I know a lot of times with my Shop Talk pieces it can turn into a “what product we got in and what product we sold” kind of scenario. I also like to try and truly take you into the shop and into some of our conversations and thoughts and also pull back the curtain a bit. I love sharing stories about John Simpson and Prim and all of the great characters and moments that make our shop so fun to be a part of each and every day. Beyond that, I want to let readers know what happens day to day in our operations.
One of the topics that was top of mind for me and a conversation I launched in the shop was the unfortunate Mike Trout injury situation. It started out that he had an injury and issue with his hamate bone, but now it appears as though he will need surgery on his wrist and be out up to eight weeks. That’s not good for him, the Angels, the league or collectors.
Let me start by saying I’m a fan of Mike Trout. He’s been the baseball player by which all others of this generation are measured. He had an ncredibly productive first eight seasons in the league, but unfortunately, over the last four seasons, he has suffered more than his fair share of injuries and time off the field. I’m throwing out there that we might have already seen the best of Mike Trout. There was a point in time not so long ago, where his name was sometimes tossed around as one of the best ever to play the game.
Sadly, these multiplying injuries have done nothing but cut his production down and truly thwart his projected numbers and his ascension toward the top of any all time list. I’m a numbers guy, and I’m constantly checking stats and projections and all that fun stuff. And here’s a little tidbit for you. Mike Trout would almost have to double his career production to be in the same conversation as recently retired all time great Albert Pujols as far as any measurable category, including hits, home runs, RBI, runs or any other classic category we’d mention. Read that last sentence again. And, at 32 years old, I don’t think that’s happening.
Collectors still clamor for Trout, no doubt, and I totally understand that. But outside of a few bouquets that were thrown Pujols his way leading up to his retirement, his stuff isn’t generally in the same conversation, in terms of value, as Trout or other young stars in the game. I am well aware that there is more to the collecting equaiton that sheer numbers but I still have to shake my head sometimes. Of course, I want to see Trout come back healthy and reach those milestones as much as anybody but you can’t ignore his injuries and recent health issues.
I grew up an enormous Ken Griffey, Jr. fan and tuned in to every game I could and checked every box score in the newspaper and it hurt my heart a bit to see the injuries take their toll on such a dynamic and all time great player. Sadly, I feel like that may be the future for Trout. Rookie and prospect cards that once seemed to be a great long term hold are looking just a little shaky.
None of that even takes into the craziness of the Shohei Ohtani effect. Trout went from being hands down the best player in baseball to being quite possibly the second best player on his own team. Ohtani is far and away the most compelling player in baseball today. The only other person that I got to experience live who moved the needle like that for me was the aforementioned Ken Griffey, Jr. Ohtani is the first player since Griffey that I have to know how he did the night prior. I want to see highlights. I want to hear analysis. I want to watch tape for myself. And that is one of the first things I do each morning when I get up (way earlier than anyone else in my house). I’ve been on an Ohtani PSA 10 RC binge for about a month now, adding to what I already have. By the looks of the market activity, I’m not alone.
Summer Getaway
The shop survived without me there last week. I enjoyed a trip to the Outer Banks with family and I wasn’t the only member of the staff enjoying a little summer downtime. The long holiday weekend that let into the 4th of July made it one of store’s less busy weeks all year. That doesn’t mean there weren’t orders to ship each day because as we all know, the internet never sleeps, so there have been plenty of packages going out the door and just as much product coming back in to restock.
One of the items we continue to sell online are the Imports Dragon sports figures. We received the newest round of NFL players last week, including those of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The owner asked me if i’d seen the new Hurts figure and to be completely honest, I wasn’t quite sure. They kind of all look the same as there are only two or three different molds within the 20-plus different figures. Still, the detailed design make these among the best sports figures ever produced.
I must say I am a fan of the Jefferson with the white pants and shoes and I’m a fan of the Hurts figure that has a not so official but suggested Jordan 11 cleats on his feet.
2022-23 Obsidian Basketball made its way to the store this week. The dark themed product always offers some really nice looking cards so it was nice to bring in a case.
We’ll tear into a box this coming week in our Brief Box Break segment.
We also received the 2023 Chronicles Draft Picks Football and will rip one open of those open for you, too. We also got Topps Finest Baseball and a few others by week’s end.
The elephant in the room and the biggest news of the week was the continuing rollout of the Topps / Fanatics affiliated shop guidelines. I have more than a thought or two on this topic, but I will save it for a future column.
Related Stories:
Shop Talk: The Future (of Baseball) is Bright
Shop Talk: 2022 Topps Chrome Baseball, Football Figures and Entertaining Customers
Shop Talk: 1986-87 Fleer Jordan RC Submission, Whatnot Wonders, Local Theft Hits Store Radar
Shop Talk: Beating the Odds with Nice Hits from Recent Shop Boxes
Shop Talk: Hot Hands, Buying Slabs, Ohtani Allegations
Notes: Found Money and a Generous Gesture; Employee Theft; Trout Jersey, More
Shop Talk: Being Patient with a New Hire; 1953 Topps Return
Shop Talk: Playing the Fields, Deals for a Dollar, Swamped Saturday
