Fun time....Show-n-Tell us of experiences pulling cards from wax-packs in your youth

[tedzan]

OK guys

Here is the Quintessential wax-pack scenario......

A cool day in the Fall of 1952, a day I still remember quite well. My neighbor, Johnny, tells me that our neighborhood pharmacy has the TOPPS Hi# cards available.
By then, I had 270 cards (of the 310 issued). I was not interested in completing the set. I just wanted to have all the Yankees in it, especially Mickey Mantle.
I had a Quarter in my pocket, so we went to the pharmacy and I get 5 packs. The first 4 packs I opened had mostly Hi # commons and semi-stars.
I carefully opening the 5th pack, I slowly shuffled thru the cards, and lo and behold, the card in the middle was Mickey.

All five of these cards are the original cards out of that 5th wax-pack. This wrapper is not the original one.





. . . .
TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Fred]

About 16 years ago, my son had a handful of 1984T cards on the desk in his room. I asked where he got the cards and he said he found a box in our garage and opened a few packs. Apparently he found a box of 1984T wax baseball cards I had put away and opened a few packs. He said the gum was stale.

[obcbobd]

As a child I would buy packs of cards with my allowance at "The Little Store". I would walk with my friend Joey Mari on Wednesdays with my dime allowance and buy two packs of cards. I always wanted to get an empty box, but was to shy to ask the store manager if I could have one. I remember one day in 1970 when packs were 10 for 10 cents, I opened a pack and there were only six cards. I was not too shy to go back in the store and demand the missing four cards. He gave me a new pack but took the six I had from the original pack.

Go back a few years to 1967, I was five and lived across the very busy street and 100 yards away from the store. I have a distinct memory of walking down to the store with my dad and sister. We each got a pack of cards. Mine were 1967 Red Sox stickers, I think my sister may have got monkey cards. I can remember her dropping her gum onto the sidewalk and crying, my dad picked it up and took it home to wash off and give it to her. I remember this as yesterday and know the "exact" spot this happened. So my first pack consisted of three 67 Topps stickers. Only one survived childhood as I put it on my Mikey Mouse Club toy box. Many years later I completed that set. Attached picture #1 is that card from my first pack, picture #2 is me with a 1970 Reggie Smith and my sisters.

[OldSchoolBaseball]

So in my youth in Central California, one of my earliest memories are of food issue cards like Hostess, Kellogg's, etc.

BUT the first card we chased was the 1981 Granny Goose Dave Revering, who was traded to the Yankees shortly after the release of the set. Card pulled and or destroyed so it became a tough short print.

I pulled one really nice example. BUT after someone offered me a stout $40 for the card, I sold it as that was incredible money at the time for a greasy card. Never had another another until many years later. I collect that card mostly to remember the fun of the chase and capture.

I only need a PSA 2 and a PSA 3 to have a complete run of the card. No 10's exist.

[tedzan]

In the Fall of 1947, we experienced one of the most exciting World Series ever played. My sister and I carefully opened up Homogenized Bond Bread
packages for BB cards of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, or the new rookie sensation..... Jackie Robinson.

True rookie cards......







1947 wrapper......






TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by tedzan

In the Fall of 1947, we experienced one of the most exciting World Series ever played. My sister and I carefully opened up Homogenized Bond Bread
packages for BB cards of Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, or the new rookie sensation..... Jackie Robinson.

True rookie cards......







1947 wrapper......






TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted, I was going to try and be funny and ask what the first T206 was you pulled from a pack, but then I thought about it and figured you were probably smart enough not to smoke when you were a child. Ha - I'm pretty sure I'm on your heals so it's hard for me to laugh at my own age. Love the posts!

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Fred

Ted, I was going to try and be funny and ask what the first T206 was you pulled from a pack, but then I thought about it and figured you were probably smart enough not to smoke when you were a child. Ha - I'm pretty sure I'm on your heals so it's hard for me to laugh at my own age. Love the posts!

Hey Fred

Look, I'm still "reeling" from a year ago when you posted the Fred Dunlap (Detroit) "fantasy card" of yours.

So, any other attempts that you may try to bewilder me with is just a laugher

Take care....ole buddy.


TED Z
.

[campyfan39]

Super cool and how rare that a kid would keep the cards all this time and that his orients didn’t trash them like they did my Dad’s

Originally Posted by tedzan

OK guys

Here is the Quintessential wax-pack scenario......

A cool day in the Fall of 1952, a day I still remember quite well. My neighbor, Johnny, tells me that our neighborhood pharmacy has the TOPPS Hi# cards available.
By then, I had 270 cards (of the 310 issued). I was not interested in completing the set. I just wanted to have all the Yankees in it, especially Mickey Mantle.
I had a Quarter in my pocket, so we went to the pharmacy and I get 5 packs. The first 4 packs I opened had mostly Hi # commons and semi-stars.
I carefully opening the 5th pack, I slowly shuffled thru the cards, and lo and behold, the card in the middle was Mickey.

All five of these cards are the original cards out of that 5th wax-pack. This wrapper is not the original one.





. . . .
TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by campyfan39

Super cool and how rare that a kid would keep the cards all this time and that his orients didn’t trash them like they did my Dad’s

Hi Chris

The real credit goes to my Aunt.

In 1959, my dear Aunt Anna lived alone. We had a big house, so I convinced my Mom to have Aunty move in with us. My Aunt was a proverbial "pack-rat".
In 1960, I enlisted into the US Air Force. While I was there (4-years), my Mom decided to clear out my room. I was very fortunate, though, my Aunt saved
all my BB cards, Lionel trains, and Stamp collection. Furthermore, she was smart enough to store all of these "goodies" in our home's attic.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Hi Chris

The real credit goes to my Aunt.

In 1959, my dear Aunt Anna lived alone. We had a big house, so I convinced my Mom to have Aunty move in with us. My Aunt was a proverbial "pack-rat".
In 1960, I enlisted into the US Air Force. While I was there (4-years), my Mom decided to clear out my room. I was very fortunate, though, my Aunt saved
all my BB cards, Lionel trains, and Stamp collection. Furthermore, she was smart enough to store all of these "goodies" in our home's attic.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted,

I've said it before, I'll say it again, these stories you tell are a real treat. Hearing about the Hobby back then and seeing these cards is incredible. Everyone on the whole has been sharing fantastic stories.

I was given a bunch of 90 topps packs when I was a kid. My first foray into cards really. I pulled the Rookie of my Favorite player, Bernie Williams. I still have the card, I'll update with a scan of it when I get home. Not even close to the most valuable card in my collection, but a priceless memory for me!

- James

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Seven

Ted,

I've said it before, I'll say it again, these stories you tell are a real treat. Hearing about the Hobby back then and seeing these cards is incredible. Everyone on the whole has been sharing fantastic stories.

I was given a bunch of 90 topps packs when I was a kid. My first foray into cards really. I pulled the Rookie of my Favorite player, Bernie Williams. I still have the card, I'll update with a scan of it when I get home. Not even close to the most valuable card in my collection, but a priceless memory for me!

- James

Hi James

I appreciate your kind words. And yes, Bernie Williams was a great Centerfielder with the Yankees (16 consecutive years).

The first World Series I saw (as young kid) was the 1947 Yankees vs Dodgers. In my opinion, this 7-game Series was one of the most exciting ever.
The Left Fielder for the Yanks was Johnny Lindell. He was amazing both in the field and at bat (Batted = .500, Hits = 9, RBI = 7 in 6 games).

I cherish his rookie card (1947 BOND BREAD). It was one of the very first Baseball cards in my collection.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[tedzan]

We young kids were very pleased in the Spring of 1951 when we tore open the BOWMAN waxpacks
to see larger cards and with the player's names on the front of them.

I cannot show you a 1951 BOWMAN wrapper. But I do have a seldom seen 24-count wax-pack box.
This box is actually 3-dimensional. I scanned it in 2 dimensional form, so I could easily post it here.
And, you could read the lettering on it.


---------------------------

---------------------------




. .

1st series ------------------------------------------------------------- Mid-series





Hi # series



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[clydepepper]

My contribution pales in comparison, but I pulled two future Hall-of-Famers from 'one' of the first packs my Mom allowed me to buy at the local A&P.

1964 Topps Cepeda & Santo.

Of course, the actual cards are long gone, but I've replaced them - a few times.