There are a number of things about cards that attract collectors to the hobby, with the main event being nostalgia about the game that they loved as a kid. Over the last few weeks with the recent release of 2012 Topps Archives, many of the people have bought these boxes because of the ties to their youth. However, I think there are a few more things that collectors may not know are driving their decision. Because I want Topps to make a similar football product, I have a few suggestions that can make or break a retro themed product.

Hard Signed Autographs

This product wouldnt be the same without on card autographs. That is a given. If autograph content is going to be included in a set that uses previously released card designs, there needs to be a reason for collectors to buy them. When building products like Archives, there is a diminished reason to buy the packs if every autograph that is pulled has a sticker. I have often said that its almost like defiling the previous set by using stickers, especially if the entire run is done this way. Archives baseball is all done on card, so collectors love the fan favorite autographs. In football, this is almost a necessity to sell, as previous retro themed sets with stickers have bombed. In 2001, Topps released a football archives set, and since the release of the new baseball, I desperately want to see a new attempt.

Examples:

Harmon Killebrew Rookie Reprint Autograph

Barry Sanders Rookie Reprint Autograph

New Players on Retro Cards

One thing that Topps has as a competitive advantage over Panini is the history. Because they have been around for decades, there are a lot of sets that new players would be cool to see as a part of. Sets like 1984 Topps and 1965 Topps are already getting rookie attention from what we saw from them during the course of the 2012 Rookie Premiere, but I would say that there are a lot more cards I would like to see. It would be awesome to see Drew Brees take on Joe Montana’s legendary card. Adrian Peterson in the design of Walter Payton’s iconic rookie card. Add in new player hard signed autographs on top of that, and I am buying case after case.

Examples:

Joe Mauer on the 1971 Topps Design

Matt Kemp on the 1954 Topps Design

Retro Packaging

I absolutely loved that Topps updated the old baseball packaging that we all must have seen a million times. It brought the nostalgia factor full circle, even though there was no player on it. I know this had to be difficult, especially with all the licensing deals, but it made everything feel like I was back in 1992 opening packs at the local store.

The difference is significant.

Large Base Set

In Archives baseball, there was a large enough contingent of cards to marry the set collectors with the hit collectors who would usually stay away from a product like this is. In football, this is a tougher act to follow because so many people in the football hobby collect only like I do. There arent as many set collectors left, but this is where you can get some cross over from other sports. Minis, inserts, and a large base set can be a big attraction for a lot of people that usually stay away.

Perfect Old and New Checklist

I said that a large base set is necessary to get a football product and a baseball product off the ground, but a terrible checklist can ruin everything. This applies both to the base and to the hits, as there is a lot of room to be off base. Topps did a really good job seeking out fan favorite players for baseball that added to the feel of the Baseball set, and that would need to happen in football as well. There needs to be a large selection of cards from the current guys, as well as the retired guys, that reprint some of the cards of the past. Although the rookies will be required, the other autos can be a mix of everyone else. I would love to see guys like Brian Urlacher and Marshall Faulk get some love in a set like this.

SSP Variations

I think that putting rare variations in any low end product is awesome. It adds value to the product without adding cost to the autographs. It also adds a chase for the people to open a bunch of packs. Topps has already done variations and SSPs in previous brands that have been ridiculously successful, but the rarer the variations are, the better. In football, there are 1 per case rookie variations that always bring big bucks. Last year, they even did autographs of these cards in Chrome. I loved every minute of it.

Retro themed sets have a place on the calendar, especially with the possibility of releasing 18 different sets a year. If Topps is not going to bring Allen and Ginter to football like they did in 2009, they can bring back a product like this. Mayo was launched back in 2008, but was a checklist disaster. It came back in 2009 with stickers and a horrible design, so that wont work either. It needs to be a seamless transition into a retro theme that everyone can appreciate. Topps Archives baseball did that perfectly, and that is why it has been as successful as it has been. Lets hope this isnt a one time thing.