Mike D's Adventures in Wax

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

• Opening packs, even if the contents aren't anything special, is fun.
• The paper shredder and the compost pile may be busy from this pack busting project

There is definitely some value in busting open packs, even if the monetary value of the cards doesn't add up to the box's purchase price.
Composting is a good way to keep surplus down - there are places to donate and some other ideas in this thread: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=263135

[tulsaboy]

My kids and I are opening boxes of 1987 Topps right now just for fun, and putting together a set the old fashioned way- from packs. They are, however, now used to the idea that dad "magically" comes up with a whole box of packs at a time, instead of how I had to do it- in stacks of 3 or 4 packs at a time. They think this opening packs of cards thing is neat. And every time they find a card from one of their favorite teams, they are excited. The couldn't care less about the McGwire or Canseco or Mattingly or Clemens cards...
kevin

[swarmee]

If you're going to bust oddball and minor league boxes, make sure to get a COMC account and send in any card that they don't currently have in stock. Many minor league cards of nobodies sell there for $2.50 each.
You can look up my COMC primer that I've posted here before to explain the site and how best to use it.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by swarmee

If you're going to bust oddball and minor league boxes, make sure to get a COMC account and send in any card that they don't currently have in stock. Many minor league cards of nobodies sell there for $2.50 each.
You can look up my COMC primer that I've posted here before to explain the site and how best to use it.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I've used Sportlots in the past, but honestly, with their free structure and paypal fees, I feel it's not really worth the effort.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by tulsaboy

My kids and I are opening boxes of 1987 Topps right now just for fun, and putting together a set the old fashioned way- from packs. They are, however, now used to the idea that dad "magically" comes up with a whole box of packs at a time, instead of how I had to do it- in stacks of 3 or 4 packs at a time. They think this opening packs of cards thing is neat. And every time they find a card from one of their favorite teams, they are excited. The couldn't care less about the McGwire or Canseco or Mattingly or Clemens cards...
kevin

That's awesome, Kevin. Same thing with my son. He knows to look for Red Sox, but other than that, he has no idea who any of the players are - other than Nolan Ryan, because he knows I gave his cousin (named Nolan) a Nolan Ryan card recently.

[mrmopar]

All I could think of when I first saw this was the Beastie Boys. I had to modify the lyric slightly to fit the board. Paul Revere, about 2:50 into the song.

"I'm Mike D and I get respect. Your cards and jewelry are what I expect!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6hqrpBbeq4

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

All I could think of when I first saw this was the Beastie Boys. I had to modify the lyric slightly to fit the board. Paul Revere, about 2:50 into the song.

"I'm Mike D and I get respect. Your cards and jewelry are what I expect!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6hqrpBbeq4

LOL, I am glad I was not the only one. That song also has baseball cap and wiffle ball bat in it.

[Mike D.]

Something to add to the "list of things my son would be horrified to see me do"....rap.

[Mike D.]

We enjoyed the 1987 Topps Mini Leaders so much, I started looking for more similar ones.

I ended up being able to buy 4 boxes of 1986 Topps Mini Leaders for only $22.45 delivered.

That's 36 packs per box, 6 cards per pack. 144 packs, 864 cards.

These were a lot of fun! The smaller sets are definitely the way to go for us. My son has had a blast opening the packs, sorting down by 10's, and then to individual cards.

Some of the cards had dinged corners and won't be resold (my son kept most of them for his collection, so he can sort, resort, leave them on the floor, etc...you know, kid stuff!)

We got pretty solid collation here, I think. We got 7 complete sets, plus are only 5 cards short of 2 more sets.

I've listed the 7 complete sets on eBay, and will likely list a few of the dups in lots, as well. I'm not sure what'll sell, but since I'm only out $22.45 for this lot, I'm not too worried, and it's been fun.

Each pack had a "Win a Trip to Spring Training 1987" card included. If we fill them all out, I like our changes.

So, small sets, and multiple boxes seem to be our sweet spot.

Also, after sorting these cards, we invested in a couple of 10-slot sorting boxes to make the process easier.

[tulsaboy]

Who are you missing on your 1987 set?
kevin

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

Composting is a good way to keep surplus down - there are places to donate and some other ideas in this thread: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=263135

That thread was actually the very first one on this forum I read and posted in.

[Mike D.]

Next up was a 1987 Topps Mini League Leaders Wax Box.

36 packs, 7 cards per pack. I paid $15 delivered.

The 1987 Topps Mini Leaders set has 77 cards.

We learned a few things "ripping" this one:

• We like mini cards
• Small sets are the way to go, as we have a chance at complete sets more easily
• Lots of mini cards were packed in plastic "wax" packs, which are less fun
• When we bag up plastic wax pack wrappers to drop in plastic bag recycling at the local grocery store,my wife looks at us funny

We actually ended up about 5 cards short of a complete set, so not the best collation. Not sure what we'll do with these...maybe if I see more boxes cheap I'll grab more to try to get more complete sets.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Next up was a 1987 Topps Mini League Leaders Wax Box.

36 packs, 7 cards per pack. I paid $15 delivered.

The 1987 Topps Mini Leaders set has 77 cards.

We learned a few things "ripping" this one:

• We like mini cards
• Small sets are the way to go, as we have a chance at complete sets more easily
• Lots of mini cards were packed in plastic "wax" packs, which are less fun
• When we bag up plastic wax pack wrappers to drop in plastic bag recycling at the local grocery store,my wife looks at us funny

We actually ended up about 5 cards short of a complete set, so not the best collation. Not sure what we'll do with these...maybe if I see more boxes cheap I'll grab more to try to get more complete sets.

That's a fun set. I haven't bought one in years, but I save the different woodgrain patterns. If I remember it right every card has at least a couple.

[homerunderby]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Next up was a 1987 Topps Mini League Leaders Wax Box.

36 packs, 7 cards per pack. I paid $15 delivered.

The 1987 Topps Mini Leaders set has 77 cards.

We learned a few things "ripping" this one:

• We like mini cards
• Small sets are the way to go, as we have a chance at complete sets more easily
• Lots of mini cards were packed in plastic "wax" packs, which are less fun
• When we bag up plastic wax pack wrappers to drop in plastic bag recycling at the local grocery store,my wife looks at us funny

We actually ended up about 5 cards short of a complete set, so not the best collation. Not sure what we'll do with these...maybe if I see more boxes cheap I'll grab more to try to get more complete sets.

An "X" out box...at the end of the year, Topps liquidated unsold product, but they marked up the box so it couldn't be sold back into retail (I guess). You see a lot of 1984 Topps football like this, at least you did until they got busted in the late-80's for Marino and Elway Rookies.

[ALBB]

back in the 80s90s, If I saw big letters on a baseball card pack/wrapper saying - LIMITED EDITION.. ..sadly..I bought it ! LOL

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by ALBB

back in the 80s90s, If I saw big letters on a baseball card pack/wrapper saying - LIMITED EDITION.. ..sadly..I bought it ! LOL

I finally figured out the 'Limited Edition' only meant the manufacturer wasn't going to make them forever.

[Mike D.]

Just ordered today:

1988 Topps American Baseball Wax Box

42 packs, 5 cards each

Picked up two wax boxes for just under $42 delivered.

Also picked up another 1987 Topps Wax Box for my son (he wants to build a set) - $18.15 delivered.

[mantleman]

Limited to one person each on the planet......lol