General Forum

Hi everyone. I'm new here. I was checking out JR's cards on Ebay. I noticed how much more a PSA 10 Donruss goes for than Topps traded. Most of the time i know why something is more valuable brand wise than another brand but this one caught me by suprise. so much so that i've been thinking of opening a couple of sets to see if i have a possible 10. 

Does anyone know why its going for basically double topps traded? Would any of you break into your sealed sets to look?

I haven't looked at the population reports, but I would guess that a Donruss 10 would be much more difficult to find.  My reasoning would be the fliimsy card stock Donruss was using in the junk era which was very easily damaged.  There may be other reasons as well such as the black borders on the Donruss set.  Any tiny flaw is much more noticeable.  As for me I would not break into my sets if they were still factory sealed, but I'm not much of a gambler.  Other than the Griffey, you could do well with other cards as well such as Randy Johnson.  

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for the reply. I'll check into the rarity of the 10's later.

Welcome to the database. 

I was thinking one possible reason could have been release dates? If the Donruss was released as his "first" RC (back then) it would have been considered his ultimate RC. I don't know if that is the case or not.

Now days there are so many sets and variants and parallels who the heck knows what the criteria for a Rookie Card is anymore. Back in the day it was simply the very first card a player appeared on (intentionally, non of this cameo stuff). For some years Topps would have two or three Rookies (in later years 4 or more sometimes) on the same card and that was their RC.

First, welcome.

Next, the Donruss is a Rookie Card (RC). The Topps Traded, well, it's what a major hobby publication called "XRC" - extended rookie card. Since the first card issued of that player by that company wasn't in the mainstream set (issued in packs), it gets the XRC. So, in that regards, the 89 Topps Traded Griffey in technically not a RC, as Kirk stated.

As mentioned before, flimsy stock and colored borders make the Donruss a much tougher 10.  As long as it's not near the front or back of one of the cellos Donruss did for their factory sets, it's worth a shot.  The cellos were so tightly wrapped, the first few cards on each end almost always have corner damage.

Jake i think your right on the money with that one. topps traded has 10855 10's while Donruss has only 1563 10's. Thats only PSA grading though. I am not sure what Beckett would have.

Hello Cap, i hear ya on that. I don't really care for the various RC's now that are out there, i find the old days of one RC per brand much easier and better. I remember when the 89 upperdeck was the holy grail and now its basically just like the others.

I did not know thats what xrc ment. thank you! i didn't like the fact i couldn't get those cards because i only got packs from grocery stores and obviously never had the chance at those. 

I agree with Dan here. Topps Traded cards are less valuable in general. I don't even consider them rookie cards at all, just commons.

  I would have no problem breaking open those sets.   Not like they will shoot up in value in the next century.