Sports Card Album Comes To The Android Platform

Sergio and his team over at Sports Card Album have been hard at work for the last few months developing their Android App.  Well its here!!!

Here is the official press release from Sports Card Album:

What’s up, Friends?!?

You’ve asked for it, then pleaded for it, then begged on your hands and knees.  Today we are ecstatic to announce the official release of the Android App for Sports Card Album.

We’ve flipped what we knew of the iOS app upside-down and developed this baby from the ground up!  The focus of this app, besides uploading and organizing your sports card photos, is on the actual cards themselves.  With a larger viewing area for the cards and smaller, “flat” icons for favoriting, commenting and sharing, this app has turned out more beautiful than we ever imagined.  Functionally this app operates similarly to the iPhone app, but the look & feel of the app are totally unique, which should please the Android-obsessed users in our community.

You’ll also notice that the profiles for all users have been completely revamped.  With a more streamlined approach to displaying user stats all of the information is easily viewed without distracting from your collection.  Oh, and the albums.  The albums are gorgeously displayed in a thumbnail view with the first card from each album showing proudly as an album cover.  Simply click on that icon to view the full album list.

We are updating this app all the time so be on the lookout for new features every month!

I’ve been a huge supporter of Sports Card Album ever since the site first launched in July 2013.  Collectors needed a platform like this not only to help organize their cards, but to easily view other collections too.  Linking to Photobucket accounts was just too primitive.

Topps Comes Through With HK Cut Signature Redemption

Lately Topps hasn’t been receiving the best feedback from collectors when it comes to their redemption cards.  Many are left out in the cold for months (sometimes years) wondering when they’ll get that card they’re due.  Unfortunately for some collectors the wait ends up in a total disaster.  They’ll get that bubble mailer in the mail, rip it open, only to find a replacement card not worth nearly as much as the card they were originally promised.  I don’t know what to say, other than they need a better system with improved communication.  An official Topps blog would be nice.

I rarely redeem redemption cards, let alone buy one.  But I certainly didn’t have a choice when someone posted the Harry Kalas 2013 Topps Series 1 Chasing History Cut Signature redemption for sale back in May.  Normally this is something I would never do, but I thought I’d take a chance on it.  My thinking was this.  Harry Kalas passed away back in 2009, and Topps didn’t have to chase him down for an autograph like they have to with many living players they issue redemptions for.  It was good enough logic for me to pull the trigger on the card.  After seeing that the Babe Ruth cut signature from 2013 Topps Series 1 was shipped, I was hoping the status on my card might change, and that’s exactly what happened a few days ago.

Here it is.  The Harry Kalas 2013 Topps Series 1 One-Of-One Chasing History Cut Signature.  He doesn’t have many cards, and this is one of the rarest for the former Phillies broadcaster/announcer.  Kalas rarely has cards appear in products, and that makes it even a bigger deal for me when I hear he is going to be included within something.  I have all of my Harry Kalas cards uploaded to Sports Card Album.  One of these days I’d like to get much more uploaded, as I have boxes full of relics and autographs I wouldn’t mind trying to sell.  Plus some other stuff I’d just like to show off.  At least this redemption card story has a happy ending.

I’m still looking for the following HK cards:

• Harry Kalas 1984 Tastykake Phillies Broadcasters #7
• Harry Kalas/Gary Maddox/Richie Ashburn 1988 Phillies Tastykake Phillies Announcers #39
• Harry Kalas/Chris Wheeler/Andy Musser 1990 Phillies Tastykake Phillies Announcers #35
• 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game Mike Schmidt/Harry Kalas Announcing Greats Dual Auto #’ed/25
• Harry Kalas 2004 UD Sweet Spot Classic Signatures Auto Black #’ed/100
• Harry Kalas 2005 UD Sweet Spot Classic Signatures Auto Black Stitch #’ed/1
• Harry Kalas 2005 UD Sweet Spot Classic Signatures Auto Red-Blue Stitch #’ed/40
• Harry Kalas Sportkings Premium Back Redemption Sketches #’ed/1
• Harry Kalas Sportkings Series E Top 50 Broadcasters Cut Signature #’ed/1

Less Is Truly More When It Comes To 2012 Prime Signatures

Hypothetically speaking, if Panini were a character from Batman’s world, I think they would make a good Two-Face.  Some of their products look like cookie cutter brands from year to year, but then they bring out a product like Prime Signatures which looks amazing.  Its almost like they have dual design team disorder.

The on-card autographs found in Prime Signatures are some of the nicest cards Panini has released, along with those silhouette autographed patches found in Crown Royale.  Less is truly more when it comes to Prime Signatures.  Just by looking at them, you can tell they aren’t overly designed.  They basically let the photo and signature do all the work.  I love the use of white when it comes to card design.  It doesn’t always have to be white either.  Sticking with mainly one color for the overall design can work well too.  Just watch out for those dreaded white boxes if the background isn’t all white.

The Rookie Extreme Prime Materials Jumbo cards contain the perfect sized patch along with an on-card signature.  Not every card will be hard signed.  There will be plenty of stickers, but at least the backgrounds are white and they won’t stick out like a sore thumb.  I’m hoping 2012 Prime Signatures is printed on thick card stock again.

Golf Metal Is LIVE & Comes With A Great Promotion

Golf Metal is live!!!  This is the first all golf product released in the last 7 years.  Boxes contain (2) base cards and (3) autographs.  When taking a look at some of the auctions, you can clearly see collectors have been missing a product like this.

• Jack Nicklaus Blue Prismatic Auto #’ed/5
• Jack Nicklaus National Pride Prismatic Auto #’ed/25
• Paula Creamer Award Winners Green Prismatic Auto #’ed/25
• Michelle Wie National Pride Prismatic Auto #’ed/25
• Sergio Garcia Prismatic Auto #’ed 1/1
• Arnold Palmer Green National Pride Auto #’ed/10

The list of big pulls just goes on and on!!!

Leaf also has an interesting promotional program to go along with their release of Golf Metal.  Any collector that sends in the bar code off the bottom of their box of Golf Metal will receive a 3-card pack in return.  The pack will have (3) Leaf Limited base cards, and you can look for randomly inserted redemption cards. These can be redeemed for full-size pieces of golf memorabilia.  Leaf has items such as golf clubs owned by Michael Jordan and tournament used clubs by Jack Nicklaus.  Click on the flyer below for all the details on the program.

Look Out Leaf! Here Comes 2012 UD SP Authentic Golf

Look out Leaf.  It looks as if Upper Deck is coming out with 2012 SP Authentic Golf.  Every box will contain at least (3) autographs and (1) rookie card on average.  As you can see, Upper Deck hasn’t lost its touch when it comes to product design.  I think they look fantastic!  Boxes will contain (20) packs each.

Collectors have been wanting manufacturers to bring a golf product back to the market for years.  Now after 7 long years, collectors will have two to look forward too.  Leaf’s Golf Metal will hit the market in March and SP Authentic will makes its way out in June.  With Upper Deck having relics, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan on their side it will be interesting to see how Leaf’s Golf Metal will stand up.  Either way, collectors are going to get two great looking golf products this year.