The 8x10 picture card format was back for a second season in 1998 Donruss Studio Baseball.Hobby boxes consisted of 18 packs with seven baseball cards and one 8x10 per pack with the suggested retail price of $2.99. The box art featured a rich red color that faded in and out of a dark black and featured the words "Donruss Studio" at the top of the box the box imagery feature the … [Read more...] about Donruss Studio Produces Another Aesthetic Winner in 1998 but Ends Season on Baseball Card Bench
Frank Thomas
1995 Studio Baseball Turns Away From Established Art, Toward Transactional Look and Feel
After four years of offering some of the classiest and most aesthetically pleasing cards in baseball card history, the Studio brand made a complete departure from their signature style in 1995, leaving collectors scratching their heads and wanting the great Studio cards they were used to seeing in years past.In an effort to evolve and produce something outside of the box, the … [Read more...] about 1995 Studio Baseball Turns Away From Established Art, Toward Transactional Look and Feel
1993 Leaf Studio Brought Color Blast, Glossy Upgrade and New Inserts
It was clear by year three that Donruss-Leaf liked the concept of its Studio line of baseball cards and sales were good enough that it seemed collectors did too. Behind the scenes, though, the company was looking to step up its design game. 1993 Leaf Studio Baseball drastically improved the quality of the cards produced and their presentation as a whole. This release was … [Read more...] about 1993 Leaf Studio Brought Color Blast, Glossy Upgrade and New Inserts
Topps Celebration of the Decades Freebies Included Limited Boxes, Factory Sets, Autographs
Collectors who pulled one of the "Celebration of the Decade" tickets inside packs of 2020 Topps Series 1 or 2 Baseball got lucky twice. Not only did they receive an invitation to a Topps gathering in Las Vegas featuring some baseball stars, they also became the only recipients of some exclusive products and cards. Topps announced the promotion when it began promoting … [Read more...] about Topps Celebration of the Decades Freebies Included Limited Boxes, Factory Sets, Autographs
New Find of 1990 Topps “Blackless” Errors Revives Interest in Printing Anomaly
It might be time for collectors to dust off their 1990 Topps sets. Mark Dupray was at home on July 12, organizing his sports card collection during the coronavirus pandemic. Dupray, 46, was trying to make room for some new cards since he was edging back into the hobby after a dozen years. He was sifting through a shoebox of baseball cards stashed in a closet when he made an … [Read more...] about New Find of 1990 Topps “Blackless” Errors Revives Interest in Printing Anomaly
Rookie Card Booms and Busts From 1990
1990 ushered in a whole new decade with all sorts of collecting trends. Most notably was the emergence of inserts and chase cards as manufacturers really began to prioritize 'hits' through wax packs. Inserts, autographs, parallels, and game used cards sort of took center stage as collectors became more and more fascinated with these non-base cards in unopened products. But … [Read more...] about Rookie Card Booms and Busts From 1990
VIDEO: 2017 Louisville Slugger Auction Preview
Once a year, the Louisville Slugger Museum gets a temporary makeover as display cases filled with historic baseball memorabilia take over the central part of the downtown facility. The items inside aren't meant to simply be shown off, though. They'll be up for grabs starting Saturday morning as the 14th Annual Louisville Slugger Auction gets underway. The auction is a rarity … [Read more...] about VIDEO: 2017 Louisville Slugger Auction Preview
Notes: Gretzky Talks RC on Conan; Making World Series Jerseys
The only PSA 10 1979-80 OPC Wayne Gretzky rookie became the most valuable hockey card of all-time earlier this year when it sold at auction for $465,000. That subject was part of Gretzky’s entertaining visit with Conan O’Brien this week. The two talked about the two “fights” Gretzky was in during his career and then the subject of the rookie card came up. It's about 1:49 … [Read more...] about Notes: Gretzky Talks RC on Conan; Making World Series Jerseys
Interactive Infancy: 1997 Donruss VXP 1.0 CD-ROM
Given the advances in computer technology these days — smartphones, iPads, tablets have opened the Internet in ways that were not dreamed of 20 years ago — the 1997 Donruss VXP 1.0 CD-ROM set looks quaint. But it was one of the earliest attempts to bring baseball cards into the computer age. In fact, Donruss marketed the product as the “First-Ever Collectable CD ROM Trading … [Read more...] about Interactive Infancy: 1997 Donruss VXP 1.0 CD-ROM
Editor’s Notes: National Notes, MJ Fleer Pack to Re-Pack?
The 2016 National Sports Collectors Convention is set for August 3-8 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. It’ll be the first time there since 2003 and the third overall. National organizers typically don't release attendance numbers but indicated to us Monday they were "ecstatic" about the number of collectors who made their way to the Stephens Convention Center last … [Read more...] about Editor’s Notes: National Notes, MJ Fleer Pack to Re-Pack?