Cheap Wax Wednesday Box Breaks: 1991 Topps Traded Baseball
1991 Topps Traded Baseball was available in two different formats, the traditional factory set and as a wax box. Both featured the same checklist, but the cards were printed on different card stock. The wax pack cards, like this box, have darker grey backs, while the factory set cardstock backs are bright white. As far as the box goes, there isn’t a whole lot going on. The checklist is 132 cards and there are no parallels or inserts to look for.
There are a couple of Hall of Fame Rookie Cards one the checklist, though, Ivan Rodriguez and Jeff Bagwell. There are also some fun cards of the USA National Team included as well.
1991 Topps Traded Baseball Box Break
Cards per pack: 7
Packs per box: 36
Price paid: $20
Shop for 1991 Topps Traded Baseball boxes on eBay.
Pack 1 highlights:
Darryl Strawberry & Chili Davis
Strawberry signed with the Dodgers following the 1990 season. He made $3.8 million in 1991.
Pack 2:
Dante Bichette, Luis Gonzalez RC & Jeff Bagwell RC
Pack 3:
Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, Vince Coleman & Dwight Evans
Pack 4:
Charles Johnson USA RC
Pack 5:
Brett Butler
The Dodgers had quite the offseason in 1990, also signing Butler to a four-year deal.
Pack 6:
Otis Nixon
Pack 7:
George Bell & Ivan Calderon
Pack 8:
Hal McRae
Pack 9:
Joe Carter & Jack Morris
Carter & Morris be teammates on the 1992 World Series Champion Toronto Blue Jays.
Pack 10:
Tim “Rock” Raines, Gary Carter & Dave Righetti
Pack 11:
A copy of Pack 1, Strawberry & Davis
Pack 12:
Mitch Williams, Dante Bichette, Luis Gonzalez RC & Jeff Bagwell RC
Pack 13:
Vince Coleman & Dwight “Dewey” Evans
Evans played the first 19 seasons of his career with the Red Sox. It’s still weird seeing him in a Baltimore uniform.
Pack 14:
Charles Johnson USA RC
Pack 15:
Brett Butler & Steve Bedrosian
Pack 16:
Mike Timlin
Pack 17:
Ivan Rodriguez RC
Pulling HOF RCs from a pack hits different. A ton of value? No, but it’s still cool.
Pack 18:
Phil Nevin USA RC & Tom Candiotti
Pack 19:
Jason Giambi USA RC & Bo Jackson
Pack 20:
Willie McGee
Pack 21:
Dave Parker & Roberto Alomar
Parker was traded to the Angels March 14, 1991. The Brewers received Dante Bichette in return.
Pack 22:
Mike Timlin
Pack 23:
Ivan Rodriguez RC & Phil Nevin USA RC
Pack 24:
Mike Hargrove & Derek Bell
Pack 25:
Terry Pendleton
Pendleton was signed by the Braves prior to the 1991 season. He would win the NL MVP his first season in Atlanta, leading the league with 187 hits and a .319 average.
Pack 26:
Steve Finley & Mo Vaughn
Pack 27:
Kirk Gibson, Fred McGriff & Willie Randolph
Pack 28:
Derek Bell & Mike Hargrove
Pack 29:
Gary Carter, Willie Randolph & “Rock” Raines
Carter was signed by the Dodgers just before his 37th birthday. He played just one season in L.A. before being waived and claimed by the Expos.
Pack 30:
Dave Righetti & Darryl Strawberry
Pack 31:
Chili Davis, Luis Gonzalez RC & Jeff Bagwell RC
Pack 32:
Dante Bichette, Mitch Williams & Vince Coleman
Pack 33:
Charles Johnson USA RC & Dwight Evans
Pack 34:
Brett Butler
Pack 35:
Chris Wimmer USA RC
I had to pick at least one card from this dud pack. I do love the USA pictures though featuring metal bats.
Pack 36:
Otis Nixon & George Bell
Well that was good, cheap fun. I found multiple Hall of Fame RCs. Dupes should be expected with just a 132-card checklist. Luckily I found some of the right players.
With the fall weather in the air, the baseball season is starting to wind down. Baseball products will be featured here through the end of the postseason. At that point, focus will turn to football through the Super Bowl.
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Want more installments of Shane Salmonson’s Cheap Wax Wednesday? Check out his other breaks in the archives.
