We spent Thanksgiving watching football and giving thanks for the wonderful things we have. So why not spill our thanks into the hobby? As collectors and hobbyists, here are 10 things we can be thankful for. Baseball's New Rules The pitch clocks, the bigger bases, and the limitations of pick-off attempts made baseball more fun to watch. But it also made teams open … [Read more...] about 10 (Mostly) New Hobby Things to Be Thankful For
Mike Cramer
Mike Cramer’s Hobby Journey is a Fun Ride
He’s been retired for nearly 20 years, but reading Mike Cramer’s newly released book makes it pretty clear. There aren’t many people in the history of sports collectibles with a more interesting story to tell. Cramer went from traditional kid collector to Alaskan crab fisherman to minor league card maker to one of the biggest wholesalers of cards in the world to … [Read more...] about Mike Cramer’s Hobby Journey is a Fun Ride
Notes: Skinnier Update Boxes; Mike Cramer Interview; Black Friday Show; MeiGray NHL Game-Worn Program
Some collectors, retailers and breakers are wondering why 2023 Topps Update Baseball boxes got smaller after they submitted pre-orders for the annual release. Topps' initial solicitations initially indicated Hobby boxes would contain 24 packs with 14 cards just as they did last year and in Series 1 and 2 this year. However, as we wrote last month, Update boxes actually … [Read more...] about Notes: Skinnier Update Boxes; Mike Cramer Interview; Black Friday Show; MeiGray NHL Game-Worn Program
Former NFL Card Maker Knows What It’s Like to Lose a License
One of the most prominent people in sport card history says the recent events in the hobby can be summed up in one word. Greed. Mike Cramer, who was the founder, President and CEO of Pacific Trading Cards, says that what happened to Panini this week is nothing new to the industry. “We went through the same thing,” Cramer said of Pacific's exodus from the NFL card … [Read more...] about Former NFL Card Maker Knows What It’s Like to Lose a License
2023 Event Marked 20th Anniversary Of First NHL Draft Hockey Card Show
The 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville will forever be remembered as the Connor Bedard draft. The collecting world was watching closely and Upper Deck had a big presence as the sponsor of the event. But as I was watching everything unfold on TV and through a couple of days of grinding NHL Network Radio on Sirius XM, I started to think about how it was the 20th anniversary of the … [Read more...] about 2023 Event Marked 20th Anniversary Of First NHL Draft Hockey Card Show
Pacific Trading Cards Founder Mike Cramer Set to Release Book
If it's not the greatest book ever written about the sports card hobby and industry, there has certainly never been another one like it. Former Pacific Trading Cards President and CEO Mike Cramer has written a book that chronicles his life as a collector and how he built a sports card manufacturing company and became one of the most important people in the history of the … [Read more...] about Pacific Trading Cards Founder Mike Cramer Set to Release Book
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
Ramblings: Answering the Mail and Thoughts on Flawless
Answering some reader emails and offering my two cents on the Panini Flawless football patch problems. Our first email comes from someone who found my Ramblings from last fall on Mike Cramer, who founded Pacific Trading Cards years ago. Ironically, my name is also Mike Cramer. And I even have a J as my middle initial. And I am a huge sports fan and have been a collector … [Read more...] about Ramblings: Answering the Mail and Thoughts on Flawless
Rich Klein: Mike Cramer Was Collector, Dealer, Card Maker
When I was growing up, football rosters had only 40 players and thus the specialization term was not as prevalent as it is today. Many football players were termed “triple-threat” players meaning they could run, throw and kick. There was nothing unusual about a position player staying on the field to kick the ball on fourth down. Donny Anderson of the Green Bay Packers and … [Read more...] about Rich Klein: Mike Cramer Was Collector, Dealer, Card Maker