Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Unopened Baseball Cards: True Test of Willpower,, Patience

by Diane Carter

To most baseball card collectors, nothing is more exciting than an unopened pack of cards. The mystery of what is inside can be overwhelming. Will you draw a card worth a good amount of money or a particular rare insert to add to your collection? Unopened baseball cards generate excitement and anticipation. On the fun scale, opening a pack of cards is a definite 10 out of 10.

So, the idea of buying an unopened pack, box or case of cards only to leave it unopened, isn't easy unless you're a dealer. Yet today unopened baseball cards are a large part of the baseball collectors’ marketplace, especially for vintage collectors. The result is really a modern day catch 22--how can you place a value on a pack of cards without knowing what’s in it?

Today, unopened cards are purchased and saved for posterity in all types of formats--blaster boxes, cello boxes, jumbo boxes, rack packs, hobby boxes, retail boxes, wax boxes, vending boxes, etc.

Sports cards come in several types of packaging. The most popular has always been the pack. "Wax packs" have come to mean traditional card packs. The term started circulating in the 1970s when other types of packs were starting to be produced. Originally the paper wrappers around baseball cards had a waxy feel and were quite bright, often with blue, yellow and red lettering to attract attention. Originally, packs of baseball cards had gum inside and the wrapper was an aid in keeping it fresh. Now cards are more apt to be wrapped in foil-type packaging.

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Sports Collectors Daily
6/3/2011

Another good article.

At one time I liked to keep unopened packs of some cards somewhat for the potential resale, but mostly from the toy and action figure collectors mindset of keeping stuff in the original packaging.