Card of the Day: Carl Crawford 2014 Topps Gypsy Queen Glove Stories

Cobb, Cochrane, & Crawford Are Among The National’s Earliest Promos

Back in February I blogged about an 8-card set that highlights the early years of the National Sports Collectors Convention.  That set is from the 5th NSCC which took place in 1984 at the Aspen Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey.  At the time of that writing it was the earliest promotional set for the NSCC that I had ever seen.  Today that all changes.

A 32-card set recently popped-up on eBay, and seems to be from the 2nd National Sports Collectors Convention.  In 1981, the second NSCC was held in Detroit, Michigan at the Plymouth Hilton.  This simple 32-card set includes a nice selection of all-time great players from the Detroit Tigers.  Notable names include Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Hank Greenberg, Sam Crawford, and Charlie Gehringer.  The backs are all blank.

I can’t say how exactly these cards were distributed.  Back then they didn’t have the elaborate promotional programs like they do today.  Dealers may have only gotten them.  I say that because you don’t see these cards very often.  Then again, they could’ve been handed out at the door to everyone that walked in.  Either way, its an awesome historical set from what has turned into the best sports card and memorabilia show on the planet.

The 40th National Sports Collectors Convention will take place in Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center 7/31-8/4.

Card of the Day: J.P. Crawford 2015 Topps Pro Debut #39

Brandon Crawford Is First 2016 Topps Now Autograph

Topps Now is one of the coolest innovations that Topps has come out with recently.  Its gained national coverage and that’s always good for the industry.  Having cards made on the spot to commemorate special events has been at the core of their digital products, but Topps Now carries that over into the physical card realm.  After watching the Phillies have a terrible season last year, I wasn’t expecting them to have any Topps Now cards for 2016.  They’ve actually been doing much better compared to 2015, and have had three moments worthy of Topps Now cards.  I know its early in the season, but that Cameron Rupp game winning out at home plate Topps Now card will probably be one of the greatest action shots in the set.  Topps Now is just overall really cool.  Especially when they offer up a card of a player who doesn’t have any rookies in other products.  It can create some fun situations.

Special inserts, parallels, autographs, and relics were not part of the Topps Now program at first.  That seems to have changed at least when it comes to the autographs.  Rockledge Breaks posted a picture of this Brandon Crawford Topps Now autograph he received with his latest order.  To commemorate the 100th Topps Now card, Topps got Brandon Crawford to sign ten of them.  They look to have been randomly distributed.  Although, a few lucky people that did receive an autograph have said that they have been purchasing large quantities of Topps Now cards.  So they might have gone to big buyers.  It sure is a nice little surprise that Topps didn’t announce.

Now when you purchase that Topps Now card, you can think there is a slight chance it could be autographed.  I’m betting collectors will keep this in mind when the 200th Topps Now card rolls around.

Card of the Day: Brandon Crawford 2010 Bowman Auto

Card of the Day: J.P. Crawford 2013 Bowman Chrome Blue Wave Refractor

Card of the Day #123

Carl Crawford 1999 Topps Traded RC Auto

Card of the Day #25

2002 Topps T206 Sam Crawford Game Used Bat