Q&A – Can You Help Identify This Topps Baseball Factory Set?

An interesting question popped-up in my inbox the other day.

Question: I recently acquired this set of cards. However, I’ve never seen it before and can’t figure out what’s inside. Pictures attached. Can you help identify it?

Answer: That is one heck of a set to acquire. What you have there is a 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set. It should contain all (792) cards from the 1982 Topps Baseball set.

Back in 1982 these were sold exclusively in the JCPenney Christmas catalog. They didn’t sell very well which is why collectors will spend big money on them today. You don’t see that many available.

Key cards in the 1982 Topps Baseball set include rookie cards of Cal Ripken Jr. #21, Dave Stewart #213, and Lee Smith #452.

BUYER BEWARE!

The shrink wrap that surrounds this 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set raises some major red flags.

The 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set did not come shrink wrapped from Topps. No plastic was on them.

Topps didn’t start wrapping their baseball factory sets in plastic until 1987.

Take a look:

When Topps did start wrapping their factory sets in 1987 the plastic they used was harder/thicker, and came folded at the ends.

Shrink wrap is a softer plastic that came along later in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

The plastic on the 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set was added by someone well after 1982.

Whoever placed the plastic on this 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set used shrink wrap and a heat gun.

Purchasing a factory set that wasn’t originally wrapped in plastic from Topps could potentially allow for some fraud.

An individual could easily remove the key cards from a factory set, seal it in shrink wrap, and attempt to pass it off as “factory sealed”.

If you’re interested in buying a 1982 Topps Baseball Factory Set (which can cost $500-$1,000) you don’t want to see it shrink wrapped. Make sure that all (792) cards are included.