Hard habit to break

I love cello packs.

The first packs I ever received -- those cards my mom bought for me at the grocery store in 1974 -- were cello packs. The majority of the packs I bought that first year of collecting in 1975 -- including the '75 minis -- were cello packs.

Cello packs were/are cool because you can see some of the cards that you are buying. Old-style rack packs are even better, because you can see even more of the cards that you are buying. Of course, these days they try to cover them up all thwarty like.

It's been a long time since I've seen cello packs wrapped the traditional way. That's why when I first entered the antique shop last weekend, I knew the trip would be a success, because virtually the first thing I saw were two cello packs of 1984 Fleer.

They were locked in a glass case with a number of other "for sale" items. I felt ridiculous asking to have a case unlocked for two packs of 1984 Fleer. Next to the '84 were two cello packs of 1986 Fleer. I ignored those. I have principles.

But '84 Fleer is one of those sets that I May Collect If I Have Run Out Of Other Things To Collect. You know those sets. You like it, but, you just can't get roped into another set to chase. So the set gets backlogged in your brain -- kind of like the girl you knew as a friend when you were 15. If neither of you were married in 20 years, you agreed to get hitched. Of course, you lost contact with the girl two years later. Probably for the best.

And it's probably best I'm not trying to complete 1984 Fleer.

But opening a pack of 28 cards plus two team logo stickers? That I can do.

Oh, before I open it, I forgot to show the back of the cello pack:

Instant success.

On with the pack:

#585 - Brian Giles, Mets
#437 - Keith Atherton, A's
#227 - Art Howe, Astros

#273 - Andre Dawson, Expos

Hall of Famer playing in his future home. But I love him most as an Expo.

#544 - Toby Harrah, Indians

#281 - Tim Raines, Expos

Future Hall of Famer wearing the classic red Expos batting practice jersey.

#571 - Bobby Mitchell, Twins

#189 - Biff Pocoroba, Braves

Biff played 10 years with the Braves and surpassed 100 games only once. You could do that back then.

#115 - Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers

I have all the Dodgers in this set, but I'm showing each one I pull anyway. ... The thought process that went into taking this photo is off the charts. "Got a ball?" "Stand there." "OK, you're all done."

#153 - Damaso Garcia, Blue Jays

#104 - Ken Landreaux, Dodgers

Excellent. My other '84 Fleer Landreaux has a nasty stain on the bottom. Landreaux Calirissian deserves better.

#348 - Don Hood, Royals
#166 - Jorge Orta, Blue Jays
#224 - Frank DiPino, Astros

Sticker time!!!!!!

Fleer really got the best of the deal as far as extras to include in packs. Topps clung to the most horrible gum  in the world. Donruss thought we wanted to waste our time on puzzles. Stickers strikes to the heart of what kids want.

#345 - Onix Concepcion, Royals
#531 - Mike Witt, Angels
#328 - Dave LaPoint, Cardinals
#618 - Ron Roenicke, Mariners

#425 - Mickey Rivers, Rangers

DH, huh? Mickey must've been losing his wheels late in his career.

#82 - Larry Herndon, Tigers

#27 - John Denny, Phillies

This would've been a nice pull in 1984. Denny was coming off a Cy Young Award. I'll bet not a lot of non-Phillies fans remember that.

#179 - Gene Garber, Braves
#498 - Jerry Morales, Cubs

#72 - Dick Tidrow, White Sox

Is Tidrow hiding a gang signal?

#543 - Mike Hargrove, Indians
#316 - Ed Whitson, Padres

#69 - Greg Luzinski, White Sox

Outside of the Dodgers, I think this might be the only double I pulled out of the two cello packs. That's pretty good as I already own close to half the set.

#97 - Joe Beckwith, Dodgers

Beckwith's last Dodger card (along with the '84 Topps and Donruss versions)

#412 - Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox

But this is Yaz's last solo card of his CAREER. Which is why I was so eager to land this pack. Yaz has a couple of other '84 cards in which he shares space with some other guys, but this is the only one of him alone.

Of course, that's the final card. If you counted all the cards in the pack, you know that there were 29 cards, not 28 cards, as the wrapper said.

The other '84 Fleer pack I opened also had 29 cards.

I guess that's what they mean by Value Pak!

For those interested, the player peaking through on the other cello pack was Pete Rose. The flip side was Bake McBride.

No, I'm not going to open it here.

Find your own antique shop with '84 Fleer in glass display cases.