1985 TOPPS RUB-DOWNS DWIGHT GOODEN
OK, so while a Topps Rub-Down might sound like the backroom special at the Bada Bing, the truth is somewhat less salacious.
Topps issued these thin, waxy transfer sheets two to a pack, with a stick of gum, in both 1984 and 1985. The example under consideration this week is one of the 32 offerings that make up the 1985 edition.
These were not particularly popular back in the day, nor are they in demand now– if you can find one, a full set will run you around $5. I paid a quarter for this single Dwight Gooden/Dwight Evans/Julio Franco/glove/bat/ball sheet…
Well, as longtime readers know, we here at Card of the Week are all about the science, whether we’re dropping it or being blinded by it.
In that spirit, I put on my science goggles and tested the persistence of Topps’ mid-80s rub-down technology, in order to see if it still works as intended 28 years later.
In an effort to best replicate the 1985 conditions, I fished a vintage nickel from the coin jar, tore out a sheet of college-ruled notebook paper, cranked up some Mr. Mister, cracked open a New Coke, and commenced rubbing. The results are shown in Fig. 1 below.
Fig. 1. Sheet of standard college-ruled notebook paper with rub-downs applied.
All things considered, the Topps technology remains strong and viable almost three decades after the set was issued. (The fact that Dwight Evans doesn’t have a face is more a product of my rubbing technique than any compositional deficiencies in the original materials.)
So kudos to you, 1985 Topps product engineers, wherever you might be today…
This was pretty cool. Is this the last insert that was produced with kids in mind? Also, is this a one-shot deal or can you rub down Doc and company again?
It’s a hard choice as to which is worse – listening to Mr. Mister or drinking New Coke. How you do either without loads of rum is a mystery…
Brian, these rub-downs are one-shot deals. Topps goes back and forth in terms of marketing to kids– right now they have a couple of products at retail that are probably aimed at “the kids” (Qubi, Chipz)…
I love the comment about the fact that these are scarce, and cheap at the same time! The anomaly that says there is demand for things in low quantities! =;)
Way to go…defacing Dewey just the heck of it.