RARE BLUE JAYS BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The Toronto Blue Jays franchise joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1977, bringing pro baseball to Canada for the first time. Over the past 45 years, the Blue Jays have released hundreds of baseball cards featuring their players, coaches, and memorable moments. Among these, some cards have become quite rare and collectible due to low print runs or the significance of the person featured. This article will explore some of the rarest and most valuable Blue Jays cards collectors seek, with details on their importance and estimated values.

One of the rarest pre-rookie cards is the 1977 Toronto Blue Jays Pedro Garcia card. Only about 50 copies of this card are known to exist, as it was produced as a photographer proof prior to the official Topps rookie card release. Garcia had a short tenure in Toronto’s inaugural season but his proto-rookie card is hugely desirable to complete early Blue Jays sets. Graded mint copies have sold for over $8,000 when they surface. From 1981, the Dane Iorg SP card is also extremely rare, with under 10 known to exist. Iorg played just 33 games for Toronto that year after being drafted 3rd overall in 1976. His sparkling rookie potential made this rare pre-production card very collectible.

Moving into the championship years, the 1992 Donruss Premier Mike Timlin rookie card stands out. Timlin went on to have a long, impressive career but his rookie was short printed. PSA 10 Gem Mint versions have sold at auction for around $5,000. Another key 1992 rookie is the Ultra John Olerud. While not quite as scarce, high-grade copies regularly sell for $1,500-2,000 due to Olerud’s excellence and importance to those World Series teams. From the same year, the Ultra Kenny Williams rookie jersey card capturing his championship-winning RBI is also highly noteworthy and valuable at $3,000+.

The early 1990s gave rise to many stars on excellent Toronto teams and their rookie cards remain tops. The 1992 Fleer Update Juan Guzman trophy rookie is hugely iconic of that era but also quite rare in high grade. Just a handful of PSA 10s exist, valued at $3,000-5,000 each. Another milestone rookie is the 1992 Topps Gold Virgil rookie card. While not the rarest, its shiny refractors and iconic photo make it a standout, with PSA 10s at $1,500-2,000. The 1992 Factory Set Carlos Delgado rookie is also thought of fondly, with its blue foil accent. High grades have sold for $1,250.

Moving into the next generation, the highly decorated and accomplished Roy Halladay had legendary rookie cards as well. From 1998, the Bowman’s Best USA Baseball Refractors parallel rookie holds immense significance. Only 50 were produced and a PSA 10 just set an auction record at $34,000. From the same year, the rare Bowman Chrome Y2K Refractor rookie auto /50 is in ultra-elite company, valued well above $25,000 in pristine condition. Halladay’s accomplishments through an incredible career make any of his early cards highly coveted by collectors.

This covers just a sampling of the rarest and most valuable Blue Jays cards. With a rich history including two World Series championships, the franchise has given rise to many stars over the decades. For dedicated collectors, tracking down high-grade rookie cards of players like Dave Stieb, Tony Fernandez, Edwin Encarnacion, and Vladimir Guerrero will also prove an expensive endeavor. With more Hall of Fame inductees surely on the way, the rarest Blue Jays cards from all eras will continue to entrench themselves among the most historically significant issues in the hobby. Connecting with the teams’ past and potential continues to create new heroes and inspire collectors today.

BASEBALL CARDS PRICE GUIDE 1919 21 W514

Leave a reply

Baseball cards from the 1910s and early 1920s are some of the most sought after and valuable cards in the hobby. The T206 and E90 sets from 1909-11 are considered the pinnacle, but the W514 issues from 1919-1921 also hold significant historical importance and collectability. Let’s take a deeper look at the W514 set and how to value these century old cardboard treasures.

The W514 set was produced from 1919-1921 by the American Caramel Company as promotional inserts in caramel candy packs. Like most early 20th century baseball cards, they were not considered collectibles at the time and were simply thrown away by most after being redeemed. The set featured 160 total cards over the 3 year run, with each year containing a different subset of 80 players. Some of the biggest stars of the deadball era are featured, including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, and Grover Cleveland Alexander.

Condition is extremely important when evaluating the value of these fragile 100+ year old cards. Even the lowest graded W514 cards still command thousands due to their rarity, historical significance, and the fact that they are some of the earliest baseball cards featuring future Hall of Famers. The highest prices are reserved for examples that have survived in remarkably well-preserved condition given their extreme age. Top grades of PSA NM-MT 8 or SGC Gem Mint 10 can fetch five figures or more for the most desirable subjects.

Let’s take a closer look at some key players and valuation guides for top W514 cards in various states of preservation:

Babe Ruth (1919):

PSA 3 (Poor): $3,000-$5,000
PSA 5 (Very Good): $7,000-$12,000
PSA 8 (Gem Mint): $25,000-$40,000
SGC 10 (Gem Mint): $50,000+

The Babe Ruth is the crown jewel of the set due to his legendary status. Even low-grade examples command significant money due to his unmatched popularity. Mint condition specimens are true trophies for any collection.

Ty Cobb (1920):

PSA 3: $1,500-$2,500
PSA 5: $3,500-$6,000
PSA 8: $12,000-$18,000
SGC 10: $25,000+

As arguably the greatest player of the deadball era, Cobb cards retain excellent value across all conditions. Mint examples are especially tough to come by and priced accordingly.

Walter Johnson (1921):

PSA 3: $1,000-$2,000
PSA 5: $2,500-$4,500
PSA 8: $8,000-$12,000
SGC 10: $15,000+

The Big Train’s intimidating presence and Hall of Fame stats still resonate today. Condition is still king, with the finest specimens reserved for only the most elite collections.

Grover Cleveland Alexander (1919):

PSA 3: $800-$1,500
PSA 5: $1,500-$3,000
PSA 8: $5,000-$8,000
SGC 10: $10,000+

Alexander put together a Hall of Fame career and his W514 card remains a strong, affordable option for collectors. Condition makes a big difference in value as always.

The W514 set remains one of the most historically significant issues in the entire hobby due to its early production date and Hall of Fame subjects. Even low-grade examples retain value due to their rarity, antiquity, and representation of the deadball era. The finest conditioned gems are true trophies that can anchor any collection. Condition is absolutely critical to valuation at this level. With care and research, W514 cards continue to be a compelling area for vintage baseball enthusiasts.

1960S BASEBALL CARDS BOX

Leave a reply

The 1960s was a famous decade in American culture and society, but it was also a very important time period for baseball card collecting and the cards themselves. Baseball was still immensely popular across the United States during this era and kids everywhere were avidly looking to build their baseball card collections by purchasing wax boxes full of cards from the local drugstore, candy store, or hobby shop. The cardboard boxes containing wax packs of baseball cards produced during the 1960s are now highly sought after by collectors.

1960s baseball card boxes came in a variety of sizes, but some of the most common included boxes containing either 10, 12, 15, 30, 36, 48, or 72 wax packs. Each wax pack contained about 5 cards and was sealed shut with a thin layer of waxy coating that kids loved to peel off. Opening these packs to see which players and memorable moments from the previous season they had collected was always an exciting experience. Inside the protective outer box, the wax packs were neatly arranged in plastic or cardboard trays. Often the box would feature bright graphics and colors promoting the current year’s card set on the outside.

Some of the most easily recognizable 1960s baseball card series distributed in wax boxes include Topps (1960-1969), Fleer (1961-1965), and Kellogg’s (1963-1964). There were also numerous smaller regional sets produced during this time as well such as those by Bowman, Post, and Red Man that could be found packaged in boxes. Although not official “sets” per say, candy brands like Bazooka also regularly included baseball cards as prizes inside gum wrappers. Even corporations like Chevrolet got in on the action by inserting cards highlighting MLB players into packages of their products in the early 1960s.

Inside the boxes, the wax packs shielding the cards helped keep them pristine until opened. But they also sadly made the cardboard stock more susceptible to damaging effects from moisture over time. As a result, mint condition 1960s boxes in their original forms with unopened wax packs inside have become extremely scarce and valuable to collectors. Even wax packs that have been opened but contain Near Mint cards inside are highly valuable to dedicated set builders looking to complete their rainbows. Therefore, condition is absolutely critical when evaluating the value and historical significance of these 50+ year old cardboard containers.

While Topps dominated the baseball card market in the 1960s just as they had in previous decades, Fleer made attempts to compete and gain market share. In 1961, they launched their first modern baseball card set since the 1930s. Fleer’s unique card design features and use of color photos helped make their 1961, 1962, and 1965 issues fairly competitive in the hobby. Production miscues and distribution problems plagued their early runs. Regardless, sealed boxes of any vintage Fleer sets are considered real gems today. Topps meanwhile continued to refine their formula each year and license more players’ likenesses for their highly successful yearly releases.

Surviving intact 1960s baseball card boxes are so rare today because naturally as children opened the packs inside searching for their favorite heroes of the diamond over the past 50+ years, the boxes got discarded. Many others fell victim to the elements being stored in damp basements or attics for decades. But for those lucky enough to withstand the tests of time sheltered away in an attic, closet, or grandpa’s collection, 1960s baseball card boxes provide a true window into that bygone era and are prized possessions among both seasoned collectors and enthusiasts. Continually rising in value, they serve as not just nostalgic tokens of America’s pastime, but important historical artifacts.

Grading is crucial for 1960s baseball card boxes since their condition impacts value tremendously. The two leading third-party authentication and grading services, PSA and BGS, have strict standards that boxes must meet to earn high designations. Even minor flaws can potentially knock a box down many points. To achieve a PSA Gem Mint 10 or BGS Black Label grade, a 1960s box would need to exhibit phenomenal state of preservation with crisp edges, no creases, UV fading. Even slight nicks or stains could result in a lower grade. Therefore, discerning collectors are willing to pay top dollar for the finest examples that maintained their excellent structural integrity through extended storage.

While the 1960s brought social upheaval and changing cultural tides across America, within the somewhat insulated world of baseball card collecting, the decade represented stability and tradition. Kids still flocked to the corner store to rip open those familiar wax packs containing their sports heroes on mini cardboard slices. And today, the cardboard containers which once held those fleeting moments of summertime joy for a generation of fans have taken on enduring significance as beloved pieces of pop culture history. Any intact 1960s baseball card box in top condition serves as a true time capsule taking collectors back to a bygone era. Their value only continues rising alongside ever-growing interest in nostalgic sports collectibles from that memorable timeframe.

In conclusion, 1960s baseball card wax boxes are prominently featured on want lists of dedicated set collectors and enthusiasts of that period. Providing a direct connection to America’s beloved pastime during that transformative decade, their historical importance is cemented in hobby lore. Condition is king, so mint examples fetch astronomical sums. Yet even worn boxes hold significance by representing childhood summertime adventures for millions that can never be replicated. As more time passes, their rarity grows and so does their appeal to collectors seeking a tangible link to baseball card history’s golden age during the swinging sixties.

2022 TOPPS STADIUM CLUB CHROME BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome Baseball Cards – An In-Depth Look at the Highly Collectible Chrome Variant

The 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome baseball card set is one of the most anticipated chrome variants released each year. As a parallel set to the flagship Topps Stadium Club base cards, the chrome versions offer collectors highly sought after parallels in a dazzling foil finish. Let’s take a deeper look at what makes the 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome cards such a collector favorite.

History and Design

Topps has been producing Stadium Club sets since 1992 as a premium high-end offering beyond their standard base sets. The cards feature intricate photography and design elements meant to capture the nostalgia and feel of America’s favorite pastime. In 1997, Topps introduced the first chrome parallels to the Stadium Club set which became an instant hit. These refractors featured the same photography as the base cards but in a eye-catching chrome coating.

The 2022 design continues Stadium Club’s tradition of classic baseball imagery. Each card displays a full body action shot of the player set against the backdrop of their home ballpark. Stadium signage, fans, and other environmental details help transport the collector straight to the ballpark experience. Sharp color saturation and intricate pinstripes around the perimeter create a vintage baseball card aesthetic. As with previous years, the chrome parallels replicate this front design flawlessly in a shiny chrome-like coating.

Chase Cards and Parallels

Part of what makes Stadium Club Chrome so collectible is the array of scarce parallel and short-printed chase cards inserted throughout the base set. Here are some of the key parallels collectors seek out in the 2022 edition:

Black Parallels – Printed to 10 copies or less, these 1/1 black refractors are the true holy grails of the set.

Gold Parallels – Limited to only 50 copies, gold parallels give collectors a rare shiny treat.

Blue Parallels – A step up from the base chrome, blue parallels are limited to only 100 copies.

Green Parallels – At 250 copies, green parallels are still quite scarce pulls.

Red Parallels – The most common refractors outside the base chrome, reds are limited to only 500 copies.

Autograph and Patch Cards – Ranging from on-card autos to intricate relic cards, these autographed and memorabilia inserts are big ticket cards to find.

Short printed rookies and stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Juan Soto, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are especially coveted at 1/1 or low numbered parallels. The thrill of the hunt adds to the excitement of ripping packs of Stadium Club Chrome.

Grading and Resale Market

Because of the parallels’ limited print runs and pristine chrome surfaces, PSA and BGS slabs containing high graded 2022 Stadium Club Chrome cards command top dollar on the secondary market. Collectors love the aesthetics of the shiny refractors encapsulated and preserved in professional holders.

Rookies that debut with hype like Bobby Witt Jr. and Spencer Strider routinely sell for hundreds raw and thousands graded gem mint. Superstars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani routinely bring four figure prices for their lowest numbered refractors. Autograph and memorabilia cards of top names can easily eclipse the $1000 range PSA/BGS POP 1 or less.

For patient collectors, holding onto minty 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome parallels of emerging stars has proven to be a sound long term investment. As players’ careers progress and accolades are achieved, the values of their scarce rookie cards tend to appreciate substantially. This makes the 2022 edition a prime target set to cherry pick stars of tomorrow from at reasonable prices now.

Summary

The allure of Topps Stadium Club Chrome lies in its blend of classic baseball photography, scarce refracted parallels, and high-end memorabilia chase cards. As one of the premier modern chrome products on the market, it has developed a strong collector following. For those seeking investment quality cards poised to gain value or to simply enjoy the shiny bling factor, 2022 Topps Stadium Club Chrome makes for an exciting rip or addition to any collection. The thrill of the hunt for 1/1 parallels and short prints keeps the product a premier release that baseball card fans look forward to each year.

1991 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1991 Topps baseball card set was the 70th year for Topps to produce baseball cards and featured all teams from both the American and National Leagues. Some key things to know about the 1991 Topps set include:

Design and Production – The 1991 cards featured a mostly traditional design continuing many aspects that Topps had used for several previous years. The front of the card showed a color photo of the player in action with their name and team name across the bottom. The back featured career stats and a brief biography. The set totaled 792 cards including base cards, extended statistics/subset cards, and manager/coach cards. Topps used a mix of new photos and existing archive photos for the cards.

Rookies and Debuts – Notable rookies in the 1991 Topps set included future Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Frank Thomas, Chuck Knoblauch, and Moises Alou. The set also featured the rookie cards of Eddie Pérez, Neifi Pérez, and Tom Goodwin. Veteran players making their Topps debut after being featured in rival sets previously included Milt Thompson, Rick Aguilera, and Pete Smith.

Stars and Hall of Famers – Leading the way on the stars on the 1991 Topps cards were Nolan Ryan on the Texas Rangers, Wade Boggs on the Boston Red Sox, Cal Ripken Jr. on the Baltimore Orioles, Ozzie Smith on the St. Louis Cardinals, and Kirby Puckett on the Minnesota Twins. Other active Hall of Famers included George Brett, Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Ryne Sandberg, and Tom Seaver.

Short Prints and Special Inserts – Topps included several short prints and special insert variations in the 1991 set. The most notable were the Photo Sticker inserted cards showing full color team photos that could be applied like stickers. Other inserts included Checklist cards, Turn Back the Clock cards featuring players from the past, and Topps All-Time Fan Favorites cards.

Highlights and Key Cards – Some valuable and desirable rookie cards from the 1991 Topps set included Jeff Bagwell, Moises Alou, Frank Thomas, Chuck Knoblauch, and Craig Biggio. Star cards like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, and Ken Griffey Jr. also commanded high prices. Other cards that gained popularity include Ozzie Smith’s final season card on the Cardinals and Wade Boggs chasing 3,000 hits with the Yankees.

Economy and Secondary Market – The 1991 Topps set had a print run estimated around 330 million cards making it one of the largest releases in the modern era. With such high numbers printed, common base cards from the set hold little resale value raw in the range of 5-10 cents each. Star rookies and key cards have appreciated nicely since initial release. Near mint Frank Thomas and Jeff Bagwell rookies routinely sell for hundreds of dollars while pristine copies can reach thousands. Low-numbered short prints also hold substantial value. The 1991 Topps set is considered one of the best and most complete sets of the modern era.

The 1991 Topps Baseball Card set marked another high quality annual release that featured many future Hall of Fame players and rookie stars. While huge initial print runs left most common cards with little secondary value, top rookies and stars have grown steeply in price. The set endures as a favorite of collectors both for its excellent photography and capturing a snapshot of baseball in the early 1990s as stars like Ripken, Griffey, and Boggs flourished. Three decades later, the 1991 Topps cards remain a popular and historically significant collectible for hobbyists.

TOP BASEBALL CARDS OF 1971

Leave a reply

The 1971 baseball season was one that saw cultural shifts in Major League Baseball as the country continued moving in a progressive direction. On the diamond, the Baltimore Orioles continued their dominance by winning the World Series for the third time in five years. Off the field, baseball card companies like Topps, Fleer, and others released new trading card sets that highlighted the biggest stars and most memorable moments from that season. Looking back 50 years later, here’s a deep dive into some of the most iconic and valuable baseball cards from the 1971 sets.

1971 Topps #1 Hank Aaron: Leading off the entire Topps set as the #1 card was future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves chasing the all-time home run record of Babe Ruth. At the start of the 1971 season, Aaron needed just 13 homers to break Ruth’s single season/career record of 714. Aaron would hit his record-breaking 715th dinger on April 8, 1974 and go on to finish his career with 755 dingers, cementing his place as one of the game’s all-time great sluggers. High-grade copies of this Aaron RC have recently sold for over $10,000, making it one of the most expensive cards from the 1971 Topps set.

1971 Topps #132 1971 All-Star Game: Documenting one of the best midsummer classics in history, this card commemorates the 1971 All-Star Game played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Notable for Oakland A’s pitcher Vida Blue being the winning pitcher and also walking away with the game’s MVP honors. The American League defeated the National League by a score of 6-4. This classic All-Star card highlighting one of the coolest uniform color matchups in the game’s history can fetch over $1,000 in mint condition.

1971 Topps #457 Reggie Jackson: A young “Regginald Martinez Jackson” is profiled in this sharp action photo card at just 25 years old early in his Hall of Fame career. Still a member of the Oakland A’s dynasty, “Mr. October” would go on to have one of the most iconic postseason performances ever just a few years later in the 1973 World Series. High-grade versions with the “Amazing A’s” logo on the cap are valued near $400. An iconic card from one of the game’s greatest sluggers.

1971 Topps #526 Roberto Clemente: Tragically, this would end up being Clemente’s final baseabll card issued before his untimely death in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Clemente was an 18-time All-Star, 12-time Gold Glove winner and 1966 World Series MVP, retiring after the 1972 season with exactly 3,000 hits. Considered one of the game’s greatest right fielders ever, this powerful action shot holds special significance as his last card. Near-mint copies can be worth well over $1,000.

1971 Topps #634 Johnny Bench: Widely considered the greatest offensive catcher of all-time, “Johnny Bench” was already living up to his “Best Catcher Ever” moniker by the time of this sharp action shot card in 1971. Bench was in the middle of an amazing stretch that would see him win the Rookie of the Year in 1968, the MVP in 1970 and 1972, and capture two World Series titles with the Big Red Machine Reds dynasty. Super high grade versions are worth over a whopping $2,500.

1971 Topps #548 Bob Gibson: One of the most intimidating and ferocious pitchers to ever toe the rubber, this action shot of Cardinals flamethrower Bob Gibson shows him mid-windup. In 1968, “Gibby” achieved one of the most dominant single season pitching performances ever by notching a mind-boggling 1.12 ERA. He led his team to another World Series title that year over the Detroit Tigers. Great copies of this iconic hurler’s card can reach up to $1,000 in top-shelf condition.

1971 Topps #189 Pete Rose: Capturing the fiery intensity and trademark hustle of “Charlie Hustle,” this sliding action pose foreshadowed the hit record chase that would ensue for the following decade with Rose. Still a member of the “Big Red Machine” Cincinnati Reds at the time of this card’s release, Rose would go on to break Ty Cobb’s all-time hit record in 1985 on his way to an all-time record 4,256 career hits. High-grade versions fetch over $700 and it remains one of the most iconic images of one of the fiercest competitors in MLB history.

1971 Fleer #34 Catfish Hunter: The first year of the Fleer set saw them ink a licensing deal that allowed real player names and stats versus the randomization used by rival company Topps for many years. Sporting his iconic “A’s” captain’s cap, this sharp action image of Gene “Catfish” Hunter offers an alternative look of the star sinkerballer compared to his Topps card. Hunter was a key part of Oakland’s three straight titles from 1972-1974. Near-mint copies sell for over $450 today.

1971 Fleer #100 Carl Yastrzemski: Another star offered in the new Fleer set was Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, sporting his patented crouched batting stance ready to ambush any pitch. “Yaz” was still in his prime during the ‘71 season as evidenced by his third American League MVP award. He’d appear in 18 All-Star Games and win the 1967 Triple Crown leading Boston to the Impossible Dream pennant. High-grade versions of this sharp ‘Strez image fetch over $400.

Those represented just a small sampling of the memorable stars, images and stories captured in the 1971 Topps and Fleer baseball card releases. While those mid-late 20th century issues may not bring the same haul as vintage T206s and 1950s sets, they remain a treasure trove for collectors seeking iconic representations of the game from just 50 years ago when the country was taking shape. The players, designs and cultural significance should ensure many of these classic 1971 cardboard issues remain highly collectible for generations to come.

MAKE YOUR OWN BASEBALL TRADING CARDS

Leave a reply

Creating your own baseball trading cards can be a fun hobby and craft project that allows you to customize cards however you want. Whether you want to showcase yourself or favorite players, making custom baseball cards is a creative way to bond over the sport. Here are the basic steps and supplies needed to get started designing and printing your own collectible baseball cards.

To make authentic trading cards, you will need card stock paper. Look for thick paper that is similar in weight and texture to real baseball cards. Most hobby stores sell sheets of cardstock perfect for this purpose. Make sure to get paper sized to standard trading card dimensions, usually 2.5″ x 3.5″. You can also print directly onto the cardstock if you have a printer capable of handling its thickness.

The next essential supplies are images. You have a few options for photos on your custom cards. You can take your own pictures of players with a digital camera, scan photos from magazines or search freely licensed images online. Make sure any photos you use have a high enough resolution when printed at card size. Photos from books or low-quality web images may pixelate or blur.

Once you have your images, design the fronts and backs of the cards using desktop publishing or image editing software. For front designs, place the player photo on a solid color or team-themed background. Add headings like “Name”, “Team”, and “Position.” Consider including career stats or fun facts for authenticity. Backs usually list more in-depth stats, career highlights and a short biography. Leave room too for any extra design elements.

When laying out card fronts, make sure the picture aspect ratio matches real cards and any text does not interfere with the photo. Print test layouts on regular paper first before printing on cardstock to check sizing and formatting. Once content and formatting looks good, print the final card fronts and backs onto your cardstock either using your home printer or a print shop.

To finish the cards, cut them out neatly along the edges using a paper cutter, ruler and sharp craft knife. Consider rounding the corners as most real cards have slightly rounded edges for durability. Add any final touches like logos, holograms or glitter for visual appeal. You can even print team logos, sticker sheets or player likenesses to cut out and adhere separately for extra customization options.

Display your completed custom baseball cards in toploaders, plastic sheets or baseball card pages to protect them. Consider designing full sets showcasing your favorite team or players spanning different eras. You can also swap cards with friends and family through a DIY trading element. Storing cards in baseball card binders or boxes keeps them neat and organized for easy viewing.

With some basic supplies, free images and creativity, you can design one-of-a-kind baseball trading cards tailored to your interests and fandom. Getting started is simple, and making your own cards is a fun hobby that sparks conversations about the game. Whether designing for personal enjoyment or to share the baseball love, the customization options make crafting homemade cards endlessly entertaining.

2021 BOWMAN BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

Leave a reply

The 2021 Bowman baseball card release delivered another exciting set for collectors to pursue. As one of the premier rookie card releases each year, Bowman continues to unveil prospects heading into their first MLB seasons along with established stars. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the highlights from the 2021 Bowman baseball cards checklist.

The set includes 350 total cards with prospects, major leaguers, and paper/insert parallels. On the prospect side, the big names included 2020 top overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson, as well as 2020 No. 2 pick Austin Martin. Torkelson’s prized rookie card pulled in big bucks upon release. Additions like Martin and a host of other highly-touted farmhands made the set a must-have for prospect collectors.

Veteran stars in the main checklist included Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Mookie Betts among many others. Insert sets within Bowman also featured these types of big names. The Platinum Anniversary parallels paid tribute to stars who had been in the league for a full decade. Guys like Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, and Nolan Arenado were highlighted through these commemorative cards.

International prospects were once again strong within Bowman. Names like Luis Matos, Jamar Hernandez, and Yoendrys Gomez started to gain recognition in the hobby. For Latin American signees, their shiny Chrome rookie cards from Bowman serve as an introduction to the collecting community. With continued development, some of these players could end up as stars down the line.

Paper parallels within the base set included Silver Packs, Gold Ink, Atomic Refractors, and Camo parallels among the more popular variations. The Chrome and Paper versions as always provided multiple opportunities for collectors at different price points. Higher-end parallels like 1/1 Superfractors ensured some cards maintained ultra-rare status as well.

This year’s Bowman product also unveiled a special Mike Trout “Card of the Year” insert. This premium card highlighting the reigning AL MVP was a huge chase for sets. Other popular inserts within the 2021 release featured Future Five Hobby-Exclusive parallels and Gold Blast parallels of top prospects. International Prospects inserts dug deeper into some of the overseas signees as well.

Autographs remained a major attraction of Bowman packs as usual. Top collegiate draft prospects like Jordan Lawlar, Termarr Johnson, and Sal Frelick all featured coveted 1st Bowman autos that collectors scrambled to pull. International auto parallels showcased the signings of organizations additionally. Higher-end parallels within auto sets like Printing Plates and Superfractors maintained rarity.

The 2021 Bowman baseball release delivered another exciting year of rookie cards, prospects, stars and parallels for collectors at every level. With another unusual MLB season in the books, the crop of rookies featured within provided an intriguing look towards the future of the league. The premier release always provides a fun and investable set to chase each spring. Based on the talent and variations included, the 2021 checklist poised collectors with plenty of viable cards to enjoy for years to come.

1987 FLEER AWARD WINNERS BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

The 1987 Fleer Award Winners set featured cards highlighting some of baseball’s top individual award winners from the 1986 season. It was the second such set released by Fleer following the successful 1986 Award Winners issue. Like the previous year’s set, the 1987 version contained cards for winners of the Cy Young Award, MVP Award, and Rookie of the Year Award from both the American and National Leagues.

A total of 12 cards made up the 1987 Fleer Award Winners set. Each featured a colorful design displaying the award logo and text highlighting the player’s award-winning accomplishments from 1986. For the first time, Fleer included separate cards for both the American and National League Cy Young winners instead of just one card for both. This increased the set from 8 cards in 1986 to the full 12 cards in 1987.

The set led off with cards for the 1986 AL and NL Cy Young Award winners – Angels pitcher Mike Witt and Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden. Witt went 24-11 with a 2.84 ERA for the Angels in 1986 to capture his first Cy Young. Gooden, meanwhile, followed up his Rookie of the Year season in 1984 with an impressive 24-4 record and career-best 1.53 ERA to earn his second Cy Young at just 22 years old.

Next up were the 1986 AL and NL MVP winners – Red Sox outfielder Jim Rice and Mets first baseman Gary Carter. Rice hit .324 with 39 home runs and a league-leading 145 RBIs, leading the Red Sox to the AL East title in his final season. Carter hit .295 with 25 home runs and a career-high 105 RBIs from the leadoff spot to help power the Mets’ rotation-led charge to a World Series championship.

The 1987 set then featured cards for the 1986 AL and NL Rookie of the Year winners – Angels first baseman Wally Joyner and Dodgers outfielder Tim Raines. Joyner batted .252 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs in his rookie campaign for the Angels. Raines stole 70 bases and scored 108 runs to capture the NL honors at age 29 after finally getting regular playing time in Los Angeles.

Completing the 1987 Fleer Award Winners checklist were cards for the recipients of MLB’s major annual awards – the AL and NL Comeback Players of the Year, the Sporting News Player of the Year, and the Babe Ruth Award winner for postseason performance. The 1986 recipients were Tigers pitcher Walt Terrell (AL), Cubs third baseman Ron Cey (NL), Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens (Player of the Year), and Mets pitcher Ron Darling (Babe Ruth Award).

The 1987 Fleer Award Winners set featured a star-studded collection of the game’s biggest individual award recipients and performances from the previous season. The colorful artwork and informative front text highlighted each player’s achievement. For collectors, it provided a unique annual set beyond the standard rookie and regular issue card releases of the time. While not particularly rare, 1987 Fleer Award Winners cards remain widely popular among both vintage baseball card and individual player collectors. The set has endured as one of the premium annual issues produced during the baseball card boom of the 1980s.

The 1987 Fleer Award Winners set showed the expansion of the concept pioneered in 1986 to feature cards for a full dozen of baseball’s major annual award recipients. Featuring the likes of Mike Witt, Dwight Gooden, Jim Rice and Gary Carter, it commemorated the sport’s top individual performances of the 1986 season in colorful, informative card form. The set became an established annual tradition during the golden age of baseball cards in the late 1980s.

UNOPENED VINTAGE BASEBALL CARDS

Leave a reply

Vintage baseball cards provide a unique window into the history of America’s favorite pastime. Collecting unopened packs and boxes of cards from the early 20th century allows fans to preserve artifacts that capture moments in time. As the popularity of card collecting has grown exponentially over the decades, unopened vintage products have taken on immense value.

The golden age of baseball cards is widely considered to be the years surrounding World War 2 from the late 1930s through the 1950s. During this period, production and distribution of cards skyrocketed as the gum and candy companies like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer flooded the marketplace with affordable wax packs and boxes. Kids across the country eagerly bought these multipacks hoping to collect full sets of their favorite players and teams.

As fanaticism for accumulating cards grew stronger through the 1950s, many fortunate collectors had the foresight to save unopened packs rather than tearing into them immediately. This preserved the crisp packaging and unsullied gum pieces or other included items inside undisturbed for over 50 years. Unopened vintage wax packs today sell for thousands to even hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the precise year, brand, and condition.

One of the most coveted years for sealed wax boxes is 1952 Topps. Only an estimated 100 such unopened boxes are thought to still exist globally. Inside are 36 wax-paper wrapped packs with pink slick gum. Each pack contained 16 cards depicting that year’s Topps set. If factory sealed, a 1952 Topps box in gem mint condition could potentially realize well over $1 million at auction. Even single unopened packs routinely bring in 5 figures.

Bowman Chewing Gum released the inaugural complete set of baseball cards in 1948. Only a small number of the original boxes containing 24 loose packs survived sealed over the decades. Every year from 1948-1955 is desirable, but the preferred sets are generally considered 1948, 1949, and 1951 Bowman in factory sealed condition. Extremely rare unopened boxes can sell for $750,000+ today.

Perhaps the single most valuable unopened pack ever sold was a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner pack that went for $2.8 million in 2016. While Wagner is famously the rarest individual card, unsealed packs are even more scarce considering how long ago the early 20th century issues were printed. Other pre-WWI tobacco era brands such as 1909-11 M101-7, 1912-14 Napoleons, and 1914 Cracker Jack also bring top dollar reaching over $500,000 per pack depending on centering and gum condition.

In addition to wax packs and boxes, unopened promotional items given away by brands also retain high worth. An example is 1956 Topps Rack Packs – multi-pocket racks containing cellophane wrapped penny packs. Only a handful of complete unopened examples persist today. Another highly sought novelty piece is unopened 1947 Topps Salesman’s Sample Kit featuring hundreds of wax-paper wrapped cards. Fewer than 10 of these representative sample kits survive in pristine condition.

Whether a product contains the biggest stars of a specific year, rare unissued trial designs, or represents a soon-to-be-discontinued brand, sealed vintage cards capture history at a fixed moment that can never be recreated. They rank among the most exclusive investments in the collecting realm. While finding such untouched relics today requires copious time, patience and sheer luck, their long-term value seems poised only to increase further as passion for the nostalgic artifacts of baseball’s past only deepens with time. For serious vintage card collectors and investors, cherry unopened packs and boxes might just be the holy grail.