My collection during the junk wax era was sporadic. I’ve often written that I didn’t collect between 1986 and 1988 (except for one pack of Topps I bought in ’88). I collected Topps like crazy in 1989, and went cold turkey again in 1990. I came back to collect casually sometime in 1991 and then bought a bunch in ’92 and ’93.
I can see good and bad points in this. The good: I don’t have fond memories of mediocre sets like 1990’s Donruss or the overrated 1989 Upper Deck. The bad: I missed several players that were well known to junk wax enthusiasts who were kids at the time and memorized the front and back of each card.
For example, Dave Stapleton here. When I saw that Stapleton was one of the few 1989 scorecards I needed, I assumed the Red Sox infielder of the same name from earlier in the ’80s had finished his career with the Brewers.
No, it’s another Dave Stapleton that I didn’t know at all. A relief pitcher. If I collected the entire junk wax period, I would know, because Stapleton appeared not only in 1989 Score, but also in 1988 Donruss and 1989 Upper Deck. I didn’t buy an ’89 UD and I’m sure I’m about the only collector who didn’t open a pack of ’88 Donruss in the late ’80s.
But this is why I collect sets so many years later. I get to discover players like “the other Dave Stapleton”!
There’s Stapleton again with the other score from 1989 that Chris sent. Let’s see the status report on completing this set:
Total number of cards: 657
Required cards: 3
Needs: Tim Wallach, Wes Gardner, Ted Simmons
I’m now waiting for the last three cards from another collector.
But that wasn’t the only ’80s set Chris helped me with; he brought me closer to a few others.
Here is one of my latest needs for 1983 Donruss. Now let’s look at the status board:
Total number of cards: 658
Required cards: 2
Needs: Whitey Herzog, Ron Jackson
I also need a few more Dodgers, Ken Landreaux for sure, and I should look up the others. I think someone is sending me this too.
Chris also helped me gain more insight into 1985’s Donruss.
Total number of cards: 651
Required cards: 9
Needs: Lou Whitaker DK, Claudell Washington DK, Juan Samuel, Dwight Gooden, Roger Clemens, Rick Cerone, Darryl Strawberry, John Grubb, Randy Bush
Yes, Gooden and Clemens vegetables. That sounds like a summer project because I certainly don’t feel like throwing money at it right now.
Also a card for my recent mission to complete 1984 Topps Traded.
Total number of cards: 14
Required cards: 118
Needs: Too many to mention
I recently wrote about how I should just buy the whole set and I did set up some searches but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I’ll admit that my enthusiasm for ’80s sets isn’t electric, but I think if I finished just one of the above sets, the others would fall in the same vein.
Chris also sent me the empty Traded box from 1984. I really like these 80’s Traded boxes and would love to own them all. So far I only have 1981, 1984 and 1989 (I foolishly threw away the 1982 copy I’ve owned since 1982).
Some Future Star action! And only custom map makers would be smart enough to create a Dane-Garth Iorg map and link it to Wayne’s World! Excellent!
Backs too!
We stay in the 80s with one more thing, also from Chris:
A few junk wax packs!
For the first time in my life, I think I can keep this one sealed. I don’t need to open any more 1989 Topps, I have almost two complete sets of them. As for 1988’s Fleer, I’ve completed that too, and the thought of opening it doesn’t sound all that exciting to me.
But if anyone is interested in seeing the contents of either I can access them on the blog I guess.
There’s no Dave Stapletons in either pack, but I might be able to bring along another unknown family member. Always looking to learn.
#Score #Dave #Stapleton