After weathering the entry into the baseball card market by Fleer and Donruss in 1981, Topps needed a strong product by the time 1983 rolled around. As if to convince itself and baseball card collectors, Topps kept pushing the slogan “The Real One,” with “Real” underlined, on packs and boxes to remind fans who had held the license to produce baseball cards for so many … [Read more...]
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2019 Donruss Baseball Offers More Odes to the 80s, 90s
Panini has announced plans for the latest version of its flagship baseball product. 2019 Donruss Baseball will be out over the winter with the usual assortment of throwback designs to the 1980s and 90s. Each box will contain 24 packs of eight cards. There will be 16 boxes per case of Donruss, which is licensed by the MLBPA but as usual, won’t be able to use MLB logos … [Read more...]
‘For Keeps’ Podcast Tackles 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken Saga
For those who grew up around 30 years ago, it remains a childhood icon. For everyone else, it’s still one of the hobby’s most recognizable cards. The 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken F***Face turned into a national story and offered some measure of immortality to Cal’s brother. In his latest ‘For Keeps’ podcast focused on all types of collectibles, David Peterkovsky chatted with Jon … [Read more...]
30 Years Later, 1988 Still a Giant Baseball Card Disappointment
1987 was a big year for baseball cards. Rookie sensation Mark McGwire was all the rage as he hit 49 home runs that year and was extremely popular. But other cards made big splashes, too. Collectors had the first Barry Bonds cards in packs. There was also Bo Jackson. And Will Clark. And Jose Canseco. All of these players were included in 1986 traded/update sets but, aside from … [Read more...]
Notes: Bobby Shantz at NBCD; Winning a ’52 Mantle; Gilmore Book Signing; Funny Stories
By most accounts, hobby shops saw good traffic for Saturday's Topps National Baseball Card Day promotion. The free packs and individual promotions came on the heels of the National Sports Collectors Convention where it got an added dose of free publicity. Giving away special packs, some of which included autographed cards, is good--but Carl's Cards in … [Read more...]
1980 Topps Superstars Brought Supersizing to Barren Market
They’re almost an afterthought now. Complete sets sometimes go unsold at $10 when you see them but most veteran show dealers don’t even bother to bring them. In their day, though, they had the hobby buzzing. The 1980 Topps Superstar 5x7 photos were big, bold and more importantly—something new from Topps. It was a year before Fleer and Donruss turned baseball … [Read more...]
Deion Sanders Cards Span Two Sports
If you're a child of the 90s, it may not seem possible. Deion Sanders is eligible to join AARP. Neon Deion was once one of the NFL's most electrifying players, a gifted athlete who followed in Bo Jackson's large footsteps by having a Major League Baseball career too. He was a standout in the 1992 World Series. In fact, Sanders holds the distinction of being the only … [Read more...]
Cards Not Worth Much? 10 Things You Can Do With Them
For many kids who grew up in the late 1980s or early 90s, it came as a shock. Those baseball and football cards they faithfully accumulated like a fine stock portfolio were supposed to rise in value as the players’ careers ascended. By the time you were in your 30s, you should have enough to pay your first house, right? Actually…no. As most collectors who kept … [Read more...]
7 Fun, Early Tim Raines Baseball Cards
He owns 2,605 career hits, more career stolen bases than all but three players (all of whom are in the Hall of Fame) and batted .300 or better five times. 2017 will go down as the year Tim Raines was finally recognized as one of the game's true greats. In honor of his seven consecutive All-Star selections from 1981-87, here are seven worthwhile Tim Raines baseball … [Read more...]
1981 Kellogg’s Set Included New Size, New Distribution
Kellogg's continued its run of baseball card sets for a 12th consecutive year in 1981. The 1981 Kellogg's set wasn't only bigger but also much more limited in distribution. Here's a closer look at the set. 1981 Kellogg's Basics In 1980, Kellogg's went with an ultra slim design. The cards had already been narrow but Kellogg's went with an incredibly skinny card that year that … [Read more...]
