When it comes to 1/1s, I have very strong opinion of their place within the hobby. Although I believe that when done right, a 1/1 can be some of the most amazing cards available, most of them fail to live up to their potential. Over the last few months, we have gotten many products from both Topps and Panini that use 1/1s almost to a fault. The most blatant example of this is with Topps Triple Threads, where the amount of serially numbered 1/1s is in the thousands for the run. Its ridiculous. Then, when the 1/1s out of products like Certified rarely carry the value they once used to, it becomes more obvious as to why that is the case.
Cards like this ridiculous Tim Tebow logo out of 2010 SPX will always hold extreme value with collectors, but its value has definitely been tarnished by the sheer amount of the awful and ugly printing plate 1/1s that Triple Threads has become infamous for. When a 1/1 no longer has the world stopping power for the person that pulls it, the tried and true classics like this Mark Sanchez/Josh Freeman Exquisite dual logo
no longer have the same untouchable appeal.
When everyone and their mother can pull 1/1s at will now, there is little left in the tank that can wow a collector like me anymore. I think there is more that is possible and rarely explored, and that is where I would love to see more improvement. Not every card needs to have the aura of the Chrome Superfractor Autos, but I would think that we need something to be on that level. For example, in 2010 Certified, each of the rookies
has multiple 1/1s
, none of which looks even remotely cool, and the values have so far reflected that.
Check out some of these other recent logos, and see how commonality has made them almost just another pull:
Chad Ocho Cinco Limited 1/1 Logo
Kenny Britt Absolute 1/1 Logo Auto
Overall, something needs to be done to bring the 1/1s back to the level in which they used to be. Whether its consciously limiting the amount of 1/1 cards that are produced, or just going bigger and better. This may be where 2010 Topps Five Star Football is going to raise the bar, and its one of the main reasons im so excited. Hard signed cards that feature an AWESOME design, coupled with one of a kind elements will hopefully make the recent cards from Certified and Limited look like base cards.
I think you get a difference in mind-set when opening products. When opening SPA, for example, I’m not having any hope whatsoever of pulling a 1/1… of anything. If I did, that’s why the greatness is associated with it. However, when people buy boxes of Triple Threads, they’re already wondering which 1/1 they’re going to pull. Will it be the 1/1 of Dan Marino that there are 20 other versions of???
They just figured out a way to keep those that feel so hopeless about hitting a 1/1, in a big name product, feeling differently about their chances with another product. I think that’s the difference in why the appeal is different. I mean, you and I know I can go buy a couple boxes of TTT and I’ll probably hit a 1/1..something. I also know I could go buy 20 cases of SPA and not hit a single 1/1 of anything. Therein lies the difference.
Maybe this isn’t the right time or place, but I was pondering the viability of an all 1/1 product. I think if done right it could be a fun product. Imagine pulling the only Adrian Peterson auto from the whole product. The price point would probably be pushed up due to the lack of filler. Each pack would have 1 auto or patch card and they would all be 1/1’s.
Just because somebody sticks a 1/1 label on something, doesn’t actually make it unique or scarce. Ten years down the road most of these artificially scarce cards will be in the commons bin, just like every other trend that has been overdone to death.
Im from connecticut and I dont know of any spots to buy cards worth buying. I dont know of any hobby shops around my area and the only cards I have seen are at target and those are worth buying…Can someone tell me where I can find good cards please or a website?