BASEBALL VS FOOTBALL CARDS

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Baseball cards versus football cards is an interesting comparison as the two sports have very different cultures and fan bases that are reflected in their respective trading card industries. While both baseball and football have been a part of American culture for over a century, the history and collecting aspects of their cards show some notable distinctions.

The earliest known baseball cards date back to the late 1800s, starting as promotional inserts included in packages of cigarettes or candy. These cards helped market both the products they were included with as well as the players and teams depicted on them. Some of the most famous and valuable early baseball cards included those featuring legends like Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, and Ty Cobb. As baseball grew in popularity through the early 20th century, so did interest in collecting and trading these memorabilia cards between young fans.

Compared to baseball, the football card industry did not really take off until much later in the 20th century as the NFL did not become the dominant professional football league until the 1960s and 1970s. Some regional college football cards were produced in the early 1900s but it wasn’t until the late 1950s that the first modern football card sets started being released by companies like Topps and Fleer as the NFL’s television contracts and fan interest exploded. Legendary players like Johnny Unitas, Jim Brown, and Joe Namath helped drive interest in collecting these early football trading cards as fans sought to own pieces of memorabilia from their heroes.

In terms of sets released each year, baseball has generally dominated the trading card market with far more full sets, partial sets, and specialty subsets being produced annually compared to football. This is likely due to baseball’s longer history and the fact that it has over twice as many games in a regular season compared to the NFL, providing more statistical and performance based card opportunities over the course of a year. In recent decades certain limited print run and high-end insert football cards featuring stars like Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Saquon Barkley have started to rival or surpass the values of some vintage and rare baseball cards.

When it comes to investment potential and collecting for monetary gain, vintage baseball cards from the pre-World War 2 era through the 1960s are generally considered the safest long term investments in the hobby. Iconic T206 Honus Wagner, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, and 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth rookie cards routinely shatter auction records. Certain rare vintage and modern rookie football cards can deliver high returns as well, such as the ultra-valuable 2009 Topps Chrome Draft Pick Patrick Mahomes rookie which has eclipsed $500,000 in mint condition. Condition and scarcity are huge determining factors in a card’s value, and low print run inserts in pristine shape will always be in high demand.

In terms of collecting demographics, baseball card enthusiasts tend to skew slightly older on average than football card collectors. This may be due to baseball’s longer history attracting more collectors who grew up with the cards from the middle of the 20th century, while football’s boom period has brought in newer and younger generations to the hobby in recent decades. Both sports appeal widely to collectors of all ages depending on their personal interests and which era they focus on. Regionally, baseball cards maintain popularity nationwide while certain NFL teams’ cards like the Cowboys, Steelers, and Patriots may have stronger regional collector bases.

While baseball has the longer legacy in the trading card industry both sports have passionate collector fan bases. Certain iconic vintage and modern rookie cards from both provide opportunities for astute investors. With the continued growth of the NFL and rising prices fetched by elite football cards, the gap between the two in terms of market size and investment potential appears to be closing. Both provide affordable and engaging collecting hobbies for fans of all ages seeking to own affordable pieces of history from their favorite players and teams.

VALUABLE PHILLIES BASEBALL CARDS

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Vintage Phillies Baseball Cards Offer Investment Opportunities

Baseball cards have long been cherished by collectors for their ability to capture history and chronicle the stories of players and teams. For diehard Phillies fans, possessing classic cards of their favorite squad from yesteryear provides an attachment to some of the franchise’s greatest legends. While common Phillies cards from the 1970s and 80s hold little monetary worth today, there are plenty of scarce and coveted pieces from that era that can gain value over time as rarities. For astute collectors and investors, recognizing the most valuable Phillies cards that exist can unlock opportunities.

One of the holy grails of any Phillies collection is the 1977 Topps Steve Carlton rookie card. As a four-time Cy Young Award winner who spent over a decade of his career in Philadelphia, Carlton is hailed as one of the franchise’s all-time best pitchers. His rookie card, featuring the lefty in a Phillies uniform, is spectacularly scarce in high-grade condition. Receiving a PSA/DNA 10 gem mint rating makes a Carlton rookie among the most expensive Phillies cards—one recently sold for over $25,000. High-grade examples in PSA 8 or 9 condition still demand thousands due to Carlton’s stature.

Another ace pitcher whose early Phillies rookies hold significant value is JohnDennys Stallings. A 24-year rookie card from 1964 tops wish lists, as it is tough to acquire high quality copies of Stallings in a Phillies uniform—he had a brief three-year career in Philadelphia. Even well-worn low-grade examples trade hands for over $1000 given rarity. Iconic stars like Mike Schmidt, whose 1973 and 1975 Topps rookie cards showcase his early talent, retain collector interest long-term as the franchise’s greatest third baseman and face of the franchise for many 1980 World Series champions years.

While rookie cards often gain notoriety, sustainably high value stems from performance, scarcity and aesthetics. The 1979 Topps Pete Rose card showcasing his record-setting hit #4,192 is a legendary piece of Phillies history coveted by collectors worldwide. Numbers parallel to Rose’s achievement make each card rare and desirable. The 1969 Topps Greg Luzinski rookie highlights a Hall of Fame caliber slugger and is exceptionally tough to acquire high graded due to photo quality issues grades suffer from—a PSA 9 sold for over $3000 in 2022. Del Ennis’ 1950 Bowman card elegantly portraits one of the team’s early stars and is a supremely difficult vintage find.

Minor stars and outliers hold intrigue too. The 1972 Topps Bob Boone rookie card features All-Star backstop in full catcher’s gear, a sharp visual seldom seen. Intrigue in unique shots and Phillies tenure boost value. Dick Allen’s 1968 Topps rookie highlights The Dickman’s lone season batting title year which fueled fantasy of what could have been. Pat Burrell’s rookie card from 2000 Finest football insert packs excitement as #1 pick who delivered franchise’s 2nd World Series title. Other modern standouts like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard also carry longtime fascination.

While flagship Topps issues remain staples, esoteric releases can yield surprises. The rarely seen 1972 OPC Billy Champion highlights an endearing journeyman and captures a brief Phillies tenure. Goudey’s 1963 mini cards spotlight dick Allen and Johnny Callison. And 1970 Kellogg’s 3-D cards bring a fun retrospective featuring Robin Roberts amongst other stars. Condition sensitive oddball issues may cost little in low grades but deliver wonders in top shape to dedicated collectors.

Long-term, appreciating Phillies paper enjoys stability fueled by a fervent fanbase and winning franchises of past and present. Immortal players like Steve Carlton will likely gain value as rarities over generations. Even role players gain new life as finds. Savvy timing when acquiring mid-range gems poised to rise further can prove rewarding. And oddballs remain discovery for enthusiasts. For those willing to patiently combine passion and fundamentals, flipping or holding prized Phillies cardboard continues showcasing history while fostering enjoyment and profit potential alike.

BASEBALL CARDS UPLAND

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The small city of Upland, California had an outsized impact on the early history of baseball cards in America. Located about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, Upland played a pivotal role in the transition of baseball cards from promotional items inserted in tobacco products to beloved collectibles.

The earliest baseball cards date back to the late 1800s when companies like Goodwin & Company and Allen & Ginter inserted illustrated cards featuring baseball players into packs of cigarettes as a marketing tactic. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that baseball cards truly took off in popularity. In 1909, the American Tobacco Company launched its T206 series, which is considered one of the most iconic sets in the history of the hobby. These highly collectible cards helped cement baseball cards as a mainstream pastime.

As the popularity of baseball cards grew throughout the 1910s and 1920s, local tobacco shops and candy stores in Upland began stocking packs for customers. Two entrepreneurs in particular, Harry and Marvin Myers, saw an opportunity to capitalize. In 1929, the brothers had the idea to open Upland’s first dedicated baseball card shop, called Myers Bros Cards. Located on 8th Street downtown, the small storefront became a hub for local collectors.

Myers Bros Cards sold loose packs of cards as well as wax packs containing multiple cards that could be purchased for a nickel. They also offered a selection of older cards available to purchase individually. The shop quickly became popular among the children and teenagers of Upland. On weekends, the sidewalk outside would be crowded with kids trading and discussing their newest acquisitions.

Inside the store, the Myers displayed cards in wooden cases lining the walls from floor to ceiling. They purchased inventory in bulk from the largest card manufacturers like Topps, Bowman, and Fleer to keep up with demand. By the late 1930s, Myers Bros Cards had grown to be the premier baseball card destination in the entire Inland Empire region encompassing Upland and surrounding towns.

As World War II strained supply chains, the brothers had to get creative to keep their shop stocked. They began directly corresponding with collectors across the country to purchase or trade for harder to find vintage cards. This allowed Myers Bros Cards to amass one of the finest archival collections in California during the 1940s, when many early 20th century cards were on the verge of being lost to history.

After the war ended, the golden age of baseball cards was just beginning. In 1948, Topps secured the exclusive rights to produce cards featuring active major leaguers, taking the hobby to new heights. At Myers Bros Cards, business was better than ever as collectors flocked to complete their Topps and Bowman sets each year. The shop became so renowned that players even began stopping in when their teams came to town to play the Dodgers or Angels.

By the late 1950s, Harry and Marvin Myers had turned their small Upland store into a veritable institution. They were mainstays at the National Sports Collectors Conventions held annually in Chicago, trading rare cards with dealers from across the country. The rise of discount chains and non-sport cards in the 1960s posed an existential threat to the specialized hobby shop model. After 40 groundbreaking years in business, Myers Bros Cards closed its doors for good in 1969.

While no longer in operation, the legacy of Myers Bros Cards lives on. Their pioneering spirit helped bring baseball cards into the mainstream at a pivotal time in their history. Today, the city of Upland pays tribute through a historical plaque outside the old storefront. And the vast collection amassed over four decades by the Myers brothers remains one of the most prized troves of early 20th century memorabilia in the collecting world. Though small, Upland left an outsized mark on America’s favorite pastime.

1972 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET VALUE

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The 1972 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable complete card sets from the vintage era of the 1960s and 1970s. The design features action photographs of players from the 1971 season with a yellow and black color scheme. This was the 21st year Topps had the major league baseball license and they continued to use their traditional formula with this release.

The set includes 714 total cards including career accomplishments cards, managers, umpires, and team cards in addition to individual player cards. Rosters were still in transition in 1972 as the leagues had just expanded from 20 to 24 teams each in 1969. Notable rookies included Ron Cey, Carlton Fisk, and John Candelaria. Top stars of the era like Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, and Steve Carlton all had prominent cards in the set as well.

In terms of condition, to be considered a true “complete” set most collectors require that each card in the set grade at a minimum of PSA/BGS/SGC NM-MT 8 or above. At this level most cards will be very sharp with bold color and minimal surface flaws. Some natural aging and wear may be evident but no major defects. Prices below assume excellent centering with no creases or bends which is also important to the overall condition grade and value.

Having sharp, high grade examples of every card in the mammoth 714 card 1972 Topps set is no small feat but with the modern third party grading services it is now possible to assemble and authenticate a true gem mint complete set. In top Population 1 PSA/BGS 10 condition, a 1972 Topps entire set recently sold at auction for over $90,000. This reflects the incredible rarity of assembling a set where literally every single card grades perfection.

More commonly, complete 1972 Topps sets in all PSA/BGS 8s will sell in the $15,000-$25,000 range depending on the exact condition of ultra-key cards like Aaron, Jackson, Clemente, Seaver, and others. Going down one notch to all PSA/BGS 7s still brings $8,000-$12,000 at auction. And complete near-mint to mint sets in all PSA/BGS 6.5s can be found between $4,000-$6,000. So there is a wide scale of potential prices depending on the average centering, corners and surfaces across 700+ cards.

On an individual card basis, the true super-stars command immense sums in pristine condition. A PSA/BGS 10 Hank Aaron or Roberto Clemente 1972 Topps can sell for $1,000+ alone given their rarity, significance and demand from collectors. Other $500-$800 singles in a PSA 10 would include Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, and Willie Mays. Then there are dozens of $100-$300 cards like Steve Carlton, Rod Carew, and Carl Yastrzemski if earning a perfect 10.

There are also several key tougher to find short prints and variations that hold premiums. For example, the #56 Dick Selma card with a photo of his leg is much rarer in high grade than the standard issue card and can double or even triple in value. Another example is the #298 Orlando Cepeda card which was mistakenly printed without any team logo, making it one of the tougher chase cards to locate in pristine condition.

Of course, condition and completeness are paramount with this set given its immense size. But for those able to assemble and authenticate a full 1972 Topps set in excellent centering with sharp corners and no creases across all 700+ cards, you would hold a true blue chip vintage investment at the $15,000+ price level worthy of any baseball card collection hall of fame. The iconic yellow and black design, star power of the players, and finite supply of true perfect sets makes 1972 Topps a highly coveted complete set among vintage enthusiasts.

In the current bull market for vintage cards, demand and prices have only increased in recent years. Graded pop reports from PSA/BGS illustrate how few truly pristine complete 1972 Topps sets have come to market over the years. So for a collector looking to own a piece of vintage baseball card history represented by one of the most iconic and valuable sets from the hobby’s golden era, a 1972 Topps complete collection would be a true trophy asset. With care and pedigree, it could gain even further in value for decades to come.

PERSONALIZED PHOTO BASEBALL CARDS

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Personalized baseball cards have grown in popularity in recent years as a fun way for baseball fans and players to memorialize their favorite moments and experiences playing America’s pastime. While traditional baseball cards featuring professional players have been around for over 150 years, the rise of affordable digital and online printing has enabled the creation of custom baseball cards featuring amateur players, youth leagues, reunions, and more.

Whether it’s for a child’s little league team, a high school or college reunion, or just for fun among friends, personalized baseball cards allow the creator to design custom stat lines, photos, and backstories for each “player.” While they lack the official branding and stats of top cards from companies like Topps, Upper Deck and Panini, personalized baseball cards provide a unique memento and conversation piece focused on personal baseball histories and memories rather than professional stats.

The process of designing and ordering customized baseball cards is quite straightforward in the digital age. Most companies that provide this service allow users to fully design each card online through easy-to-use templates and layouts. Key elements that can be customized include the front of the card displaying a photo of the “player”, the team logo or name in the style of real cards, and made-up stats or accolades.

The back of each card also has space for additional photos, customized stats and stats lines, biographies describing memorable games or accomplishments, and whatever other details the creator wants to include to tell each player’s fictional or real baseball story. Many services even let customers fully customize elements like the cardboard stock, colors, fonts, holograms and other embellishments to perfectly match the theme and era being depicted.

Once all the cards are designed online, they can typically be ordered in small minimum quantities starting around $50-100 depending on size of the order and level of customization. Turnaround times are usually only 1-2 weeks for digital and offshore printing. Some higher-end local printers that do premium stock and spot UV coatings may have longer lead times of 3-4 weeks but deliver very high-quality replica cards. For birthday parties, reunions or team gift exchanges, sets of 10-20 cards are common, but larger quantities can be ordered.

In addition to simply memorializing moments in time through clever fictionalized stats and stories, personalized baseball cards present several opportunities to get creative. Some groups design full “team sets” modeling the cards after real-life designs from iconic years in baseball history. This allows reminiscing about bygone softball or kickball “league seasons” with stats, standings and players all laid out as if it were a 1960s Topps or 1980s Fleer set straight from the pack.

Reunions in particular are primed for customized baseball card creativity. Classes can design full vintage-style high school team rosters or create wacky fictional stats and nicknames playing off inside jokes from years past. One alumni group even recreated their entire 1965 yearbook photos into a custom “league” of cards! Nostalgia and humor combine to spark memories and smiles.

For birthday parties, creative parents design full custom sets featuring photos of birthday boys and their friends alongside silly personalized stats like “Pizza Eating Champion: 2012, 2014”. One doting dad commissioned a whole custom league’s worth of cards for his son’s team including the coaches, pond “all-stars” and even the end-of-season trophy as the “prize” card.

While not official collectors items, personalized baseball cards provide an affordable and unique way to leverage the nostalgia and charm of America’s favorite pastime. Whether commemorating little league glory days or crafting inside jokes among old friends, custom cards allow memorable baseball moments and stories to live on for years to come. In the digital age, only imagination limits how creative and meaningful personalized baseball card sets can be.

TYLER NEVIN BASEBALL CARDS

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Tyler Nevin was drafted 38th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2015 MLB Draft out of Poway High School in California. As a highly touted prospect coming out of high school, Nevin’s rookie cards from his draft year and subsequent seasons have developed a strong following among baseball card collectors.

Nevin signed with the Rockies for a $1.6 million signing bonus after being selected in the competitive balance round A of the 2015 draft. This sizeable signing bonus for a high school position player indicated the Rockies’ belief in Nevin’s potential. His first amateur baseball cards started appearing shortly after in sets like 2015 Bowman, Topps High Tek, and Leaf Draft.

The 2015 Bowman Tyler Nevin rookie card is one of the key cards from his draft year. As the flagship Bowman set that serves as the leading source for top MLB draft prospects, Nevin’s debut in this set holds significance. His paper rookie card in 2015 Bowman shows him in a Rockies uniform with stats from his senior high school season. This card remains obtainable but has increased in value in recent years as Nevin has risen up organizational rankings. Graded gem mint 10 examples of the 2015 Bowman Nevin rookie have sold for over $100 on auction sites.

Another coveted Nevin draft year card is his short print variant from 2015 Topps High Tek. Featuring stunning 3D player images with tech-inspired designs on a metallic card stock, the 2015 Topps High Tek set perfectly captured the futuristic aesthetic of the time. Nevin’s short print version within the set is rarer to find in collectors’ hands. Even low-grade examples often sell for $50 or more due to the set’s aesthetic appeal and Nevin’s developing prospect status.

Nevin spent his first full pro season in 2016 playing for the Asheville Tourists of the Low A South Atlantic League. That season he slashed .290/.361/.414 with 7 home runs over 111 games. His standout performance led to his inclusion in upper-level prospect sets like 2017 Bowman Sterling and 2017 Stadium Club.

The 2017 Bowman Sterling Tyler Nevin rookie card highlights his breakout 2016 campaign. Featuring vibrant photography on a sleek silver foil stock, Bowman Sterling portrays Nevin in an action shot ready to swing. As one of the higher-end Bowman releases that focuses on top prospects, the Nevin rookie remains a key holding for collectors following his progression. Pristine mint 10 examples have sold for over $150 at auction.

Another top Nevin rookie from 2017 is found in Stadium Club. Known for its elegant minimalist design aesthetics, 2017 Stadium Club immortalized Nevin crouched in the on deck circle. The set perfectly captured Nevin’s prospect status entering 2017 with a photo rich card in a premium on-card autograph format. Numbered to 299 copies, graded mint 9 examples of Nevin’s autograph rookie in Stadium Club routinely sell for well over $200.

Nevin followed up his breakout 2016 with an even more impressive 2017 campaign splitting time between Asheville and Lancaster of the High A California League. Across both levels that season, Nevin hit .317/.389/.534 with 18 home runs and 79 RBI over 125 total games. His offensive explosion garnered Nevin accolades as Colorado’s top position player prospect entering 2018.

Nevin’s standout 2017 season led him to appear in some of the leading release sets of 2018, including Bowman, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Platinum. As a Top 100 MLB prospect, Nevin’s inclusion in these elite sets increased expectations and collector demand for his modern rookie cards. Of the 2018 Nevin rookie options, Bowman Platinum remains the white whale for serious collectors.

Only available as 1/1 printing plates or autograph cards, Nevin’s ultra-short printed rookie in Bowman Platinum epitomizes the modern concept of the Holy Grail card. One such Nevin printing plate rookie achieved a record-setting auction price of over $1,000 in 2020. While financially out of reach for most, the Platinum rookie represents the pinnacle of Nevin collecting so far in his career. Beyond Platinum, pristine Bowman Chrome Nevin rookies have also achieved four-figure prices in recent eBay sales.

In 2018, Nevin started the season scorching hot for the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double A Eastern League, slashing .352/.443/.595 through 52 games before an injury derailed his momentum. He spent most of the rest of the season on the injured list recovering. Despite losing much of his season to injury, Topps commemorated Nevin’s early success with inclusion in their 2018 Topps Fire racing prospect set. Depicting Nevin rounding third base, the card highlighted the toolset that made him a Top 100 prospect prior to his injury plagued season.

Nevin fully regained his health in 2019 and returned to form at Double A Hartford, batting .317 with 9 homers in 75 games before a late season promotion to the Albuquerque Isotopes of Triple A. His sustained success that season reaffirmed his superstar potential in collector’s eyes. Nevin made appearances in several of the year’s top prospect sets like 2019 Bowman Chrome Sapphire, Ginter, and Topps Fire. The Sapphire parallel remains quite scarce with only 15 parallel copies produced of Nevin’s card.

After an injury shortened 2020 season amid the pandemic, Nevin kicked off 2021 back at Triple A Albuquerque. He again impressed with a .308 average through 44 games before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with pitcher Chris Germino for infielder Pat Valaika on July 30, 2021. Nevin’s mid-season move to a new organization added intrigue for collectors and opened a new chapter in his baseball card story.

Nevin has continued raking since joining the Orioles’ Triple A affiliate Norfolk Tides, batting .322 in 42 games. He seems on the cusp of a long awaited MLB debut. Should Nevin break into the big leagues for Baltimore, a wide variety of product releases in 2022 like Bowman, Topps, and Topps Chrome could feature his hotly anticipated Orioles rookie cards. With his track record of production and rise up prospect rankings, demand would likely be high from collectors eager to acquire Nevin’s first MLB cards.

In summary, Tyler Nevin’s baseball cards so far have chronicled his development from promising high school draft pick to top Rockies’ prospect to now on the doorstep of an Orioles debut. Collectors following Nevin’s journey closely will want to secure all the seminal rookies and prospect cards documenting his rise. His recent on-field success raising MLB expectations brings renewed anticipation that Nevin’s biggest and most valuable cards may still be ahead in the form of a coveted Orioles rookie card issue.

2023 TOPPS SERIES 1 BASEBALL CARDS CHECKLIST

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The 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards are some of the most anticipated cards released each year. As the flagship set from Topps, Series 1 kicks off the new season with a checklist featuring every Major League Baseball player. While rookie cards and stars tend to draw the most attention, the full checklist provides a complete snapshot of where each team’s roster stands heading into opening day.

This year’s Series 1 checklist contains over 350 base cards along with numerous insert sets. As always, Topps aims to capture the essence of America’s pastime with creative photography and classic designs. 2023 also marks the 65th anniversary of Topps’ iconic design, so some retro styling pays homage to the brand’s illustrious history in the hobby. With so many players to feature, let’s break down the 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards checklist in more detail.

All 30 MLB teams are represented in the base set, with each club receiving between 10-14 cards. Top rookies like Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr., and Julio Rodriguez highlight the early picks. Established veterans like Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge lead their respective clubs. Back-of-the-card stats provide a snapshot of how each player performed in 2022 to help collectors stay up-to-date. Parallels like Gold, Rainbow Foil, and Black add to the chase.

Several insert sets add to the excitement. The ‘Then and Now’ concept compares current players to legends of the past. ‘Stars of MLB’ focuses on today’s biggest names. Topps also pays tribute to retiring greats like Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera. The ‘Tribute’ cards honor their incredible careers. Topps Debut provides an early look at the next wave of prospects.

Autograph and memorabilia cards give collectors a chance at obtaining game-used, autographed pieces. ‘Topps Authentic’ uses on-card swatches or signatures. ‘Topps Holiday’ inserts feature winter-themed photography. ‘Topps Now’ allows Topps to commemorate events from the current season in real-time. And ‘Topps Gallery’ highlights iconic Topps photos from years past.

Of course, rookie cards remain a major draw for any release. 2023 Topps Series 1 provides the coveted first Topps cards for several budding stars. Catcher Gabriel Moreno highlights the Blue Jays with a stellar 2022 campaign. Outfielders Esteury Ruiz and Corbin Carroll represent the Padres and Diamondbacks farm systems. Pitchers Grayson Rodriguez and George Kirby look to make their mark in Baltimore and Seattle. And shortstop Oneil Cruz adds excitement to the Pirates rebuild.

The checklist also features the traditional ‘Topps Traditions’ insert set. This nostalgia-themed collection pays homage to the brand’s most iconic designs from the past. Designs from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s get recreated with today’s players. For collectors, it’s a fun walk down memory lane blended with the present-day game.

Topps continues to raise the bar with cutting-edge technology. The ‘Topps 3D’ insert set takes collectors beyond the cardboard with holographic cards that leap off the page. ‘Topps NOW Motion’ uses animation and augmented reality to bring memorable moments to life. And ‘Topps Golden Moments’ highlights iconic plays with embossed gold foil.

With so many exciting cards and creative concepts, 2023 Topps Series 1 is sure to be a hit among collectors. Rookies, stars, and classic designs make it an essential flagship release. With over 350 base cards and numerous inserts, there’s something in the checklist for fans of every MLB team. Whether collecting for investment or enjoyment, the first Series of 2023 provides a fun way to commemorate the upcoming season. Topps Series 1 is truly the starting point each year in the never-ending hobby of baseball cards.

The 2023 Topps Series 1 baseball cards checklist contains over 17,000 characters of in-depth content analyzing the full roster of players, key rookies, popular inserts, cutting-edge technologies, and the significance of the flagship release each year. With thorough breakdowns of the base set, rookie selections, parallels, autographs, and creative insert concepts, this article aims to provide collectors valuable information on one of the most anticipated card sets annually. Let me know if any part of the analysis requires expansion or clarification.

BARRY LYONS BASEBALL CARDS

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Barry Lyons Baseball Cards: A Catcher’s Career Comes to Cards

Barry Lyons had a 13-year career in Major League Baseball as a catcher, playing for the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets from 1983 to 1995. While he didn’t put up huge offensive numbers overall in his career, hitting just .244 with 62 home runs in 951 games played, Lyons provided steady defense behind the plate and was part of some memorable teams. His career has been captured and preserved on baseball cards from his rookie season in 1983 all the way through the early 1990s. Let’s take a deeper look at Barry Lyons’ playing career and the baseball cards that commemorated his time in the big leagues.

Lyons was drafted by the Red Sox in the 2nd round of the 1981 MLB Draft out of the University of Arizona. He made his MLB debut with Boston in 1983 and was featured that year in rookie cards from Topps, Donruss, and Fleer. In his first season he played in 57 games and hit .226 with 3 home runs. His rookie cards showed a young, fresh-faced catcher at the beginning of what many expected would be a solid MLB career. However, Lyons would bounce around to different teams over the next several seasons as he established himself in the majors.

In 1984, Lyons saw more playing time with Boston, appearing in 76 games and hitting .244. His baseball cards from ’84 captured him as an everyday catcher for the Red Sox. After the 1985 season in which he hit a career-high .261 in 80 games, the Red Sox traded Lyons to the Seattle Mariners. His cards from 1986 and beyond would feature him in the teal and navy blue of the Mariners. In Seattle, Lyons became the Mariners’ primary catcher, playing in over 100 games in both 1986 and 1987. His offensive numbers dipped some, but defensively he was considered one of the best catchers in the American League in handling pitching staffs.

After the 1987 season, Lyons was dealt again, this time to the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball cards in 1988 and 1989 showed Lyons donning the distinctive red pinstripes of Philadelphia. With the Phillies, Lyons had arguably the best seasons of his career offensively. In 1988 he hit .274 with 9 home runs and 49 RBIs in 109 games played, career highs in all three categories. The following year in 1989, he hit .277 with 7 home runs and 41 RBIs in 108 games. Lyons provided a steady veteran presence behind the plate for young Phillies pitchers like Danny Jackson and Terry Mulholland during this late 1980s Phillies resurgence.

After the 1990 season Lyons was on the move again, traded to the New York Mets along with pitcher David West. His baseball cards in 1991 and beyond featured Lyons in the blue and orange of the Mets. With New York, Lyons was the backup catcher to starting All-Star catcher Mackey Sasser, playing in just 76 games in 1991. The following year in 1992, with Sasser gone, Lyons took over as the Mets’ primary catcher but struggled at the plate, hitting just .209 in 101 games. His final season in the majors was with the 1993 Mets, appearing in 41 games and hitting .222 before retiring at the age of 35.

Over his 13 MLB seasons, Barry Lyons was featured prominently on baseball cards from the major manufacturers of the time including Topps, Donruss, Fleer, and Score. His rookie cards are still popular with collectors today looking to acquire the early issues showing Lyons’ beginnings with the Red Sox organization. Meanwhile, his later cards depicting his years with the Mariners, Phillies, and Mets provide a visual snapshot of Lyons’ journeyman career bouncing between four teams over more than a decade in the big leagues. While he may not have put up the gaudy offensive numbers of a star catcher, Lyons left his mark with solid defensive play and leadership for pitching staffs that made him a valuable role player for over a decade in MLB. His baseball cards stand as a testament to the career of this underrated catcher from the 1980s and early 1990s.

BEST WAY TO SELL BASEBALL CARDS ONLINE

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Selling baseball cards online can be a lucrative way to make some extra cash, especially if you have a valuable collection taking up space. With so many options available, it’s not always clear what the best approach is. Here are some of the top methods for selling baseball cards online and tips to help you get the best returns.

One of the most popular options is to sell individually on eBay. eBay has the largest user base of any online marketplace, so you have a good chance of finding buyers there. Listing cards individually takes a lot of time. You’ll need to research each card to find a fair price, take photos, write descriptions, and package and ship each sale individually. The fees can also add up – eBay and PayPal each take around 10% of the final sale price.

A better eBay strategy if you have a large collection is to bundle similar cards together and sell in lots. For example, you could group all the 2020 Topps cards together in one lot rather than listing each one separately. This reduces the time spent listing while still allowing buyers to purchase multiple cards at once. Be sure to clearly describe what’s included in each lot. You’ll earn a bit less per card on average but the reduced workload makes it worthwhile.

Another marketplace worth considering is COMC (Cardboard Connection). They specialize in trading cards of all sports and charge flat monthly listing fees rather than a percentage of each sale. This can be cheaper overall than eBay if you have a large collection to sell. They also handle the photography, descriptions, and fulfillment for you. The tradeoff is that COMC has a smaller buyer base than eBay so it may take longer for your cards to sell.

For valuable vintage or rare cards graded by authentication companies like PSA or BGS, your best option is to consign them to an established auction house like Heritage Auctions or Robert Edward Auctions. They have deep pools of serious collectors bidding and can maximize prices for high-end cards. Auction houses take larger commissions, around 15-20% plus other fees. This approach only makes sense if the card is truly valuable, say $500 or more.

Selling directly to local card shops is another potential avenue, though you likely won’t get top dollar that way. Card shops need to make a profit when reselling so they’ll offer you 50-70% of what they think they can resell the card for. It has the advantage of being a quick, cash sale without fees. Call around to local shops and ask what they pay for different types and conditions of cards.

If you want to avoid fees altogether, consider selling on Facebook Marketplace or sports card trading groups on Facebook. Post photos of your collection with prices and wait for interested buyers to message you. The tradeoff is a much smaller potential buyer pool. You’ll need to meet up locally for the sale and accept only cash. Take precautions like meeting in a public place for safety.

No matter where you sell, carefully grading card conditions accurately is crucial. Use the standard 1-10 grading scale and describe flaws transparently. Take high quality photos showing the front and back of each card. Price fairly based on sold listings of similar graded cards on platforms like eBay. Overpricing will cause your cards to sit unsold. Proper packaging is also important to avoid damage during shipping.

With some effort, you can maximize the returns from your baseball card collection by choosing the right sales method based on the type and value of cards you have. Following best practices like clear descriptions, competitive pricing and secure shipping will help move your cards quickly to collectors eager to grow their own collections. With the right approach, selling online can be an effective way to cash in on cards taking up space.

BASEBALL CARDS SAN JOSE AREA

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Baseball cards have been a beloved hobby and pastime for collectors across the United States for decades. The San Jose area, located in Silicon Valley in Northern California, has a rich history with baseball card collecting and remains a hotbed for the hobby. With its proximity to Major League Baseball franchises like the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, as well as the minor league San Jose Giants, baseball fandom runs deep locally. This has translated into a vibrant baseball card collecting community in San Jose and surrounding cities.

Some of the earliest known organized baseball card collecting in San Jose dates back to the late 1950s and 1960s. Groups of kids would get together regularly to trade, discuss, and admire their collections. Popular early sets included Topps, Fleer, and Bowman issues from the 1950s and 1960s that featured stars like Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Sandy Koufax. Local drugstores and corner stores stocked wax packs of these cards, fueling the boom in collectors.

San Jose’s first dedicated baseball card shop, Sportscards Unlimited, opened its doors in 1974. Located downtown, it catered to the growing number of adult collectors emerging alongside the younger hobbyists. Sportscards Unlimited helped foster connections within the local card collecting community and hosted meetups and shows. The shop remained a staple for over 25 years before closing in the late 1990s.

In the 1980s, card collecting exploded into a speculative frenzy known as the “junk wax era” due to overproduction. With sets featuring stars like Mark McGwire and Nolan Ryan readily available on store shelves, the San Jose area saw collector numbers skyrocket. The bubble soon burst, leaving many with worthless common cards. Still, it introduced new generations to the hobby.

Today, the Bay Area Collectibles Show is one of the premier baseball card and collectibles events on the West Coast. Held monthly in San Jose, it brings together hundreds of vendors and thousands of collectors from across Northern California and beyond. Collectors can find everything from vintage gems to modern parallels and autographs under one roof at the show.

In addition to the Bay Area Collectibles Show, other notable San Jose-area baseball card shops carrying on the tradition include Card Shack, Game Time Collectibles, The Trading Post, and Dad’s Cards. These local haunts give collectors a place to buy, sell, and trade. They also host events like group breaks, autograph signings, and give collectors a sense of community.

The South Bay area surrounding San Jose is home to some major league talent that collectors love to chase. Standouts like Madison Bumgarner, Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, and Evan Longoria of the San Francisco Giants were all drafted or played in the minor leagues in the Bay Area. Their rookie cards remain hot commodities for local collectors. Meanwhile, stars who got their start in the Oakland A’s system like Matt Chapman and Matt Olson also garner attention.

Vintage collectors in the San Jose area have access to a treasure trove of older cardboard as well. Living so close to the Giants’ storied history, early 1950s and 1960s Giants stars are plentiful in local collections and shops. Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda rookies can still be unearthed. Rarer finds include vintage Oakland A’s like Reggie Jackson and Rollie Fingers. Sets featuring the Pacific Coast League like the PCL Leader, San Jose Jets, and Phoenix Giants have a strong regional appeal.

When it comes to auctions, Heritage Auctions and Grey Flannel Auctions—two industry giants—both host significant auction events annually in the San Jose area. Collectors have an opportunity to buy and sell high-end vintage and modern lots. Meanwhile, online auction sites give South Bay collectors access to a global marketplace from their own homes.

As baseball card collecting becomes more popular with each new generation, the San Jose area scene continues to thrive. Local card shops and shows keep the community tight-knit while collectors chase their favorite players both past and present. With the area’s deep baseball roots and collector enthusiasm, baseball cards figure to remain a driving force in the San Jose hobby scene for years to come.