Product Highlight: 1997 Topps Genuine Issue Tiger Woods Photos

In case you haven’t heard, Tiger Woods was involved in a bad car accident. Luckily it sounds like he’s going to be ok. Whether or not he’ll play professional golf again is totally undecided. Its way too early to tell, and by the look of what is left of the SUV he was driving we’re just lucky that he’s still alive. This is Tiger Woods we’re talking about here. A comeback isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. We’ve seen it happen before. He surprised the world when he came back and won the Masters Tournament in 2019. Anything is possible.

When it comes to cards of Tiger Woods the first company that comes to mind is Upper Deck. That makes perfect sense since he’s had an exclusive deal with them going all the way back to 2001. But that wasn’t always the case. Prior to 2001 he didn’t have a dedicated place you could go for his cards. They were kinda hit or miss, and all over the place. Two cards from this time that stick out to me the most would be his 1997-99 Grand Slam Ventures Masters Collection, and 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids.

A product that I believe is drastically overlooked is the 1997 Topps Genuine Issue Tiger Woods Photos.  That’s correct.  Four years prior to his Upper Deck exclusive, Topps issued this small Tiger Woods-themed set after he won the Masters in 1997.

Its strange to see Tiger Woods pictured on a Topps product.  Topps isn’t known for their rich history with golfers. This set consists of six 8″ x 10″ photos. 10,000 sets were produced.  Each pack has the same six pictures.  There are no autographs and/or relics.

Here is the checklist:

• #1 1996 US Amateur
• #2 1997 USPGA Championship
• #3 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open
• #4 1997 USPGA Championship
• #5 1997 Masters
• #6 1997 US Open

With the recent amplified interest in sports cards and memorabilia over the last year, packs of these photos have seen a big jump in price. Sealed packs now sell for $100-$200.

None of the photos have any type of design to them.  No borders and/or fancy coloring. In a strange way it gives us a glimpse as to what a golf-focused Stadium Club set might look like.

Card of the Day: Spyder Webb 1987 Bellingham Mariners Team Issue #16

Q&A: Did Topps Issue Boxes Of 1992 Stadium of Stars Cards?

Question: Hi!  I came across this odd card of Larry King.  It appears to be from 1992 Topps Stadium of Stars.  Did Topps issue boxes for this set?  What can you tell me about it?

Answer: No.  Topps did not issue these in the traditional box format.  The year was 1992, and the 13th National Sports Collectors Convention was being held in Atlanta, GA.  For the first time in it’s thirteen year existence, Topps decided to setup a booth.  Used as a promotional giveaway, Topps created a 13-card set entitled Stadium of Stars.

• Bruce Jenner
• John Wooden
• Joan Lunden
• Lou Holtz
• Chris McCarron
• Nick Charles
• Larry King
• Ann Meyers
• LeRoy Neiman
• Wilma Rudolph
• Bob Costas
• Nancy Lopez
• Jim Beckett III

The exact number of cards handed out during the show is unknown.  Every celebrity on the checklist received (500) copies to hand out at their discretion.  Two jumbo-size cards were also printed for each individual.  One was given to the celebrity, and the other was autographed.  The signed version was auctioned off, and the money went to a specific charity chosen by that celebrity.

Topps sold 5,000 uncut sheets to dealers at the show.  From time to time one of those will popup.  I believe Jim Beckett III was a late addition and/or had to be obtained differently compared to the others.  You can find his single card on the secondary market, but its not pictured on any of the promotional material like the uncut sheet.  An oversize souvenir sheet featuring these cards is suppose to be floating around too.

A complete set is worth about $30-$50.

Card of the Day: Bill Murray 1988 Salt Lake City Trappers Team Issue #29

Flashback Product of the Week: 1988 Salt Lake City Trappers Team Issue

Minor League Baseball sets issued by teams today don’t carry much weight when it comes to the collecting world.  They’re drastically overproduced, and the players most likely already have cards in more in-demand products such as Bowman, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Draft, Bowman’s Best, Pro Debut, and Heritage MiLB.  I’m not saying there isn’t a market for them.  Today’s collectors just have more options.

During the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s is where you’ll find some of the more popular team issued sets.  Guys like Ryne Sandberg, Cal Ripken, Jr., and even John Elway pictured in an Oneonta Yankees uniform all received Minor League Baseball cards predating their nationally issued rookies.  Depending on rarity and condition, these can be extremely valuable.

Baseball Cards Etc issued a team set in 1988 for the Salt Lake City Trappers.  Now they’re known as the Ogden Raptors.  At the time, actor Bill Murray owned five percent of the team.  It makes perfect sense that he received his own card.  His brother Brian is also featured on another card in the same set as well.  These two cards are literally the only reason why this set is continued to be talked about today.  None of the other players went on to have historic careers.

If you watched any of the World Series last year, you’d know what a huge baseball fan Bill Murray is.  He was rocking that t-shirt that said “I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GOAT.”  The 1988 Salt Lake City Trappers team set is the first time Bill Murray was featured on cardboard.  It wouldn’t be his last though.  Over the years, other teams he’s been involved with have included him in their sets.  Here is a rundown of all the Bill Murray baseball cards you could add to your collection.

• Bill Murray/Brian Murray 1988 Salt Lake City Trappers Team Issue #2
• Bill Murray 1988 Salt Lake City Trappers Team Issue #29
• Bill Murray 1989 Salt Lake City Trappers Team Issue #29
• Bill Murray 1996 Butte Copper Kings Best #2
• Bill Murray 1998 Charleston RiverDogs Grandstand #19
• Bill Murray 2004 Brockton Rox #28
• Bill Murray 2008 St. Paul Saints Team Issue #15
• Bill Murray/Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Mayor 2012 Charleston RiverDogs Grandstand #36

Mr. Murray does have a handful of other cards from various entertainment products.  Leaf even made a cut signature of him in 2012 numbered to only (1).  Most collectors treat the card of him pictured alone from 1988 as his “rookie” card.  Three copies recently sold for $75 each.

I know one of these years we’re going to see Bill Murray show up in Allen & Ginter or Goodwin Champions.

Topps To Issue Special Allen & Ginter & Gypsy Queen Cards For The ’15 NSCC

There are a lot of promos flying around the National each year.  Almost everyone has something going on in the corporate area.  I think Topps does it the best though.  The best thing about the exclusive cards Topps gives out during the National is that they can be integrated into already existing products like Allen & Ginter and Gypsy Queen.  Here is what they have going on for 2015.

Can you believe that Allen & Ginter turns ten this year?  Topps has created special die-cut Allen & Ginter cards only available at the National.  For every sealed 2015 Allen & Ginter hobby box that is brought to the Topps booth and opened in front of a Topps representative, you’ll receive a pack.  This year Topps has randomly included autographs.

Topps will also have a Gypsy Queen giveaway.  Topps will have 3-card packs that contain cards of Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton in the 2015 Gypsy Queen design.  Look for parallels!!!  To get one of these packs, you need to open one sealed hobby box of the following 2014 or 2015 products listed below:

Baseball:

• All 2015 Topps and Bowman hobby boxes (Opening Day does not count)

Football:

• 2014 Bowman
• 2014 Bowman Chrome
• 2014 Bowman Sterling
• 2014 Topps Chrome
• 2014 Topps Chrome Mini
• 2014 Topps Platinum
• 2014 Topps Prime
• 2014 Topps Supreme
• 2014 Topps Finest
• 2014 Topps Fire
• 2014 Topps Jumbo HTA
• 2014 Topps Museum Collection
• 2014 Topps Triple Threads
• 2014 Topps Valor
• 2015 Bowman

Soccer:

• 2015 MLS

UFC:

• 2015 Topps UFC Knockout

Card of the Day: George Bush 1990 Topps USA White House Issue #USA1

FYI – The 100 cards given to former President Bush (White House Issue) have a thick clear coating on the front, and the others do not.

Flashback Product of the Week: 1992 Donruss Diamond Kings Jumbo Test Issue

Just because overproduction plagued the hobby back in 1992 doesn’t mean you can’t have a few rare gems floating around.  Donruss put their printers into overdrive when it was time to start manufacturing Series 1 and Series 2 baseball that year.  One of the biggest cards collectors were hoping to pull was the Cal Ripken, Jr autograph.  Trust me, when your pumping out billions of cards having one limited to 5,000 copies is a big deal.

If you weren’t lucky enough to get a Ripken autograph, then you could easily sit back and enjoy the Diamond Kings inserts featuring portraits by popular sports artist Dick Perez.  Having the Diamond Kings cards as inserts versus a subset really made some collectors mad, but they got over it.

Outside of the normal Diamond Kings set, you will find some very expensive jumbo Diamond Kings cards.  These look exactly like the cards you would pull, except they are 5″x7″ in size.  They are quite rare, and collectors will pay out the nose to get the ones they need.  These jumbo cards were never officially released to the public.  Multiple stories depict their origin.  Some say they were intended as premiums for retail products.  Others say Donruss made them for specific marketing representatives.  I think they’re really salesmen samples.  Each card in the regular Diamond Kings set has a jumbo counterpart.

How much are player collectors willing to spend on one of these jumbos?  A Randy Johnson card recently sold for $535.00.

21: Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball

If your a baseball fan like me, I highly suggest checking out Gary Joseph Cieradkowski’s premiere issue of 21: Illustrated Journal of Outsider Baseball.  Gary has put a lot of work into this first publication, and he covers many players that don’t get the light shined on them all that much.  In the premiere issue, he covers Jewish baseball pioneers and stars.  Of coarse players like Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax are covered, but others like cover-man Lipman Pike are in there too.  Out of all the stories, I enjoyed reading about Pike the best.  He was the first professional baseball player, and he hit 6 homers in one game.  In 1881, Pike had been playing baseball for almost 20 years.  I just think thats amazing.

Next to each player’s story, Gary has an image of a card that he has created for that specific player.  I really like his artwork and the colors he uses.  Be sure to check out his blog The Infinite Baseball Card Set and his illustration shop.

I can’t wait to read the editions that he plans to create on criminals and outlaws of baseball.

Test Issues Are Fun!

Topps has had some funky test issues in the past, but their “Pro Shooter” Photo Marbles have to be near the top of the funky list.  I can just see kids (and adults) chucking these hard plastic balls at each other.  These were distributed with two marbles per package and there are 60 marbles in the entire set.  They are extremely rare to find and I’m sure some player collectors would love to get their hands on some of them.  Don’t ask how you would store it or grade it, but they do make interesting conversation pieces.

Test issues are some of the most ironic releases.  Topps issues a product in a certain region to “test” how it sells.  If it performs well they release more of it, and if it doesn’t sell well they stop.  What makes it ironic is that a lot of these “test issue” products only become desirable because they didn’t sell.  So what wasn’t popular, now is, because of how unpopular it was 🙂  I’m confused and have a headache!