Opened a vintage pack and then my jaw dropped (1986 Fleer)

[marquis930]

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve posted anything on here, but, after stepping away from the hobby for a bit, I just re-engaged with it. I recently had a hell of a pull from a vintage pack, so I figured that I'd share the story here.

Back in 2016, I wanted some 1986 Fleer packs, but they were hella expensive on eBay. I checked on the BBCE website and saw that it had PSA 9 packs for around $2,000. I hit up the BBCE contact email and asked if they had any lower-graded packs for a lower price. To my surprise, Steve Hart responded quickly and said that he’d just gotten in some packs that were ungraded but he was confident that they hadn’t been tampered with. He offered to let me buy some and I jumped at the chance to get three of them.

My original plan was to hold the packs for good and I did so for over two years, but, eventually, curiosity got the best of me. I opened the first pack back in December and only got an off-center Barkley RC. Then, in January, I opened the second pack and got nothing, which had me shook about opening the third pack. So, I waited until two days ago to open the third one and right in the middle of the pack, I saw this...

https://sportscardalbum.com/c/0d5i1w26x450.png (https://sportscardalbum.com/card/0d5i1w26) https://sportscardalbum.com/c/0d5i1w26-backx450.png (https://sportscardalbum.com/card/0d5i1w26)

At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but then I realized that it was indeed real. My first thought was “Holy hell, I just pulled a Jordan RC and it is a niiiiiiice one” and my second one was “Thank you, Steve Hart!!!” That was the best pull of my years of collecting and I know that it isn’t even worth trying to beat it.

I put this joint in the mail to PSA yesterday morning and now I’m playing the waiting game. To my eye, I've got a legit shot at a PSA 9 and maybe even an outside shot at a PSA 10. I considered BGS for this one, but, from the look of this card, it has PSA written all over it.

I'm still shaking a little bit a couple of days after opening that pack. BIG SHOUT-OUT to Steve Hart!!!

[packfan15412]

Holy smoke! Congrats!!!!

[aggie4ever]

Amazing pull, congrats! And good luck on the grade!

[COMCMax]

Nice pull. Should have recorded it.

Go with PSA.

[JMarchand1981]

Awesome! Good luck with the grade.

[theLUCKYshow]

Wooohooooo! Most likely psa 9 but yeah who knows!

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[marquis930]

Nice pull. Should have recorded it.

Go with PSA.



You know... I didn’t even think about recording it.

The first two packs were so terrible that I just assumed that the third one would be too.


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[MVBSportsCards]

Not many can say they pulled a MJ Rookie. Congrats

[ThoseBackPages]

LOVE IT!

Steve is awesome!

[Archangel1775]

Wow man, you dont get to do that every day! Very cool!

[6celtics33]

I feel like my eyes are playing tricks on me too

Good luck with the grade

[Silentcommit]

Awesome story! Good luck with the grade.

[drobfan8]

Wow, that's outstanding.

Congrats

[blackbears86]

update us on the final grade!!!!!!

[GOATcollector]

Great pull! Refreshing to have a positive hobby thread. We need more of these shares. The clouds of negativity have been getting very thick in recent months.

[BC81]

Thanks for sharing a wonderful story!

The card has great centering and sharp corners, good luck with the grade!

The last guy that pulled a Jordan accidentally spit all over the card from his sheer excitement.




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[marquis930]

Thanks for sharing a wonderful story!

The card has great centering and sharp corners, good luck with the grade!

The last guy that pulled a Jordan accidentally spit all over the card from his sheer excitement.

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Maaaaan, I would’ve jumped out of a window if I’d done that.

That said, I had to be careful to not open the pack around my toddler encaustic he gets into everything. I secluded myself in a closet in my home office to make sure that he couldn’t startle me and make my ding any corners on anything good that I might find.









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[TMILL]

FANTASTIC!!!!
:)

[ilikenicecards]

Awesome story. Congrats and good luck on the grade.

[Cavaliercards]

Congrats on pull and Good luck with the grading

[REGGIE206]

That is awesome! Congrats!

Can’t wait to see what it grades!

[myusasets]

great pull, congrats. now whats this about 92 dream team. pm me if you need help, or if you can help me.

[marquis930]

great pull, congrats. now whats this about 92 dream team. pm me if you need help, or if you can help me.



I’ve been collecting PSA 10 and BGS 9.5 RCs of the 92 Dream Team as my PC for years. I’m still missing the PSA 10 of MJ and Bird/Magic, but have multiples of some of the others. Hit me up if you’re collecting the same thing and need some help.


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[KhalDrogo]

Keep us updated when it pops! Beautiful card.

[88horsepower]

Man, that is one nice looking MJ Rookie. Best of luck on the grade!

[gomiamigo]

Awesome pull! I've opened 2 1986 Fleer myself in recent years and gotten 9s of Barkley and Bird but off-centered, your MJ is gorgeous!

[MJGOAT23]

Wow congrats! Should be a PSA 9. No fisheye. No discernible print dots, clean corners and edges.

[ilikenicecards]

Wow congrats! Should be a PSA 9. No fisheye. No discernible print dots, clean corners and edges.

I've seen a PSA 9 (no qualifiers) of the #57 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan with a fish eye.

[CastleBeachCards]

I'm sitting here trying to imagine the pure joy of opening a pack and puling an MJ rc myself............I think that needs to go on my bucket list

[Sinoth23]

Not many can say they pulled a MJ Rookie. Congrats

:)!:)!

Congrats on the awesome pull!

[marquis930]

Wow congrats! Should be a PSA 9. No fisheye. No discernible print dots, clean corners and edges.



I tried my best to measure the centering on the front under magnification and it is about 55/45 both from top to bottom and from left to right.

In order to get a PSA 10, it has to be closer to 50/50 in at least one of the directions, right?


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[Southpas2013]

Awesome man just awesome ! Congrats.

And those are some Balls Of Steel to open those packs are not cheap. The chance of pulling an MJ in only 3 packs is low and a nicely centered one at that.

Gotta love it ! Pour yourself a drink.

To think you’ve been sitting on that card for the last two years. What if you would have sold the packs instead ?

Cheers bud!

[COMCMax]

I tried my best to measure the centering on the front under magnification and it is about 55/45 both from top to bottom and from left to right.

In order to get a PSA 10, it has to be closer to 50/50 in at least one of the directions, right?


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Not in every example I've seen.

1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan PSA 10 HOF RC (https://bit.ly/2M6PDvH)

[marquis930]

Not in every example I've seen.



1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan PSA 10 HOF RC (https://bit.ly/2M6PDvH)



Wow, the one that you linked to is really off-center on the front, but the one from Probstein that also popped up is hella off-centered on both sides. I’m surprised that PSA gave it a 10.

Mine is close to dead-on centered on the back by my measurements. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to make PSA show me some love.


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[COMCMax]

Wow, the one that you linked to is really off-center on the front, but the one from Probstein that also popped up is hella off-centered on both sides. I’m surprised that PSA gave it a 10.

Mine is close to dead-on centered on the back by my measurements. Hopefully, that’ll be enough to make PSA show me some love.


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Yea, you pulled a gorgeous one if the scan/photo does it justice.

Good luck with it.

[GatorPie]

Since the 10's are going for $20,000+, I'm sure PSA is being VERY picky on PSA 10's of those cards these days. To me, it's too noticeably off centered to be a 10, but a 9 looks like it shouldn't be an issue.

The cards in the packs are well collated and the set is only 132 cards, so there is a Jordan in every 12 packs or so. By buying 3 packs, you had a 1 in 4 chance. There's a reason why the packs are so damn expensive, the chance to pull a Jordan is very good.

[COMCMax]

Since the 10's are going for $20,000+, I'm sure PSA is being VERY picky on PSA 10's of those cards these days. To me, it's too noticeably off centered to be a 10, but a 9 looks like it shouldn't be an issue.

The cards in the packs are well collated and the set is only 132 cards, so there is a Jordan in every 12 packs or so. By buying 3 packs, you had a 1 in 4 chance. There's a reason why the packs are so damn expensive, the chance to pull a Jordan is very good.

Thats the best straight out the pack one I've seen to date. Usually they are off centered at best lol

[Southpas2013]

Ya PSA will grade this card very tough. I think a PSA 8 wouldn’t surprise me.

But still great pull with such a low chance of 25% on average to even get one.

[GatorPie]

Thats the best straight out the pack one I've seen to date. Usually they are off centered at best lol
Yeah, the one that the guy pulled on YouTube and spit all over was an off-centered monstrosity.

[MJGOAT23]

I've seen a PSA 9 (no qualifiers) of the #57 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan with a fish eye.

You're right, I have too. Just pointing out how nice and clean this one looks.

[COMCMax]

Yeah, the one that the guy pulled on YouTube and spit all over was an off-centered monstrosity.

Think I've seen 4 get packed pulled. Centering was the issue on all of them except this one. I'm interested in how it grades out. I think some of those early PSA 10s were graded during a time when PSA premiums didn't exist. No way some I see on eBay would GEM out with their current standards.

[elee712]

Curious, with PSA what do you put as the declared value? Are you supposed to guess what the grade it will get and declare it at that value?
The difference between a psa10 and a psa9 is significant...

[imbluestreak23]

Enjoy your new used HONDA!

[Bulls90s]

Congrats..something to tell your grand kids one day.

I wasnt allow to collect basketball cards when I was a kid..only baseball cards because I was told baseball cards are worth the most..I wont ever fo'git it.

[carl2001]

Update us on the grade

[MJGOAT23]

Not in every example I've seen.

1986 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan PSA 10 HOF RC (https://bit.ly/2M6PDvH)

Quite certain that one linked is a fake (serial ending in 099). Check out the flag in the Fleer Premier logo. it's "off". I mistakenly bought one of these fakes in a "PSA 9" holder at a show once because the fake is so good. Luckily I realized it before I left and was able to return it. The dealer also had unknowingly sold "PSA 10's" from the same batch he acquired from someone as well.

[MJGOAT23]

I tried my best to measure the centering on the front under magnification and it is about 55/45 both from top to bottom and from left to right.

In order to get a PSA 10, it has to be closer to 50/50 in at least one of the directions, right?


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PSA guidelines say that the image must be centered on the front within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 to 60/40 on the front; the wording of which I think leaves some room for interpretation and eye appeal. Grab one of these centering tools from ebay. It's about the best $15 i've ever spent. Your eyes deceive you sometimes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Trading-Sports-Card-Centering-Tool-for-PSA-BGS-GAI-Chance-at-a-PSA-10/303098489820?hash=item469213ebdc:g:sIoAAOSwv-NWbire

[marquis930]

Just got an email from PSA saying that they completed the grading and it came back as a PSA 9. I had my fingers crossed for a PSA 10, but I'm just happy as hell to have pulled that joint from a pack in the first place.

Part of me is considering cracking it when I get it back and sending it to BGS to try for a BGS 9.5, but, with my luck, I'd damage the card in doing so.

[jhileman79]

Just got an email from PSA saying that they completed the grading and it came back as a PSA 9. I had my fingers crossed for a PSA 10, but I'm just happy as hell to have pulled that joint from a pack in the first place.

Part of me is considering cracking it when I get it back and sending it to BGS to try for a BGS 9.5, but, with my luck, I'd damage the card in doing so.



Congrats!!!


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[COMCMax]

Just got an email from PSA saying that they completed the grading and it came back as a PSA 9. I had my fingers crossed for a PSA 10, but I'm just happy as hell to have pulled that joint from a pack in the first place.

Part of me is considering cracking it when I get it back and sending it to BGS to try for a BGS 9.5, but, with my luck, I'd damage the card in doing so.

Personally I'd keep the PSA 9 and if you get a wild hair send it back to PSA again down the road.

1986-87 FLEER #47 MICHAEL JORDAN HoF ROOKIE RC PSA 9 LOOKS GEM MINT (https://bit.ly/2JNxTn8)

1986 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan ROOKIE RC #57 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT (PWCC) (https://bit.ly/2MhhQQF)

[COMCMax]

Personally I'd keep the PSA 9 and if you get a wild hair send it back to PSA again down the road.

1986-87 FLEER #47 MICHAEL JORDAN HoF ROOKIE RC PSA 9 LOOKS GEM MINT (https://bit.ly/2JNxTn8)

1986 Fleer Basketball Michael Jordan ROOKIE RC #57 BGS 9.5 GEM MINT (PWCC) (https://bit.ly/2MhhQQF)

What's it coat to grade Jordan like as quick as you bid via PSA? I guess it wouldn't hurt to try BGS. That card is super clean with a background story. Whatever you do congrats. Not many people have packed pulled and graded a PSA 9 like you did.

*Don't forget if BGS grades it a 9 then you'll have to go back to PSA if you don't crack it. Big difference in PSA 9 & BGS 9.

[marquis930]

What's it coat to grade Jordan like as quick as you bid via PSA? I guess it wouldn't hurt to try BGS. That card is super clean with a background story. Whatever you do congrats. Not many people have packed pulled and graded a PSA 9 like you did.

*Don't forget if BGS grades it a 9 then you'll have to go back to PSA if you don't crack it. Big difference in PSA 9 & BGS 9.


I did the PSA Super Express service, so it was $200 for the two business day turnaround.

Now that I think about it, I don't want to spend another $200 to send it to BGS and deal with their delays, only to possibly have it come back as a BGS 9. I assume that I'd have to crack it out of the PSA case because there's no way that they'd upgrade a PSA 9 to a BGS 9.5, right?

[cornelljw]

One hell of a pull. Congrats

[COMCMax]

I did the PSA Super Express service, so it was $200 for the two business day turnaround.

Now that I think about it, I don't want to spend another $200 to send it to BGS and deal with their delays, only to possibly have it come back as a BGS 9. I assume that I'd have to crack it out of the PSA case because there's no way that they'd upgrade a PSA 9 to a BGS 9.5, right?

It's happened. Not as often as someonee sending it cracked lol

[ninjacookies]

Real cool story. Centering looks very nice as well!

[ThoseBackPages]

Just got an email from PSA saying that they completed the grading and it came back as a PSA 9. I had my fingers crossed for a PSA 10, but I'm just happy as hell to have pulled that joint from a pack in the first place.

Part of me is considering cracking it when I get it back and sending it to BGS to try for a BGS 9.5, but, with my luck, I'd damage the card in doing so.

BRILLIANT!!!

[pejc300]

Incredible story, congratulations!!

[MJGOAT23]

I did the PSA Super Express service, so it was $200 for the two business day turnaround.

Now that I think about it, I don't want to spend another $200 to send it to BGS and deal with their delays, only to possibly have it come back as a BGS 9. I assume that I'd have to crack it out of the PSA case because there's no way that they'd upgrade a PSA 9 to a BGS 9.5, right?

congrats on the 9! It's not $200 to send to BGS. They don't charge based on value but you will have a fair share of insurance to pay back and forth. FWIW I've sent a PSA 6 MJ RC in the case with a minimum BGS 8 and it worked out flawlessly. That said, i've tried several PSA 9's (not rc's but in general) for crossover review and I cant recall being successful unless I cracked it. In this case, i'd send in the case, and if it doesn't cross, you're still way ahead. It could(upon closer inspection, "should") squeak out 9 centering and 9.5+ on the rest of the subs.

[DajuanWagner]

Just got an email from PSA saying that they completed the grading and it came back as a PSA 9. I had my fingers crossed for a PSA 10, but I'm just happy as hell to have pulled that joint from a pack in the first place.

Part of me is considering cracking it when I get it back and sending it to BGS to try for a BGS 9.5, but, with my luck, I'd damage the card in doing so.



Nice joint...……...