90s card stock and quality base sets.

[MOFNY]

One thing I've learned from going through my old sets and singles from 94-00 is the importance of card stock. Flair 95, various E-X sets, Gold Label, HD, Ultimate Victory, Finest, Hologrfx, etc all have base sets that are very well designed. There's etching, depth, and sturdy card stock. Sets that you could picture yourself sitting down and compiling. Obviously the inserts have been touched upon, but the base sets were very well done (or at least had the appearance of quality). I remember opening up a pack of 2009 SPX last year for x amount of dollars. The base set quality doesn't have the same feel as opening up a pack in 1998. Maybe I'm just older, but the difference is noticeable. It seems the rare exception in quality base nowadays is the throwback sets like Goudey, Allen and Ginter, etc. There are few standout non-throwback or "portrait" base set from the 00s. 2000 HD, 2002 Fleer Premium, 2000 E-X, and 2000 Ultimate Victory are some of the exceptions. Outside of GU and patches, the 00s doesn't have an identity in terms of innovation like the 90s had.

I put together many sets from the 90s. Bowman, UD, E-X, Finest were some of my favorites. For me it will never be the same. I can't believe they haven't developed a ~$39 box with attractive and well-made base cards. Not since Collector's Choice has that really been a reality. And to think they are "trying" to attract younger collectors. Just show them an assorted box of cool 90s base and they will love it. They even smell interesting!

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I think part of the reason why these cards were designed so well with good stock is because people were starting to pay big prices to bust some wax for the *first* time. The manufacturers had to make their customers feel like they got something good in return, and gambling/profiteering through rare cards wasn't the same as it is today.

 

[predatorkj]

I agree. But if you want to know why...just look at this board. There are a ton of folks here who don't like base cards at all. In fact that is how I put my sets together for so cheap because the local shop always has a good stack of base cards that are left behind. Seems all anyone cares about is the hits.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I hear you, and would add that many (most?) people about whom you're talking about today are more interested in selling than keeping. In the '90s, selling wasn't as easy as it is today, eBay was only starting to rev up, so the cards people bought were more likely to stay in their collections.

I think the question eventually becomes: Could a manufacturer make a great base set with great inserts that nobody wanted to sell at all because they were so desirable? Under what circumstances is that possible?

Also great point MOFNY about the way cards smell!

I agree. But if you want to know why...just look at this board. There are a ton of folks here who don't like base cards at all. In fact that is how I put my sets together for so cheap because the local shop always has a good stack of base cards that are left behind. Seems all anyone cares about is the hits.

 

[MOFNY]

I hear you, and would add that many (most?) people about whom you're talking about today are more interested in selling than keeping. In the '90s, selling wasn't as easy as it is today, eBay was only starting to rev up, so the cards people bought were more likely to stay in their collections.

I think the question eventually becomes: Could a manufacturer make a great base set with great inserts that nobody wanted to sell at all because they were so desirable? Under what circumstances is that possible?

Also great point MOFNY about the way cards smell!

I agree. But if you want to know why...just look at this board. There are a ton of folks here who don't like base cards at all. In fact that is how I put my sets together for so cheap because the local shop always has a good stack of base cards that are left behind. Seems all anyone cares about is the hits.

1995 Flair straight from the pack. I would bottle that and wear it as cologne. It might be the most sensual set ever.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

LOL. For modern, 1997 Topps Stars comes to mind as well although its not nearly as sensual.

Vintage cardboard smell is ALWAYS good.

I think we have an answer - One way to have people want to keep rather than sell would be to make their smell addicting.

1995 Flair straight from the pack. I would bottle that and wear it as cologne. It might be the most sensual set ever.

 

[mchenrycards]

I agree. But if you want to know why...just look at this board. There are a ton of folks here who don't like base cards at all. In fact that is how I put my sets together for so cheap because the local shop always has a good stack of base cards that are left behind. Seems all anyone cares about is the hits.

As a shop owner back in the day I would have guys bust box after box and leave me everything but the big hits. I used to make base sets and sell them dirt cheap from these extra cards and would buy the guys leaving me the cards lunch many times with the proceeds. Many guys love base sets but they dont want to be bothered looking for singles that are a pain in the butt to find. Put the base sets together and they will sell....although not for huge prices but they will sell.

I still have many sets I made up back then from cards that were left to me. The 1st 2 years of Topps Heritage I made master sets from all 4 sports that included short prints etc. I am currently working on my 4th 2001 Heritage baseball set from stuff that was left over back then. I made some great money from those cards by being patient with them. I always told my guys who were busting the wax that they would be able to make some bucks from these cards and they didnt want to be bothered and told me to have at it! I have over a million cards that were left to me after 10 years of business and many are boxes I have not touched in 10 years. I guess I need to start going through them!!

 

[predatorkj]

I hear you, and would add that many (most?) people about whom you're talking about today are more interested in selling than keeping. In the '90s, selling wasn't as easy as it is today, eBay was only starting to rev up, so the cards people bought were more likely to stay in their collections.

I think the question eventually becomes: Could a manufacturer make a great base set with great inserts that nobody wanted to sell at all because they were so desirable? Under what circumstances is that possible?

Also great point MOFNY about the way cards smell!

I agree. But if you want to know why...just look at this board. There are a ton of folks here who don't like base cards at all. In fact that is how I put my sets together for so cheap because the local shop always has a good stack of base cards that are left behind. Seems all anyone cares about is the hits.

I don't ever think you'll be able to make a product everyone wants to keep. A few weeks ago I saw a friend pull a Tebow auto out of Press Pass on his second pack. I was awestruck. And not ten seconds later he is talking about putting it on ebay. Granted I know not everyone is a fan of every player or team. It just seems like a lot of the guys I went to high school with and even some of the guys I know now...they hung onto and still do hang onto cards worth having. Of players worth having. They never think of trading them unless they have doubles. Its just the old mindset I suppose. Now everything is sell sell sell. Its seen as a more of a commodity. You can bust a box for pure investment sake without having to know any of the athletes. And ebay makes it so easy. So I asked my friend why the hell he bothers busting wax? He spends a considerable sum on it. He told me because he might find a few cards he likes and always sells the rest. I told him he ought to just buy the cards he wants and hang on to the rest of his money. For him...I think the thrill is all about pulling something big to sell. Kind of like scratch off tickets which he is heavily addicted to.


And yes, the 90's cards do have a particular semll to them don't they.

 

[subject to change]

It's not just the card stock and design that has changed. Older sets had fun, exciting photography of action shots and the occasional time lapse photos, with a mix of horizontal and vertical cards. Looking through the my Pirate team sets of Topps cards for the past few years, it is painfully obvious that all or most of the photos are coming from the same game or photo session. I believe t was the 09 set where every Pirate card in series 1 had a photo from the same game, which you could tell because the players all had on the Sunday alternates and had the same opponent in all the pictures. This year, it seems the majority of the photos have players in their spring training jerseys, usually in pose photos.

For me, a well designed base set on quality stock and with a unique photo has a far more prominent and memorable place in my collection than the 15th different Paul Maholm autograph to be released that year. But obviously the collectors with far more buying power don't seem to agree...

 

[MOFNY]

Ye I didn't even mention Stadium Club.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I disagree, base Topps has some memorable photography in the base set this year so far. Granted almost all of the other sets don't involve any photography whatsoever...there are *a lot* of good base Topps action photos especially this year.

Topps still has some horizontal cards and has for a long time.

It's not just the card stock and design that has changed. Older sets had fun, exciting photography of action shots and the occasional time lapse photos, with a mix of horizontal and vertical cards. Looking through the my Pirate team sets of Topps cards for the past few years, it is painfully obvious that all or most of the photos are coming from the same game or photo session. I believe t was the 09 set where every Pirate card in series 1 had a photo from the same game, which you could tell because the players all had on the Sunday alternates and had the same opponent in all the pictures. This year, it seems the majority of the photos have players in their spring training jerseys, usually in pose photos.

For me, a well designed base set on quality stock and with a unique photo has a far more prominent and memorable place in my collection than the 15th different Paul Maholm autograph to be released that year. But obviously the collectors with far more buying power don't seem to agree...