Card Concepts That Add 'Value' To Cards Attracts New Collectors

Sports Cards in general seem pretty hot these days. 2010 Baseball has slumped since Stephen Strasburg went down - but Jason Heyward, Starlin Castro, even Buster Posey and the Team USA Signatures in sets like 2010 Bowman Chrome and 2010 Topps Chrome should keep those sets alive. Football is doing well as usual - and as usual - it rides on the back of the NFL Rookies, which as of now seem pretty strong. So far there really hasn't been a 'stand-out' product, but its early. Basketball had its 1st year of Panini in 09/10 - and they look to be listening to collectors demands for more on card autographs. Planned sets 10/11 Panini Prestige, 10/11 Panini Limited and 10/11 Threads will have plenty to chose from.

But honestly, not too much of that will bring in 'new' collectors into buying on a regular basis. Aside from special talents like Strasburg, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Ken Griffey Jr. and many others - its tough to get people interested in collecting unless its the 'rip & flip' make a bunch of money type mentality. Maybe those talents come around often enough to make it profitable for the card companies to do business with the current demand, and not necessarily grow the collector base much.

Aside from a collector liking a player/team and/or hoping that card goes up in value - what other incentive is there to attract new collectors into the market?

We have seen some attempts by the card companies, usually aimed at kids, to add something extra to owning the card. When I was growing up, Upper Deck 'You Crash The Game" Insert Cards were something I remember collecting. Basically from what I recall, you got a card of a particular player - and on the back was a corresponding game where he had to achieve a certain stat objective in the game. If that player achieved the goal - you could send that card in for a special set that was later mailed to you. For example, I recall having a Dan Marino and he had to throw 4 or more touchdowns in a game. This was pre-internet and I remember having to check the newspaper on Monday following the game to see if he threw 4 touchdowns (he did). Again, this was pre-internet, where it would have been easy for me to check Dan Marino's stats anytime I wanted to - but the fact is, the card made me check the guys stats to see if I had won. This type of card pre-dates Fantasy Football, which obviously has become popular and I think UD's You Crash The Game was slightly ahead of its time.

Recent examples of adding value to cards beyond the typical means include the popular Topps Attax Baseball & Football Sets along with Panini Adrenalyn XL Football & Basketball. Here for the most part you are gathering cards with codes on them - that allow you to play online. The cards have 'value' over and above the eBay price - because you can play & win with them over and over. Collectors actually pay pretty good money for non-autographed & non-jersey Ultimate or Rare Cards (essentially 'base cards' to most collectors) because of the cards high rating and ability to win matches.

Who knows if these kids will be interested in buying 2010 SP Authentic Football - but they are buying 2010 Panini Adrenalyn XL Football for sure - and its possibly because the cards have value outside selling it online or at a card store. Open an Adrenalyn XL booster box - then go whoop butt online and achieve a top rank almost sounds more exciting than busting a box and hoping I get a Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford autograph so I can 'get my money back' from the break.


Adding value to cards doesn't always mean that we need to throw a signature or jersey piece on it - or even make it #1/1 or serial numbered. I also think that a players performance could do more than make a card sell for more on eBay. Maybe companies would exchange cards (for either top performing or poor performing players) for something else or give you a 'special set' if you send in the 'regular set'.


I'm not sure on the details, however I do know that it might help bring new collectors into the market if we can show them there is value to collecting cards outside selling them on eBay when the guy gets hot.

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.

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.

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