collection.

autograf
12-03-2015, 08:26 AM
Why does everything have to be rotten in DENMARK? Can't it be Sweden or Finland? And since those places are so cold, it's hard to believe stuff goes rotten very quickly anyway. Peru, I could see...............

The coinkidinks are amazing............

Sean1125
12-03-2015, 08:33 AM
I once ripped a pack and pulled a Ruth. Unfortunately it was a pack of 1991 Conlon Collection.

Ha

Exhibitman
12-03-2015, 12:19 PM
19 horribly off centered cards and 1 dead centered Clemente. It's a Christmas miracle.

It's a Festivus miracle, for the rest of us. And for the airing of grievances:

I know the pack was legit because the consignor was legit. That said, I gotta call BS on the rip itself as presented. I believe the two Mays cards were in there because they were horribly OC the same as the other cards and they had the same print defect [fish eye] in his name at virtually the same place, which means there was bit of dirt on the transfer roller that was gradually moving across, so they were probably printed within a sheet or two of each other then sent to cutting and collating together. But the Clemente has different corner wear than the cards before and after it. If the rip was depicted sequentially, the Clemente was not in there between those two cards. If the rip was depicted out of sequence, perhaps to create suspense, then the whole thing is about as real as an episode of American Pickers.

As for the money, I think the winner would do just fine off the items as shown. Assuming the Clemente is not altered, I don't think anyone would realistically label that card as less than a vg-ex specimen. I'd call it ex or better, and if I wanted one of them, I'd pay a grand for a card with that kind of eye appeal, and I'm a skinflint. And with the two Mays cards and the commons I think the bidder will get back his money readily and then some.

vintagesportscollector
12-03-2015, 12:45 PM
Why does everything have to be rotten in DENMARK? Can't it be Sweden or Finland? And since those places are so cold, it's hard to believe stuff goes rotten very quickly anyway. Peru, I could see...............

The coinkidinks are amazing............


Who knows...Ask Shakespeare..:)

bobbyw8469
12-03-2015, 12:56 PM
Color me skeptic as well. It makes for a better story with monster cards in it.

mechanicalman
12-03-2015, 01:40 PM
I honestly hope it was real. No reason to root against a fellow hobbyist.

But it seems highly implausible that the Clemente was the last card. Wouldn't you have seen that through the cello? Can't imagine it would have sold for $2k if that was the case.

jfkheat
12-03-2015, 01:58 PM
I honestly hope it was real. No reason to root against a fellow hobbyist.

But it seems highly implausible that the Clemente was the last card. Wouldn't you have seen that through the cello? Can't imagine it would have sold for $2k if that was the case.

The Clemente was the next to last card.
James

jason.1969
12-03-2015, 02:04 PM
Right, sorry to mislead. I should have said it was the last card where there was any suspense at all...i.e., the last card that didn't already show through the cello.

Bliggity
12-03-2015, 02:06 PM
Nvmd, beat me to it.

vintagetoppsguy
12-03-2015, 02:07 PM
The Clemente was the next to last card.

Right, and that makes it even more unbelievable. It couldn't have been the last card, because we knew the last card before the pack was opened. By having the Clemente as the next to last card, he built up the drama to very end.

glchen
12-03-2015, 02:21 PM
Well, I think there's writing on the back of the Clemente card, and the fact that the ripper shows the back scan makes me think it was his idea of an April Fool's joke to say he pulled it as part of the pack.

hammer
12-03-2015, 02:45 PM
Good pick up that looks like someone printed a couple of letters on the back.

FourStrikes
12-03-2015, 04:42 PM
Well, I think there's writing on the back of the Clemente card, and the fact that the ripper shows the back scan makes me think it was his idea of an April Fool's joke to say he pulled it as part of the pack.

yup.

RichardSimon
12-03-2015, 04:45 PM
Come on, would it really be the first time a CU member faked a pack rip?

https://forums.collectors.com/messageview.aspx?catid=11&threadid=697481&highlight_key=y&keyword1=jordan+rip

I am not a card guy, have enough problems with autographs, but why would someone do this? Over sized ego??

GoudeyGum
12-03-2015, 05:27 PM
I hope this does not open the floodgates of packs with "popped seals" showing up at auctions. I do not mean to cast doubt on this specific pack.

MULLINS5
12-03-2015, 05:43 PM
I've dealt with the ripper and would be shocked if I heard that it had been tampered with. Yes, it's true he pulled a Gretzky rookie (Topps) recently and received an 8.5 from PSA on it. It was a big hit and he shared it with the collecting community. He shared the '55 rip because, well it's a big rip. As for the "writing" on the back -- I'm a novice collector and can tell that that is NOT writing on the back. As for the rest of the cards, again a novice, but I remember busting tons of 1979 Hockey and the one card in the set that is notoriously OC is #161 Mike Bossy. Whenever I pulled a decently centered one the rest of the cards were garbage OC and miscut. In this case the Clemente is a notoriously OC card and, I'd assume, that in order to find one centered the cards cut around it would have to be butchered.

vthobby
12-03-2015, 06:03 PM
This is the exact same photo he posted as the back of the card that he got from that pack!!! That is funny! :)

It is pretty funny watching the "believers" hail the Holy Grail. Even funnier seeing the initials clearly written on the back to the right of "Throws Right"! :eek:


Peace, Mike

213722

MULLINS5
12-03-2015, 06:11 PM
This is the exact same photo he posted as the back of the card that he got from that pack!!! That is funny! :)

It is pretty funny watching the "believers" hail the Holy Grail. Even funnier seeing the initials clearly written on the back to the right of "Throws Right"! :eek:


Peace, Mike

213722

Yet here is an eBay auction with the SAME "writing"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-TOPPS-BASEBALL-164-ROBERTO-CLEMENTE-PSA-7-HOF-/201467736093?rmvSB=true&nma=true&si=dfvyTt%252FR2V%252FLFV8ajq3rZdWh6F0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

donniebaseball
12-03-2015, 06:16 PM
This was also from the CU thread. The card is currently being offered on eBay and has the same exact marking or "initials" on the reverse of another '55 Clemente. That mark is from Topps, not from a collector.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-TOPPS-BASEBALL-164-ROBERTO-CLEMENTE-PSA-7-HOF-/201467736093?rmvSB=true&nma=true&si=dfvyTt%252FR2V%252FLFV8ajq3rZdWh6F0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

bnorth
12-03-2015, 06:19 PM
Yet here is an eBay auction with the SAME "writing"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-TOPPS-BASEBALL-164-ROBERTO-CLEMENTE-PSA-7-HOF-/201467736093?rmvSB=true&nma=true&si=dfvyTt%252FR2V%252FLFV8ajq3rZdWh6F0%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

I looked at a few and all the ones with the print defect on the front have that "writing" on the back.

glchen
12-03-2015, 06:20 PM
I stand corrected. It's not writing. Apologies to the ripper.

vthobby
12-03-2015, 07:01 PM
not convinced. The Clemente being centered while every other card is way off, Clemente was the second to last card pulled for what I admit was quite the dramatic effect if staged. I'm a non believer. Prove me wrong. Let me see the video! :cool:

Peace, Mike

vintagetoppsguy
12-03-2015, 09:32 PM
In this case the Clemente is a notoriously OC card and, I'd assume, that in order to find one centered the cards cut around it would have to be butchered.

If the Clemente came from a single strip, I could possibly buy that theory. But, since it was from a sheet, I don't.

If that were true, that would mean other cards, either in the same row or column depending on the miscut, would be just as centered as the Clemente.

slidekellyslide
12-03-2015, 11:00 PM
I'm not a member of CU so I can't ask myself, but why doesn't someone ask the "Ripper" if he recorded the opening, and if he did not record, why didn't he?

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 08:10 AM
We got Clemente Truthers now....lol

rjackson44
12-04-2015, 08:38 AM
this is funny

ALR-bishop
12-04-2015, 08:39 AM
With all the stuff happening in the hobby these days I guess it is natural there would be both a tendency to be happy for such a collector (and maybe a little envious), and also skeptical. We can be a cynical group at times. Sign of the times maybe :)

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 09:10 AM
I guess I fall into the camp of--

"What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

The conspiracy is way too involved to gain absolutely nothing.

egbeachley
12-04-2015, 09:27 AM
I guess I fall into the camp of--

"What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

The conspiracy is way too involved to gain absolutely nothing.

+1

2 things to consider.

1) He would have had to find a previously unknown and centered Clemente with sharp corners in order to pull this off.

2) If he did already have a previously unknown and centered Clemente with sharp corners, are we saying that he decided that he must overpay for an unopened cello pack so that he could slide it in for a rip? Why?

slidekellyslide
12-04-2015, 09:52 AM
All I want to know is why he didn't record himself opening the pack. Seems the logical thing to do in the era of naysayers. Did he record the Gretzky pack rip?

Orioles1954
12-04-2015, 09:58 AM
People have too much time on their hands.

basesareempty
12-04-2015, 10:28 AM
people have too much time on their hands.

+1000

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 10:29 AM
I guess I fall into the camp of--

"What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

The conspiracy is way too involved to gain absolutely nothing.

Read the whole thread before commenting - especially post #28.

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 10:48 AM
Read the whole thread before commenting - especially post #28.

I've read.

Can you answer my question?

D. Bergin
12-04-2015, 10:54 AM
Forgive me for not knowing modern pack ripping etiquette, but I wouldn't even think to videotape me ripping a pack of any type. I would have probably thought it an even bigger hassle to do what this guy did and scan and post as I was ripping it.

The only exception would be if it was a group buy and you needed proof of what was coming out of the pack.

From what I understand, there's only 50 cards in this series. Doesn't seem that unusual there would be a double sequence of cards in a large cello pack, with perhaps a stray centered card from a different sheet pushed in there.

Perhaps not relevant, but way back when, I busted open boxes worth of 1977-78 OPC WHA Hockey. This was a smaller 66 card set. There was only 12 cards per pack and I remember being annoyed getting double sequences of the same cards within the same pack all the time. Also had plenty of off-centered cards mixed in with the occasional centered card within a pack.

Exhibitman
12-04-2015, 11:08 AM
I guess I fall into the camp of--

"What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

The conspiracy is way too involved to gain absolutely nothing.

Might well ask what does anyone have to gain from having the top set on the PSA registry. Notoriety, celebrity within our little pathetic circle, lighting up the chat boards, any number of ego boosts.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 11:12 AM
I've read.

Can you answer my question?

Sure. Your original question was, ""What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

Answer: attention - just as in the thread I linked. Unfortunately, in that thread, it wasn't the kind of attention he was looking for.

D. Bergin
12-04-2015, 11:18 AM
Sure. Your original question was, ""What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

Answer: attention - just as in the thread I linked. Unfortunately, in that thread, it wasn't the kind of attention he was looking for.


The only thing I got from that other thread, was that I should have bought as many boxes of 1988-89 Fleer basketball as I could find in 2009, at the prices I saw them trading at. :D

As for the correlation, unless the guy who opened the 1955 Topps pack is the same guy, or he was trying to stimulate the market before dumping a bunch of his own 1955 Topps Cellos on to the market..........I don't see a correlation.

MULLINS5
12-04-2015, 11:19 AM
All I want to know is why he didn't record himself opening the pack. Seems the logical thing to do in the era of naysayers. Did he record the Gretzky pack rip?

I can't speak for the ripper, but I assume he could care less about the naysayers.

On the CU forum 9.9/10 pack rips are scanned instead of videotaped.

The Gretzky was pulled from a pack but was not a shared rip. He simply posted the card asking for opinions on grades and said it was pulled from a pack.

MULLINS5
12-04-2015, 11:20 AM
I can't speak for the ripper, but I assume he could care less about the naysayers.

On the CU forum 9.9/10 pack rips are scanned instead of videotaped.

The Gretzky was pulled from a pack but was not a shared rip. He simply posted the card asking for opinions on grades and said it was pulled from a pack.

also, the skeptics would just say he inserted the Clemente and sealed the pack before videotaping it.

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 11:29 AM
Sure. Your original question was, ""What does he have to gain by fabricating this?"

Answer: attention - just as in the thread I linked. Unfortunately, in that thread, it wasn't the kind of attention he was looking for.

Yeah his unusually high 254 posts screams that he is looking for attention.

Why haven't any of the "Clemente Truthers" pointed to the fact that his post history shows a pattern of buying/selling/ripping upopened vintage packs?

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 11:35 AM
I don't see a correlation.

The guy that ripped the Fleer Basketball Pack inserted a Jordan and tried to play it off as if it were in the pack. Unfortunately for him, someone knew the sequence and he was busted.

I believe the guy that opened the '55 cello pack inserted the Clemente. I don't believe that Clemente came in the pack for many reasons.

You don't see the correlation? They both tried to fake pack rips. At least that's my contention.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 11:39 AM
Why haven't any of the "Clemente Truthers" pointed to the fact that his post history shows a pattern of buying/selling/ripping upopened vintage packs?

They also show a history of some "amazing" pulls. :rolleyes:

Believe what you want to believe. When a pack contains 19 horribly off-center cards and one dead centered Clemente, that doesn't raise a red flag for you?

MULLINS5
12-04-2015, 11:41 AM
They also show a history of some "amazing" pulls. :rolleyes:

Believe what you want to believe. When a pack contains 19 horribly off-center cards and one dead centered Clemente, that doesn't raise a red flag for you?

Actually, considering the Clemente is notoriously OC, it makes perfect sense to me.

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 11:42 AM
The guy that ripped the Fleer Basketball Pack inserted a Jordan and tried to play it off as if it were in the pack. Unfortunately for him, someone knew the sequence and he was busted.

I believe the guy that opened the '55 cello pack inserted the Clemente. I don't believe that Clemente came in the pack for many reasons.

You don't see the correlation? They both tried to fake pack rips. At least that's my contention.


What you think...
https://www.spcforexcel.com/files/images/positivecorrelation.png


In reality...
http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/perma/resource/default/image/user%3Ack12editor/4360a9a3bee06a9a19298e598195c652.jpg

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 11:44 AM
They also show a history of some "amazing" pulls. :rolleyes:

Believe what you want to believe. When a pack contains 19 horribly off-center cards and one dead centered Clemente, that doesn't raise a red flag for you?

A dead nuts centered Clemente that he just happens to have?

You're trying to compare a poor '88 Jordan to a pretty nice '55 Clemente.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 11:46 AM
Actually, considering the Clemente is notoriously OC, it makes perfect sense to me.

Please explain how this theory works in relation to the position of the card on the sheet and the cutting process. This should be interesting. :rolleyes:

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 11:53 AM
You're trying to compare a poor '88 Jordan to a pretty nice '55 Clemente.

Ummm, no. I'm not comparing the cards. I'm comparing the circumstances in which the cards were "pulled".

jbhofmann
12-04-2015, 12:45 PM
Ummm, no. I'm not comparing the cards. I'm comparing the circumstances in which the cards were "pulled".

Do tell....please share how these two events are so closely related.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 01:04 PM
Do tell....please share how these two events are so closely related.

Once again, you're not reading all the posts. I already shared how how they're related in post #76. But, to save you time, let me say it again in this post. Both events involve the opening of a pack, and a card that wasn't original to the pack being inserted into the results so that it looks like it came from the pack. Both are an attempt to deceive in order to bring attention to one's self.

Buythatcard
12-04-2015, 01:26 PM
Is it odd to open a pack that has 19 cards that are off centered? I would think that atleast some of the cards would not be off centered. Is it possible that he bought this unopened pack that was once opened?

D. Bergin
12-04-2015, 01:28 PM
Once again, you're not reading all the posts. I already shared how how they're related in post #76. But, to save you time, let me say it again in this post. Both events involve the opening of a pack, and a card that wasn't original to the pack being inserted into the results so that it looks like it came from the pack. Both are an attempt to deceive in order to bring attention to one's self.


Both events involve opening a pack............the rest seems like speculation to me.

We've all opened packs that have had both centered and off-centered cards in them.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 01:32 PM
Both events involve opening a pack............the rest seems like speculation to me.

We've all opened packs that have had both centered and off-centered cards in them.

Since neither of us were there, aren't we both speculating?

Again, believe what you want to. I really don't care.

D. Bergin
12-04-2015, 01:34 PM
Since neither of us were there, aren't we both speculating?

Again, believe what you want to. I really don't care.


OK

slidekellyslide
12-04-2015, 02:06 PM
I can't speak for the ripper, but I assume he could care less about the naysayers.

On the CU forum 9.9/10 pack rips are scanned instead of videotaped.

The Gretzky was pulled from a pack but was not a shared rip. He simply posted the card asking for opinions on grades and said it was pulled from a pack.

I don't have a dog in this fight and I hope he really did pull that Clemente from the pack. I don't spend any time at all on CU or any board where people rip open packs of 86 Fleer, 79 OPC, or even older cards like 55 Topps cellos, but I do see that people make a big deal of ripping open this kind of product on Youtube so I was curious as to why someone would not document the opening of a $2,000 pack of cards.

Either way it's an incredible card, and it's been a fun story to follow along with.

ALR-bishop
12-04-2015, 02:15 PM
Dan---if you give me a shipping address I would send you an 86 Fleer pack so you can get a CU feel. It's just another sports cards board. No better No worse.

I am not sending you my 55 Topps wax pack. Nor am I opening it. Whatever is in it will not be nearly as good as what I think could be in it. But if I do ever open it, I will be sure to record it :).

packs
12-04-2015, 02:25 PM
I had an unopened 1959 Topps 1 cent pack for a while. I always wanted to rip it and see what was inside. I did figure out though that if you held it to a bright enough light you could see the card inside. Let's just say I was glad I didn't open it.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 02:45 PM
For what it's worth, the same guy who claims to have pulled the Clemente also claims to have opened a 1981 Donruss wax box (36 packs) and pulled 27, yes I said 27 Tim Raines RCs. 3 out of every 4 packs contained a Raines RC. Amazing! People can draw their own conclusions about the guy and believe what they want to.

Anybody know him on a personal level? I'd like to send him an '88 Topps wax pack and see if he can pull a '52 Mantle for me :rolleyes:

rats60
12-04-2015, 02:52 PM
For what it's worth, the same guy who claims to have pulled the Clemente also claims to have opened a 1981 Donruss wax box (36 packs) and pulled 27, yes I said 27 Tim Raines RCs. 3 out of every 4 packs contained a Raines RC. Amazing! People can draw their own conclusions about the guy and believe what they want to.

Anybody know him on a personal level? I'd like to send him an '88 Topps wax pack and see if he can pull a '52 Mantle for me :rolleyes:

91 Topps was the one that had the buy backs.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 02:53 PM
91 Topps was the one that had the buy backs.

Yeah, I know, but with this guy's luck I think he could do it with '88

D. Bergin
12-04-2015, 02:58 PM
For what it's worth, the same guy who claims to have pulled the Clemente also claims to have opened a 1981 Donruss wax box (36 packs) and pulled 27, yes I said 27 Tim Raines RCs. 3 out of every 4 packs contained a Raines RC. Amazing! People can draw their own conclusions about the guy and believe what they want to.

Anybody know him on a personal level? I'd like to send him an '88 Topps wax pack and see if he can pull a '52 Mantle for me :rolleyes:


Not saying whether or not I think this story is true, but 81 Donruss had some abominably horrific collation issues if I remember correctly.

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 03:09 PM
Not saying whether or not I think this story is true, but 81 Donruss had some abominably horrific collation issues if I remember correctly.

I never opened any, but I'm sure they did and will take your word for it. But 27 of the same card? 3 out of every 4 packs containing the card?

bbcard1
12-04-2015, 03:12 PM
19 horribly off centered cards and 1 dead centered Clemente. It's a Christmas miracle.

print mark is pretty bad IMO. Don't know how the grading companies would see it, but it ain't all that.

bobbyw8469
12-04-2015, 03:17 PM
Like someone else said, probably a PSA 7 (PD).....still a nice card that will command alot of attention if/when he wants to sell it.
The Clemente has heated up substantially in a short period of time.

batsballsbases
12-04-2015, 04:05 PM
ttt..

jfkheat
12-04-2015, 04:42 PM
Since neither of us were there, aren't we both speculating?

Again, believe what you want to. I really don't care.

For someone that doesn't care, you sure are making a big deal out of it. JMO
James

vintagetoppsguy
12-04-2015, 05:12 PM
For someone that doesn't care, you sure are making a big deal out of it. JMO
James

Nah, I just find it entertaining how gullible some people are.

Cliff Bowman
12-04-2015, 05:15 PM
We got Clemente Truthers now....lol

Oh yeah? What about Building 7? :D

TNP777
12-04-2015, 07:36 PM
Not saying whether or not I think this story is true, but 81 Donruss had some abominably horrific collation issues if I remember correctly.
Yes, '81 Donruss did have horrible collation. I don't recall that it was 75% one player horrible, though.

jfkheat
12-04-2015, 08:21 PM
The Clemente pulled from the pack graded a PSA 6.
James

bobbyw8469
12-04-2015, 08:24 PM
The Clemente pulled from the pack graded a PSA 6.
James

Well, that is better than the 7 (PD) it SHOULD have gotten.

MW1
12-04-2015, 08:39 PM
For what it's worth, the same guy who claims to have pulled the Clemente also claims to have opened a 1981 Donruss wax box (36 packs) and pulled 27, yes I said 27 Tim Raines RCs. 3 out of every 4 packs contained a Raines RC. Amazing! People can draw their own conclusions about the guy and believe what they want to.

Anybody know him on a personal level? I'd like to send him an '88 Topps wax pack and see if he can pull a '52 Mantle for me :rolleyes:Pulling a large quantity of a particular 1981 Donruss card actually is not that unusual. The collation from that brand & year was very poor. Some packs would have 2 or even 3 of the same card/player.

bobbyw8469
12-04-2015, 08:46 PM
Has the guy ever lost on a pack, or does he strike gold on every single break?

begsu1013
12-09-2015, 06:56 PM
just stating facts from the ripper:

apparently the pack fresh 6 has been sold and to another board member to help pay for med school bills. just stating what was posted.


who sells a clemente rc they just ripped outta a 60 year old pack...especially one w/ that centering?

.
.
.

1952boyntoncollector
12-09-2015, 07:59 PM
just stating facts from the ripper:

apparently the pack fresh 6 has been sold and to another board member to help pay for med school bills. just stating what was posted.


who sells a clemente rc they just ripped outta a 60 year old pack...especially one w/ that centering?

.
.
.

Again why mention the reason for selling......if they need to sell in a day or so or have a specific timeframe they HAVE to sell it..maybe it would make sense..but spare me the reasons whether real or fake

slidekellyslide
12-09-2015, 08:08 PM
Spends $2,000 on an leap of faith unopened pack of cards. Has to make quick sale to pay for med school. Heh.

vintagetoppsguy
12-09-2015, 09:14 PM
Spends $2,000 on an leap of faith unopened pack of cards. Has to make quick sale to pay for med school. Heh.

Right? Big leap of faith when "money is tight" (his own words).

Leon
12-10-2015, 07:38 AM
Right? Big leap of faith when "money is tight" (his own words).

I know I always gamble when money is tight. It's a winning combination on how to be even more broke.

bnorth
12-10-2015, 07:47 AM
I know I always gamble when money is tight. It's a winning combination on how to be even more broke.

LOL, That's a fact. When you don't need $ it comes easy but when you need it you never win.

begsu1013
12-10-2015, 08:51 AM
and for my next trick:

I will pull a 51 mantle outta................my ass.

definitely has a slight pd, butt what a pull.

who wants to buy it? premium for board members. i have proctology bills to pay.

ta-dah.

http://caimages.collectors.com/psaimages/26029/10583107/mantletrick.jpg



_

Republicaninmass
12-10-2015, 09:28 AM
You missed his thread where he bought one of those X-mas stocking with an unopened 52 pack, never took possession after authenticity called into question, and had Leland's resell it.

Doubt he would have pulled a Mantle out of that one, but you never know

begsu1013
12-10-2015, 09:46 AM
ted,

i do remember that one! supposedly found in an ol pharmacy/general goods store with a letter signed by the old store owner or something...

was that the same guy?

i'm the eternal optimist and would root for anyone opening a 55 pack to pull 2 mays and a clemente, but if he's done it several times before (gretzky, etc) why would he not video the thing?