My collecting during the junk wax era was sporadic. I’ve written many times that I didn’t collect between 1986-88 (save for one pack of Topps I bought in ’88). I collected Topps like crazy in 1989, then went cold turkey again in 1990. I came back somewhere in 1991 collecting casually and then bought a bunch in ’92 and ’93.
I can see good and bad points to this. The good: I have no fond memories for mediocre sets like 1990 Donruss or overvalue 1989 Upper Deck. The bad: I missed several players commonly known by junk wax devotees, who were kids at the time and memorized the front and back of every card.
For example, Dave Stapleton here. When I saw that Stapleton was one of the few final 1989 Score cards that I needed, I assumed that the Red Sox infielder by the same name from earlier in the ’80s had wrapped up his career with the Brewers.
Nope, it’s a different Dave Stapleton that I didn’t know at all. A relief pitcher. If I collected all through the junk wax period, I’d know that, because Stapleton not only appeared in 1989 Score but also in 1988 Donruss and 1989 Upper Deck. I didn’t buy any ’89 UD and I am sure I’m about the only collector who did not open a pack of ’88 Donruss in the late ’80s.
But this is why I collect sets all these many years later. I get to discover players like “the other Dave Stapleton”!
There’s Stapleton again with the other 1989 Score that Chris sent. Let’s check the status report on completing this set:
Total cards: 657
Cards needed: 3
Needs: Tim Wallach, Wes Gardner, Ted Simmons
I’m awaiting the final three cards from another collector right now.
But that wasn’t the only ’80s set Chris helped me with — he got me closer on a few others.
Here is one my final needs for 1983 Donruss. Let’s look at the status board now:
Total cards: 658
Cards needed: 2
Needs: Whitey Herzog, Ron Jackson
I also need a couple extra Dodgers, Ken Landreaux for sure and I’d have to look up the others. I think someone is sending me these, too.
Chris helped me close in more on 1985 Donruss, too.
Total cards: 651
Cards needed: 9
Needs: Lou Whitaker DK, Claudell Washington DK, Juan Samuel, Dwight Gooden, Roger Clemens, Rick Cerone, Darryl Strawberry, John Grubb, Randy Bush
Yeah Gooden and Clemens rookies. That sounds like a summer project because I certainly don’t feel like throwing money at that now.
Also, one card toward my recent mission to complete 1984 Topps Traded.
Total cards: 14
Cards needed: 118
Needs: Too many to list
I recently wrote that I should just buy the whole set and I do have some searches set up, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. My enthusiasm for ’80s sets I admit is not electric, but I think if I were to finish just one of the above, then the others would fall into line.
Chris also sent me the 1984 Traded empty box. I really like these ’80s Traded boxes and would love to own them all. So far I just have 1981, 1984 and 1989 (I foolishly trashed the 1982 one that I owned since 1982).
Some Future Star action! And only custom card makers would be clever enough to create a Dane-Garth Iorg card and tie it into Wayne’s World! Excellent!
Backs, too!
We’re going to stay in the ’80s with one more thing, also from Chris:
A couple of junk wax packs!
For the first time in my life I think I will be able to keep these sealed. I don’t need to open any more 1989 Topps, I have nearly two complete sets of it. As for 1988 Fleer, I’ve completed that, too, and the thought of opening it doesn’t sound too exciting to me.
But if anyone is interested in seeing the contents of either, I could open them up on the blog, I guess.
No Dave Stapletons to find in either pack but maybe I could pull some other relative unknown. Always looking to learn.