Cuts

[js0000001]

In 2011 I saw more Cut products out then ever. With Leaf, Historic Autographs, Panini, and upper deck all making one hit per pack products.

So the question(s) I have for you............

1. Is this like game used cards where they were cool at first and then over done?
2. Are they ever going to run out of index cards and photos to cut up for these product?
3. What do you predict for the future of Cut products?

 

[linuxabuser]

They've been doing cuts for over a decade now, and I still love 'em! Yes, of course they will eventually run out of cuts, especially of the semi-popular deceased players that died before card collecting took off in the 80's.

 

[nyc3]

I dont mind cuts, but there are a few things I am really getting pissed at and I feel are killing the cut aspect of the hobby.

Making cuts for living players, if you cant afford to have him sign a card or a sticker how about you leave him out of the product. Now of course with a few cases being ok like Ali for obvious reasons, but honestly its killing the uniqueness of it. remember when a cut was a player you would not have to look up to see who the hell he is?

Which leads om to my second peeve, worthless cuts. Do we really need 10 $8.00 cuts of a pitcher who pitched 7 innings in the MLB inserted as a "hit"?

 

[js0000001]

Have earlier cuts (2001-04'ish) lost value as the market has become more saturated?

Do you ever have authenticity concerns?

 

[gomatt]

I primarily collect Legendary Cuts cards. I think there will always be a strong market for them. Particularly the early issues. I look at it like this. Baseball cards, to me, are like artwork. And when a perfectly cut autograph blends with great photography of a deceased player, you can't beat that. I don't like the newer cuts that lack the player images.

From a value standpoint, there will always be people that appreciate the history of a sport. So, while players like Bucky Harris and Elmer Flick are not as known as Mike Trout, etc, they hold a place a history.

 

[VandyDan]

I very much dislike the cuts I've seen that are from personal checks or cut from the return address portion of an envelope.

I don't much collect them, but I certainly do like them when they are executed well (Legendary Cuts).

 

[nyc3]

So, while players like Bucky Harris and Elmer Flick are not as known as Mike Trout, etc, they hold a place a history.

Both of those players most definitely should have cuts. But then again I actually own a Flick

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

They'll never run out of cuts...because old cards with cut autos already embedded in them can be cut up and used as cuts themselves ...

 

[js0000001]

I have been able to pick some HOF cuts up REAL cheap

 

[nyc3]

I have been able to pick some HOF cuts up REAL cheap

Those are some great pick ups. Good job.

 

[blanning71]

I have really lost alot of interest in cuts over the last few years and that is directly proportional to the amount of them out there. I don't blame companies for profiting on great ideas that have worked but when everyone is doing it, it just gets boring. The no name cuts just tick me off. I understand they played in the big leagues but geez, a 10 dollar cut from a 100 dollar pack? Seems crappy in my opinion. I would like to see fewer products with more meaningful names being used but then again, who's to say the guy that pitched 7 career innings isn't worthy of a little limelight by having an autographed cut baseball card.

As for your other question of whether or not they will run dry.......well I'm sure they will at some point. BUT!!!! You have to remember that people are now looking harder than ever for stuff like that. With TV shows like Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, and American Pickers sweeping the nation and captivating audiences, folks are going to start digging thru attics looking for old stuff, especially memorabilia. I'm sure new stuff will be unearthed and sold every day. The biggest thing that I see happening is that alot of that stuff will get so pricey, companies won't buy it to include into their products. IF that happens, you could see a decline in the amount that the card manufacturers produce.

 

[js0000001]

Last years crop of cuts products did seem inspired by the Topps monopoly. A company like historic autographs can produce a baseball cut product without license concerns (no player photos).

If Topps didn't have a monopoly on licensed baseball card products I believe there would have been less cuts products last year.

 

[hive17]

They once were cool, but now are over-done. And they've sucked more in recent years with the limitation of using the player's likeness and/or team logos.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Last years crop of cuts products did seem inspired by the Topps monopoly. A company like historic autographs can produce a baseball cut product without license concerns (no player photos).

If Topps didn't have a monopoly on licensed baseball card products I believe there would have been less cuts products last year.

Its funny how some people try to associate Topps with all things "bad" even when it doesn't make sense.

Its fairly common for all manufacturers to produce cuts without photos, heck Leaf does this all the time. This is to say nothing about Leaf making cards with cuts available to anyone who supplies them with an appropriate cut.

 

[csmtampa]

A ton of the players they use for cuts signed thousands and thousands of index cards, cards, photos, etc.

I think it's a LONG time until they will ever run dry.

It still amazes me that people will pay $500 for a chopped auto when they can get the full size for $50.

 

[JackLondon]

It still amazes me that people will pay $500 for a chopped auto when they can get the full size for $50.

EXACTLY!

Jack London has a couple of Upper Deck cuts available on ebay for a few thousand each. One of them has a signature of his cut from a check.

On the other hand, I purchased this full check for less than $250:

I may be biased, but I would much rather have the full document than the weird Franken-cut that Upper Deck made.

 

[gomatt]

See, I would personally rather have the card with an attractive photo of the player than a check. A check just doesn't do much for me, but to each his own.

What they NEED to do is produce more cuts of the rare ones - Chief Bender, Red Faber, etc. No more Lloyd Waners or Bob Lemons. No offense to them. But yes, the market is WAY too saturated with some guys.

But take a look at this one. I would MUCH rather have this over a Trout Superfractor, etc.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alexander-C...0427339943?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item53eb24c0a7

 

[Dice-K Collector]

I remember when I was younger, all I wanted was a cut auto... now I dont have that desire.. you know why?? Because of the overproduction of them. I used to want a cut of ANYONE, and now that they have cuts of player who arent known, I dont want one.

 

[George_Calfas]

Great Podcast Topic!

 

[Austin]

Cuts, done right, of deceased players can be beautiful.
But I hate "cuts" of butchered baseball cards and photos, and I don't like when companies cut up documents.

The worst is when the window isn't big enough and part of the name is cut off.
I've seen a few "Mickey Mant" cuts.
I don't know why people buy those.

But when a cut is clean, the name fits and the design is nice, cut signature cards can be beautiful.