Registry Set Registry Set Registry pack leader

THE FOLLOWING Q&A WITH UNOPENED PACK COLLECTOR ANDY GRIMMER (AKA “GRIMSTER” ON THE PSA SET REGISTRY) IS A COMPANION PIECE TO A FEATURE ARTICLE (“PACK LEADER”) THAT INCLUDES ANDY IN THE APRIL 2023 ISSUE OF PSA MAGAZINE .

PSA BUYER’S GUIDE: What was your latest hobby acquisition and why was it important?

ANDY GRIMMER: “My latest acquisition was a 1989 Collegiate Collection Auburn Tigers unopened pack with Bo Jackson #132 showing on top. There are three different Bo Jackson cards in that set [#4, #39 and #132]. I now have all three packs with Bo Jackson visible on top, so it completes that set. It will be included in my next pack submission and will add to my ever growing pack registry of Bo Jackson.”

PSA BG: What is the next unopened pack you hope to acquire, or any unopened pack in general?

AG: “Currently I’m on the hunt for a 1991 Topps Football wax or cello pack with Bo Jackson showing. It’s a relatively inexpensive product, but I have to search for that one by buying boxes and going through them myself. When hunting through boxes, I don't resell the non-Bo Jackson packs; instead, it turns into a Saturday afternoon of ripping packs with my son and showing him all of the superstars who are in that set. So he gets a crash course on Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, John Elway, etc., and it’s fun for the whole family. I hope.”

PSA BG: What’s the one unopened pack that constantly eludes you?

AG: “Right now I'd have to say 1995 Topps Series 2 Baseball with Bo Jackson showing. There are many different variations of packs for that year: ‘1 Spectra Light’ insert per pack; ‘2 Spectra light’ inserts; rack packs; grocery packs; etc. I have found a rack pack with Bo showing — it’s currently sitting next to me in a BBCE wrapped top loader — but it’s more difficult to find one that I can get PSA to grade. Only the ‘2 Spectra Light’ inserts per pack is the correct size to be graded by PSA that can have a player visible through the wrapper, but those boxes are relatively rare in the marketplace. It’s already tough to find the exact player you are searching for being visible, now couple that with the lack of supply and it makes the hunt tough! Obviously I'm in the weeds now in my Bo Jackson registry hunt, but yeah, that pack is out there somewhere. I just have to find it.”

PSA BG: What is the "grail" item you hope to own one day?

AG: “It's tough to narrow it down to just one ‘grail’ item these days. My focus has been narrowed down to Nolan Ryan and Bo Jackson for the most part, but I've always wanted to own a 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle. I'll pull the trigger on that one of these days.”

PSA BG: What was your best auction steal?

AG: “It was in 2013 or 2014. I was able to scoop up a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan PSA 7 rookie for $600. It wasn't a huge steal at the time — still a good deal though — but I'm glad I still have that one in my collection for sure.”