Monday, November 27, 2017

Approaching the End of the Topps Monopoly



It's almost here! No, not Christmas, though that is also coming. What I am referring to is the end of the Topps monopoly of MLB-licensed baseball cards. The "exclusive contract" (read, monopoly) with the MLB runs out in 2020, and I, for one, cannot wait.

Way back in 2009, Topps and the MLB signed the paperwork that brought Topps back into the monopoly it held over baseball cards. I say "back into" because before 1980, Topps had a monopoly on producing MLB-licensed cards. That was challenged and we collectors were blessed with some of the worst competitors we have ever seen. The Fleer and Donruss sets were awful, wrought with horrible photos and errors galore. But, we didn't care. We FINALLY had something other than Topps to collect! Sure, there were other brands and off-shoots before that, but they were not "official" and often featured very bad airbrushing to get rid of the team logos. But, starting in 1980, we finally had REAL cards with REAL teams that were NOT Topps.

Competition bred furious innovations: crazy die-cuts, foils, Christmas ornaments, autographs, game-used swatches, bats, etc. It also, admittedly, bred a bizarre spiral into horrid product quality control. Some cards were made of cheap paper, some would fall apart, some had fuzzy, awful photos. Print runs were out of control. Though, the 90's were the heyday of so-called "junk wax" runs in which so many cards were produced at such low quality, they are often sold for less than 1 penny per card.

Then, Topps and the MLB inked a deal to "save card collecting." The deal (in 2009, extended to 2020 in 2013) allowed Topps to once again grab hold of the business and serve as the monopoly of officially licensed baseball cards. For a while, things really sucked. We had horrible products, rehashed versions of old Topps designs, and even the photography looked like a thumbnail image your grandfather enlarged with Paint in order to make it fit onto a card (fuzzy and pixelated crap). Collectors revolted, buying non-licensed cards from Upper Deck, Panini, etc.

Topps got better.

Enter the digital age. Topps developed several card-collecting apps (everything from baseball to Star Wars to soccer, football, and more) - digital versions of baseball cards, acquired through online trading and a VERY lucrative micro-transaction mechanism (where users buy virtual coins and diamonds with real money in order to buy digital cards that do not exist physically - it's genius, really). Topps also came up with "Topps Now" cards, which depict players from the previous day's "hot list of achievements (my own phrase)." These might include Ichiro's 3000th hit or the Indians crazy 20+ game winning streak. Again, Topps has managed to do some things right. Of course, there were the epic failures like 3d baseball cards (which used an app and augmented reality to show a 3d version of the player when you pointed your phone at a card) and whatever that online card collecting site they had was called - sorry, I blocked it out of my memory and don't even want to Google it.

Would those things have developed in the same manner had Topps not inked the deal? Did Topps and the MLB really save baseball card collecting? It's hard to say. How can anyone say for sure, given there was no competition. For all we know, other brands may have popped up that might have developed better apps, better cards, better experiences. Then again, maybe not.

As for the future? I can only hope and pray that 2020 marks the END of the Topps monopoly once and for all. I can only hope that new card companies will rise up and offer worthwhile competitive products. Exclusive contracts are meant to provide one supplier and one manufacturer the opportunity to help spark competition once the contract is over. Please, please, for the love of The Hobby, let's hope that is the fruit of this stranglehold we collectors have been subjected to for all these years.

Here's hoping 2020 provides a clear vision for competition in MLB-Licensed baseball card collecting.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Off-Topic: Short Story to be Published!

I am so excited and honored to have "A Game of Tag" included in this collection coming out SOON!! http://gallencook.com/2017/10/29/hardclay/

The story centers around a boy who is essentially confined to his room a decade after World War III. He watches his friends play a game of tag. Not all is as it seems.


Thursday, October 12, 2017

Cards From Co-Workers

When you collect baseball cards, word gets around the workplace pretty quickly. Soon, colleagues ask about your collection, how long you've been collecting, what keeps you collecting, etc. And, yes, many give you the sideways glance of a disapproving parent.

Often, at least in my experience, they are quick to come to your for advice about cards they still have or cards their kids are collecting. "How much do you think this is worth?" "What do you think of these?" and other similar questions.

Sometimes, co-workers bring you a stack of cards and say, "I've had these for a long time and I don't collect. Would you like them?" I always take them. Always. It doesn't matter to me if the cards are worth $1 or $100. It doesn't matter if they are players I collect or players of whom I have never heard before. What matters is that this person thought enough of me and my hobby to offer something to help the cause or to find a new home for cardboard bits that were collecting dust. The cards in this post are just that: cards given to me by co-workers. Most of these will find their way into trades/giveaways, off to find a more permanent home.

The "Pudge" card came from my organization's Director. I'll keep that one, mainly because she understands what my hobby means to me and this was a very cool gesture. The other cards came from one co-worker, cleaning out her closets one day. They are all from 1987.

There are some very well-known folks in here: Jim Rice and Tony Gwynn jump off the scan from this first group. Am I the only one that thinks of the song "Come on Eileen" when coming across a Johnny Ray card? "Poor old Johnny Ray..." We also have Otis Nixon, Triber!


 The next scan finishes out the 87 Fleer with players like Oil Can Boyd, Cecil Cooper, Ron Guidry and more. These are the players of my youth - er, okay, I graduated High School in 87...

Next up, we have a stack (most likely a single pack) of 1987 Donruss. Dale Murphy, Tim Wallach, and Jorge Orta (former Triber) stand out for me. Which ones grab your memory?

Finally, we end things with some 1987 Topps. Again, probably from one pack. Roger Clemens, Dave Kingman, and Leon Durham jump out for me, along with several others.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Gint-A-Cuffs: Box 02, Packs/Tallies

Welcome to Gint-a-Cuffs 09! Here is my 2nd Hobby Box break with scores. Let's see how we do!

manny machado box loader: +4bl; 
packtotal: +4; GAC total: +4


joey votto - +2ofp
jordan zimmermann - 0
eric legrand - 0
jake arrieta what a day - +2wad
roman quinn - 0
david ortiz - 0
david dahl mini black border - +4mbb
honus wagner - 0
pack total: +8; GAC total +12


rod carew - 0
david price - 0
matt carpenter - +2ofp
sunsphere worlds fair - +2wf
yu darvish mini - 0
 greg maddux - 0
roger clemens - 0
alex gordon - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +16

freddie freeman - 0
jackie robinson - 0
jose bautista what a day - +2wad
jose reyes mini ag - +2mag
yangervis solarte - 0
kyle freeland - 0
aaron judge - -1yankees
jason heyward - 0
pack total: +3; GAC total +19

steven matz - 0
battle of princeton rev battles - +2revbatt
robinson cano relic - +7fsr
20,000 leagues under sea req'd reading mini - +2rr
andrew miller - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
hank aaron - 0
xander bogaerts - 0
pack total: +12; GAC total: +31

adam duvall - 0
tim anderson - 0
luis severino - -1yankees
salmon/flatfish - fishing/lures - +2fish
randy johnson mini - 0
yu darvish - 0
kevin kiermaier - 0
gerrit cole - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +32

david wright - 0
max scherzer - 0
alex gonzalez rediscover topps  - +1buyback
dansby swanson what a day - +2wad
carlos carrasco mini ag (Indians - Wahoo!!) - +1ft; +2ag (total: +3)
ty blach - 0
roberto clemente - 0
vashti cunningham - 0
joc pederson - 0
pack total: +5; GAC total: +37

julio teheran - +2ofp
kevin kelley - 0
jason kipnis - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
yellowfish tuna/trolling lure fish/lure - +2fish
todd frazier mini - 0
khris davis - 0
ozzie smith - 0
stephen strasburg - 0
pack total: +5; GAC total: +42

maikel franco - 0
brooke hogan - 0
andrew mccutchen what a day - +2wad
xander bogaerts mini - 0
lance mccullers - 0
julio urias - 0
chad pinder - 0
george springer - 0
pack total: +2; GAC total: +44

jose altuve - +2ofp
laurie hernandez - 0
mookie betts what a day - +2wad
dave winfield mini - 0
adam eaton - 0
dee gordon - 0
stephen piscotty - 0
chris archer - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +48

tyler glasnow - 0
tyler naquin - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
aaron sanchez - 0
ferris wheel worlds fair - +2wf
hank aaron mini - 0
zach britton - 0
jt realmuto - 0
adrian beltre - +2ofp
pack total: +5; GAC total: +53

elvis andrus - 0
peter rosenberg - 0
ryan christenson rediscover topps - +1buyback
freddie freeman what a day - +2wad
surgeon dude mini - worlds dudes - +2wd
ramiel tapia - 0
ryan braun - 0
jose bautista - 0
jean segura - 0
pack total: +5; GAC total: +58

ben smith - 0
jake thompson - 0
orlando arcia - 0
bunker hill rev battles - +2revbatt
james shields mini - 0
wil myers - 0
tyler austin - -1yanks
micheal fulmer - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +59

 babe ruth - -1yanks
ken griffey jr - 0
ollie schniederjans - 0
smallmouth bass/small jig fish/lures = +2fish
jurickson profar mini- 0
aj reed - 0
yaon moncada - 0
dave winfield - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +60

nolan ryan - 0
jay glazer - 0
todd frazier - 0
atomium worlds fair - +2wf
kevin gausman ag mini - +2mag
ben zobrist - 0
jorge soler - 0
manny machado - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +64

miguel sano - 0
dan jennings - 0
derek jeter what a day - -1yanks; +2wad; total +1
manny machado mini - 0
marcell ozuna - 0
bo jackson - 0
jayson werth - 0
kirby smart - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +65

matt olson - 0
jesse winkler - 0
casey candaele rediscover topps - +1buyback
carlos correa what a day - +2wad
dansby swanson mini black border - +4mbb
whitey ford - -1yanks
andrew benintendi - 0
edwin encarnacion - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
randy johnson - 0
pack total: +7; GAC total: +72

bobby abreu - 0
german marquez - 0
vince velasquez - 0
carlos gonzalez what a day - +2wad
max kepler mini - 0
garrett mcnamara - 0
aroldis chapman - -1yanks
johnny bench - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +73

cole hamels - 0
miguel cotto relic - +5fsr
mark trumbo mini ag back - +2mag
jose deleon - 0
marcus semien - 0
greg brid - -1yanks
monorail worlds fair - +2wf
pack total: +8; GAC total: +81

marcus stroman - 0
xray machine worlds fair - +2wf
shintaro fujinami relic - +5fsr
albert pujols - 0
hanley ramirez mini - 0
yasmany tomas - 0
mike moustakas - 0
pack total: +7; GAC total: +88

robinson cano - 0
william shatner - +1ws
dustin pedroia - 0
gary sanchez mini black border - -1yanks; +2mbb; total: +1
sailfish/plugs fish/lures - +2fish
josh bell - 0
tanner roark - 0
james shields - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +92

allan anderson rediscover topps - +1buyback
stephen a smith - -1sas
adrian gonzalez - 0
adam jones what a day - +2wad
steel worker dude worlds dudes mini - +2wd
bartolo colon - 0
jake arrieta - 0
giancarlo stanton - +2ofp
alexa datt - 0
pack total: +6; GAC total: +98

jameson taillon - 0
jurickson profar - 0
ender inciarte - 0
tarpon/twitchbait fishing/lures - +2fish
harry kellar magicians/illusionists mini - +2magic
jose abreu - +2ofp
kevin gausman - 0
rickey henderson - 0
pack total: +6; GAC total: +104

allie laforce - 0
yoenis cespedes - 0
xander bogaerts what a day - +2wad
willie stargell ag back mini sp - +2mag; +3msp; total: +5
willie mccovey - 0
jayson stark - 0
francisco lindor - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft; +4myfp; total: +5
brian dozier - 0
pack total: +9; GAC total +116

trees in india - 0
jon lester - 0
pedro martinez - 0
buster posey what a day - +2wad; +2ofp; total +4
julio teheran mini ag back - +2mag; +2ofp; total: +4
david dahl - 0
mookie betts - 0
derek jeter - -1yanks
pack total: +7; GAC total: +123


Well, we ended up with a total of +123 if my math and calculations are correct. That is just 2.8 points short of my first box. haha! The difference? More Yankees in this box equals more penalties!


Sunday, August 20, 2017

Gint-A-Cuffs 9: Box 01 Packs/Tallies

Welcome to Gint-a-Cuffs 09! Here is my Hobby Box break with scores. Let's see how we do!


Giancarlo Stanton Box Loader - +4 (bl), X1.7 (fp) = 6.8; GAC total: 6.8
Pack total - +6.8; GAC Total +6.8

Chris Davis Mini AG - +2 (mini AG)
Ben Smith Mini auto - +7 (mini framed auto)
Joey Votto - +2 (fp list)
DJ LeMahieu - 0
Brandon Phillips - 0
Jharel Cotton - 0
World's Fair Diesel Engine - +2 (world fair)
Pack total: +13; GAC Total: +19.8

Freddie Freeman - 0
Lyle Thompson - 0
Joe Mauer -  0
Gary Sanchez Mini Black Border - +4 MiniBB; -1 Yankee (+3 total)
Kyle Schwarber What a Day - +2 what a day
Chipper Jones - 0
Devon travis - 0
Odubel Herrera - 0
Pack Total: +5; CAG total: +24.8


Yoan Moncada - 0
AJ Reed - 0
Alex Bregman What a Day -  +2 fp; +2 wad
DJ LeMahieu - 0
Matt Kemp - 0
Dee Gordon Mini Black Border - +4 minibb
Fernando Rodney - 0
Jameson Taillon - 0
Pack Total: +8; GAC Total +32.8

 Jurickson Profar - 0
Jameson Taillon - 0
Danny Heep Rediscover Topps - +1 (er, i think)
Matt Kemp What a day - +2 wad
Devon Travis Mini - 0
Matt Moore - 0
US National Parks Centennial - 0
Yulieski Gurriel - 0
Sonny Gray - 0
Pack total: +3; GAC total: +35.8


Rod carew - 0
jackie robinson - 0
kyle hendricks - 0
rainbow trout and spoon - fish/lures - +2 fish/lures
reynaldo lopez mini - 0
krazy george - 0
carlos rodon - 0
craig kimbrel - 0
Pack total: +2; GAC total: +37.8

bobby abreu - 0
robinson cano - 0
masahiro tanaka - -1 yankees
battle of princeton revolutionary battles - +2 rev batt
canterbury tales req'd reading - +2rr
gavin cecchini - 0
jose peraza - 0
andres galarraga - 0
pack total: +3; GAC total: +40.8


jose deleon - 0
cole hamels - 0
sandy koufax what a day - +2wad
pt selbit magicians/illusionists - +2mag
jeff bagwell - 0
jay bruce - 0
ryan schimpf - 0
kris bryant - +2 fp
Pack total: +6; GAC total: +46.8


matt harvey - 0
jose reyes - 0
chris sale what a day - +2wad
giancarlo stanton mini - +3 minifp
adam eaton - 0
corey seager - 0
kenta maeda - 0
felix hernandez - 0
pack total: +5; GAC total: +51.8

jay glazer - 0
kent hrbek rediscover topps - +1 buyback
nolan ryan - 0
trea turner what a day - +2wad
ryan schimpf mini - 0
seung-hwan oh - 0
harriet tubman - +1 ht
dexter fowler - 0
brett gardner - -1 yankees
pack total: +3; GAC total: +54.8

david price - 0
reynaldo lopez - 0
matt kemp - 0
jose altuve what a day - +2wad, +2fp
adrian beltre mini - +3minifp
yadier molina - 0
antonio senzatela - 0
bryce harper - 0
pack total: +7; GAC total +61.8


yasiel puig - 0
starling marte - 0
lucas giolito - 0
battle of long island rev battles - +2revbatt
wesley bryant mini - 0
hunter renfroe - 0
didi gregorius - -1yankees
evan longoria - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total: +62.8


elvis andrus - 0
peter rosenberg - 0
johnny cueto - 0
tarpon/twitchbait fish/lures - +2fish
zach britton mini - 0
curtis granderson - 0
valarie jenkins - +1vj
clayton kershaw - 0
pack total: +3; GAC total: +65.8

adrian gonzalez - 0
stephen a smith - -1sas
gary sanchez - -1yankees
bunker hill rev battle - +2rev batt
joc pederson mini - 0
andrew mccutchen - 0
rick porcello - 0
carlos gonzalez - 0
pack total: 0; GAC total: +65.8

matt strahm - 0
joe manganiello - 0
robbie ray - 0
ichiro what a day - +2wad
jake arrieta mini - 0
don mattingly - -1yankees
johnny damon - 0
byron buxton - 0
pack total: +1; GAC total +66.8

max scherzer - 0
julio teheran - +2fp
kevin kelley - 0
david wright - 0
chris davis - 0
bo jackson what a day - +2wad
corey dickerson - 0
steel worker world dude - +2wd
ted williams - 0
wally backman rediscover topps - +1buyback
buster posey - +2fp
pack total: +9; GAC total: +75.8


jose bautista mini - 0
miguel sano - 0
dan jennings - 0
max kepler - 0
spotted sea trout/tiwtchbait fishing/lures - +2fish
mike piazza - 0
omar vizquel - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
ian kinsler - 0
pack total: +3; GAC total +78.8


nelson cruz - 0
aledmys diaz - 0
danny duffy -0
northern pike/large spinnerfish/lures - +2fish
leo mini constellations - +2const
salavador perez - 0
alex reyes - 0
addison russell - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +82.8


tyler naquin - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
tyler glasnow - 0
ozzie smith what a day - +2wad
ryan braun mini - 0
trey mancini - 0
paul goldschmidt - 0
chris sale - 0
corey kluber - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
pack total: +4; GAC total: +86.8


kenley jansen - 0
jake thompson - 0
andre dawson - 0
randy johnson what a day - +2wad
alex bregman mini ag - +3fp, +2mag  (+5 total)
kyle schwarber - 0
ty cobb - 0
dansby swanson - 0
pack total: +7; GAC total: +93.8

gary stevens - 0
kendrys morales - 0
jim acker topps buyback - +1 buyback
clayton kershaw what a aday - +2wad
ny ferreter worlds dudes - +2wd
jeff hoffman - 0
hunter pence - 0
ken rosenthal - 0
carlos santana - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
pack total: +6; GAC total: +99.8


yoenis cespedes - 0
allie laforce - 0
jackie bradley jr - 0
fax machine worlds fair - +2wf
andrew mccutchen mini ag - +2mag
ian desmond - 0
ichiro - 0
blake snell - 0
pack total: +4; GAC total: +103.8


ben smith - 0
trea turner - 0
alex bregman - +2fp
unisphere worlds fair - +2wf
nomar mazara mini red brooklyn back (23/25) - +7mbb
carlos carrasco - Indians (Wahoo!!) - +1ft
john smoltz - 0
renato nunez - 0
pack total: +12; GAC total: +115.8


tommy joseph - 0
solar generator worlds fair - +2wf
mookie betts relic - +5fsr
chris sale mini ag back - +2mag
trevor story - 0
ryne sandberg - 0
justin upton - 0
pack total: +9; GAC total: +124.8


braden shipley - 0
william shatner - +1ws
edwin diaz - 0
chris davis what a aday - +2wad
jt realmuto mini - 0
rougned odor - 0
carson fulmer - 0
justin verlander - 0
pack total: +3; GAC total: 127.8

Well, there ya go! If all my math and calculations are correct, this pack netted us a +127.8 points. At the time of this post publishing date (8:30pm CST, 08/20/2017), no one else has submitted their scores. So, I guess this will be the first. I know it won't hold because one person already has a foil hot box, so basically, we all lose unless we can also pull a foil hot box (which i do not have). But, it's about the fun of it!

Plus, all CUBS cards are going to Mark as a feeble attempt to bribe him. :-)