2017 Topps Transcendent Party Profit/Loss

Can you make money going to the the Topps Transcendent Party? For the second year in a row I came out ahead, even with the cost of the pass doubling.

Total Sales: $6,884.77Cost of Pass: $5,000Total Fees: $979.33Flight Cost: Southwest PointsHotel: $0Transportation: $50Food: $15

Total Profit: $840.44

Last Years Party Re-Cap (Updated)

Full list of Cards Sold

Anthony Rizzo 1/1 Autograph $175.00Clayton Kershaw 1/25 Transcdent $147.00Raffle Boxes $750.001951 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001952 Aaron Judge Tran $310.001953 Aaron Judge Tran $175.001955 Aaron Judge Tran $150.001956 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001958 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001959 Aaron Judge Tran $90.001960 Aaron Judge Tran $140.001960 Aaron Judge Tran $80.001961 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001962 Aaron Judge Tran $79.001963 Aaron Judge Tran $80.001964 Aaron Judge Tran $50.001966 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001968 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001970 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001971 Aaron Judge Tran $74.991972 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001973 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001975 Aaron Judge Tran Highlihgts $50.001975 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001976 Aaron Judge Tran $80.001977 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001978 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001979 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001980 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001981 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001982 Aaron Judge Tran $70.001983 Aaron Judge Tran $75.011984 Aaron Judge Tran $110.001986 Aaron Judge Tran $125.001987 Aaron Judge Tran $62.001987 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001989 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001990 Aaron Judge Tran $72.991990 Aaron Judge Tran DEBUT $41.001990 Aaron Judge Tran RB $41.001991 Aaron Judge Tran AS $36.001991 Aaron Judge Tran $40.001992 Aaron Judge Tran $40.001993 Aaron Judge Tran $37.661993 Aaron Judge Tran $75.001994 Aaron Judge Tran $37.661995 Aaron Judge Tran $37.661995 Aaron Judge Tran $44.001997 Aaron Judge Tran $40.001998 aron Judge Tran $89.001999 Aaron Judge $52.502000 Aaron Judge $40.292001 Aaron Judge Tran $52.502002 Aaron Judge $40.292003 Aaron Judge Tran $51.032004 Aaron Judge Tran $43.002005 Aaron Judge Tran $37.752006 Aaron Judge Tran $39.692007 Aaron Judge $40.292008 Aaron Judge Tran $53.932009 Aaron Judge Tran $41.002010 Aaron Judge $40.292011 Aaron Judge Tran $41.002012 Aaron Judge Tran $50.042013 Aaron Judge Tran $41.002014 Aaron Judge $40.292015 Aaron Judge Tran $34.002016 Aaron Judge Tran $56.002017 Aaron Judge Tran $50.04Mookie Betts 1/1 $125.00Dylan Cozens Topps Tek $5.61Matt Manning Topps Tek $4.03Ian Happ Topps Tek $3.98Aaron Judge Topps Bunt $61.012018 Ryan McMahon Topps Salute $45.00Transcendent Hat $36.99Benetendi 1/1s $360.16John Smoltz Diamond Icons $35.99Goldshmidt Diamond Icons $42.58Ian Happ 1/1 $43.77Rhys Hoskins Tek $35.54Corey Seager Ascent $25.71Hank Aaron Autograph $125.00*Matt Cain 1/1 $47.50Max Scherzer 1/1 $43.00Juerys Famila 1/1 $35.00Kris Bryant 1/1 $219.00*Sold to a friend

What I have left:

21 of the 87 Aaron Judge RC Cards #/87Hank Aaron Autograph Book CardHank Aaron Autograph Card #/25Aaron Judge 1/1 RC Patch Card18 other “1/1” Topps cards

Making money isn’t the only reason to attend. Here are some other highlights and low lights. 

The Sweat

Topps does a raffle during the party where you can hit or miss pretty big. Everyone in the room wins, and a few like myself, won twice. 

I live in Las Vegas now, the rush of waiting for your raffle ticket to get pulled is better than any gambling I’ve done in Sin City. 

Epic Disaster

Topps pulls a Panini.

Several autographed cards that were inserted into the exclusive silver party packs at the 2017 Topps Transcendent Party were mislabeled as being 1-of-1. You can see a checklist here.

I pulled two of the three Opening Day Andrew Benintendi cards in my silver packs.

Tweaking

The 6th most popular story on Sports Card Radio last year was: Blowout Cards HACKED: Collectors Hit For $100K +

I like to keep an arms length between me and most people in the hobby. If I was friends with Tom Fish and his website got hacked would I have written an article about it? Probably not. 

The Topps Transcendent Party puts people in a small room. While some may shy from awkward situations, in the card world I enjoy them. 

Hank Aaron

One of the highlights of the trip was hearing Hank Aaron talk. He appeared genuinely happy to be there. He seemed bitter about the money players made today. And I loved every time he mentioned it. 

It was like Hank still had a chip on his shoulder when it comes to baseball. It’s probably what made him great. 

Make Money Podcasting

After the party I recorded a podcast with group breakers MojoBreak & Layton Sports Cards. Not only was the trip profitable but I got free content for the website.

R-Rated: #30: MojoBreak & Layton Sports Card Interview