1989 Upper Deck Unopened Box - how to tell low or high?

steveserafino · 01-18-2021, 05:29 PM

I was a collector as a kid (I am now 46) and just started looking at some of my cards. I have an unopened box of 1989 Upper Deck cards - 36 packs. I see a lot of talk about low count or high count cards for this box. How do you know which you have? Is it in some code on the box? About how much does an unopened box of 1989 Upper Deck cards sell for?

cjay101 · 01-18-2021, 05:33 PM

High Series is marked on the front lower right of the box.

Low (Regular) was the first issue has cards 1-700.

High (later series) was the second issue has cards 1-800.

dodgerfanjohn · 01-18-2021, 05:37 PM

BBCE has authenticated low series loose boxes at $425. I’d expect high number boxes at $300-325.

For non authenticated selling on eBay...probably $50 less

steveserafino · 01-18-2021, 06:04 PM

Thank you for the replies. So as I’m looking at the box the only thing I see on the front, bottom, right is the word “New!” It sounds like I should assume this is the low series since it does not explicitly point out otherwise? Do you guys think there is more value selling the box as is, or opening and seeing if I can get a couple Griffeys?

eldustino · 01-18-2021, 06:09 PM

If you're only ripping for griffeys... IMO you'll be better off selling unopened.

If you want to have a good time busting a great early premium product, bust away and I hope you get one!

I ripped a box early in quarantine hoping for a griffey (obviously) and came up empty... but did get a couple of well-centered others like Randy Johnson.... based on the number of cards in the set you're not likely at all to hit more than one Griffey. I still had fun as I spread out one pack a day over 36 consecutive days, and really intentionally enjoyed each!

cruiserdaddy7 · 01-18-2021, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveserafino

Thank you for the replies. So as I’m looking at the box the only thing I see on the front, bottom, right is the word “New!” It sounds like I should assume this is the low series since it does not explicitly point out otherwise? Do you guys think there is more value selling the box as is, or opening and seeing if I can get a couple Griffeys?

NEW means it's low series.

I personally feel this is a good product to set aside and watch it grow as people realize the true rarity of a Griffey psa 10 compared to today's overproduced 10s

dodgerfanjohn · 01-18-2021, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiserdaddy7

NEW means it's low series.

I personally feel this is a good product to set aside and watch it grow as people realize the true rarity of a Griffey psa 10 compared to today's overproduced 10s

I like this idea.

The other idea that’s ok to me is to sell it via a consignor on ebay and buy a psa 9 Griffey jr you like.

It looks like selling range of the box on eBay is $250-270. Take 15% off for fees. At those prices I’d look into what the big guys are paying. If it’s $200 or more I’d take that and call it a day.

Or rip. Who the heck knows?

joe73 · 01-18-2021, 10:08 PM

I'd open that box 100 times out of 100.

SpecialFNK · 01-18-2021, 10:42 PM

didn't they overproduce Giffey rookie cards meaning there should be a good chance to get at least 1 Girffey rookie card here? unopened pack could have a best graded Griffey rookie and that could bring more $$ than selling it unopened.

rngrdanny22 · 01-18-2021, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialFNK

didn't they overproduce Giffey rookie cards meaning there should be a good chance to get at least 1 Girffey rookie card here? unopened pack could have a best graded Griffey rookie and that could bring more $$ than selling it unopened.

I've heard tales of a single box having 4-5 Griffey's...

joe73 · 01-18-2021, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialFNK

didn't they overproduce Giffey rookie cards meaning there should be a good chance to get at least 1 Girffey rookie card here? unopened pack could have a best graded Griffey rookie and that could bring more $$ than selling it unopened.

Legend has it the owners printed more for themselves, but that wouldn't have increased the odds in packs.

dodgerfanjohn · 01-18-2021, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rngrdanny22

I've heard tales of a single box having 4-5 Griffey's...

Variance.

IE horrible collation.

Multiple Griffey’s in some box just mean more boxes with none.

YeahBuddy · 01-18-2021, 10:59 PM

I opened a sealed set this year from childhood .. not doing research first .. didnt know the griffey was the VERY last card next to the mini holo sticker deals ... somehow mine was unscathed but not completely ...

I can see the butt hurt of opening sealed sets only to find damaged griffey

SpecialFNK · 01-18-2021, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe73

Legend has it the owners printed more for themselves, but that wouldn't have increased the odds in packs.

I remember seeing some show on TV about cards from around that time period. instead of printing sheets with every card, UD printing sheets of entirely Griffey. that would be an awful lot of Griffey rookie cards.

dodgerfanjohn · 01-18-2021, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialFNK

I remember seeing some show on TV about cards from around that time period. instead of printing sheets with every card, UD printing sheets of entirely Griffey. that would be an awful lot of Griffey rookie cards.

Backdoored or otherwise released directly to dealers and other. Not inserted in packs.

CardFarmer · 01-18-2021, 11:52 PM

Here are some pics. High series explicitly states as much on the box, whereas low doesn't say anything. I have about a half case of these things sitting here, but won't rip them because the EV (expected value) is far below the retail price. If you rip these, do it for fun, not profit. You also need to be careful because I seem to recall that these boxes could be 'searched' by ripping a few probe packs, then using those to pull specific pack locations. I ripped several cases of 1991 upper deck early last year, and after about 5 boxes, I found the pattern and could cherry pick the Chipper Jones packs.

IE, I think you could get BBCE boxes that have still been searched. If you truly want a fair shake, get BBCE FASC high series. That's your best bang/buck. Just my $0.02.

CardFarmer · 01-18-2021, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpecialFNK

didn't they overproduce Giffey rookie cards meaning there should be a good chance to get at least 1 Girffey rookie card here? unopened pack could have a best graded Griffey rookie and that could bring more $$ than selling it unopened.

They did, but those were them just printing sheets of Griffeys. Those sheet printed griffey cards never made it into packs.

deemsterz33 · 01-19-2021, 12:33 AM

I've opened 2 of the low series, got 1 Griffey in one and 2 in another. Not sure if it was mentioned, but the high series box also contains a lot of cards from the 1st seriea, so you can easily hit a Griffey in those as well.

CardFarmer · 01-19-2021, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deemsterz33

I've opened 2 of the low series, got 1 Griffey in one and 2 in another. Not sure if it was mentioned, but the high series box also contains a lot of cards from the 1st seriea, so you can easily hit a Griffey in those as well.

Yes, this is true. That's why I said that BBCE FASC high series are the best bang for the buck.

01-18-2021, 05:29 PM	#1
steveserafino Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 2	1989 Upper Deck Unopened Box - how to tell low or high? I was a collector as a kid (I am now 46) and just started looking at some of my cards. I have an unopened box of 1989 Upper Deck cards - 36 packs. I see a lot of talk about low count or high count cards for this box. How do you know which you have? Is it in some code on the box? About how much does an unopened box of 1989 Upper Deck cards sell for?

01-18-2021, 05:33 PM	#2
cjay101 Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Kansas Posts: 120 cjay101 cjay101	High Series is marked on the front lower right of the box. Low (Regular) was the first issue has cards 1-700. High (later series) was the second issue has cards 1-800. __________________ Collecting any Jerry Rice that I don't already own!

01-18-2021, 06:04 PM	#4
steveserafino Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 2	Thanks. Thank you for the replies. So as I’m looking at the box the only thing I see on the front, bottom, right is the word “New!” It sounds like I should assume this is the low series since it does not explicitly point out otherwise? Do you guys think there is more value selling the box as is, or opening and seeing if I can get a couple Griffeys?

01-18-2021, 11:52 PM	#16
CardFarmer Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 407	Here are some pics. High series explicitly states as much on the box, whereas low doesn't say anything. I have about a half case of these things sitting here, but won't rip them because the EV (expected value) is far below the retail price. If you rip these, do it for fun, not profit. You also need to be careful because I seem to recall that these boxes could be 'searched' by ripping a few probe packs, then using those to pull specific pack locations. I ripped several cases of 1991 upper deck early last year, and after about 5 boxes, I found the pattern and could cherry pick the Chipper Jones packs. IE, I think you could get BBCE boxes that have still been searched. If you truly want a fair shake, get BBCE FASC high series. That's your best bang/buck. Just my $0.02. Last edited by CardFarmer; 01-18-2021 at 11:55 PM.

01-18-2021, 05:37 PM	#3
dodgerfanjohn Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 5,408 sternroolz	BBCE has authenticated low series loose boxes at $425. I’d expect high number boxes at $300-325. For non authenticated selling on eBay...probably $50 less

01-18-2021, 06:09 PM	#5
eldustino Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 2,247	If you're only ripping for griffeys... IMO you'll be better off selling unopened. If you want to have a good time busting a great early premium product, bust away and I hope you get one! I ripped a box early in quarantine hoping for a griffey (obviously) and came up empty... but did get a couple of well-centered others like Randy Johnson.... based on the number of cards in the set you're not likely at all to hit more than one Griffey. I still had fun as I spread out one pack a day over 36 consecutive days, and really intentionally enjoyed each!

01-18-2021, 10:08 PM	#8
joe73 Banned Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 726	I'd open that box 100 times out of 100.

01-18-2021, 10:42 PM	#9
SpecialFNK Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 91	didn't they overproduce Giffey rookie cards meaning there should be a good chance to get at least 1 Girffey rookie card here? unopened pack could have a best graded Griffey rookie and that could bring more $$ than selling it unopened.

01-18-2021, 10:59 PM	#13
YeahBuddy Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 980	I opened a sealed set this year from childhood .. not doing research first .. didnt know the griffey was the VERY last card next to the mini holo sticker deals ... somehow mine was unscathed but not completely ... I can see the butt hurt of opening sealed sets only to find damaged griffey

01-19-2021, 12:33 AM	#18
deemsterz33 Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 5,925 phunkified	I've opened 2 of the low series, got 1 Griffey in one and 2 in another. Not sure if it was mentioned, but the high series box also contains a lot of cards from the 1st seriea, so you can easily hit a Griffey in those as well.