The interest in vintage unopened sports card boxes and packs has never been higher. From collectors who want a pack they remember opening as a kid to those who want to know what it was like when cards came in waxy wrappers with a stick of gum, the allure of the colorful cards from years past can’t be denied.
It’s no secret why they’re pretty rare these days: packs were meant to be opened.

Decades ago, there wasn’t much thought to putting away boxes and packs for the future. Older packs were a fun collectible and a good way to pass away a summer afternoon or a cold winter night by ripping them open. Not many saved boxes just to collect them, but some did and thankfully a few dealers did stock a pretty solid inventory they kept. Most supplies have been depleted over the years, though, or are now so valuable they go into major sports card catalog auctions or are purchased privately by collectors.
Vintage sports card breakers have also snapped up a good bit of the inventory to satisfy the ravenous desire of some to buy into a break and hope they hit the lottery of a gem mint rookie card or Hall of Famer.
Boxes and packs of vintage unopened baseball card packs (as well as basketball, football and hockey) can be found on eBay. Whether you love collecting full boxes or packs, there’s usually something that’s eye-catching. You can see all PSA and BBCE authenticated unopened material on eBay here and a live glimpse at some of the most watched auctions for vintage unopened below.
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$$ 1989-90 Topps Hockey Unopened Box PSA 10 Joe Sakic Rookie ???? $$ Box 1
3 bids - Price: $2.36 - Watchers: 11
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$$ 1989-90 Topps Hockey Unopened Box PSA 10 Joe Sakic Rookie ???? $$ Box 2
3 bids - Price: $3.09 - Watchers: 11
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1989 UPPER DECK HIGH SERIES BOX FASC BBCE - KEN GRIFFEY JR RC / RANDY JOHNSON RC
0 bids - Price: $495.00 - Watchers:
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2001-02 Topps Reserve Hockey Sealed PSA PACK! - Possible Datsyuk RC PSA 10
0 bids - Price: $64.95 - Watchers:
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2000 Fleer Ultra Football Hobby Pack Sealed PSA GEM MINT 10 Tom Brady ROOKIE?
0 bids - Price: $249.99 - Watchers:
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