Why parallels are important

[BiggioBrooks755]

I was thinking about this after reading a post by [MENTION=3754]MansGame[/MENTION]

If we didnt have parallels...We would all get bored!

Think about it...If there were only 10-15 cards each year...How easy would it be to get those within a month and then you would be bored for the other 11 months? Every player collector would have a Super Collection, and it would have alot of collectors get burned out. Sure, it would cost alot less, but how boring would it get with nothing new to find during baseball season?

Everyone can admit the 2007 Topps Moments and Milestones was a very stupid set, but atleast it gives us something to chase

Also, whats your Top 10 Most Wanted Belle cards [MENTION=3754]MansGame[/MENTION]

 

[Brewer Andy]

Seems obvious, but I agree. I wouldn't say that's WHY they are important but its a true statement. Growing up before the internet with only 3 major releases in a calendar year, the greatest thing for a player collector was going to a show and digging through boxes for oddballs and regional issues. It was the only way to grow your player collection it seemed. The internet came along and the world shrank, including the card world. Suddenly those 30 oddballs you might pick up over a year at various shows could be grabbed in an afternoon of browsing. Endless parallels and 1/1s certainly help keep the hunt alive, and that's usually the best part

 

[BiggioBrooks755]

Talking to [MENTION=6366]ASTROBURN[/MENTION]...Cameos help too lol

 

[tonsofcommons]

I find that parallels are both a benefit and a detriment for sports cards.

While parallels provide another item to chase for collectors, it also allowed card companies to get lazy. Why be creative with your inserts when all you have to do is change the gold foil to blue foil and slap a serial number on it?

Just my thought.

 

[BiggioBrooks755]

I find that parallels are both a benefit and a detriment for sports cards.

While parallels provide another item to chase for collectors, it also allowed card companies to get lazy. Why be creative with your inserts when all you have to do is change the gold foil to blue foil and slap a serial number on it?

Just my thought.

Thats also true...except in the 1990s...

 

[CubsfanP]

Parallels are great. I love collecting them.

Topps has just screwed it up with the jersey parallels when a base card has the same single color jersey piece as the low numbered ones.

The low numbered should at least have a patch piece or something more unique.

 

[BiggioBrooks755]

Parallels are great. I love collecting them.

Topps has just screwed it up with the jersey parallels when a base card has the same single color jersey piece as the low numbered ones.

The low numbered should at least have a patch piece or something more unique.

Makes you wonder whats so different about it

 

[BBCgalaxee]

Parallel cards are very important to the hobby too because it makes box breaking more fun and adds value.

Sent from my HTCONE using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[DaClyde]

I don't mind parallels in general, I just hate seeing 10+ parallels per set. Two or three is plenty. I already hate seeing the same photos endlessly re-used each year. Seeing them on 10-20 more of what are effectively the same card is annoying.

 

[ASTROBURN]

I prefer a single parallel, like finest and its matching refractor. But when you get blue, red, orange, then xfractors... Blah blah blah. Too much.

i also liked the base, museum, artist proof setup of Pinnacle. And they look cool sitting next to each other in a page.

as for cameos, its just a small part of the way i collect. And yes, ill do the parallels too, if they are cheap enough

 

[Ty Hope]

I like parallels, but there are WAY too many these days. Camo-fractors? Really? lol

2005 Bowman Chrome was perfect IMO. Since then, its gotten out of control.

 

[Hendersonfan]

I like the Pinnacle did the base, museum and artist's proof. Or Finest and refractor. Too many gets out of hand. One low numbered parallel is hard enough, let alone a /25, /10, /5, /1 and then canary refractor /5, printing plates, camo /15, pink, blue, orange, magenta and any other color they can think of plus refractors and such. 3-5 is enough parallels and almost too much. Making 12-15 per release is insane.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[Brewer Andy]

Certainly has gotten out of hand on a per release basis

 

[maxe0213]

Yep. Parallels are great when used in moderation. Like only having Base, Refractor, Blue, Gold, Orange, Red, Super would be perfect.

There are wayyyyyy to many out there and thus parallels from most products hold hardly any value.

 

[byronscott4ever]

I like when they are mixed into a variety of products, hobby and retail both

 

[predatorkj]

I see them as both a blessing and a curse. Just like with 1/1's. You get upset you can't own them all but it's cool when you can own one because then you own something nobody else does. But I agree with everyone else, they got way too carried away. And I think they did so because they knew the set collectors and player collectors would fight each other over them. Helps move wax and initial secondary market sales.

 

[corockies]

I see them as both a blessing and a curse. Just like with 1/1's. You get upset you can't own them all but it's cool when you can own one because then you own something nobody else does. But I agree with everyone else, they got way too carried away. And I think they did so because they knew the set collectors and player collectors would fight each other over them. Helps move wax and initial secondary market sales.

More parallels also increases the chances of pulling one out of a pack. The less parallels the greater chance your unopened pack has all base cards in it.

 

[predatorkj]

More parallels also increases the chances of pulling one out of a pack. The less parallels the greater chance your unopened pack has all base cards in it.

Yes but it's almost useless because you'd be pulling a fraction of what you need. Too many inserts or parallels is a nightmare for both set collectors and player collectors. Especially if the product wasn't heavily broken. I'm still having trouble nailing down all the Bagwell stuff from Prizm. And also putting together a set of panini pinnacle has been super tough because there are so many insert sets. I've opened a ton and still might only have two or three insert cards from a 15 card insert set. Makes it very expensive to finish.

 

[MansGame]

I think parallels are good for the hobby but not 10+ per set, as someone already said. Also, not a fan of the memo and auto parallels, which are just a different serial number. NO reason Belle should of had to sign 750 cards for Tribute this year, effectively making his auto worthless... literally worthless... his ON CARD clean looking autos /299 couldn't sell for $2 on eBay but it's because he has TWO version out of /299 and then all the parallels.

 

[MansGame]

What if Topps released a set with all the different variations as colors but no serial numbers and went back to the SP... making us guess at the print run and how rare, etc.? Just an idea.