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Topnotchsy
Featured Contributor, The best players in history?
- Aug 7, 2008
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I know I am preaching to the choir here but it is an absolute embarrassment that contained in products that cost hundreds of dollars a pack, are cut autographs that look like a 5 year old might have put them together. First of all, the person at Topps who approved a design for cut autos in these sets without a picture of the player should be evaluated to determine if they can do their job. It's an incredibly poor decision that makes these cards look more similar to poorly done custom cards than a top of the line set.
The contrast is startling when you consider that many of the cards in these sets are really great looking cards such as these:
Now for some free consulting advice for the card companies:
The obvious challenge with cut signatures is that each signature is a different size and shape. Some players sign very large, while others sign much smaller. Some are tall while others are short.
In general though, with enough effort, cut signatures that are clean, sharp and fit to size can be found, although it would take a bit of work.
In my eyes though, there is a simple solution. When working with the network of dealers that I am sure Topps is working with, provide the dealers with the specific size windows that you are working with. You can even give them dummy cards so that they can check for themselves if they fit.
The ingredients to an absolutely epic, blockbuster high-end set are pretty simple. Get some nice game-used with good provenance (and build media attention around the acquisitions are the uniforms and the like... believe me, everyone in the card world will pay attention). Add some cut autographs that are aesthetically pleasing. Include images of the players and a nice design and I guarantee you will have a hit on your hands.
The contrast is startling when you consider that many of the cards in these sets are really great looking cards such as these:
Now for some free consulting advice for the card companies:
The obvious challenge with cut signatures is that each signature is a different size and shape. Some players sign very large, while others sign much smaller. Some are tall while others are short.
In general though, with enough effort, cut signatures that are clean, sharp and fit to size can be found, although it would take a bit of work.
In my eyes though, there is a simple solution. When working with the network of dealers that I am sure Topps is working with, provide the dealers with the specific size windows that you are working with. You can even give them dummy cards so that they can check for themselves if they fit.
The ingredients to an absolutely epic, blockbuster high-end set are pretty simple. Get some nice game-used with good provenance (and build media attention around the acquisitions are the uniforms and the like... believe me, everyone in the card world will pay attention). Add some cut autographs that are aesthetically pleasing. Include images of the players and a nice design and I guarantee you will have a hit on your hands.
I do agree though, regardless of how high end the new Topps stuff is, they have certainly killed the visual appeal of cut autos across the board. Windows hardly ever match right, and the no pictures thing over the last few years has been annoying. Sure it might cost money license wise depending on the player, but if you are the only company with an MLB license you should at least let the visual memories of all the old time greats be a no brainer addition to the card.
