Is this the future of collecting?

In the late 1990's, I was at a Blockbuster music store, looking for some CD's. As I looked around at all the listening stations, I thought to myself ... "Just wait. Soon, we will be able to make our own CD's filled with only the songs we want."

I never saw that prophecy fulfilled ... until about 4 weeks ago. My family and I walked into a christian book store, and believe it or not, there was a station to allow you to add the songs you wanted all onto one CD! While they just might be about 10 years too late, thanks to the quantum leap we have taken in downloading music straight to our devices, it was cool to see something I thought of 20 years ago actually put into practice.

Let's hope this next idea doesn't take 20 years! I remember at some point in the early 90's a player by the name of Geronimo Berroa did something great in a playoff game. The very next day, his 1988 Donruss rookie cards were being sought after for $5 a pop.

Remembering this got me to thinking. Why not make a special short print set "on demand" for special moments during the baseball history? Yeah, yeah I know - they make cards of epic world series moments in the next year's release, but who really wants these, anyway at that point? They are cool memories, but not something that people are hyper-passionate about anymore. In this day and age, last year's world series is a lifetime ago. Collector's wallets are open mere minutes after something special happens while frantically searching ebay for rookies of whomever did something amazing.

Let's try an example, shall we?

Let's use Jose. No, not that Jose. Jose Bautista. He had an epic home run in the playoffs a few weeks ago that was a pretty big deal. Don't believe me? Ask this guy who got a tattoo commemorating the event:



Anyhow, imagine if Topps decided to take this card:



and modify it a bit in photoshop then stuck it on ebay or their website to pre-sell the very night it happened!?



Can you imagine how many would sell for a lot of money? It could always be "checklisted" after the post season, and they could have a set of 10 cards ... each of which just waiting to be made once the event actually happened.

Let's take it a step further, though. What if the Topps made this card, punched a hole into it, went to their little cubby labeled "Joey Bats' Bat Pieces" and put one in. I mean c'mon, how epic would this be? A bat card ... of the bat flip that JUST happened?



For those of you who don't believe they are really game used, they could also just do a little fade action at the bottom and put one of those sticker autos to the test. This is one application that I don't think anyone would have any qualms over them using sticker autos.



Anyway, just a thought.

With Topps consistently increasing the number of direct sales through their website, I could see your idea coming to fruition sooner than later. They could go a step further and have a notation, much like they do with the RC Debut dates, describing and dating the event.

I am intrigued by the idea of on demand cards just not sure about the execution. Made to order sets? At what point is it no longer collectable cards and just custom commissions? I'd certainly settle for the ability to edit Topps' checklists for them but I think Topps is well on its way to exactly what you are suggesting. They'll sell anything online if it pays bills


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I'm vehemently against direct to consumer cards from Topps. That takes collecting away from dedication/perseverance/networking into who's wallet is bigger, or who can push a button the quickest. So in that aspect I'm not a fan of your idea.

However Topps bunt does exactly what you are describing. They even add fake game used pieces and fake autographs to fake cards and people go bananas over them, so it terms of where the market is headed I don't think you are very far off.

IUjapander said:

I'm vehemently against direct to consumer cards from Topps. That takes collecting away from dedication/perseverance/networking into who's wallet is bigger, or who can push a button the quickest. So in that aspect I'm not a fan of your idea.

However Topps bunt does exactly what you are describing. They even add fake game used pieces and fake autographs to fake cards and people go bananas over them, so it terms of where the market is headed I don't think you are very far off.

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Really? Is there truly a big market for these "virtual" cards? This is insane to me!

mouschi said:

Really? Is there truly a big market for these "virtual" cards? This is insane to me!

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Very big

mouschi said:

Really? Is there truly a big market for these "virtual" cards? This is insane to me!

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First of all the mockups you made are outstanding (but to be honest it makes me nervous as hell that you can make something so good, but that is another topic). But let's look at the dumpster fire that is below. Is $60 for something that you would never touch, never actually see, or feel, dare I say smell, a big market? Consider you can get an actual card, made of real cardboard, and with an actual piece of jersey for less than this cost. To me, this is the definition of jumping the shark. I mean this "card" is just awful and someone was willing to pay 60 real money dollars for it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-Topps-Bunt-Kyle-Schwarber-Pinstripe-Variant-Relic-Digital-Card-35-/321853652803?hash=item4aeff8ff43:g:qm8AAOSwLVZV6Q2L

They kind of did that with the 2010 Strasburg "Cards Your Mom Threw Out" where, once you unlocked the virtual card, you also had the ability to shell out $300 for a signed version (which I did and barely made my money back, ugh).

Still interesting topic, cards-on-demand.

As discussed within the 1972 Topps Set thread, I like the idea of cards issued multiple series. Like 6 I believe 72' had. You could constantly add moments throughout the year. So maybe not instantly, but maybe new cards would come out within a set every month or two.


Ryan

mouschi said:

For those of you who don't believe they are really game used, they could also just do a little fade action at the bottom and put one of those sticker autos to the test. This is one application that I don't think anyone would have any qualms over them using sticker autos.

Anyway, just a thought.

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Let me be the first to make this joke:
If Topps had the ability to do this right now, you would receive this card sometime in 2017.

They did this a little with etopps and A&G. Guys hitting 500 homers and such. But I think very few people would care unless they could buy the card the very night of the thing. To do that, Topps would have to be paying attention, have someone be able to grab the right photo, get the rights to the photo, and mock it up to place on offer for sale. The window for such a task would be very small, like the same night, and Topps has a hard time hitting 3-year windows.

smapdi said:

They did this a little with etopps and A&G. Guys hitting 500 homers and such. But I think very few people would care unless they could buy the card the very night of the thing. To do that, Topps would have to be paying attention, have someone be able to grab the right photo, get the rights to the photo, and mock it up to place on offer for sale. The window for such a task would be very small, like the same night, and Topps has a hard time hitting 3-year windows.

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I really think it could be much more seamless than this. My thinking is for the card company to have their photographers positioned at the game all over the place. Once a pic is taken, shoot it to the graphics dude, who could then plug it into photoshop, then upload it to ebay. BAM! Awesome cards for sale online by the end of the game!

But they no longer employ their own photographers. Or own their own printers which could speed up the printing process for some of those other ideas. Today's Topps is almost exactly like you Tanner. They just outsource their production and don't have half the passion or creativity


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Brewer Andy said:

But they no longer employ their own photographers. Or own their own printers which could speed up the printing process for some of those other ideas. Today's Topps is almost exactly like you Tanner. They just outsource their production and don't have half the passion or creativity


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This is really just big picture thinking. Every single point you mentioned would/should be fairly easy to overcome for them, and rather cheaply as well! But anyway, I'm not too interested in the logistics of it all; just the big picture idea of it happening

I've seen the CD station at a Christian bookstore years ago do that's been out there. As for cards, Topps did that with the SB last year as a set bug no idea when they were actually received

mouschi, have you seen this?

http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments/jose-bautista-2015-postseason-moments-print-1-silver-ed-to-25.html

[url]http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments.html?limit=all


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KLARNOLD said:

mouschi, have you seen this?

http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments/jose-bautista-2015-postseason-moments-print-1-silver-ed-to-25.html

http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments.html?limit=all

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I have not! All I think they need to do now is put a relic or auto on it and sell on ebay. I also think that it would be good to make it part of a "real" set ... something that is checklisted...oh, and using the 2015 Topps design, since (imo) it is much better.

KLARNOLD said:

mouschi, have you seen this?

http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments/jose-bautista-2015-postseason-moments-print-1-silver-ed-to-25.html

[url]http://www.topps.com/artwork/collectible-posters/baseball/postseason-greatest-moments.html?limit=all


[/URL]

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Hmmm... Did this come before or after Tanners?


Ryan

smapdi said:

They did this a little with etopps and A&G. Guys hitting 500 homers and such. But I think very few people would care unless they could buy the card the very night of the thing. To do that, Topps would have to be paying attention, have someone be able to grab the right photo, get the rights to the photo, and mock it up to place on offer for sale. The window for such a task would be very small, like the same night, and Topps has a hard time hitting 3-year windows.

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Oh, I'd buy that card, if made, right now even though the jay's didn't make the series. In fact, I'll go a step further....

I wish they'd make cards like this all the time. I'd much rather buy a card that means something significant than get the 8,000,000th random pose Jose Bautista base card with the same photo reused a million times. Even the update cards with all star game stuff in them suck. At least these have meaning. Even throughout the season, first career homers, sports center top plays with 3-d motion, etc. Trust me, the stuff Tanner comes up with is scary good. And yes, his creative ability scares the hell out of me. Let's just be thankful he's one of the good guys!

Do they still do a Topps Traded set? Include it in that after the season is done with. With 50 Spectacular plays from the year/playoffs and go nuts with designs/autos/swatches.