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The $20 Card Collection
I have a love/hate relationship with the 90's. On one hand... the decade represented my college years and involved some of my fondest memories with friends and family. It also marked the start of my career in education which opened doors to a new purpose in life, as well as creating new friendships and experiences. From that point of view... it was a pretty awesome decade.
On the other hand... I wasted thousands of dollars busting packs and boxes searching for inserts, parallels, rookie cards, and autographs in hopes of funding an early retirement. I'm pretty sure you can figure out how that worked out for me.
That's the first thing that popped into my head after I bought this shoebox at the Capitol Flea Market on Sunday:
While sifting through the top loaders, I couldn't help but think that this was some guy's retirement fund. Whoever he was... we were similar in the sense that we collected a little bit of everything back in the 90's.
Die-Cuts
I remember pulling a Jeff Bagwell Hit Paradeinsert out of a pack of 1996 Studio and immediately putting it in a screwdown. I felt like I hit the lottery. The card was gorgeous and serial numbered, which was a decent combination back in the mid 90's.
Holographic Die-Cuts
It's taken me eighteen years... but I've finally added the 1997 SP Special FXinsert card to my Tony Gwynn PC. Isn't it lovely?
Acetate Die-Cuts
When I was a kid, my brother loved making stained glass windows. It's weird... seemed like back then you could find them hanging in just about everyone's homes. Anyways... that must be why I love this insert set so much.
See-through Acetate
I was one of those guys who collected a little bit of EVERYTHING in the 90's. That includes comic cards. However... by the time Fleer released this set, I had moved on to other things like Manon Rheaume.
Discolored See-through Acetate
This card was on fire back in the day and I was surprised to see that people are still asking $7+ on COMC. One of these actually sold on eBay for $3 (+ $4shipping). Not too shabby.
Chrome
Topps' Mystery Finest were another popular insert set from the 90's. Topps applied a "mystery peel" to the front of these inserts to keep the card variation a mystery. This non-refractor bordered version is the most common, but since it's Mr. Air... it still is popular among basketball collectors.
Metallic
Topps had Chrome, while Fleer had Metal. The people responsible for player selection at Fleer knew what they were doing, because all six players in this insert set made it into Canton.
Collectors were exposed to parallel versions of cardboard before the 90's. But it was during this decade that card companies started to mass produce them... and collectors like myself ate them up.
Artist Proofs
1st Day Issues
There were approximately 1,000 of these Derrick Thomasparallels produced in 1993. Back then... this was considered pretty scarce. This led to collectors paying a decent dime for these parallels. Today... you can actually find these parallels in dime boxes.
Dufex
In my humble opinion... Pinnacle'sclaim to fame was their use of Dufex Technology on their inserts and parallels during the 90's. However... I was more of a refractor kind of guy.
Refractors
My mama always teased me, because I was attracted to shiny objects. Out in the hotCaliforniasun, this card could literally blind someone.
Protected Refractors
To peel or not to peel... that is the question. Twenty years later, I'm still undetermined. Some days I feel like keeping the protective peel intact. Other days... I want to see the card's true beauty. Unfortunately... once you peel back, there's no turning back.
Framed
Pleather
E-motionally N-Tense
Striped
In 1991, I went wild over Wild Card. The concept? If you pulled a "striped" parallel, you could exchange the card for lowered numbered stripes or regular base cards. For example, the person who pulled the card above could send it in and request 10 regularSteve Youngs. I also heard that collectors could do the opposite and send in 10 regularSteve Youngbase cards and request a "10 stripe" parallel.
I don't necessarily dislikeWild Card, but whenever I see their products... I'm reminded of how much money I spent on their stuff. By the way... if you ever stumble across "1000striped" parallels... they are very collectible and have sort of a cult following.
Redemptions
Normally... I'd be upset with pulling an expired redemption card. But I've got to admit, these two cards are pretty cool since I'm actually building this autograph set.
Last... but certainly not least plain Jane 90's insert that features two of the most popular running backs in NFLhistory:
Classic Combos
So there you have it. Twenty dollars for an entire collection of 90's sports cards that was probably worth 10 to 20 times more twenty years ago. Not sure if I should be ecstatic or depressed.
Happy Thursday and sayonara!
More...
On the other hand... I wasted thousands of dollars busting packs and boxes searching for inserts, parallels, rookie cards, and autographs in hopes of funding an early retirement. I'm pretty sure you can figure out how that worked out for me.
That's the first thing that popped into my head after I bought this shoebox at the Capitol Flea Market on Sunday:
Die-Cuts
I remember pulling a Jeff Bagwell Hit Paradeinsert out of a pack of 1996 Studio and immediately putting it in a screwdown. I felt like I hit the lottery. The card was gorgeous and serial numbered, which was a decent combination back in the mid 90's.
Holographic Die-Cuts
It's taken me eighteen years... but I've finally added the 1997 SP Special FXinsert card to my Tony Gwynn PC. Isn't it lovely?
Acetate Die-Cuts
When I was a kid, my brother loved making stained glass windows. It's weird... seemed like back then you could find them hanging in just about everyone's homes. Anyways... that must be why I love this insert set so much.
See-through Acetate
I was one of those guys who collected a little bit of EVERYTHING in the 90's. That includes comic cards. However... by the time Fleer released this set, I had moved on to other things like Manon Rheaume.
Discolored See-through Acetate
This card was on fire back in the day and I was surprised to see that people are still asking $7+ on COMC. One of these actually sold on eBay for $3 (+ $4shipping). Not too shabby.
Chrome
Topps' Mystery Finest were another popular insert set from the 90's. Topps applied a "mystery peel" to the front of these inserts to keep the card variation a mystery. This non-refractor bordered version is the most common, but since it's Mr. Air... it still is popular among basketball collectors.
Metallic
Topps had Chrome, while Fleer had Metal. The people responsible for player selection at Fleer knew what they were doing, because all six players in this insert set made it into Canton.
Collectors were exposed to parallel versions of cardboard before the 90's. But it was during this decade that card companies started to mass produce them... and collectors like myself ate them up.
Artist Proofs
I remember opening packs of Select Certified in search for mirror golds and artist proofs. I remember paying a ton of money for the 1995 Select Certified Mirror Goldparallel of Tony Gwynn. Today you can buy them for under $3 on COMC.
1st Day Issues
There were approximately 1,000 of these Derrick Thomasparallels produced in 1993. Back then... this was considered pretty scarce. This led to collectors paying a decent dime for these parallels. Today... you can actually find these parallels in dime boxes.
Dufex
In my humble opinion... Pinnacle'sclaim to fame was their use of Dufex Technology on their inserts and parallels during the 90's. However... I was more of a refractor kind of guy.
Refractors
My mama always teased me, because I was attracted to shiny objects. Out in the hotCaliforniasun, this card could literally blind someone.
Protected Refractors
To peel or not to peel... that is the question. Twenty years later, I'm still undetermined. Some days I feel like keeping the protective peel intact. Other days... I want to see the card's true beauty. Unfortunately... once you peel back, there's no turning back.
Framed
Before Gypsy Queen and UD Masterpieces... there were Pinnacle'sframedPinnacle Powerinserts. I sound like a broken record, but these are sure pretty.
Pleather
Cards made out of pleather?Yes please! Ever since these came out in 1996... I've been wanted to add the Favre to my collection.
E-motionally N-Tense
There are a handful of card brands that I truly miss. Topps Gallery. UD Masterpieces. Flair Showcase. And of course... Skybox Emotion. Great card designs and thick card stock make these inserts stand out.
On the other hand... I'm perfectly fine with Wild Cardclosing their doors.
Striped
In 1991, I went wild over Wild Card. The concept? If you pulled a "striped" parallel, you could exchange the card for lowered numbered stripes or regular base cards. For example, the person who pulled the card above could send it in and request 10 regularSteve Youngs. I also heard that collectors could do the opposite and send in 10 regularSteve Youngbase cards and request a "10 stripe" parallel.
I don't necessarily dislikeWild Card, but whenever I see their products... I'm reminded of how much money I spent on their stuff. By the way... if you ever stumble across "1000striped" parallels... they are very collectible and have sort of a cult following.
Redemptions
Normally... I'd be upset with pulling an expired redemption card. But I've got to admit, these two cards are pretty cool since I'm actually building this autograph set.
Last... but certainly not least plain Jane 90's insert that features two of the most popular running backs in NFLhistory:
Classic Combos
So there you have it. Twenty dollars for an entire collection of 90's sports cards that was probably worth 10 to 20 times more twenty years ago. Not sure if I should be ecstatic or depressed.
Happy Thursday and sayonara!
More...
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