Category Archives: check your list twice

Breaking Down a List From A Magazine I Rarely Even Think About

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Over on FCB, a user posted a top ten list of “worst sports card ideas” that was printed in Tuff Stuff. After looking at the list, I agree with some, but others are just absolutely horribly wrong. Since they are a magazine that doesn’t really have the ability to say as much as I would, Im going to break it down and add a few of my own.

10. 1/1 Cards Are No Longer Unique

I agree with this one, as companies often use 1/1 parallels to bolster excitement in a card that normally wouldn’t get much thought. Topps has singlehandedly destroyed the 1/1 with Topps Sterling, Triple Threads, and Moments and Milestones, so I believe that pulling a 1/1 is not like it used to be.

9. Horribly Done Cut Signature Cards

This is usually a pretty stupid thing, but Im not sure if it should stay on the list. I agree that if you cant cut the signature to look nice or fit on the card, you need to find a new one to use. It happens more than it should, but most of the time, the cards will sell regardless. An auto is an auto to most people.

8. High cost of packs and boxes

Im not even going to go into it, because this is a whole other argument. Basically, without the high cost of boxes and packs, the industry would have collapsed a long time ago. To say this is one of the worst ideas is complete fucking bullshit. High end cards have a huge following, and mid end products in just about all four sports are the best sellers. If you dropped content and price, you would lose more people than could sustain any of the big three companies. Don’t pee in my face and say its raining.

7. Parallels

Paralles are only a problem when they are done like Panini does. Twenty parallels for one card shouldn’t fly unless you have a set that is built around them like chrome. Other than that, I don’t have a problem.

6. Muliple Sports Being Included In One Product

I disagree completely with this. Its multiple GENRES that bug me. I don’t want actors and weird B list celebs in my packs, but a Jordan dual auto with Gretzky or something like that doesn’t bother me as long as it isnt a focus of a once normal set.

5. Manufactured patch cards

This is a pretty divisive topic in our hobby, and I am one that is for some manu-patches, but not others. When you put manu-patch cards in a product like National Treasures, that’s one thing. However, when they are used as an autograph device in other sets, I have no problem as long as they look good. If they go the direction of Topps Lettermen where the cards are stickers ON TOP OF the manu-patch, then we have a MAJOR problem.

4. Non sports items in sports packs

As said above, I agree with this one.

3. Overproduction of GU and autos

I will agree and disagree here. I don’t think anyone cares about more autos in a product, I think people want autos more than anything. Game used cards are overproduced, but like the original poster said on FCB, its what we demanded. GU cards may be over produced, but to take them away would lead to public outcry. If the public wants it, it cant be something that is “wrong.”

2. Sticker autos

Again this relates to stickers in high end versus stickers in low end. I very much would buy a hard signed signature over a sticker any day, but I still love Chrome because it’s a low end product that provides awesome looking cards. Would I like Chrome to be on card? Of course. Would I stop buying chrome because of the stickers? No.

Of course, when you get into products like National Treasures, Sterling or Triple Threads, paying that much per box should get you on card sigs for the whole set. Stickers are for cheap products at a point in the year when the cards are tough to get signed. High end sets come later in the year, are planned almost a year in advance, its time to get your shit together and get the cards signed.

1. Unfulfilled redemptions

Really? This is at the TOP of the list? Cmon. Unfufilled redemptions are more a player issue than a company issue. Because sets are planned so far in advance, as said above, redemptions become necessary in most cases. If a player doesn’t sign, it’s the player’s deal, not the company who had a contract with the player. People say that companies should not include redemptions if they don’t expect players to sign, but that’s like saying its okay to avoid booking Guns n Roses for an upcoming show because the organizers are not sure if Axel Rose is going to show up.

My Top Ten

1. Lack of good design, innovation and creativity

Companies have become lazy in the ways they design cards, bottom line. So many of the sets that come out every year are awful looking, and are completely lacking in creativity. There are more products this year that I didn’t buy because of the design than any other single year ever. Design has become an afterthought as long as people still have giant patches. That is bullshit.

2. Lack of scam prevention in swatches and autographs

For each set, scam prevention is minimal, and that fucking blows. To think this didn’t make it on to the list is fucking ridiculous. There are easy solutions for scam prevention, some as simple as taking a digital camera to the pack out. Encasing cards is another way to help out, but there is little done to help people avoid getting had. Panini offers technology to help, but you can only have security after the card is in your hand.

3. Foilboard

Foilboard is for five year olds, and its pretty insulting to think that companies believe we will ignore the horrid looks of their cards as long as it solicits an “OOO SHINY!” response from us. Flat stock creates classy looking cards, not some mirrored abomination designed to draw your attention away from the crap on the front of the card. Its why Panini uses foil board for everything but National Treasures, and Upper Deck hasn’t put foilboard on a product costing more than 100 bucks ever.

4. Stickers in high end products

Basically, if you have to pay more than 100 bucks for a box, there should be on card sigs. I shouldn’t open a box of Topps Sterling and get a sticker auto. That is just Charles Barkley ‘turr-able.’ Its about planning, work and care for the final product that is put out. As we have found out, companies dont really care as long as they end up with money in their pocket.

5. Fold out cards

Besides the fact that they look awful, they are a gimmick that was designed to make Triple Threads fresh after four fucking years of being EXACTLY the same. Add this to the long list of shit done by manufacturers to get the immature collectors to say “OMG MOJOZ!!!!11!!” when they open a pack. Now that they are being put into Exquisite I think I may shoot myself.

6. Stupid autos of non-famous people

Rip girl autos? Bowman Scout autos? Nuff said.

7. Exclusive autograph deals


I hate that companies have the ability to prevent competition by signing a player to an exclusive. Im sure Topps could have produced some very nice Griffey autos if they had the chance. Same with Jordan, same with Hank Aaron. Competition is our friend as it breeds innovation, and without it, we end up with the same shit year after year.

8. Floating jersey swatches

Panini has made this their calling card over the last few years, and it’s the reason so many of their jersey cards look ridiculous. The swatch is placed in a position on the card t
hat looks as if someone forgot to affix the sticker, and it creates a swatch that looks like it is “floating” in a place where it shouldn’t be. Other companies have had problems with this as well, and it can be solved by not creating the card backwards. If you start with the jersey auto and work towards the base card by removing stuff, you get floating swatches. If you build the card from the base up, you get better designs.

9. Non-unique 1/1s

See above

10. Event used all star cards

All star jerseys are rare, but they have been put into a bunch of products for a long time. Its because they are not worn at the actual game, but instead are worn and taken off at a company event. Panini championed this idea and put it into three different products this year, only to have people think they were real game used. Topps has used All Star warm ups in Triple Threads for the last few years without many people recognizing that the players never wore them in a game. Completely fucking stupid.

Thats about it. Im sure I missed some, but I feel pretty good about my list.

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

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Each year, there are a few cards I wait for, no matter what the rookie class looks like. I know these cards are always going to be the best designed, best looking, and sometimes the most valuable, which only furthers my quest for them. Although there has been A LOT of disappointment this year, these particular cards should still set the standard for all of 2009.

SP Authentic Rookie Auto Patch

Since 2001, the SPA Patches have been one of the cards that every player collector has to get for their particular target. They have never disappointed, never been stickers, and have never looked like chump change next to a competitors. They are a staple of each person who loves autographed cards, and I know that they always are near or at the top of my list for best cards of the year. There has been rumors that Topps is developing a product to directly compete with SPA, but its tough to live up to a product that delivers the cards it does for 100 bucks a box. Last year’s patches were inserted at around 8 per case, but the value of the cards were still the highest of any mid range product.

Topps Chrome Base and Auto

When it comes to Topps products and football, chrome is king. The autographs that fall one per box are not the only reason we buy as much chrome as we do, but they are a key factor. The autographs are mostly the base design with an autograph, something I always consider to be an under used and underrated idea. Considering that Topps’ base design is always the top focus for the designers, I would guess, it is usually the best looking autograph card as well. Of every person I collect, there are two cards I have for each of them. First is the base Topps Chrome rookie, second is the Topps Chrome autograph rookie, if there is one.

Exquisite Rookie Auto Patch

I think of Exquisite as the Ferrari of the sports card hobby, and the auto patches are like the 550 Maranellos. Although I know that it will be more than a 100 dollar investment for any of the top guys from each class, its worth every penny. The design is always amazing, the signatures are on card, and the Patches are usually ridiculous and super-sized. Even some of the top players who have been busts still have value in their Exquisite cards, just because of the cost of the product, though Im sure that having the best looking card of the year doesn’t hurt.

National Treasures Rookie Auto Patch

Any time DLP has an on-card auto offering, consider it a holiday. Normally with National Treasures, they can make up for most of their stickers for the rest of the year with a great on card auto patch. I loved the design last year, and the year before was also great, leaving this year as the big question mark. I have high hopes for these cards, as I think they are the only way to keep collectors on the side of the new management. If you fuck up Natty Treasures, you can easily kiss a lot of your customer base goodbye. Regardless, having super-sized patches with a great design and and awesome looking on card signatures should be enough to convince even me.

Ultimate Collection Rookie Auto

Even when Ultimate Collection was the worst set of the year in 2007, the rookie autos were still great. This continued last year, as I thought they looked good again. I was disappointed when they added in material, but I have been told that it was a one year thing. Either way, the cards still were some of the best of the year, again featuring on card autos and top knotch design work, keeping the streak alive. I thought 2006 was a banner year for the Ultimate autos, and I think that UD has been trying to capture that again each year. Im beginning to think that this may be the last year for Ultimate as the product doesn’t really fit as well as it used to. Maybe with some new blood ideas in the water for this year’s set and things could be back on top for the set.

Topps Rookie Premiere Auto

Each year, Topps goes through a whirlwind in a matter of hours to complete these cards for signing. They go from photo to printing to signing in less than a weekend, and its always a surprise to me that they turn out as well as they did. Featuring on card signatures on a modified version of the base design, it has been the only thing making the jumbo boxes worth buying over the last few years. This year was no exception, and it has clearly been no surprise how such an early release can hold its value like it does. Sadly, bastard fake creators have stolen the glory of these cards, making us question everytime we see one posted, but the latest ones are still fake free for the moment. Buy them while you can, I guess.

That’s about all for right now, but with many new products being released this year, including some new takes on old favorites, it could be a new list come this time next year. Im really looking forward to the SPX shadow box cards as they look like they could be some interesting pieces worth displaying. Also, with SP Signature edition coming back, who knows what kind of autographs will come out of that set. Im just hoping that my tried and tested faves make my wait worthwhile, and from what I have seen already, the latter part of this year is looking GOOD.

If I Had A Million Dollars…

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If you look around eBay, there are probably things you wish you had added every minute of every day. Well, what would you do if you had all the money to spend, and nothing else to spend it on? Personally, if I had a lot of disposable income, cards would be the last thing I would buy, but if I couldnt buy anything else, I would have a few things to buy. Here are some (in no particular order):

2007 Adrian Peterson Exquisite Gold RC Patch Auto (3 Color)

If you have a favorite player, you need their Exquisite RC Patch Auto if they have one. If they dont have one, you need some sort of Exquisite auto. Its a status symbol, just like a Caddy. For me, thats pretty tough because I dont have 1500 to drop on one /99, let alone the gold parallel.

1997 Walter Payton UD Legends Auto

This card is from the set of sets, and it is the one player that everyone wants. It has a great design, a great picture, and its on card. It could be the best auto set in the history of the football industry. Eventhough it was recently redone in 2008 Ultimate, this particular card will always be the best of them all. I want one.

2001 Topps Archives Johnny Unitas Auto

Johnny Unitas’ RC card is one of the most Iconic cards in the hobby. Everyone has the two tone card in their minds everytime they see a top 10. In 2001, Topps put out a set that had on card autos of many of these cards, and I would love to have the Johnny U. I wish that companies would do this more often, go back and have some of the most recognizable cards signed on reprints, especially now that retro sets are so popular.

2003-04 Lebron James Exquisite RC Patch Auto

If there were any basketball card I would want, it would be this one. I think when things are all said and done, LeBron will have every record in the book, be recognized on the same level as Jordan, and this card will be the card of his to have. Right now it tops out at a few thousand, but that should go up a bit when, not if, he wins his first championship. Being a small print run, you can imagine that there arent many chances to own one at a reasonable price now, but as part of the beginning of super high end, it will always be recognizable.

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan RC

This is probably the most iconic basketball card ever. I dont need to say much else on why I want this card in my collection somehow.

2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady RC Auto

No matter how much you hate him, Brady is one of the best QBs ever to play on the gridiron. It also just so happens that he came in at the beginning of the auto era of football cards. Granted, he is the reason you get undrafted free agent signatures in those products, but it doesnt make this card any less desirable for me.

1998 Playoff Contenders Peyton Manning RC Auto

Manning has already established his place in history, and this card is his best. It was released during a time where autos were still more rare, and to pull a Manning was the pinnacle of one’s existance as a box buster. I am a Peyton Manning fan, if not only for his mastercard commercials and his SNL hillarity. Too bad this card costs so much, otherwise I would have already invested.

2006 Reggie Bush Exquisite RC Patch Auto

Holy fuck, I can still remember all the Reggie Bush hype in 2006. It was a machine, and this card rode it all the way to the bank. Now, it has dropped considerably as Bush’s career has not lived up to the hype, but it would still be fun to have.

1994 Mickey Mantle/Ken Griffey Upper Deck Dual Auto

I think this may be the first dual signed card ever, but regardless, its one that every baseball fan should appreciate. The painted card has always impressed me, and to have it signed by two of the greatest players in baseball history is worth the chase to get one. 15 years later and its still one of the most sought after UD cards.

2005 Babe Ruth Absolute Memorabilia Jumbo Jersey

I just spoke of the Ruth effect, and this is a prime example of what happens when people flip their shit over the Bambino. However, unlike most cards, I like the way this one looks, especially with the giant fucking swatch that happens to be a part of the card.

2001 Joe Mauer Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Auto

Mauer is my favorite baseball player, and its only fitting that we end with him. The gold refractors were the hottest RC auto back in 2001, and Mauer was the most expensive at the time. The highly graded ones still go for a ton, and so far, I have only been able to get the regular auto. This card would be a great centerpiece to my Mauer collection.

There are definitely more cards that I have wanted to have over the years, but these ones are at the top of my list right now. I know I didnt mention the 52 Mantle, or even the Wagner, but really, those cards are not of interest to me. So, which ones are on your list?