Top 5 Amazon Sports Card Products of 2009

To close out 2009, let's take a look at the top 5 products on Amazon. While Ebay remains the best place to buy and sell sports cards, Amazon has prices that are similar and sometimes less then the popular auction site.

With free shipping on some items, Amazon is a great alternative to ebay if you are looking to add to your collection. Most orders over $25 gets you free shipping as well. Here are the top 5 Sports Card products sold on Amazon for 2009:

1.

New York Yankees 2009 Topps World Series Champions Set (27 Cards)

The Yankees claim the top Amazon spot for 2009.  And why not? The most successful franchise in all of sports claimed another World Series win in '09.  The 2009 Topps Set features all of the top players off the champion Yankees team. Jeter, A-Rod, Rivera, and Tex are just a few of the names featured in this set. It wouldn't be a bad idea picking up one of these sets and storing it away for safe keeping. The popularity of the Yankees is as strong as ever, and they might just be the favorites to repeat in 2010.

2.


2008 Upper Deck First Edition NFL Football Factory Sealed Factory Set (225 Cards) Including Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco Rookies and w/ 2 Game Used Jersey Cards

Quite a bargain for this 2008 Upper Deck Factory Set. For $12.99, you also get 2 game used jersey cards. The 2008 Rookie class was very impressive, and the value of the set could increase over the years.

3.


2009 Upper Deck First Edition Football Trading Cards - Blaster Box

Retail boxes seem to sell very well on Amazon. When you hit the $25 free shipping bonus, then buying retail boxes on Amazon can be a cheaper alternative to Ebay. If there is not a Target or Wal-Mart close to you (not sure how that is possible) then buying off Amazon can be a great way to add to your collection without having to drop a lot of coin. Be sure to check out the Other Football Boxes on Amazon.

4.


2008 Upper Deck X MLB Baseball Factory Sealed 24 Pack Retail Box w/Autograph

For $14.99, you can see why this is a hot seller. You get 24 packs of cards and an Autograph. The Upper Deck X boxes are little harder to find on the retail market, I just checked my local Target and they didn't have any left.

5.


2008 Upper Deck First Edition MLB Baseball Factory Set(506 Cards) + Game Used Jersey + 5

Another Upper Deck factory set makes the list. A staggering 506 cards, plus a game used jersey card, and also 5 Yankee Stadium Legacy cards. For $13.99, it doesn't get much cheaper then that.

2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition EEE Baseball Preview

Sports Card Radio has 2009 Donruss Elite Extra Edition covered! Check out our spectacular preview here.

This year will feature On Card Autograph Rookies Cards! Including Dustin Ackley, Donovan Tate, Matt Hobgood, and many more! Check out the complete checklist of on-card RC auto's inserted into 2009 Donruss Extra Edition Baseball.

Check out this sweet Albert Pujols Fort Osage Indians High School Autographed card which will be limited to # /20.  These will be red hot! Be sure to check the preview for more information on this Pujols Autograph.

Beware: Fake NBA Logoman Patch Cards

NBA Logoman patch cards are some of the hottest cards on the market. These rare cards sell quite well no matter the player. Its a hobby fact, that there are many sellers who will try and make a buck any way they can. Ebay is a popular place for these people to run the scam, but the selling is not limited to just the auction scene.  Buyers need to be careful whenever they purchase a card. Here are some steps to take to make sure the logoman card you are buying is legit.......Full Article Here.

 FAKE WADE

FAKE MALONE

FAKE

FAKE KOBE

FAKE WADE

Topps Signs Stephen Strasburg + SP Authentic Pushed Back

Topps has signed a deal with 2009 MLB #1 Pick Stephen Strasburg. I am not sure how they will incorporate Stephen into the 2010 Topps products. Unless he makes the Washington Nationals out of Spring Training he will not have a true "RC" card. The baseball RC logo rule is discussed here. 


Here is Topps press release on the Strasburg signing. 


Upper Deck Sp Authentic Football has a new release date. 1/26/2010.  Upper Deck is attempting to get all autographs for the set to be signed on card. Sp Authentic is usually a set that gets pushed back, the on-card element throws a new wrinkle. I am sure UD wants to get this set out before the 2010 Super Bowl, so collectors won't have to wait much longer.

2009 Upper Deck UD Sp Authentic Football Box Preview

Just finished a preview of the 2009 Upper Deck Sp Authentic Football Set. Good stuff this year. Up to 10 Rookie Patch Auto's per case!! NICE!

All Autographs will be on-card.

Here is what you get per box:

Get one (1) Autographed Memorabilia Card in every box!
Up to 10 Rookie Auto Patches per case!
An additional Two (2) Autographs in every box!

Check out our review here. 

Quinton Ganther Washington Redskins RB

This guy was out of a job just last month. Yesterday, he scored 2 TD's and totaled 90 yards. Gotta love the NFL. Quinton also helped me win a fantasy football playoff game.  In honor of that, Sports Card Radio has posted a 2006 Rookie Card Checklist of the man himself.

Quinton Ganther Rookie Checklist

Thanks Quinton!

2009/10 Panini Threads Basketball Set Preview

Check out our set preview for 2009/10 Panini Basketball.  The Rookie Class Patch Autographs look cool.

Pacific Tigers vs. Cal Bears 12/9/2009

Went to my first college basketball game of the year last night. It also happened to be the largest crowd (8,704) ever to witness a college hoops game in Stockton, CA. The enthusiastic crowd couldn't help the under-sized and over matched Tigers who lost to Cal 79-54.

It's too bad UOP couldn't buy a jump shot the entire game. If they'd made just a few more open shots, it would have been a competitive game. Cal didn't impress me. The Tigers were able to get open looks all game, but just couldn't hit them. There are a couple Tigers teams from several years ago that would have beaten the Cal team I saw last night.

Here are some names off the Cal team that I think have a chance to make it to the next level. Not sure where they rank in terms of NBA Draft prospects, but these guys certainly have the skills to make it:

PATRICK CHRISTOPHER. Dude had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Looked to be about 6-5'. Nice NBA body. Can hit the mid range jump shot. This guy looked good.

JEROME RANDLE. Dang, this guy is really quick. I mean, really, really quick. Had some traveling calls on him that won't be called in the NBA. He is very small, which will hurt him. Not a great passer, he was more or less looking for his own shot. Might fit as a backup PG in the league.

MAX ZHANG. This guy is 7-3". Not the most mobile big guy, but can move a bit. Good touch on his shot. Aside from Christopher, he was the guy who impressed me the most. He had very modest numbers: 6 points 3 Rebounds and 3 Blocks, in just 10 minn. of action, but clearly the skill set is there.

Most of the Cal guys are "me first" so dumping it into the post to a guy who is 7-3" against a UOP team that was guarding him with a guy who was 6-8" must not have occurred to them. This guy will most definitely make the NBA just because of his size. I think he is a Sophomore, so he might still have some room to get better.

Show #42 Tiger Woods - Brett Favre - Peyton Manning + News

The entire globe has been abuzz about Tiger Woods and his Car Crash that somehow lead to other personal matters being discovered about the world's greatest golfer. We talk about his situation along with the other athletes that have been doing well on the field this year.

Check out the Sports Card Show Podcast #42

2009/10 Panini Basketball Coverage

Sports Card Radio will be covering Panini Basketball in it's first year with the exclusive deal with the NBA. Here's what we've got so far.

2009/10 Panini Prestige NBA Basketball Card Set Review

2009/10 Panini Elite NBA Basketball Set Preview & Review

2009/10 Panini Rookies & Stars Basketball Set Preview 

Be sure to check out the recent box break videos of each product.

2009/10 Panini Prestige Basketball 

2009/10 Panini Elite Basketball

2009/10 Panini Rookies & Stars

2009 Topps T206 Product Review

A review of the 2009 Topps T206 Baseball set is up on Sports Card Radio.  Be sure to check it out. Much like Topps Allen & Ginter, this set features mini's, ad backs, buybacks and much more.

The cards appear to be popping on ebay.
2009 T-206 Box Break Videos on YouTube

OT: I Should Have Hit on Tiger's Wife When I Had The Chance

I think it was 2002, and I was at a PGA Tour golf tournament in San Francisco. My favorite athlete, Tiger Woods, was roaming the golf course and I was doing everything I could to get as close as possible and get a glimpse at the greatness. Fortunately for me, the crowd wasn't too big that day, and I was able to follow Tiger for all 18 holes, without any obstruction.

Tiger was making his way through the course, and was about to hit an approach shot on a long par 5. Nobody was around me, I was standing all by myself. Tiger, was way out in the middle of the fairway, probably 100 yards away from me. Suddenly, I turn to my left, and I see this blond woman walking straight toward me. I mean, STRAIGHT toward me. Looking right at me. She was very moderately dressed, a blue hooded sweater, black stretch pants, and big sunglasses hiding her eyes.

I can probably count on one hand how many times in my life, that something inside told me "I have to say something to this woman." Living in California, I see beautiful women everyday, but very, very, rarely does a little voice inside my head tells me to make a move. So here I am, standing, totally oblivious to the golf tournament at this point, and this gorgeous woman has all my attention. Low and behold, this woman comes and STANDS RIGHT NEXT TO ME. We are almost touching shoulders we are so close. Like I mentioned before, there wasn't any one else around. It wasn't like she squeezed in between a few people to get a look at Tiger, she walked up, with nobody else around, and STOOD RIGHT NEXT TO ME. Whoo Hoo!

So right about at that point, my heart starts to pick up a little bit. I NEED TO SAY SOMETHING! So I start to steal some glances at her. And at the same time, I am trying to come up with something smooth to say. On about the second glance, I get this funny feeling. Do I already know her?  She kind of looks familar. She looks about my age. Maybe from school? From a past job? While all this is running through my head, a person approaches who I do recognize. Tiger Woods mother comes walking up and stands next to, what I think, will be my future wife. Suddenly, like a flash, I snap out of my haze, I stare out at Tiger hitting his shot, and it dawns on me. I was about to hit on Tiger's wife. I was really, like two seconds away, from hitting on the biggest sports star in the ENTIRE WORLD wife.

While part of me was a bit sad that I wouldn't stand a chance with Elin, part of me was also proud. One of the few times in my life when I had the strong urge to make a move on a young lady, it happens to be the wife of the most famous athlete in the world. Hey, it's easier to dream big right?

Ryan Tedards

2008 UD Exquisite Football RC Price History

If you ever want to know what the top rookies of 2008 Upper Deck Exquisite Patch Auto RC's sell for, we will be keeping a price history here at Sports Card Radio.

Andre Caldwell
Chad Henne
Chris Johnson
Darren McFadden
DeSean Jackson
Felix Jones
Joe Flacco
Matt Forte
Matt Ryan
Ray Rice

Feel free to suggest any players you'd like to see Sports Card Radio keep track of.

Sports Card Radio Main Website Updates

Bunch of cool things going on over at www.sportscardradio.com

Now you can find the last 50 articles in one place - Catch up on all the latest news.

Upper Deck Exquisite Football will have a complete coverage section. Getting ready for the 2009 Release.

The Basketball Rookie RC card checklist page is underway and has some cool players already.

A good look at the rise of Chris Johnson Exquisite RC Jersey Auto Cards over the lat month.


Plus lots more. Be sure to check the latest articles for the newest stuff!

Old School TTM B.J. Armstrong Chicago Bulls PG

When I was a kid I had a lot of fun sending cards out in the mail to get TTM Autographs. Some of the guys I can remember getting were:

• Dale Ellis
• Karl Malone
• Dennis Smith (Who would send you 3 cards of his own Autographed)
• Don Nelson
• Dolph Schayes

 Here is a picture of one that I dug up the other day. Former Chicago Bulls Point Guard B.J. Armstrong.

Be sure to check out Sports Card Radio's TTM Fan Forum Section.
Forum member Cubsfan129 has had tremendous success over the years getting TTM. Check out his thread.
Cubsfan129 will be making an appearance on Sports Card Radio in December to talk about his collection.

SCR FREE Box Break 2006 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Football

Be sure to check back here for more contests!
Freeroll Baseball Box Coming in December. Click Here and Get a Team!

Visit Sports Card Radio.

Tyreke Evans PG/SG Sacramento Kings Part II

Take back everything negative I said about Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings SG/PG, in an earlier blog post dated October 21, 2009. I actually got to watch the Kings vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game on November 10 which the Kings won 101-98.

The kid can flat out ball. Wow. Tremendous footwork. Above average passer. Seems to already have a grasp on the pick and roll game which is a staple in every NBA teams offense. Great one-on-one player. Maybe one of the best one-on-one players I've seen come into the league in quite awhile. Can play in the half court, and can also lead the break. His long arms allows him to make scoop layups with ease around defenders. As with most young players, his jump shot needs a little work, but that is usually one aspect of NBA players game that gets better over time. Is he Dwayne Wade?  Of course not. Wade, to me, is more athletic, and at this point has a better range on his jump shot. Tyreke's range appears to be inside 20 feet, with the ability to hit the occasional three-pointer. Again, his range should improve over time.

There were times during the game where they would just give Tyreke the ball and watch him go one-on-one with a usually helpless Thunder defender. He got to the hoop with ease. He is able to draw fouls that only the good offensive players get. Wow. Wow. Wow. I STRONGLY suggest getting in on some of his Rookie Cards as soon as possible. He is a Rookie of the Year candidate and will get a lot more attention once people around the league realize this kid can flat out do everything on the court. Once he gets his outside shot going, LOOK OUT!  I will happily eat crow on this one, and have already added him to my fantasy basketball team.

Stephen Curry PG/SG Golden State Warriors

You must have lived in a cave to not know what Stephen Curry did while attending Davidson. CBS made him the darling of March Madness. His Father, Dell, had one of the smoothest jump shots I've ever seen. His son is not far behind in the jump shot category.

Stephen is currently starting for the Golden State Warriors. The NCAA leader in scoring last year is finding it hard to find shots on a Warriors team that includes 'me first' players such as Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson, and Monta Ellis. The thing that surprises me about Curry is how well he can pass the ball. It makes me think that Curry will be able to stick at Point Guard throughout his NBA career. At some point, I think he will also get enough shots up to average in the 15-20 ppg range.

The Warriors aren't going to do much this season. I would also imagine Curry will only put up modest numbers meaning getting an affordable card of his very likely as the season progresses. It's worth the small investment because I could see Curry playing in the league for a long time.





Be sure to visit Sports Card Radio.

Buying Low and Selling High

New article in the Insider Hobby Tips section of Sports Card Radio. Gives some general tips on when to buy and sell sports cards for profit.

The tips apply to collectors looking to make money on their collection. Its not intended for casual collectors who only collect their favorite players or teams.

Check out the article here.
Visit Sports Card Radio.

Louis Williams PG 76ers

Louis Tyrone Williams got put on my radar screen last season. He averaged a career high 12.8 ppg coming off the bench behind Andre Miller. With Miller gone, Louis is now the starting PG in Philadelphia. He's off to a hot start this season, 'getting his' with 17 ppg in his first 4 games.

Williams was a 2nd round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. His game reminds me a lot of two other former 2nd round draft picks, Nick Van Exel and Gilbert Arenas. Louis is a guy who could shoot up the charts in popularity among NBA fans, and his card values could pop as well. 

You heard it here first at Sports Card Radio.

Website Updates

Be sure to check out some of these new pages added to Sports Card Radio's website in the last week:

• A new feature on the 2009 Topps Allen & Ginter Creatures of Legend, Myth and Terror Set.  
• Tons of new YouTube Box Break Videos broken down into each year and brand.
• Babe Ruth's baseball Rookie Card Rolodex.
• Check out ebay auctions for CLH Cards. Lots of good stuff at good prices.
• As always, check out Sports Card Radio's forum loaded with good hobby insights.
  

Sport Card Radio's Group Freeroll Box Break

Today was mail day for Sports Card Radio. We are going to have a FREE box break for our loyal SCR Forum members. Signing up for teams is too late. :(  But more free breaks will be in the works for the future. Check out Sports Card Radio's Forum for more details.

Here is the box we are breaking! 2006 Playoff Absolute Memorabilia Football. Good luck to everyone! Break will be done at some point this week! Check the forum and our You Tube Page on Sports Card Radio.

2009 Top 50 Topps Allen Ginter Baseball Sports Card Auctions

2009 Topps Allen and Ginter Baseball has some of the most expensive cards for a modern baseball card set.

I was surfing around eBay the other night and came across the Napoleon Hair DNA Card with a huge Buy-it-Now on it. Made me want to see what other cards might be selling for that kind of money.


Visit our Top 50 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Card Auctions page at Sports Card Radio

Some cool cards even if your not a baseball fan. I'm a fan of the Napoleon and the Van Gogh...which ones do you guys like?

NFL Week 7 Matchups

New England Patriots
Tampa Bay Bucks

Gotta go with the Pats. They looked unreal last week, should be a blowout.

Green Bay Packers
Cleveland Browns

The Browns actually played the Steelers tough last week. I'm picking Cleveland with the upset.

SF 49ers
Houston Texans

San Francisco doesn't have the offense to keep up with Houston. Texans by 14

Minnesota Vikings
Pittsburgh Steelers

Minnesota has won some games they probably shouldn't. The steel curtain comes down on them this week. Pittsburgh by 6.

Indianapolis Colts
St. Louis Rams

Colts in a blowout.

San Diego Chargers
Kansas City Chiefs

I'm going SD. The Chiefs really aren't too bad, this one could go either way.


Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers

Wouldn't watch this game if you paid me. Picking Carolina if they stick to the run.

New York Jets
Oakland Raiders

The more drama, the more the Raiders win. Just win baby...two in a row for Oakland.

Atlanta Falcons
Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo was playing better when Jessica Simpson was his girlfriend. This week he'll rekindle some of that old magic and beat the Falcons in a shootout.

Chicago Bears
Cinncinatti Bengals

Of course I pick the Bengals. But this game will come down to turnovers.

New Orleans Saints
Miami Dolphins

Gotta go with NO but this one could be close. Miami is kinda sneaky and they are running the ball well. Drew Brees and the Saints running game will be too much to handle.

Arizona Cardinals
New York Giants

New York got roughed up last week. I think they come home and play like a championship caliber team this week. Ahmad Bradshaw has been playing very well.

Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins

Well, the Skins coach at least knows he has a job. The Eagles are embarrassed after last week. Tough game to pick. I think the Eagles bounce back and pull this one out.


Have fun watching the games!

Tyreke Evans

Been listening to the local Sacramento Radio Station KHTK 1140AM all day.  Now I know they are supposed to hype up the local team. But here are the terms used to describe rookie point guard Tyreke Evans throughout the course of the day.

• Could be the next Chris Paul.
• Could be the next Dwayne Wade.
• Will be an All-Star in his first three seasons in the league.
• Will win Rookie of the Year. 
• Could be a Superstar in the league.

Call me a skeptic. I watched the guy play a little bit in Memphis. He is a good player. Takes the ball to the rack. Can score in traffic.  C'mon though. Dwayne Wade? Chris Paul?  I remember watching Wade at Marquette and was blown away. I didn't see much of Paul in college, but I've seen him quite a bit in the NBA and everyone knows what type of skills he has. I wouldn't, at this point, put Tyreke in that class.

Sacramento will try to run this guy at point guard. To me, that is a big mistake. Kind of like when Golden State tried to make Monte Ellis a PG. Didn't work. The Kings don't have a whole lot of three-point shooters, meaning less opportunity for Tyreke to drive and kick out to the open guy.  With Evans trying to be a 'true pg' it might hurt the strength of his game, which is taking it strong to the rack.

What are your thoughts on Mr. Evans?  I will note that I am a huge Lakers fan and will take every opportunity to take swipes at Kings players. So maybe I am missing something here.

Freeroll, Box Break Videos, & Ted Williams Card Stolen

• Listen in on Saturday for the announcement of Sports Card Radio's Football Freeroll Box Break. Teams are still available.  Check out this section of the message board for details on how to sign up! 
• Speaking of box breaks. We'll be uploading a bunch of popular youtube breaks on the website over the next few days.  Post your suggestions in the comments section and get an extra point in the McGahee Jersey Card Contest! Then go check out the breaks here. 
  
• Police in Farmington, New York need the public's help finding a stolen 1954 Wilson Franks Ted Williams PSA 4.  The card was jacked at a hotel on or around Oct. 4. Call Investigator Mark Eifert (585) 398-4121 with any information.
  

Get Interviewed On Sports Card Radio

I am looking for Sports Trading Card collectors young and old to interview on a future podcast. Post in the comments below why you would make a good interview.

The best responses will be interviewed on The Sports Card Show Podcast

You are free to promote anything you have going on as well. Dealers, Card Shop Owners, eBay Sellers...feel free to state your case!!!

It will be a 15-20 min interview over the phone.

Here is the Fan Forum Entry if your a member already.

Visit: www.sportscardradio.com

Exclusive Halloween SCR Blog Contest

Trick or Treat!!! The month of October is almost over and we are giving away a sweet jersey card!!!

Prize: 2008 Donruss Gridiron Gear Willis McGahee Jersey Card
Serial #94/100
Willis has been popping this year even with Ray Rice in the backfield.

How You Win: The person with the most Comments On Our Official Blog will win this card. Contest ends Midnight October 31st.

Keep checking back for daily updates and news from the sports trading card world!

 
 

Show #39 eBay vs Card Shops + Product Reviews + News

The latest show of The Sports Card Show Podcast is up over at www.sportscardradio.com

For the complete show notes and streaming & download links  Click Here

This week we talk about buying cards on eBay vs Sports Card Shops

The latest hobby news and information + Product Previews and Reviews


Visit our Fan Forum to suggest show ideas and interact with other fans of the Sports Card Show Podcast.

2009/10 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball Box Breaks

Upper Deck announced that this years 09/10 UD Exquisite Basketball will be the last set in the series. In only a short period of time (03/04 First Issue) Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball has made a huge impact on the hobby world. Its sad to see such a great set that was highly anticipated by basketball collectors each season.

It will be interesting to see what premium sets that Panini decides to roll out this year for basketball. The high end product does have a place in the market both at the box level and the single card market so I anticipate that they will take advantage of this. Either way it will be tough for them to match Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball's reign as the high-end product of choice for basketball fans.

Check out some of the final 2009/2010 UD Exquisite Basketball
YouTube Videos I put together over at Sports Card Radio

We also talked a bit about the end of UD Exquisite Basketball during:
Show #38 of The Sports Card Show Podcast

Visit Our Official Homepage: www.sportscardradio.com

Visit our Fan Forum

Send us an e-mail: sportscardshow@gmail.com

Pack Day, SP Threads, & Hobby Interview.

• Set your calendars for March 6, 2010. Upper Deck and the MLB have joined forces for 'National Packtime' day.  Go to your local hobby shop on that day and receive a free pack of cards from Upper Deck.  
• If you like Soccer. Check out these new cards from Topps.  
• 2009 NFL SP Threads comes out 10/20.  Here is a sneak peak from Upper Deck.
• An interview with Dan Fox of Fox Sports Cards courtesy of Andrew Chrisman.
• Be sure to visit us at Sports Card Radio.
  

Around the Sports Card World 10/15/2009

• A big day for Collectibles4Baseball, they sign with Steiner Sports, who will authenticate all the autographs on their website.
• Nick Tylwalk, over at The Cardboard Connection picks his top-6 Michael Jordan Basketball Card Autographs.
• Thought you had to be a star athlete to get your face on a trading card?  Think again. Check out these pictures from Penn State's website.They call them Penn State Faculty Trading Cards.
  
• Ken Karrson, a writer for the NWI Times (Northwest Indiana) muses on Topps choice to go twitter.
• Paul Angilly, columnist for The Bristol Press (CT), likes what he sees from the preview of 2010 Topps Baseball.  
• An interesting reader question from a Redding Blog regarding Bowman Baseball's 1990 Insert set. Complete with quotes from the guy who created the images.

• Be sure to check out Sports Card Radio's very own Rookie Card Checklist. 
  

Hobby News, Notes, & Information For 10/14/2009

• Over at the DA Card World Blog, a reader sent in his pictures of a 2008/09 Upper Deck Exquisite Hot Box of Lebron James #6/23! Sweet!
• The article is a couple weeks old. But Kobe Bryant will be the face of Panini Basketball.
• A great USA Today Blog that chronicles the vintage Basketball collection of Bill Schonsheck.
• Visit us at www.sportscardradio.com
  

Baseball Card News for 10/13/2009

• Mike Smeth, owner of The Cardboard Connection, has built a social network specifically for card collecting. Call it the Myspace and Twitter of card collectors. 
• A nice preview of the WWE 2009 Topps Trading Cards hitting stores soon over at Lords of Pain.
  
•  If you are into the Baltimore Orioles, you must check out this updated daily blog on all things related to Oriole Baseball Cards.
• Greg Nelson, a columnist for The Morning Sun, reminisces about his card collecting days. 
• Upper Deck Sp Threads Football was released today.  
• Topps Bowman Chrome Football hit the shelves on Monday. 
• Kathy Peters at AC Content suggests you donate your unwanted cards to charity. 
• Be sure to visit us at Sports Card Radio.
  

Baseball Card Rookie Logo Rule

In 2006, the Major League Players Association (MLBPA) created new rules in regards to what baseball cards would be considered a "Rookie Card".  Prior to 2006, it was fair game for card companies to make a card of a player not on a Major League 40 man roster. Or more simply put, a guy in the minor leagues. The new rule now prohibits a card being deemed a "Rookie Card" unless the player is on the 40 man roster. Popular sets such as Bowman Chrome Draft, Just Minors, and USA Baseball still can make cards of minor league players, but these cards are no longer, in the eyes of the MLBPA, considered Rookie Cards.

The intent of the MLBPA was to lessen the confusion over what cards were considered rookies.  I believe they have missed the mark for several reasons.

Take a look at a list of Evan Longoria Rookies. Notice that he has cards issued in both 2006 and 2008.  If you have an Evan Longoria 2006 Bowman Chrome Gold Refractor Autograph that card is considered an 'insert'.  Not a Rookie Card. I have to scratch my head as to why the MLB would not want to capitalize on the hype surrounding new players.  Imagine if Upper Deck and Topps could create Rookie Cards for signed draft picks. The buzz around, say, a National Treasures Steven Strasburg would be huge.

Another example as to why it hurts collecting is the fact that most players do not get put on the 40 Man Roster for many years after signing with a MLB Club.  Some never make it at all. Collecting Rookies in other sports is very simple. If you know the year a player was drafted, then 99.9% of the time his Rookie Card is going to be from that year. Now with the new MLPA rule, you'll have to know what year a player was called up to the 40 Man Roster in order to know what year his Rookie Cards are in. Tim Beckham, the number 1 pick in the 2008 MLB draft, is going to have a different year for his Rookie Card, then the number 5 pick, Buster Posey. All because Posey made it to the 40 Man Roster during 2009, and Beckham did not. That to me is very confusing.

At what time a player is called up to the 40 Man Roster is up to his team. Often times, it is late in the season when rosters expand and teams can carry more players on their bench.  This creates a very difficult situation for card companies who now have to scramble to issue cards during a players first year of service. Buster Posey was called up to the San Francisco Giants 40 Man Roster in September 2009. Meaning only products that came out after that date could issue Posey Rookie Cards for that year. Many great sets missed out on the chance to have a 2009 Rookie Card of Posey simply because he made the 40 Man Roster after the set had already hit the shelves.

The MLBPA was attempting to make collecting Baseball Rookies more simple. Instead, they made it a whole lot more confusing.

Return to Insider Hobby Tips

Please Visit Our Website: www.sportscardradio.com

Getting Sports Card Shop Owners To Cut Deals

A loyal listener asked a good question over at the Sports Card Radio Fan Forum. Basically he asked why sports card shop owners tend to low ball you for single cards?

I know where both my listener and the card shop owner are coming from being that I've filled both shoes during my lifetime. As a collector when we pull a nice card it would be nice to turn around and sell it or trade it for top dollar even if it isn't in the price guide at that moment. As a card shop owner, unless its a once in a lifetime type pull, chances are its just another card sitting in the cabinet. Knowing you'll see the same card or similar card again later in the week makes it far less valuable to the card shop owner who is exposed to "hits" or really nice trading cards most of the day.

In short, they tend to try to buy things at costs lower than eBay. Given that it'll run you about 15% off the top (or more) to sell your card on eBay, they'll factor that in to their offer price. Lots of people come into card shops knowing very little about the cards they have let alone selling them on eBay - so sports card shop owners offer them whatever they think they might take (I always said $5.00 dollars)

That being said...if you are a good customer and you come back often, the shop owner probably will deal with you differently. The best thing to do is not try to get cash for your cards unless your dealer promotes that they "buy" cards. The better thing to do is try and swap for some other single cards or packs/boxes that you would want. If he is smart he'll drop his markup a little and you can get a nice deal on something else you may like. Heck, if the singles have been sitting around for a while, I always liked to trade for something fresh and it ends up working out for both the customer and the shop owner.


Get to know your shop owner...see if they are even interested in collecting cards (some aren't) but if they are, they will pay more for stuff they collect. Every sports card collector has a soft spot for a team or player. Even the hardened shop owner will pay a little more for that special piece. On the same side of the coin, shop owners tend to hate players or products too, and if you know which ones they don't like...shoot for those for the best deals.


Check out show #38 of The Sports Card Show Podcast for more information on dealing with shop owners.


Please visit our website: www.sportscardradio.com

Send me an e-mail anytime: sportscardshow@gmail.com

Show #37 Set Building + Product News + Ron Artest

 Show #37 Set Building + Product News + Ron Artest

 The newest edition of The Sports Card Show Podcast is up at www.sportscardradio.com

Stream/Download and enjoy the show!!

Another one will be up next weekend.

Buster Posey Called Up To The SF Giants

Just in case anyone missed it Buster Posey got called up to the San Francisco Giants the other day.

This is a photo of Buster at a Minor League Game I went to.

We'll see how he turns out but if you are interested in seeing Buster Posey's Rookie Cards

Check out the Rookie Card Rolodex Page I Made For Him

Fake Jersey Cards and How To Spot Them

Buying a beautiful multi-color patch or swatch jersey card on eBay is always exciting as these cards seem few and far between when opening up packs or boxes. Typically these cards sell for a premium over just plain or single color jerseys cards making them very popular with collectors.

With prices sometimes hitting the $1,000's for NFL logo's or Reebok or Laundry Tag style jersey cards, the money is huge. Whenever you have big money, you undoubtedly have crooks.

One of the best ways to identify Fake Jersey Cards is to visit a large forum of sports card collectors. I visit as many boards as I can (even if its just to read what others are saying) and I see the threads about fake jersey cards.

Check out this thread at Sports Card Forum for an example of what I'm talking about.

Starting a thread like this when you're about to spend some decent money on a card might not be a bad idea. Collectors have seen a lot of these cards and they'll be able to give you their best advice if they think it is fake.

3 Things To Know About Spotting Fake Jersey Cards

1. Larger print run jersey cards #/100, #/250 ...ect tend to NOT have patches and NEVER league logo's (at least I haven't seen something like that) These patches and logo's on the jersey's are saved for low print run cards (25 or less) or expensive high end products like Exquisite, National Treasures, SP Authentic...ect.

2. Sellers with poor feedback. If they do something like make fake jersey cards....they're doing other shady things and their feedback should reflect that. Also sellers with auctions or stores just filled with nice patch jersey cards. Sure, there are sellers that have nice eBay stores..but not every card will be a patch.

3. Common sense. If someone is selling a Patch/Logo jersey card for less than what you've seen it go at auction before...it might be fake. If the jersey piece doesn't fit tight under the edges of the cutout of the card, be careful. The card companies do a nice job making cards these days, the jersey fits tight under the window they cut out.


Hope these tips help the next time you get one of these nice trading cards. Jersey and Patch cards are really nice and you want to make sure you get the real thing when you spend the hard earned money on it.

Check out a show I did a while back on the subject of Fake Jersey Cards over at Sports Card Radio Show #7 Fake Jersey Cards + Prospects


Good luck with your collections, have fun but be careful out there.

5 Ways To Save Money When Buying Trading Cards

1: Sell or Trade some of your collection
Even if you get pennies on the dollar for your common trading cards, pennies do add up! Find a player, team, brand, sport, era....ect... that you are interested in (it could be many things) and collect those cards until you max out your visa. Everything else, I say sell it. There are many ways to sell your cards, I have done a few podcasts on the topic.  Check them out below if you are interested.

Show #28 The 3 P's of Selling Your Sports Cards
Show #2 Selling Your Sports Cards

2. Buy During The "Off-Season"
It seems like there is no off season in sports these days and if you collect multiple sports there is always a regular season to follow. If you are serious about collecting a certain player, team or sport what does it matter if you have the cards 6-12 months later? (or longer)

You save money because there will be new product on the market and new RC's that tend to drive up sports card prices in the first or current year of release. Last years product is like a year old BMW, great car...drives as well as any car on the road...but its not "New"  The other difference is probably about $10,000 and the same thing happens in sports cards. Obviously 1/1 and special cards need to be purchased when they come up, however more common jersey and autograph cards can be had for less in the off-season.

3. Set A Budget
Sounds boring...but tell me any great money making (and saving) business that doesn't have a budget? I'm not trying to say that you should run your collection like a business but we can learn from the power of budgeting.  The easiest place to start is make a guess at how much money you have to spend each month on cards. Once you get that $$ down give that to yourself every month for your trading card collection. If you don't spend as much simply carry that amount over to the next month, just try not to go over. Modify you sports card budget as other things in life give/take more money from your pocket...but always have a dollar amount you can spend every month.

This will help you be more choosy when shopping...and keep you from overspending. Plus it will help focus your collection and eliminate cards that you don't really want or need.

4. Check eBay
Even if you don't buy on eBay or rarely do. Check the prices on their site. It gives you a decent idea what the market is for the trading card or box you are looking to buy.

5. Have Fun
Just have fun collecting whatever you decide to collect. Every great sports card collector goes through ups and downs but the main thing is to have fun. If a RC or Player you collect doesn't pan out, don't be discouraged...there is always another card to move on to. Enjoy the cards you cherish and pass on the ones you don't want to someone that will cherish them.


.
Send me an e-mail with your tips: sportscardshow@gmail.com

Here is  another podcast I've done on saving some green
Show #29 Tips on "Buying Low"


Visit our website if you want to know more about Sports Card Radio
www.sportscardradio.com

Updated Sports Card Radio Home Page

I thought the home page loaded too slow with the previous version. So I cut some things out and I think it uploads much faster. Overall I think the site looks really good and it gives us a decent footprint on the web.

In the coming months I hope to keep adding to the Baseball Rookie Rolodex
To date I have about 40 players listed, including many of the Top Prospects in baseball.  I'd like to get to about 100 by the end of the year.

Anyway, hope you like the new look!!

Check It Out Here


Let me know how you like it and if there is anything you want me to add!

sportscardshow@gmail.com

Got a new job! Time For A Wish List!!

I found out that I got a new job the other day. After being unemployed for over a year you can probably imagine how excited I was!

One of the first things that came to mind was what cards will I want to buy now that I probably will have a little extra spending money for my PC. Here are my wish lists that I'm going to try and pick up once the checks start rolling in!

Magic Johnson Autograph
I've always been a big fan of Magic and never had one of his Autograph cards. I've seen many on eBay in the $40-$50 range and I will try to find a nice one in that price range.

Madison Bumgarner Autograph
I don't think he will get a call-up this year, so its possible his autographs will soften in the off-season. Either way I don't see them going up much unless he does get a shot in the majors. But if he doesn't make it up to the Giants then I will try to scoop an auto in the winter.

A Box Of Cards
I've bought thousands of boxes of cards...but probably have opened less than 10 in my lifetime! I used to sell on eBay and when I had a card store. I'd like to be the one opening now, and I'll probably try my luck at a Football box before the year is up.


That's about it, I'm sure I'll have more to add as I start trolling eBay and other places to buy cards. I'll still be a tight wad and look for the deal but that's my style and how I shop.

I'll keep you posted over at Sports Card Radio

Good Luck With Your Own Collections!!

Places To Buy Sports Cards Wholesale

I have applied to my fair share of sports card wholesale and distributor outlets. Most are really great and are looking to help you make money.

I made a list of all the ones that I know and will be adding more as I find them.

See My List Here Over At Sports Card Radio

Check them out even if you don’t buy wholesale just so you know what kind of wholesale outlets are out there.

www.sportscardradio.com

sportscardshow@gmail.com