Question about the Topps T206 Sets

[npa589]

First question: Topps did 2002, 2009, and 2010 sets of Topps T206 - correct? Did they offer the set in any other year?

Also, does anyone know which set carried the most T206 buybacks?

I want to buy a hobby box of one or all of them - and have been looking around for info regarding the odds of pulling a buyback, but havent found much.

Anyone have some knowledge on this subject?

Thank you for your time,

nate

[tachyonbb]

My daughter got me interested in collecting the "little cards" in 2002. According to Topps there were more than 4,400 original T206 cards in the 2002 distribution. Of course it is not possible to determine the odds unless you know the total print run.

On another note, Leon and others have often said that collecting current cards often leads to serious collecting. Our first "real" t206 card as a hit on the 2002 set led to a lot of research and a serious case of monsteritis.

[npa589]

Yea, I ordered a box of 2010 just to see if I could pull one.

Are there numbers of how many they put into the 2009, 2010?

[npa589]

Boy, you know - if Topps purchased a Honus Wagner T206 card, - and put it into a 2011 Topps T206 set, but it was only available if you purchased a hobby box within the first 2 weeks of them being released, and they would ship them at the same time to maintain interest --- can you just imagine the craze? Talk about an infusion of interest into current cards/sets...

Originally Posted by tachyonbb

On another note, Leon and others have often said that collecting current cards often leads to serious collecting. Our first "real" t206 card as a hit on the 2002 set led to a lot of research and a serious case of monsteritis.

[refz]

Topps206 issued in 2002 , (topps205 2004?) 206 again in 2009and2010

i think more t206's were inserted in the 2002 topps 206 judging by what i have seen at shows/online etc.. i would probably stay away from any un-opened 2002 topps 206 with hope of pulling the t206 because the majority of them have been already scooped up. i have bought them at shows in price ranges $25-45

i think you would have a better chance with the 2010 product even with higher odds. i bought a box last weekend and ended up with garbage, go figure!

[rp12367]

Nate, Most of my buybacks are from the original 2002 Topps T206 run. Not sure if it is just my luck or if the Series 2 Light Blue cards are more plentiful. But I seem to have the most from that series. Don't forget that there are also buybacks released as Topps Baseball History available in 2008 Topps Updates & Highlights at 1:1,384 Packs (I think hobby boxes are around $40). Not sure if it is worth it or not at those odds... Also the 2010 product has buybacks of buybacks, which I still don't know why Topps did I was hoping they would have used the white frames, like the GU and Autos, but I guess they took the easy out and just put in 2002 buybacks from all 3 series with no special markings (like buyback-buyback)....

2008 Topps Updates & Highlights Buyback

[slidekellyslide]

Ralph, that's as sharp as any slab I've ever seen...nice looking card.

[Orioles1954]

Hello,

I have knowledge of this. The 2002 Topps 206 Series 1 has better odds than Series 2 and Series 3. I busted a Series 1 case and they were seed 1:110ish packs. I pulled four buybacks. The best one I have seen is a Mathewson portrait. Don't even attempt the 2009 or 2010 series for a buyback.....it's such a longshot and pointless.

[rp12367]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Ralph, that's as sharp as any slab I've ever seen...nice looking card.

Thanks Dan

[Mrc32]

I've always thought about buying one of this Topps t205 boxes with hopes of pulling a buyback. I thought they were one buyback a box. Maybe I'm wrong.

[rp12367]

[QUOTE=Mrc32;879078]I've always thought about buying one of this Topps t205 boxes with hopes of pulling a buyback. I thought they were one buyback a box. Maybe I'm wrong.[/QUOTE)

I don't think they were one per box. I think it was either you get 2 Game Used, 2 Autos, or 2 Buybacks. But I thing most were GU or Autos. I believe they only had 1500 buybacks total. I havn't really done much with the 205's so I may be wrong....

[npa589]

Thank you so much for the info so far. I'm sure that this thread will help a lot of people get information about these intriguing T205/T206 boxes from Topps.

[PolarBear]

I bought a lot of this modern retro stuff in the past few years. Topps T205/T206 products are some of the worst retro stuff in my opinion (buy backs aside). Actual photography just can't reproduce the litho look of 205/206's. They screwed up the backs also with the gray paper.

Their Allen & Ginter stuff is top notch though, at least the first few years, it's degraded the past couple of years though.

[mighty bombjack]

I worked at Topps from 2001-2002. I was Editor for the first two series of this product, which means I set the checklist and picked photos. I also had the pleasure of alphabetically sorting all of the buybacks for series one. I don't know how many there were, but it was a lot. I also have no clue about insertion rates, as that was not in the realm of my job.

Thanks for bringing back the memory of sitting on the floor at Topps with a thousand+ T206es spread out before me...

[Ease]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

I worked at Topps from . I was Editor for the first two series of this product, which means I set the checklist and picked photos. I also had the pleasure of alphabetically sorting all of the buybacks for series one. I don't know how many there were, but it was a lot. I also have no clue about insertion rates, as that was not in the realm of my job.

Thanks for bringing back the memory of sitting on the floor at Topps with a thousand+ T206es spread out before me...

That must have been a blast! Do you remember any cool/unique/rare ones? Did topps just buy a big lot of em?

[rp12367]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

I worked at Topps from 2001-2002. I was Editor for the first two series of this product, which means I set the checklist and picked photos. I also had the pleasure of alphabetically sorting all of the buybacks for series one. I don't know how many there were, but it was a lot. I also have no clue about insertion rates, as that was not in the realm of my job.

Thanks for bringing back the memory of sitting on the floor at Topps with a thousand+ T206es spread out before me...

Sounds like it was awesome job...

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by Ease

That must have been a blast! Do you remember any cool/unique/rare ones? Did topps just buy a big lot of em?

I remember Mathewson and Cobb and being impressed that they were actually putting HOFers in the product. At that time I had no idea about the different backs and was sorting alphabetically by last name. I also had no idea that there were so many minor leaguers in the set. They were well represented in the cards I sorted. I pulled a Toronto (I think?) card myself from an employee box that I traded away awhile ago.

The cards I sorted were purchased as a lot from Kit Young, I believe.

[rp12367]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

I remember Mathewson and Cobb and being impressed that they were actually putting HOFers in the product. At that time I had no idea about the different backs and was sorting alphabetically by last name. I also had no idea that there were so many minor leaguers in the set. They were well represented in the cards I sorted. I pulled a Toronto (I think?) card myself from an employee box that I traded away awhile ago.

The cards I sorted were purchased as a lot from Kit Young, I believe.

Mighty Bombjack, Would you happen to recall how many/or if any complete T206 sets were purchased to be inserted into packs as part of the buyback program. I wouldn't think any of the Big 4 were included. I am asking because I'm working on a set in buyback form, I know there was an article years ago of a collector who had a near set, can't remember exact number (can't find the article) but just curious as to how close I can get... Thanks in advance for any help... Ralph

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by rp12367

Mighty Bombjack, Would you happen to recall how many/or if any complete T206 sets were purchased to be inserted into packs as part of the buyback program. I wouldn't think any of the Big 4 were included. I am asking because I'm working on a set in buyback form, I know there was an article years ago of a collector who had a near set, can't remember exact number (can't find the article) but just curious as to how close I can get... Thanks in advance for any help... Ralph

Oh, it was far from a complete set, but I really was not (and still am not) knowledgeable enough about the set to say. I can tell you that I have always been a fan of HOFers, and there were not very many of them bought back.

[npa589]

Great info! Thank you!

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Hello,

I have knowledge of this. The 2002 Topps 206 Series 1 has better odds than Series 2 and Series 3. I busted a Series 1 case and they were seed 1:110ish packs. I pulled four buybacks. The best one I have seen is a Mathewson portrait. Don't even attempt the 2009 or 2010 series for a buyback.....it's such a longshot and pointless.

[sbfinley]

Picked this one up on ebay a few years ago thinking I might cut it out and get it graded. Haven't got around to it yet.




Also

Originally Posted by npa589

Boy, you know - if Topps purchased a Honus Wagner T206 card, - and put it into a 2011 Topps T206 set, but it was only available if you purchased a hobby box within the first 2 weeks of them being released, and they would ship them at the same time to maintain interest --- can you just imagine the craze? Talk about an infusion of interest into current cards/sets...

I can remember my helping my uncle fill out hundreds of those entries for the Topps 1991 Wagner promotion. He must have honestly had 10-15k 1991 Topps cards afterwards.

[jp1216]

My one and only - 2002 example.

[Mrc32]

I've busted a few t205s out of those holders. They have graded well. Though I have heard stories about busting buybacks out and finding them trimmed.

[rp12367]

I don't think it's been a huge problem, I have only come across a few that appear to have been trimmed. Topps only guarantee's them to be authentic, not untrimmed, unmarked etc...