Kalas Cut Added To The Collection

On Monday, UPS dropped off the newest addition to my Harry Kalas collection.  This is a Harry Kalas 2012 Leaf Executive Collection Masterpiece Cut Signature serial numbered 1/1.  Leaf started their Executive Collection last year, and I had been looking for a Kalas item to send in to them.  I finally came across a PSA/DNA certified signed index card that worked perfectly.  Leaf’s Executive Collection basically allow collectors to create their own cut signature as long as the autograph is certified by either PSA/DNA or JSA.  Leaf did an excellent job on the turnaround time.  It only took a few weeks.  No Harry Kalas autographs were submitted for the 2011 set, and this is the first one in 2012.  The chrome border used for the Masterpiece 1/1 cuts look a lot better than the plain white ones from last year. 

I guess you could say I’m a Harry Kalas supercollector.  He doesn’t have that many cards, and when his autographs pop-up collectors go nuts over them.  The longtime Phillies broadcaster has a big following, especially in Philadelphia.  This is one card that will stay in my personal collection for quite some time.

Here is my other Harry Kalas one-of-one I own.  Sports artist Monty Sheldon did this sketch card for me.  Sheldon has worked on many products with Topps such as Chicle, Allen & Ginter, and Gypsy Queen.

I’m still looking for these 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

Political Junkies Can Look Forward To Executive Trading’s Newest Set

Ya know, if every trading card manufacturer issued one product every few years we wouldn’t have this little problem called overproduction.  Then again, there wouldn’t be much to break.  Either way, political junkies can look forward to Executive Trading’s newest release dedicated to the 112th Congress.

These cards are way better looking when compared to their first set.  This time they are standard size and contain a lot more information on the back.  It would still be cool to see some autographs included.

Earlier this week, Executive Trading sent over a few cards from their new set.  They sent the following:

• Barack Obama – Democratic Party #1
• Mitt Romney – Republican Party #2
• Ron Paul – Republican Party #3
• Sarah Palin – Republican Party #4
• Bill Nelson/Marco Rubio – Senators #7
• Rand Paul/Mitch McConnell – Senators #8
• John Boenner/Steve Austria/Steve Latourette/Pat Tiberi – Representatives #56
• Barbara Lee/Nancy Pelosi/Jerry McNerney/John Garamendi – CA53 #57
• Jaime Herrera Beutler/Allen West/Tim Scott/Rick Berg – Rookie Representatives #134
• Terri Sewell/Karen Bass/John C. Carney, Jr./Frederica Wilson – Rookie Representatives #135
• Hilary Clinton – United States Secretary of State #209
• Elena Kagan – Associate Justice Rookie #233
• Norm Dicks #241
• Tea Party Express #242
• Joe Biden – Vice President #EX2

Leaf’s Newest Cut Signature Endeavour

Whether you like them or not, cut signature products are here to stay.  They must sell well because companies keep making them.

Leaf has given collectors a little preview of their newest cut signature product – Executive Collection.  This product comes with a little twist.  Collectors make the set.  If you have a PSA/DNA or JSA certified autograph, Leaf will insert that signature into a card and encapsulate it.  It will then be added to their population report which can be accessed online.  The first cuts of anyone submitted to Leaf are considered 1/1’s.  They will be placed in a Masterpiece cut design.  Repeated cuts will be placed in the standard design.

Masterpiece

Standard

I think its a great concept and I’m interested in seeing how consumers will receive it.  I’d love to print up some index cards that say “Sports Card Info” in the background and get an autograph on it.  Seeing something like that in a card would really cool.  I want to immortilize my blog in cardboard!!!

2009 Executive Trading Politicians Box Break & Review

Executive Trading is one of the newest card manufacturers to enter The Hobby.  They focus strictly on political trading cards, and contain images of people who work for the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of government.  They were nice enough to send over a box for me to break and review.

Design:

The first thing that I noticed when I opened my box was the size of the packs.  These packs are slightly small when you compare them to the basic pack that we’re all familiar with.  The cards themselves are about the size of a credit card and are designed to look like currency.  On the reverse side of each card they provide you with more information about that specific person.  You can easily read all the information, and the brownish tint that covers each card makes it look like an old document which I think looks good.

Price:

This is one of the few companies that allow you to purchase hobby boxes directly off their website.  Each box costs $90.00 from Executive Trading, but you might be able to find one on eBay for a little less.  A lot of educational institutions will purchase products like this for their classrooms.

Hit Quality:

One thing most collectors will notice right off the back is that this product doesn’t contain any relics and/or autographs.  That is something I’d like to see randomly inserted throughout some of their future boxes.  There are rare cards for you to look for such as: Obama (Gold), Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Roberts, Nancy Pelosi, Ron Paul, John McCain, and Edward Kennedy.  The rare cards can be redeemed for cash via the Executive Trading site.  Probably the biggest hit would be the Barack Obama 22k Gold Series insert which you can find randomly in packs.  Each pack also comes with a Lucky code card which you can go on their website and enter the code to see if you have won one of the 21 Obama 22k Golds.  You can also look for White House cards Michelle Obama, Bo, Air Force One, and Marine One.

Overall:

Overall I give this product 3 American flags out of 5 (1=poor & 5=perfect).  I would like to see some relics and/or autographs in the future.  Maybe Executive Trading could create a product with various business people in the upcoming years.  Who wouldn’t want to pull a rookie card of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?  This product would fit well in a school environment, and maybe even help turn kids back on to collecting.