1971 Topps Baseball Unopened Rack Pack Break - Part 1

Here's a video I shot of my opening a scarce series 1 1971 Topps baseball rack pack. The video is split into three parts, one for each pocket of the pack. Be sure to watch part 2 and 3! I'll also be uploading a video of my breaking a 1965 Topps 5c wax pack.

[@danscollectables5997]

The 1971 set is my favorite of all time!

[@jeffreylorenger6746]

This is so awesome to see get open! It’s my favorite baseball year card!

[@gemint67]

Thanks for watching!

[@anibalsosa5727]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. Those 1971 are one of my favorites. I've been collecting cards since I was a kid.

[@gemint67]

Thanks for watching.

[@golfmaniac007]

'71 topps was such a nice looking set.

[@gynandroidhead]

This is the most intelligent video that I have seen on breaking these packs - along with the reason (split in cellophane). Your knowledge of the cards is also superb, and your delivery and explanations to those who are not as familiar with the series. By the way, the star packs are sweet!!

[@rockscousteau]

Made my day watching this chief. Thanks

[@drewhunkins7192]

The '71 Clemente is one of the most beautiful sports cards ever made.

[@gemint67]

And very tough in high grade.

[@drewhunkins7192]

@@gemint67 I bought an SGC 7.5 at the National Card show in Chicago about 4 years ago for $300. My favorite card in my collection.

[@satchmoradio7631]

The greatest looking Topps set of the decade!

[@markcornish2519]

1975 and 1976 better

[@cheaptoyman]

Subscribed, John. Love the vintage stuff!

[@barrywainwright3391]

Topps card designers were on top of their game when they designed the 1970, 71 and 72 sets. I bought them when I was a kid and completed all 3 sets. I remember the hardest cards to find in the 1971 set was Nolan Ryan, Willie May's and Johnny Bench.

[@boristheamerican2938]

I could never get a Joe Pepitone, finally traded another kid for one. That was 1971, the only year I completed the set.

[@JohnnyBGood11]

Skip to 4:08 it takes about a month to open one of these things

[@reniehandler2595]

THANK YOU Johnny!!

[@barrywainwright3391]

And he takes forever to cut it open with scissors like he's performing surgery. When I was a kid I would rip the packs open with no problem and never damaged any cards.

[@HereForAStorm]

It's cool to see 71s that arent chipped to hell and back, such a tough series.

[@theodorerivera81]

Awesome cards great video 💯

[@bonehead711]

Dude do you actually collect? Took the fun and excitement out of that with all the coments about grading and money. How about the FUN! God people have turned my favorite hobby into this, had I pulled that Munson out of that pack I would have ben extatic! Just the fact you have that pack is cool! F the grading and the MONEY!

[@bubblebathgirl]

Michael Bowman These packs go for hundreds of dollars. Surely you can understand that money can have something to do with the fun of it all?

[@louiefilips9470]

I got the same crap when I opened a pack of 86 Fleer for $600, people talked trash because I mentioned money. Trolls and idiots that have no idea about being a collector, money is always a factor

[@barrywainwright3391]

Yes things were so much better prior to these professional grading card companies that ruined the hobby because it changed the mindset and it's all about money now.

[@nyyanks22]

Louie Filips $600 for pack of 86 fleer? You can probably buy a whole case for $600

[@nyyanks22]

Darin Preston ,Have you ever saw what those 86 fleer basketball boxes or cases sell for ? Through the roof 👍

[@richardpeetrinpeetrin9817]

U forgot to mention Ted Simmons Rookie!

[@PickerJimS]

I love these vintage pack opening videos! Just found your channel and subbed!

[@doug_sports_collector]

Guess I'll go get mine out of the old cigar box I've had them in since '71 and check them for grading potential. Great video.

[@jamisonscardboard]

Great video... I need to get me one of those packs... Great video

[@reniehandler2595]

Hardest thing about this year was finding all black borders. One ding and the black is gone. Very easy to tell the imperfections.

[@gemint67]

To each their own. I have beat up cards I collected as a kid that are some of my favorite collectibles. However, I also like the challenge of building high grade sets too. Collect what you like.

[@dennishaas4745]

I remember buying my first baseball cards were 1970 cello rack packs at local Kresge store.

[@nellyscards555]

I still collect for the fun and enjoyment. Been collecting baseball and football since I was 6. First pack I ever opened was 1989 topps football. I wanted a mike singletary so bad lol

[@FSU2001]

Great year. Love the 71 Topps cards. That Munson is my favorite card ever made. You can find them fairly inexpensive if you don't mind them around a 5-6 grade.

[@gemint67]

I have a video of a 1971 cello and 1969 cello pack break. If I can find them, I'll post them. I busted those packs about 10 years ago. I wish I filmed the 1972-76 packs I opened when I bought a wax box run. Lots of mint stars in those packs!

[@gemint67]

Update - I submitted the cards to PSA and got 8s on the following...McQueen, White Sox Rookies, Kasko, Davanon (should have been at least an 8.5), Jeter, Decker, Belanger, Rose!!!, Cain, Foster, Mota and Watt. The Hunter got rejected for 'EVID TRIM'. Go figure??? I'll obviously be resubbing that one. It measures up so I'm confident it will get holdered next time. This goes to show how tough it is to get mint cards for this issue. I've probably submitted 2000 cards total with only 6 or 8 9s

[@gemint67]

I miss those days. Pre-80s packs are getting tough to find now and pre-70s packs are really scarce now. 10-15 years ago, you could always find vintage wax. I bought three packs of 1960 Topps cellos for $75 each at a Tony LaRussa fund raiser 15 years ago. I wish I bought everything in sight. I also didn't take advantage of Mark Murphy's break of 1952 packs at the 1996 National. He was selling them for $2500 each or two for $4k. He also was selling pack fresh commons busted from packs.

[@CapAnson12345]

That Thurman Munson is a beast of a card to find in good condition. I've been looking for a dead centered, sharp cornered, no print marks version for 30 years.. and I've never seen one at any price, except for slabbed ebay cards I mean..

[@90210bribri]

I got a Thurman from when I was a kid it's probably. 4-5 but it's more sentimental than anything.

[@petermikita7891]

Couldn't you use something better than a Swiss Army knife? Good Lord man.

[@Comment957]

John, thank you for posting this. I've never seen this year's cards opened in the wild, even in a manufacturer repack. Could you post a video of the set you've built from this?

[@gemint67]

Thanks for watching. Maybe I'll do a video of the set at some point.

[@timcardoza1370]

have questions where the hell did you find these pack at ???? how much did they cost ??? i would open them all and put them in my card sleeves.

[@gemint67]

Nice catch. You must be a real Philly Phanatic!

[@CleanCheapShots]

This video came up on my feed and the thumbnail had Eddie Watt. I interviewed him a few months ago so I had to watch your video. Great looking Topps set. Did you ever send any of them in for grading? Too dad the Munson wasn't centered better.

[@keithinaz9769]

Munson card was THE BOMB!

[@richiebaker4267]

you hit the lottery on that window of cards,with the munson,and niekro.

[@swpo1]

4:15 start

[@kenjohnson2650]

Very rare to have enough money to buy a rack pack back then. It was like hitting the lottery.

[@jamisonscardboard]

Awesome cards bro... Just subscribed

[@laudanum669]

I could have gone to a baseball game during the time he got that very troublesome cello pack opened.

[@WhizKids1950]

I like how Don Money is in the new uniforms for 71 while Fred Wenz is from a prior year.

[@wadeadams4263]

Wow the scissors actually cut

[@GClooney17]

Hi John I did open the pack no Munson or rose Did get two hunters and one Steve Carlton decided to get some of the cards graded some came back PSA 8 and Some PSA 7 also a few came back evidence of trimming can you tell me know if that's means the pack was previously opened thanks for your help

[@IOMMIFAN6565]

PSA will either send a card back saying Min Size Req which stands for minimum size requirement. That means the card is too small, usually cut short off the sheet at the factory. Or it will say Evidence of trimming, which means PSA feels the card was purposefully trimmed to get rid of bad edges or corners.

[@bradleysmith889]

Do you still have any of those cards

[@gemint67]

Yes I still have several. The better ones I submitted to PSA and received 7s and 8s. The Rose got an 8.

[@bradleysmith889]

John C sweet

[@CapAnson12345]

I remember when I started collecting in the late 70's early 80's you could find unopened packs all over the place relatively affordable.. I wondered why you would buy an unopened 1960 topps pack for $30 when you could just pay that directly for a nrmt Mantle..

[@GClooney17]

Hi john I just bought a series one set should I open it or get it graded first What do you think 1971 same as what you were advertising here on KZbin Thanks for your help

[@artboston4787]

We're you ever fooled into buying those Christmas rack packs that are all over eBay? If so, what's your experience with them?

[@gemint67]

art Boston I bought one several years ago when they first hit the market. It was a '63 with high numbers showing but I didn't open it.

[@gregpalermo3861]

I'm 62 and i never saw any type of packaging other than wax packs at a 7-11 store.

[@charleswas0419]

Whats up John C. My name is Chuck I am a big card collector. Where do you find these old packs? Thank you for your videos GREAT CARDS.

[@goatuscrow4135]

The Dock Ellis is a great card.

[@jhonecrone6079]

Nobody collects for the right reasons anymore which is for fun and enjoyment.

[@gregpalermo3861]

No kidding. I am trying to fill my late 60s and early 70s sets. All my existing cards are played with, worn , well loved cards. So when i buy i buy 4s and 5s to match. I just want a complete set and couldn't care less about the value.

[@Roggiedodgie]

Call me a weirdo but I never let centering bother me- one bit. If it's miscut and there's needed info missing like position, team name, player name, or if any part of the photo is not on the card, then it would bother me. But centering? Just don't bother me- especially if the physical state of the card is very nice

[@gemint67]

That's great. You can get some great bargains if you buy cards that are off center. A PSA 8 Munson goes for $800-$1000 but a raw one that's sharp but off center will probably only set you back $30-$40.

[@gemint67]

Thank you!

[@mookiezebra]

I stopped collecting when PSA came into existence.

[@HacksignKT]

why may I ask

[@kupsh42]

@@HacksignKT Bc his cards weren't worth shit anymore

[@HacksignKT]

@@kupsh42 Ah!

[@kingdon1882]

The Swiss don't even use those scissors!!!😬😬

[@alanbret8770]

Let me know if you have any for sale?

[@Giantsdude]

nice rack pack, too bad on the centering tho. Looking forward to more rips!

[@tommyrosebeck8653]

Nice Andy Merssersmith and Pete Rose why not collect a complete first series and sell it on eBay?

[@norobbery]

Dave Concepcion should be in the Hall!

[@robertanderson2898]

So should Dave Parker, Dale Murphy, Dwight Evans, Darrell Evans, Ted Simmons, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff. I guess you could say that's a "Miss" Concepcion.......

[@tommyl6667]

All very good players, you can make a case for most but they fall short, in my opinion. Baines getting in is a travesty.

[@orbonds3603]

Agreed...best shortstop of 70s...add billy martin to that list

[@verginithe]

cutting with scissors has become a lost art in these videos ,,, smh

[@Necrodius]

i have the same pocket knife on my desk but in blue :P

[@orbonds3603]

Pocket knife graded a 6...books for 12.50 in latest beckett

[@gemint67]

GClooney17, Hopefully you bought it from a trusted source. There are lots of fakes out there. As for whether to open it, that's a personal decision. I only opened this one because it was splitting at the seams. Depending on how much you paid for it, getting back the value in the contents is a long shot. Most of the cards are NM or worse coming right out of the pack. However, you can't put a price on the fun of opening a vintage pack like this.

[@gemint67]

John C The Hunter I subbed came back as 'evid trim' as well. I resubbed it again and it came back 7.5. Just because PSA rejects a card or two, it doesn't mean the pack was resealed. Lots of '71s were cut short, so sometimes PSA rejects them.

[@residentzombie]

Prices exist because scarcity exists and all pricing is derived from supply versus demand. Beckett never taught you that, nor did public schools.

[@thebookoffesteskyle1753]

cool cards

[@billschipper1718]

This set is condition sensitive . You should have good semi rigid holders waiting for each card

[@kurtishendrix]

I'll never understand the whole off center is bad mentality. Cool cards though!

[@alanbret8770]

I have some high end mantles and a 53' topps high end Mays

[@mr.bloodvessel260]

Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter while on acid....

[@johnrafael4110]

Dude just because the cards are a little misplaced don't matter u should be grateful for even getting those cards

[@gemint67]

I like them all. The Munson is miscut but I still have it in my collection because I pulled it from a pack myself. However, I only submit the centered cards for grading.

[@johnrafael4110]

John C ok sorry for being a dick but cool we both have the same first name and our last names both start with a c

[@orbonds3603]

The universe is permeated with the smell of kerosene

[@tommyrosebeck8653]

You have BV $2,000+ depending on grade! Why not sell them????

[@reniehandler2595]

Always thought the lower case spelling was so weird. Not to capitalize the first letter on either the first or last name is bizarre.

[@caseywalker1714]

OMG stop talking about all the little details. You are way to nerdy. I guarantee the part Two to this has a Third of the hits. Show the cards then do a the details after. I just wasted 10 minutes of my life.

[@shawnlove2603]

A steve garvey rookie 71 sold for over 25.000 dollars

[@alanbret8770]

I seen unopened semistar showing packs get $1500

[@sananosser1868]

Geeze... don't people have razor blades or exacto knives?

[@gemint67]

I wouldn't recommend using those. One slip and you damage the cards. With these small scissors, it's clunky to open but safe. Very little chance of the blade side hitting the cards.

[@52mickeymantle]

got any more/

[@PsychoSonic100]

FAKE rack packs! They were already open and resealed with common cards.Trust me,I know somebody that use to scam people this way

[@PIP-zf9yb]

Clearly not fake

[@jamisonscardboard]

Ohhhhhman munson rookie cup

[@emitche9]

Invest in a x-acto knife

[@15DurangoRT]

You really handle cards like crap!

[@Racer997]

None of those cards are worth what you think they are worth because no one is buying 1971 singles, at least not for what so-called book is. 😂 Just put those silly cardboard scraps in your bike’s spokes and go try to have a bit of fun or just toss ‘em in a commons box because the only people enjoying them are nostalgic folks, not collectors. 🤣

[@xokayb7l2]

Dude can you go any slower on video? I fell asleep.

[@alanbret8770]

8+(oc) on munson

[@gemint67]

Alan Bret It would probably get a miscut designation.

[@mikeflisal]

Horrible

[@RexCampbell]

Nice cards bro