Topps Chrome basketball? A sharp-eyed collector spotted an interesting video on Instagram this week.
The very brief clip was posted by Tyler Herro, who is leaving Kentucky after one season to make himself eligible for the NBA Draft. It shows Herro signing what appear to be Topps Chrome-branded cards for a future release. It’s generated some hobby buzz.
Topps Chrome Basketball Cards??? Don’t look like any logos on card. Why the Double 🤦♂️?? @Topps #nba pic.twitter.com/zDAZ4nDmIM
— ✭ PNW Kicks & Collectibles ✭ 🏈⚾️🎮 (@PNWSportsCards) May 21, 2019
Panini owns the NBA and collegiate trading card licenses but has produced baseball cards without team logos or nicknames through an MLBPA license, despite Topps’ deal with MLB. It’s possible the basketball cards are simply an extension of what Topps has done with its Allen & Ginter line, creating some generic cards and snaring autographs of key NBA draft picks to toss into packs. An online exclusive offering might also be one possibility but so far, there’s been no announcement from Topps.
An interesting item hitting the block soon.
Up for grabs in our 2019 Summer Auction is Don Baylor’s 1987 Minnesota Twins World Series Trophy. #memorylaneinc #donbaylor #memorabilia #HallofFame #collectible #auction pic.twitter.com/oGSx8zfvHZ
— MemoryLaneInc (@MemoryLaneInc) May 22, 2019
A former AL MVP who later managed for several years, Baylor spent only that championship season with the Twins and retired after the 1988 season. He died of cancer in August of 2017.
Among the cards that will be part of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s “Holy Grail” case in the new “Shoebox Treasures” exhibit set to open Saturday include: a 1916 Babe Ruth rookie card, an 1871 NY Mutuals Peck & Snyder; 1923 Maple Crispette Casey Stengel; ’33 Goudey Nap Lajoie; ’14 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson; ’52 Topps Mickey Mantle, T206 Eddie Plank, Leaf Jackie Robinson rookie, 1954 Bowman Ted Williams and a T206 Wagner.
Many of the cards are on loan from long-time collector/Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick.
On the eve of the exhibit’s opening, the Hall will host a panel discussion called “A Conference on Cardboard: Talking about Baseball Cards.”
Former major leaguer Steve Sax, longtime Topps photographer Doug McWilliams, SABR president and historian Mark Armour, and Hall of Fame Curator of History and Research John Odell will discuss the history of baseball cards, their significance within American culture, and their lasting popularity into the 21st century.
Admission is free to all Museum visitors.
A piece of Tim Carroll’s baseball card art will be part of that Cooperstown exhibit. Carroll takes unwanted cards, cuts them up and creates one-of-a-kind original pieces that mimic iconic cards from the past. You may have seen him at the National Sports Collectors Convention or read our story about him when he was just getting started.
His work has inspired others in recent years, including Ben Caraher, who with his partner Ryan Smith, have created their own card art out of a studio in Boulder, CO. This Nolan Ryan piece is one of them.
You can check out their website here.
Finally, here’s a cute story on a seven-year-old autograph chaser from Milwaukee.
Related Stories:
1983-84 Star Company Basketball Launched Brief New Era
Not All Younger Collectors Go for the Shiny Stuff
A Nine-Year-Old Gets Hooked on Baseball History, Tobacco Cards
Cards Not Worth Much? 10 Things You Can Do With Them
Upper Deck Shows Off Card With 16 Michael Jordan Autographs
Ramblings: Some Pro Set Prototypes are Among 1990s Rarities
The Good That Came from a Stolen 1975 Topps Set
NBA Trading Card License to Remain with Panini
Baseball Hall’s Shoebox Treasures Exhibit Set to Open in May
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