1982 Topps Baseball

Got a nice little treat in the mailbox today. A 1982 Topps baseball cello pack that I won on eBay for $5.31 delivered. What a steal. Could there be a gem mint Cal Ripken, Jr. rookie lurking inside?!? 28 cards...let's find out...

To watch the video of this pack break click here.

Top of the pack has Brewers Future Stars shining through. John Lowenstein showing on bottom.

333 - Milwaukee Brewers Future Stars: Frank DiPino, Marshall Edwards, Chuck Porter
The only guy in the trio I recognize is Frank DiPino who was a bum reliever for the Cubs in the mid 80's.

171 - San Francisco Giants Future Stars: Bob Brenly, Chili Davis, Bob Tufts
At first I didn't realize this is the Davis RC. And don't slight Brenly, a future World Series champion manager. Books for 2 bucks. My heart kinda sinks though as I don't think I'll be pulling a Cal after getting two of these team prospects cards so soon.

589 - Dave Stapleton
Badly miscut.

537 - Doug Capilla
Sweet powder blue with white pinstripes early 80's Cubs road jersey.

383 - Pascual Perez
Pascual Perez! Not the error though. Just his rookie card, which isn't worth anything.

156 - Oakland A's Team Leaders/Checklist: Rickey Henderson, Steve McCatty
Would've been a lot sweeter to get the regular Rickey card which is a classic photo.

526 - Montreal Expos Team Leaders/Checklist: Warren Cromartie, Bill Gullickson

679 - Sammy Stewart
Badly miscut. Like the Stapleton.

732 - Mike Lum

142 - Dave LaRoche

96 - Kansas City Royals Team Leaders/Checklist: George Brett, Larry Gura


755 - Joe Morgan In Action



187 - Jeff Newman

527 - John Henry Johnson
Sweet 80's perm hair.


Halfway through the pack we get an ancient piece of gum stuck to... a Topps album sticker! I didn't know they put these in the cello packs but that's awesome. The sticker is of Roger Erickson and is surprisingly undamaged by the gum nor are any of the cards. The gum is a big square piece as opposed to the rectangular pieces I remember. It is a very pale pink almost brown color and is frighteningly flexible. Minutes later after air got to it, it crumbled easily. Fascinating.

81 - Jim Palmer In Action
Actually a really nice shot.

512 - Jerry Dybzinski



357 - Butch Hobson

52 - Larry Andersen
I love early Mariner uniforms.


200 - George Brett
Nice card number for a classic card. Books for 3 bucks.

560 - Doug Corbett
Looking at the back of his card I notice in his rookie year of 1980 he was 8-6 with 23 saves and a 1.99 ERA in 73 appearances for the Twins. Wow.

334 - Aurelio Rodriguez

399 - Pat Zachry

107 - Wayne Krenchicki
Not the Oriole I wanted.

415 - Don Baylor
Classic card.


490 - Dennis Eckersley
Love the photo on this one.

328 - Ed Farmer
White Sox pitcher. Back of the card says, "Set club mark by registering 30 saves in 1980." I wonder who would break that one. Love the early 80's White Sox uniforms by the way.

735 - Rudy May
First stat line on the back is from 1965. Wow.

747 - John Lowenstein
Card is unremarkable other than it happens to be the best printed card in the pack. Ink and photo is crystal clear.

Well, all I can say is that pack absolutely ruled in so many ways. No Cal but getting the Chili Davis RC and a great George Brett card more than made up for it. Best fun I've had opening a pack in quite some time. You can't beat vintage Topps.