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Unconditional Love
Last week I started watching an excellent series of YouTubevideos showcasing collector's Bottom 5 PC Cards. In other words, cards that collectors own... but don't necessarily love.
You know... those cards that reside in your collection because you're a team or player collector... however they make you wonder what the card manufacturers were thinking when they created them.
The videos inspired me to create my very own list, which I really enjoyed putting together. It gave me an opportunity to sift through images and appreciate what a beautifully designed card looks like.
However... I'll save those cards for another post.
Today... it's all about cards that make you go hmmm:
1998 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CS14
I've had a love/hate relationship with this card since the late 90's. Yes, it features my favorite player of all-time. Yes, he actually held this card and signed it. And yes, it even features a Montreal Expos'player... which happens to be another team I collect.
But I never understood why Topps decided to pair Gwynn with Grudzielanek. They didn't play the same position. Grudzielanek never played for the Padres. They didn't go to the same college. And even if there is a specific reason for having them on the same card that I'm not seeing... the fact is it's not a super obvious reason. And that bothers me.
2012 Goodwin Champions Authentic Memorabilia #BB
Here's another card that's not too shabby on the surface. I've always been a fan of Goodwin Champions and even though Bosworth was a tremendous bust for my beloved Seattle Seahawks... I still love the guy.
My problem is he's wearing a gi, instead of a jersey, yet the card supposedly features a piece of a game worn jersey. Let me fill you in on a little secret. I purchased this card for my Seahawks PC, not my Martial Arts PC.
Up next... the latest addition to my Steve Carlton PC:
2014 Topps Tier One #TOA-SC
When I first saw these on the internet, it was love at first sight. It's made of acetate. It features an on-card signature. And the design allows the signature to jump off of the card.
Pretty sweet, right? Wrong.
When I received the card in the mail and pulled it out of the top loader and penny sleeve, I noticed something to the left and right of Carlton'shead. At first I thought they were water stains, so I got a microfiber towel with a little water and started wiping. When they didn't disappear, I took a closer look at the card and figured out that it's actually part of the design. Topps intended the card to have sort of a "smoke-like" background, but it was poorly executed and collectors are left with cards that look like they have scratches on them.
Okay... let's leave baseball and look at a card from my San Jose Sharks PC. I'm not sure if I have a hobby pet peeve that bugs me more than "sticker autographs" and "redemption cards", but the following issue is definitely in the running...
I wish card manufacturers spent more time pairing the photo used on a jersey card to the color/team of the swatch used.
2007-08 UD Artifacts Treasured Swatches #TSJT
But this card takes my pet peeve to the next level. If Upper Deck still has game-used jerseys of Big Joe from his Bruins days... can't they use them for throwback themed cards? Upon release of this product, Thornton had been with the Sharks for almost two full seasons. That's plenty of time for Upper Deck to acquire a game-used Sharks jersey.
Finally... I saved the best (or should I say worst) for last. Feast your eyes on this monstrosity:
2013 A Sign of History
Who came up with the idea of taking a certified autographed card... cutting it up... slabbing it... then labeling it a one of one? The better question is... why did I purchase this card?
Survey says...
It's called "unconditional love" for cardboard... especially when the cards are for specific players, teams, or genres that you collect.
What's unconditional love?
Let's put this into context that even non-collectors can understand. It's the love that Don Mossi'smom felt for her son:
1966 Topps #74
What about you?
Happy Tuesday and sayonara!
More...
You know... those cards that reside in your collection because you're a team or player collector... however they make you wonder what the card manufacturers were thinking when they created them.
The videos inspired me to create my very own list, which I really enjoyed putting together. It gave me an opportunity to sift through images and appreciate what a beautifully designed card looks like.
However... I'll save those cards for another post.
Today... it's all about cards that make you go hmmm:
1998 Stadium Club Co-Signers #CS14
I've had a love/hate relationship with this card since the late 90's. Yes, it features my favorite player of all-time. Yes, he actually held this card and signed it. And yes, it even features a Montreal Expos'player... which happens to be another team I collect.
But I never understood why Topps decided to pair Gwynn with Grudzielanek. They didn't play the same position. Grudzielanek never played for the Padres. They didn't go to the same college. And even if there is a specific reason for having them on the same card that I'm not seeing... the fact is it's not a super obvious reason. And that bothers me.
Here's another card that's not too shabby on the surface. I've always been a fan of Goodwin Champions and even though Bosworth was a tremendous bust for my beloved Seattle Seahawks... I still love the guy.
My problem is he's wearing a gi, instead of a jersey, yet the card supposedly features a piece of a game worn jersey. Let me fill you in on a little secret. I purchased this card for my Seahawks PC, not my Martial Arts PC.
Up next... the latest addition to my Steve Carlton PC:
2014 Topps Tier One #TOA-SC
When I first saw these on the internet, it was love at first sight. It's made of acetate. It features an on-card signature. And the design allows the signature to jump off of the card.
Pretty sweet, right? Wrong.
When I received the card in the mail and pulled it out of the top loader and penny sleeve, I noticed something to the left and right of Carlton'shead. At first I thought they were water stains, so I got a microfiber towel with a little water and started wiping. When they didn't disappear, I took a closer look at the card and figured out that it's actually part of the design. Topps intended the card to have sort of a "smoke-like" background, but it was poorly executed and collectors are left with cards that look like they have scratches on them.
Okay... let's leave baseball and look at a card from my San Jose Sharks PC. I'm not sure if I have a hobby pet peeve that bugs me more than "sticker autographs" and "redemption cards", but the following issue is definitely in the running...
I wish card manufacturers spent more time pairing the photo used on a jersey card to the color/team of the swatch used.
2007-08 UD Artifacts Treasured Swatches #TSJT
Finally... I saved the best (or should I say worst) for last. Feast your eyes on this monstrosity:
2013 A Sign of History
Who came up with the idea of taking a certified autographed card... cutting it up... slabbing it... then labeling it a one of one? The better question is... why did I purchase this card?
Survey says...
What's unconditional love?
Let's put this into context that even non-collectors can understand. It's the love that Don Mossi'smom felt for her son:
1966 Topps #74
What about you?
Are there cards that reside in your collection, that sometimes leave you shaking your head?
Happy Tuesday and sayonara!
More...
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