When I was looking back through my notes on the 1994 baseball strike, I started to think about the hobby and where it was at the time. What was the last box I ripped open before the strike occurred? Who were the hot rookies that year? Who were the most popular players? How were the collecting habits of collectors like then vs. now? The landscape for baseball cards was … [Read more...] about When Baseball’s Devastating Strike Began 30 Years Ago, Which Cards Were Collectors Chasing?
Pinnacle
30 Years Ago: The Hobby Settled In For A Long And Ugly Baseball Strike
It was 30 years ago today. August 19, 1994. I remember the day vividly. Well, sort of vividly. I remember sitting at my desk as the editor of Canadian Sportscard Collector magazine. I was kind of distracted as I was mentally getting ready to play in a semi-pro football game the next day for the Lockport (NY) Invaders at Outwater Park in Lockport, a city located east … [Read more...] about 30 Years Ago: The Hobby Settled In For A Long And Ugly Baseball Strike
Three Decades After The Pinnacle Nurse Outfit Ad, It’s Time To Give Alexandre Daigle Some Love
I showed Alex Daigle the autographed photo. It’s a big print – 11” x 14”. He is on the ice, wearing a black Pinnacle jersey. His eyes light up and a smile fills his face from east to west. “I remember this photo shoot,” he said. “We did a promotional photoshoot for Pinnacle in Laval. It was before the draft.” At that point, Alex Daigle called his kids over to show … [Read more...] about Three Decades After The Pinnacle Nurse Outfit Ad, It’s Time To Give Alexandre Daigle Some Love
25 Years Ago, Vince Carter Rescued the Post-Jordan, Post-Lockout Basketball Card Market
It was the summer of 1998. The song I will always remember from that time was Closing Time, by Semi-Sonic. As we were winding things down at Pinnacle, and each and every day there seemed to be fewer and fewer people there, that song became an anthem. There was a lyric, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” You can apply that to just about anything … [Read more...] about 25 Years Ago, Vince Carter Rescued the Post-Jordan, Post-Lockout Basketball Card Market
10 Must-Have Cards For The Todd Helton Collector
The stigma of playing in Denver has finally been shattered as longtime Colorado Rockies star Todd Helton has finally received the call from Cooperstown that he will be in this year’s Hall of Fame class. Helton is the career leader in virtually every Colorado Rockies offensive category. What is most impressive ability to hit with two strikes. He has the second best OPS with … [Read more...] about 10 Must-Have Cards For The Todd Helton Collector
When a Supermodel Created a Baseball Card Set
As we mark the 25th anniversary of the demise of Pinnacle, I have been thinking a lot about the company, the incredible people, the great products, the high quality of work, and some of the things that happened behind the scenes of one of the most impactful companies in the history of the hobby. I don’t think of the negative things, like the bankruptcy. Too many people got … [Read more...] about When a Supermodel Created a Baseball Card Set
The 1998 Chicago National: McGwire, Sosa and a Bittersweet Trip
We all think of the same things when we think of sports cards in the 1990s. Junk wax. Overproduction. Baseball strike. Michael Jordan. Wayne Gretzky. Brett Favre. Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. Jeter, Griffey, A-Rod, Bonds and McGwire. A myriad of sports card products that didn’t hold their value despite being, still to this day, some of the best products with the best … [Read more...] about The 1998 Chicago National: McGwire, Sosa and a Bittersweet Trip
Pinnacle’s Wild Weekend: Bobby Hull, The Commish and Massive Layoffs
For the last few weeks, I have been thinking about all of my encounters with Bobby Hull. I thought about doing a story on his passing a couple of weeks ago, but a story would not come near sufficing the magnitude of his personality and his importance in the hockey world and specifically in the hobby. As I was writing the story on how we resurrected the Bee Hive brand at … [Read more...] about Pinnacle’s Wild Weekend: Bobby Hull, The Commish and Massive Layoffs
Recalling When Pinnacle Resurrected Bee Hive Hockey
There were so many sports card sets produced in 1997-98 that you could probably have a 25th anniversary celebration of any given release on any given day this year. However, for me, there is one that is special to my heart. When I arrived at Pinnacle as their NHL hockey brand manager in March, 1997, we were in the planning stages for the 1997-98 season. There was one set … [Read more...] about Recalling When Pinnacle Resurrected Bee Hive Hockey
How Paul Henderson Autographs Ended Up In 1997-98 Certified Hockey
Fifty years ago this week, the Canada-Soviet hockey Summit Series came to a thrilling conclusion. Paul Henderson scored the winning goal with 34 seconds left as Team Canada beat the Soviet Union. It was probably the biggest moment in Canadian history other than maybe the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917 or D-Day in 1944. And, yes, it was even bigger than the iconic Canadian … [Read more...] about How Paul Henderson Autographs Ended Up In 1997-98 Certified Hockey