I tossed out one idea for jump-starting the card industry in the last post. It felt so good I thought I’d offer up another.

I know the card companies went back to producing two series several years ago, but it’s really not quite as much fun as it was when a complete set of Topps baseball included as seven series of cards issued 132 cards at a time from spring training through October. I’d love to see Topps or Upper Deck give that concept another shot. Maybe there are logistical reasons. I’m sure there are financial ones. it’s just that once June gets here and collectors have already put together the second series, there isn’t much to look forward to except the year-end ‘update’ set that seems a bit contrived. It usually isn’t issued until the season is over anyway.

Even if they went to something like four series: one in February, another around Easter time, a third in mid-summer and the fourth series just before the NFL kicks off, I think it might create some brand loyalty and probably result in cards that were more accurate in terms of the team represented on the front. By mid-summer, you could announce the last series lineup which would include some of the rookies who made a splash and those who were most likely to get the call in September when rosters expand to 40. It would probably encourage set collecting, which has become sort of a lost art.

And while you’re at it, put a big sticker on the box that lists the series in big block letters like they used to. I remember how cool it was to see a new series box sitting on the store shelf, knowing I didn’t have any of the cards that were in it.

It might even lead to the checklist cards actually being checked again.