Best Memory of Opening Wax Packs

[jbbama]

a good 1/2 mile (actually took the short cut on the main road, i would have in big trouble if caught) to the local gas station with my small tupperware box bungee tied to my Huffy #4 bike handlebars. I was able to purchase 3 packs of '81 Donruss or 3 packs of '81 Fleer for $1 (tax included). I then would hurry home (short cut again) and rip into them like no tomorrow. I remember Fernando Valenzuela Fleer (R) being the big card. The good ole days of rubber bands and empty matchbox car cases for carrying them around.

[brob28]

I remember shoveling snow from neighbors driveways with my collecting buddy to make money to then ride our bikes to the corner store to buy cards. I think it was in late March and there was about 7 inches of the white stuff but we laughed our asses off riding our bikes in the snow to get those cards!

[39special]

I remember going to the local candy store in '77 any buying packs with my paper route money.Toward the end of the summer I remember saving enough money and got a box.I think it was around $9.00.I was in heaven opening all those packs.34 years later,I'm 18 cards away from finishing the set!

[Beatles Guy]

Mom bought me a '79 Topps pack for doing something (can't remember what). I pulled a Mike Schmidt. It and all the other cards became wallpaper above my bed

[leftygrove10]

For me, the year was 1980. I had bought lots of cards that year and was closing in on a complete set of 1980 Topps cards. However, I was missing the Willie Stargell card. But one night, on the way home from church, my mom bought me a pack of cards. I opened the cards in the dark car and was thumbing through them. In the dim moonlight, I thought I could see a... Willie Stargell card. Sure enough, it was Willie. He was staring back at me as if to say... Here I am... I do exist! I couldn't believe it! Living just a couple hours from Pittsburgh and having watched them in the 1979 World Series, I was ecstatic! I doubt that my mom quite understood my excitement. But of all the packs I have ever opened, that is the one that I remember.

[GrayGhost]

Later on, in adulthood, I could remember the early /mid 90s when the Hot corner, a small closet of a shop in Storrs, CT, was selling packs. Dave Scranton, the owner, was as HONEST AS THE DAY IS LONG, and his packs clean as a whistle. Two visits in a row. One day, 40.00 I think for a 1986 Fleer basketball. Jordan Sticker, Ewing, Bird I think and JORDAN RC.

Week later, got a 73 baseball hi number for around 40-50 . hoping for a nice Dwight Evans, who I had a customer for. SCHMIDT Rookie.

Oh, and the best of all. my friend Neil Sakow had a big deal w Al Rosen in the late 80s. one day before he came, I went to the store and all the stuff was piled up. Anyways, Neil let me buy 1965 cello packs for TWELVE BUCKS. Remember a Clemente and Maris, Koufax and a McCovey, all which would grade nine or maybe ten. Man, I wish I had those cards and packs today.

[HRBAKER]

Used all of my allowance and odd job money to buy '67 Topps. Would ride my bike to the A&P to get them. When I was flush, I would buy the 25 cent wax trays with 6 packs. Most of the time I would buy 2-3 packs. Life was great, I loved the design and my favrorite team the Cardinals would win the WS.

[scmavl]

Great stories everyone (and great pulls, Scott!).

My most memorable pack was on a visit to my grandmother in Alabama in 1989 (I was 12) and there was a tiny card shop in this rural town. My grandmother reluctantly let me stop there and go in and buy a couple of packs of cards. I went to get some '89 Topps hoping for another Gregg Jefferies. But there on the table was a box of '89 Upper Deck. Since I usually got my cards in supermarkets in my hometown, I'd never had the chance to buy a pack. Also, they were $1.99 per pack instead of .50 like Topps. But I took the plunge and bought one pack and went back out to the car. Before we were out of the parking lot, I'd already torn into the pack... and there it was... THE Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card. I ran back in the store to show the owner, I was so excited.

I wish I'd kept that card. I traded it for an '86 Topps Cecil Fielder. What was I thinking?