Question about unopened card packs, collectibility

[backbeatkeeper]

Forgive me if I'm in the wrong area, I got some cards from a friend that are for the most part all unopend packages. DonRuss from 1987. There is also some set of rookie cards, a collectible pack? Forgive me, I'm a drummer and know nothing of these cards

I've seen some of the cards from this year and make go for 200-300 bucks!! I was curious as to what makes them so valuable, as I've seen mulitiple listings on eBay for the same card and it varies. Would it be wise to have them opened and gone through to see if any valuable cards are there. I've seen 2 open cards and they are Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire.

Any help would be appreciated. I have no intention of keeping these, as I said I'm a drummer and am looking to find the best way to sell them.

Thanks in advance for any and all input.

[yazfan71]

From that year & brand of cards, the only thing that would make them valuable if by chance they might be an error card with the wrong back or they come back from one of the major grading services with a perfect grade. Other than that the chances of a 200-300 dollar card are non-existent.

[backbeatkeeper]

come back from one of the major grading services with a perfect grade.

How does one go about having a card graded? Is it worth it? I have approx. 30 or so unopened pack and a deck of rookies that is still wrapped in plastic.

[yazfan71]

The 2 main grading companies are Beckett Grading Services (BGS) & Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA). Their websites will have the information you need if you choose to submit any of your cards for grading.

I can't say whether or not it would be worth it as I don't know what the cards look like. Just because they are unopened doesn't mean that they will pull a perfect grade. Centering of the card image is always a concern & no one has any control over that once they are in the packs. Out of over 22,000 1987 Donruss Bonds cards that have been submitted to PSA, less than 1000 have gotten a perfect grade.

[backbeatkeeper]

So, would it be worth the time to open the all up and go through them? Or just sell them as a whole? I have no interest in cards at all and have come upon some hard financial times.

[yazfan71]

Well, if your finances are that bad then grading would probably be out of the question since it costs money to have each card graded. And depending on what time frame you choose through those services to get your cards back will effect that price.

Can't really answer which way would be better for you as I don't know your situation. Either way though, the chances of cards from that year & set helping all that much aren't very good as there are so many of them out on the market & the demand is just not that high.

[Greengoblin782]

Hey, Welcome to SCF. Thanks for Joining!

[shaqman1970]

Grading services go over your cards with a fine tooth comb so to speak. Looking for all inperfections such as surface, corners, centering, chipping around the edges and so on. I have sent in cards that I thought would receive a perfect grade only to get a 8.5 or a 9 when I thought it to be a 10. Putting it under a high power magnifying glass helps you to see some of these issues before sending in a card. Just a few tips that I have encountered in the past. Welcome to the sight by the way. I am a newbie here also.

[backbeatkeeper]

Green Goblin-Thanks for the welcome greetings

YazFan-I appreciate your point of view as far as value goes, but any money I make off of these is strictly a plus. The value of them indivdually if graded may be more, so I may look into that.

I also may put them up here, I need to find some holder for them first.

[backbeatkeeper]

Can anyone recommend a type of holder for these cards that I get on eBay or another place?