I have mentioned numerous times on this site how dynamic photography can change a card from junky to awesome. The better the picture on the card, the better the overall look. Its pretty simple, and its also the reason why I never understand the usage of creepy studio posed shots of players not in game situations. The rookie premiere may not be an actual game, but the action photos can still look pretty amazing.

Now I want you to imagine those same photographs, only painted on canvas by a sports artist. Then, I want you to see the player subject signing that canvas. Looks pretty amazing in your mind, right? Back in the early 1990s, and again with a few sets in recent years, Upper Deck has taken sports art and made it their own. I think they should be commended for utilizing this vastly underrated option of commissioning the paintings for usage in their products. Back in 1991-1992 Baseball and Football, there were hard signed examples of these cards, some for the greatest players of the respective sports they played. They are truly amazing cards, and personally, I want to see them come back in a Topps or Panini set.

Here are some examples:

1992 Upper Deck Walter Payton Auto /2800

1992 Upper Deck Ted Williams Auto /2500

1992 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson Auto /2500

1992 Upper Deck Wilt Chamberlain Signed Art Card

1991 Upper Deck Joe Namath Auto /2500

Topps has used sports artist sketch cards to increase value in some of their flagship sets, but the sketches are rare 1/1s in every example. Both Panini and Topps tried to get players to do their own sketch cards, but those examples are more for comic relief than anything. Without a doubt, I think the use of a painting, not the filter on photoshop, presents a unique autographed card for every single collector out there.

This would also be an opportunity to explore the Super Bowls and Hall of Fame Inductees for subject matter, as both entities encompass some of the most iconic images the world of sports has ever seen. Panini and Topps have both used the Super Bowl in interesting ways, but not in one that showcases the true essence of what makes these games special.

Not only will these cards need to be hard signed, but they DO NOT need any type of swatch what-so-ever. These cards hinge on the connection between player and visual, not anything else, the reason why the 1992 Upper Deck cards are so incredible. Keep it simple but beautiful, an intrinsic characteristic of what makes sports art amazing.

I remember when my dad traded a Harry Truman signed photograph for a Leroy Nieman signed print that featured autographs of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Ben Hogan. Not only does he still have it hanging in his office, but it looks better than I ever could think. A truly wonderful example of what this is all about. I would even go so far as saying that the beauty of that piece is the reason I bought the Adrian Peterson print that is now signed and framed on my wall.