Flashback Product of the Week: 1965 Donruss Spec Sheet

Still no word yet on who will be producing the next generation of NASCAR cards.  NASCAR has said on a handful of occasions that they are close to making a deal, but aren’t ready to announce who that company might be.  Leaf has come out and stated that they withdrew from being in the running.  So we all know that Leaf and NASCAR won’t be doing business together.  At least not now.  That leaves Topps, Upper Deck, and Panini.  Panini is the obvious choice.  D.J. Kazmierczak works for Panini now, but was once the top guy for Press Pass.  Panini may also be the company with the most financial backing too.  I’d like to see Topps or Upper Deck make a deal.  I don’t think any of those entertainment card manufacturers have much of a chance either.

Long before Panini came into the picture, Donruss stood alone.  Donruss got it’s start in 1954 making sugary treats, but then got into the trading card business.  Most of their first sets were entertainment based.  When 1965 rolled around they issued their very first sports themed set for Hot Rod Magazine.  The set consists of 66 cards, and were distributed in gum packs.  Various types of racing are covered throughout the entire set.  You’ll find everything from IndyCar to drag racing.  Probably the most interesting card is the one pictured above.  This is card #49 and it features Bobby Unser during his Pikes Peak Climb championship.

Complete sets can sell for $50.00 to $100.00.  Sealed packs seem to be in bigger demand.  Packs do not say “Spec Sheet” on them.  Instead they just say “Hot Rod”.  I have no clue as to why they call this set “Spec Sheet”.  “Hot Rod” is a lot cooler anyway.

“Pin-Up” of the Week: eBay Employee Baseball Pin

Can you believe that eBay will turn twenty this year?  It started out as a small website called Auction Web, and has grown into the beast it is now.  eBay has changed a lot of things, including the sports memorabilia industry.  Its made “book” value completely meaningless when it comes to cards.  Items that were thought to be rare, now may not be so difficult to locate.

I’ve been using eBay since March of 2002.  The first time I used it was to sell a Barry Bonds autographed baseball.  It was something I had picked up at a charity auction years earlier, and didn’t really need anymore.  Needless to say, I was able to sell it despite having a generic COA and no picture for the auction listing.

eBay use to make a lot of pins.  Many came from their annual eBay Live! events.  I don’t think they even hold those anymore.  They use to have a merchandise store where you could purchase items with the eBay logo on it.  That has been closed for a while.  You would think that eBay would make some 20th anniversary stuff, but I don’t see that coming.

This pin was issued to eBay employees in 2000.  It was given to those employees that reached specific monthly performance goals.  You can usually find them for $10.00.

Card of the Day: George Springer 2015 Topps Stadium Club Crystal Ball