Buzz Break: 1985 Topps Baseball Photo Rub-downs pack

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The pack: 1985 Topps Baseball Photo Rub-downs
Where to buy: Where/if you can find

Cards per pack: 3 (two rub-off sheets and cardboard checklist/instructions)
Base set completion: 
2 of 32 (6 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Sheets – Don Mattingly, Kirk Gibson, Dave Stieb and Rich Gossage; Kent Hrbek, Ron Davis and Juan Samuel

Insert cards: None

Autographs/Memorabilia: Not for a few years

What's Buzz-worthy: Want a relatively obscure but cheap 1980s collecting project that could prompt some money-making if you take on the challenge of grading? It might be this second of two test-issue releases from Topps.  These rub-downs are printed on very light vellum-like paper and are backed with what's essentially light tissue paper to prevent them from sticking to other items as they're meant to be applied to surfaces with the simple rubbing of a pencil or coin. These were undoubtedly meant to be used more than saved but you can still find wax boxes with relatively cheap prices for both the 1984 and 1985 releases. Meanwhile, the asking price on the 1984 PSA 10 you see at right (click to see it more closely)? It's $75. (Seriously.) How hard are these when it comes to grading? I'm not sure but keeping the backer aligned and unbent might be an issue (it's not attached) but the slight yellowing seen on the stock doesn't appear to be an issue.  Surprisingly, there have been sales for even more than that -- $79 for a 1985 Gem Mint 10 of Mike Schmidt, Bill Buckner, Ryne Sandberg and Tim Raines. The delicate form of these sheets is perhaps what's the biggest deal here and the combos of players are also interesting. You'll find a number of Hall of Famers (see checklist in gallery and above) in this one and that is probably helping those PSA sales as registry-minded collectors want stuff that's rarely graded, high-graded and generally obscure just as much as they want the elite stuff. This pack felt like a winner with the Mattingly appearance though it would have been bigger then.

Product Grade: A- (props for something weird)
Pack Grade: A- (Donnie Baseball!)
Fun Grade: B-

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