The early 1990's were not only a boom time for the sports collecting hobby but also a time in which the major card manufacturers really started improving their production techniques. The old expression "it's only cardboard" started to fade away as the cards produced showcased more modern printing technologies. Instead of incremental improvements, the cards stock started … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Stories Told on Cardboard
I recently purchased a bunch of mostly common 1969-70 Topps hockey cards. I say mostly common because there was one Leo Boivin card in there. Leo Boivin, you see, is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. I was a little surprised to discover that because to me that would be the equivalent in baseball terms of Mark Belanger or Vic Power being enshrined in Cooperstown. To more ardent … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Holiday Show and a Question
I always find ideas for this column when I’m at a show and the one we ran the day after Christmas was no exception. Despite slightly lower foot traffic and lighter sales of dealer tables, those who did set up at our Dallas area show reported they did anywhere from “very well” to “the best show I’ve ever had.” Yes, while we all want shows in which the attendance is through the … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Guides and Checklists Brought Order to Chaos
I don’t know about the rest of the readership but I’m fascinated by the race for the presidency. As in many campaigns, there are many great sound bites and famous lines used. And insults aren’t a new thing. Way back in 1884 James Blaine and Grover Cleveland supporters exchanged sing-song chants. Backers of the incumbent president spewed “Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine the … [Read more...]
Topps Triple Threads NFL Box Break-Review
It's hard to believe the Triple Threads product line is now more than a decade old. No matter the sport, it is usually a solid seller for shops and online dealers. While there has been some adjustment in how TTT is packaged and opened, the concept remains pretty much the same. 2015 Triple Threads NFL was released earlier this month with the usual mix of veterans, retired … [Read more...]
Topps Archives Signature Series Box Break-Review
Box breaks and reviews for one card packs mean the lead up is much longer than the end result. I mean, when each box/pack has one card inside there often isn’t much to review. Instead, we try to collect feedback from other dealers and collectors. At a recent local show here in Dallas, I was chatting with dealer Roland Belcher who drives over from Louisiana to many shows in … [Read more...]
Ramblings: The Pure Fun of Packs
If you’re not just emerging from a cave, you probably know the new Star Wars movie is out and maybe you’ve already stood in line to buy a ticket. The whole concept that a movie sequence which actually began back in 1977 is more popular than ever is a truly unique aspect of the whole series. Unlike some entertainment institutions from the past, the whole enterprise wasn’t born … [Read more...]
2015 Topps High Tek Football Box Break-Review
Back in the 1990s, when the first iteration of Topps Tek baseball was on the marketplace, I was not a big fan. To me, it was just odd that you could call the 90 different players a “set” but in actuality, to have a true complete set you needed all 90 patterns for each player (8,100). I wasn’t crazy about two such extremes. However, there were several collectors who were very … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Few 70s Teams Resonate More Than Big Red Machine
At a recent card show where I’d taken a table, a customer purchased some vintage Cincinnati Reds cards and explained his passion for cards of guys who played for the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. After I thanked him for his payment, the thought occurred to me that the Reds have to be the most beloved and collected team of that era. Out of the five teams which won the … [Read more...]
Ramblings: Hobby Through the Eyes of the 1995 All-Star Game
I recently thought about an event I attended 20 years ago and what the hobby looked like at the time. The 1995 MLB All-Star Game came to Arlington, Texas and as a baseball fan living nearby, I wasn’t going to miss it. Our seats were, to be charitable, kind of high up in the stadium. In fact they were so high up that I swear I could have waved to the pilots on their way to DFW … [Read more...]