Why I collect… bringing me back to ‘79

[mrmopar]

My throwback year is 1978. I don't recall ever seeing rack or cello packs though when I was buying them, only wax. I wish I had clearer memories of the whole process, but I guess it wasn't all that special at the time. I probably saw my first rack/cello in the early-mid 80s, but even then I don't recall. I do remember finding them around 87 and searching for the stars on top.

I still find a lot of joy in just seeing the various 1978 Topps cards across all of the sports. Raw, sealed in packs, graded, autographed, etc. They are just elevated slightly higher than anything else.

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

My throwback year is 1978. I don't recall ever seeing rack or cello packs though when I was buying them, only wax. I wish I had clearer memories of the whole process, but I guess it wasn't all that special at the time. I probably saw my first rack/cello in the early-mid 80s, but even then I don't recall. I do remember finding them around 87 and searching for the stars on top.

I still find a lot of joy in just seeing the various 1978 Topps cards across all of the sports. Raw, sealed in packs, graded, autographed, etc. They are just elevated slightly higher than anything else.

1978 was my "initiation" year as well...I was lucky enough to have stores swimming in cellos and racks, though.

To this day, when I look through my '78 binder, I think I have stories about at least 80% of the cards - even if only whether I found the card in a pack myself, or I had to rely on friends' duplicates. The ones I really had to hunt for - the last couple dozen or so I needed - still have a different 'look' to me.

The very first cards I ever owned were a quad of '78s that came out of the old Scholastic mag, Dynamite - Cecil Cooper, Darrell Porter, Al Oliver and Tony Perez. I can remember how excited I was when a friend showed me the also came in packs in stores - I was like "wait - there's MORE?" - as my wife can attest today - not only is there more, there's a whooooooole lot more!

[mortimer brewster]

My throwback year is 1978 also. For 27 dollars I purchased the 1977 and 1978 complete sets from an ad in the Sporting News.

First year for packs was 1979. Great memories.

I love threads like these. There are not enough that just center on the love of collecting.

[deweyinthehall]

Since the subject of this thread is 1979, I can say that since 1978 was my first year collecting, I was pleasantly surprised to see 1979 roll around - "Wait - you mean they do this EVERY year??!"

My first look at 1979s was in a huge bin at a Kresge-esque store called McCrory's in Waterbury, CT. The store had emptied what must have been a case of cellos loosely into one large bin. I remember seeing the Prospects cards on top - Black and White? Better not get one of those - they must be something different.

It was interesting seeing cards of guys that had changed teams - Reggie Cleveland is with Texas now? Or of 1978 rookies now on their own cards - Dave Bergman anyone? And then there were those guys I still needed to complete my '78 set and now with different teams - talkin' about you, Mike Jorgensen.

Because it was my second set - and because there's never a set as nice as your first - 1979 has always looked 'lesser' to me - the design, the photography, those darn B&W prospects.

[mrmopar]

What did you think of the All Time Record Holders? I think it was the then current season leader with the all time leader in that same stat category. Old timers WITH current players! Then there was Lou Brock, both spots. i loved them, but not as much as those Sporting News All Time cards of 76. That was such a great design for me and those action shots of players I could only read about. Fantastic stuff.

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Since the subject of this thread is 1979, I can say that since 1978 was my first year collecting, I was pleasantly surprised to see 1979 roll around - "Wait - you mean they do this EVERY year??!"

My first look at 1979s was in a huge bin at a Kresge-esque store called McCrory's in Waterbury, CT. The store had emptied what must have been a case of cellos loosely into one large bin. I remember seeing the Prospects cards on top - Black and White? Better not get one of those - they must be something different.

It was interesting seeing cards of guys that had changed teams - Reggie Cleveland is with Texas now? Or of 1978 rookies now on their own cards - Dave Bergman anyone? And then there were those guys I still needed to complete my '78 set and now with different teams - talkin' about you, Mike Jorgensen.

Because it was my second set - and because there's never a set as nice as your first - 1979 has always looked 'lesser' to me - the design, the photography, those darn B&W prospects.

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

What did you think of the All Time Record Holders? I think it was the then current season leader with the all time leader in that same stat category. Old timers WITH current players! Then there was Lou Brock, both spots. i loved them, but not as much as those Sporting News All Time cards of 76. That was such a great design for me and those action shots of players I could only read about. Fantastic stuff.

I clearly recall seeing at least a couple of cellos in the first '79 bin that had an All Time Record Holders card on top. I steered clear, worried that those were some sort of 'different' set of cards. It was only my second year collecting, and I had never seen the '76 Sporting News AS cards or the 1973 Record Holders.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Since the subject of this thread is 1979, I can say that since 1978 was my first year collecting, I was pleasantly surprised to see 1979 roll around - "Wait - you mean they do this EVERY year??!"

My first look at 1979s was in a huge bin at a Kresge-esque store called McCrory's in Waterbury, CT. The store had emptied what must have been a case of cellos loosely into one large bin. I remember seeing the Prospects cards on top - Black and White? Better not get one of those - they must be something different.

It was interesting seeing cards of guys that had changed teams - Reggie Cleveland is with Texas now? Or of 1978 rookies now on their own cards - Dave Bergman anyone? And then there were those guys I still needed to complete my '78 set and now with different teams - talkin' about you, Mike Jorgensen.

Because it was my second set - and because there's never a set as nice as your first - 1979 has always looked 'lesser' to me - the design, the photography, those darn B&W prospects.

McCrorys was always a great place for cards. I got my few packs of 86 fleer basketball there.

[steve B]

79 was a bit of a letdown after 78 which had lots of odd issues available locally . But it wasn't bad, there were the 79 comics, which were briefly a big deal and were supposedly only in NJ. Dad had a school superintendents thing there and somehow found the time to find me one pack, which I still haven't opened. Later the set became widely available either as singles or uncut strips.

The super cellos were also a thing, I got the insert card from one from the local dealer, but not a pack. They also weren't around locally.

My parents also took a trip to Nova Scotia, and brought me back a box of OPC! that was fun.

Plus the usual hostess and Kelloggs cards.

And when I went to the park there was a set sold by some guy outside the park. I eventually bought a set late in the year, and it had extra cards that as far as I know still aren't cataloged.

[JimmyC]

Love the Fenway Case and I am a New York Fan! The green is a perfect match!