For longtime collectors who endured the hobby in the 1990s, it’s hard to believe that a quarter century has past since Signature Rookies began to fade away. While you rarely hear that card company's name much these days, how they changed the hobby has a huge influence on what is happening 25 years later. Signature Rookies emerged on the scene with the revolutionary idea … [Read more...] about Signature Rookies Broke New Hobby Ground; Then Faded Away
Editor's Blog
New Brittney Palmer Art of Fergie Jenkins, Jermaine Dye Will Raise Money for UChicago Medicine’s GI Research
New artwork featuring Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins and retired MLB veteran Jermaine Dye is being turned into baseball cards with proceeds going to charity. Jenkins and Dye are the subjects of the works created by artist Brittney Palmer and the paintings have been turned into Topps Project 70 styled encased cards. The cards are numbered to 200 and signed by … [Read more...] about New Brittney Palmer Art of Fergie Jenkins, Jermaine Dye Will Raise Money for UChicago Medicine’s GI Research
Votto Proves He’s a Hall of Famer Despite Being Undervalued in Hobby
Joey Votto has redefined himself. The 38-year-old slugger for the Cincinnati Reds has reached 30 home runs this year. It is only the third time in his long career he has reached that milestone. Votto is a shoe-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame, even before his resurgence. He has more than 300 home runs, more than 2,000 hits, and more than 1,000 RBIs. Over the first decade … [Read more...] about Votto Proves He’s a Hall of Famer Despite Being Undervalued in Hobby
How 9/11 Brought the Hobby to a Temporary Standstill
I still remember that day minute-by-minute. If you were alive at the time, chances you do, too. How could 20 years go by so quickly? I was living near Seattle at the time, and my job at Pacific Trading Cards required me to travel about once or twice a month. When I had to go to New York, I always stayed at the World Trade Center Marriott. If you had ever been to the twin … [Read more...] about How 9/11 Brought the Hobby to a Temporary Standstill
Buying Smart in the 2021 NFL Season
There will be pro football from now through February 13. It’s a long haul season this year—17 weeks of games followed by a month’s worth of playoffs before we even get to Super Bowl 56 in Inglewood, CA. It’s the time of year when collectors and investors get antsy to buy cards and hopefully see it pay off as the 2021 season unfolds—and beyond. A few products … [Read more...] about Buying Smart in the 2021 NFL Season
Editor’s Blog: Pondering Fanatics, Leagues “Secondary Market” Plans
There’s much we don’t know about the reported deals between Fanatics and the major sports leagues to corral the bulk of the sports trading card market. I think we can safely assume, though, that what’s going to happen won’t be just a swap of distribution models and a logo change or two. With the leagues and players having reportedly captured a stake of the potential … [Read more...] about Editor’s Blog: Pondering Fanatics, Leagues “Secondary Market” Plans
Editor’s Blog: Pause the Panic on Fanatics Sports Card Deal
Fanatics’ acquisition of a large chunk of the sports card landscape will kill collecting! Fanatics’ acquisition of a large chunk of the sports card landscape will be the greatest thing ever to happen to the hobby! Ah, opinions. The product of a free country and a Facebook account. Scour the comments on social media and you’ll find opinions as diverse as the reaction to … [Read more...] about Editor’s Blog: Pause the Panic on Fanatics Sports Card Deal
Topps Says It Was Blindsided by Fanatics’ MLB Deal
On Tuesday night, the man who had guided the Topps Company since the fall of 2007 had to be feeling pretty good. Michael Eisner’s investment and patience appeared to have paid off handsomely. The trading card business had grown to unprecedented heights. Topps' sales were up 78 percent from 2020 and Eisner was nearing the finish line of a plan to take the … [Read more...] about Topps Says It Was Blindsided by Fanatics’ MLB Deal
Passing of Les Woodcock Recalls One of Hobby’s Most Prolific Baseball Card Writers
His death last month didn’t create many headlines beyond his Martha’s Vineyard home, but Les Woodcock is surely worth remembering. An acclaimed journalist and editor, Woodcock wrote the back of more than 20,000 sports cards during a “second career” in the 1980s and 90s. Born on Long Island and a Korean War veteran, Woodcock was one of the first employees … [Read more...] about Passing of Les Woodcock Recalls One of Hobby’s Most Prolific Baseball Card Writers
Business and Pleasure: Sports Card Fan is Flipping His Way to Success
It’s the life of a nomad. Josh Roth is the portrait of the character in card collecting known as a Flipper. He spent part of his week in the familiar surroundings of a card show, making deals. This time, it was the biggest stage of all: the National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, IL. “One-hundred percent a flipper,” he says before … [Read more...] about Business and Pleasure: Sports Card Fan is Flipping His Way to Success