Card of the Day: 1956 Gum Products, Inc. Adventure – The Groundhog’s Shadow #73

Flashback Product of the Week: 1984 Sports Design Products Doug West Set Series 1

Sports Design Products.  I don’t think they could’ve thought of a more generic name for a card company.  This company was around for a few years during the 80’s, and then fizzled out.  In addition to some card sets, they also made supplies like penny sleeves and frames.

The work that sports artist Doug West did for Sports Design Products is probably the nicest stuff this company issued.  The first Doug West set, Series 1, was released in 1984.  It consists of (24) cards of baseball greats such as Thurmon Munson, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, and Duke Snider.  Each card features two images of the player.  One image is a closeup portrait, while the other is an action shot.  No packs and boxes here folks.  These were distributed as sealed sets.  Despite not being individually numbered, there are only suppose to be 5,000 of them.  Sets were distributed in clear plastic containers with the Sports Design Products logo printed on the front.  Sports Design Products also released around (250) uncut sheets.

You can readily find these cards available.  They’re dirt cheap.  At the time these came out, they made great cards to get signed in person.  However, most of the players on this checklist are now deceased.  Some were even deceased when the set was originally made.  Unless you’ve figured out a way to raise the dead, you’re not getting an autograph.

Doug West was brought back in 1985 for Series 2.  It was done similarly to Series 1, but with different players.  In 1986, Sports Design Products didn’t go the artistic route.  Instead they released a product that looks identical to 1969 Topps Baseball.  Not much was heard from this company after 1986.  I think these cards would’ve looked better if they didn’t place a big white border around the painting.  The picture should take up the entire card.

Leaf Announces Eligible Box Redemption Products For The 2014 National

In addition to their 4-card VIP set, Leaf has a lot going on at their 5,000 sq/ft Corporate Booth this year during the 2014 National Sports Collectors Convention.  Leaf pulled back the curtain and explained the details of their plans today.

Leaf plans to bring back their store filled with many items for sale, most of them can only be found during the National.  Collectors opening specific products at the Leaf booth will receive a $5.00 gift card for each box they open.  The gift cards can be used in their store at the show.  Here is a list of eligible products:

2013 Leaf Perfect Game Baseball Hobby
2013 Leaf/Ace Grand Slam Tennis
2014-15 Leaf/In The Game Draft Prospects Hockey
2014 Leaf Sports Icons Cut Signature
2014 Famous Fabrics Big Apple Baseball
2014 Leaf Best of Baseball Unopened Edition
2014 Leaf Legends of the Diamond Baseball
2014 Leaf Pop Century Hobby
2014 Leaf Pop Century 8X10 Photo Edition
2014 Leaf Pop Century 11X14 Photo Edition
2013-14 Leaf Best of Basketball Hobby
2014 Leaf US Army All-American Football Hobby
2014 Leaf Originals Football Hobby
2014 Leaf Metal Football Hobby
2014 Leaf Trinity Football Hobby
2014 Leaf Valiant Football Hobby
2014 Leaf Best of Football Unopened Edition
2014 Leaf Autographed Mini-Helmet Football
2014 Leaf Autographed Jersey Edition Football
2014 Famous Fabrics Making of America
2014 Leaf Vampire Academy Hobby
2014 Leaf Bettie Page Collection
2014 Bench Warmer Eclectic
2014 Bench Warmer National
2014 Bench Warmer Vegas Baby
2014 Bench Warmer Hollywood
2014 Bench Warmer Treasure Chest
2014 Bench Warmer Gold Update

Collectors opening up boxes at their booth will also be greeted with a ballot for a chance to take part in the Leaf Deal or No Deal event.  Drawings will take place twice daily and the top prize is $2,000 in Leaf gift cards that can be used in their store.

Leaf will be offering a limited run of 2000 5-card Andrew Wiggins Rookie Sets at the show.  Randomly inserted in sets at a rate of 1:20 packs, collectors can pull one of 5 Andrew Wiggins Autographed Rookie Cards limited to just 20 copies each.

Super Break Sports Products To Hold Case Break Events During The 2014 NSCC

As we get closer to the 35th National Sports Collectors Convention more and more news will come out.  Today we learned that Super Break Sports Products will be holding some case break events this year.  Be sure to thoroughly check your registration kits.  If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the press release below.

More excitement has been added to this year’s premier hobby event, The National Sports Collectors Convention.  First off, our valued VIP ticket holders will be in line for a cool surprise when they open their registration bags.  Super Break Sports Products will be inserting 20 random coupons, each good for 1 special slot in the first ever VIP’s Only – Case Break.  An additional 4 spots will be given away on Twitter to VIP holders.  Be one of 24 lucky winners, all free.

Super Break Sports Products will provide a 4 Box “Super 6 Pack” case for the VIP giveaway.  The 24 high quality packs shall be given away to the VIP’s by way of 24 coupons in the VIP bags.  Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey Retail value $4000 and only VIP’s will be in the running.  Super Break VIP Only break will take place on the Amazon.com Sports Collectibles Main Stage, Thursday July 31st, at 3pm.  Coupon entries are transferable and select seating is available in the VIP seating area in front of the stage.

Hey Vintage Show Dealers, you too will have a chance to witness a “case break”, exclusive just for you!  12 lucky National Show Dealers will find a random coupon, from Super Break Sports Products, inserted in their registration kit.  Vintage dealers will be surprised and pleased by the first Super Break All Vintage Baseball Product.  “The G.O.A.T. Super Break” Product will make it’s debut with Tobacco cards to Vintage Topps cards.  These “Super 6 Packs” will be a Greatest of All Time Vintage extravaganza!  The very first National Show Dealer exclusive case break will take place at 5pm, Thursday, July 31st, also on the Amazon.com Sports Collectibles Main Stage.  Coupons are transferable, if you cannot attend the Break.

​Our thanks to National Show Sponsor, Super Break Sports Products, who will be set up in the Premiere Case Break Pavilion and will have 5 Main Stage Breaks over the course of the National.  Breakers who wish to be part of Super Breaks exhibit space are welcome to contact Super Breaks Sports Products at info@Superbreaksports.com.

Flashback Product of the Week: 1956 Gum Products – The Adventure Series

If there is one set that dude from the Dos Equis commercials belongs in, it would have to be The Adventure Series made by Gum Products back in 1956.  This 100-card set literally has everything.  You’ll find cards containing scenes of war, boxers, Olympic athletes, mountain climbers, deep sea divers, fishermen, wildlife, the circus, atomic bombs, firefighters, boats, explorers, race cars, and so much more.  Anything goes with this set.  Obviously, condition is everything, but the cards that are in the most demand are the ones dealing with sports.  Boxers top that list.  Card #44 is of legend Rocky Marciano, and if its in really nice condition can sell for over $200.00.  But the card that gets the most attention, and sells for the highest is #86.  This is due to the Nazi symbol that’s on the card.  Good examples can sell for hundreds.  Outside of boxing, another popular card would be #55 like the one pictured above.  Its of Boston legend Harry Agannis who has very few cards.  These can go for $30.00 to $50.00 depending on the condition.

The 1956 Adventure Series is a very entertaining set, as it covers so many subject areas.  The painted artwork is printed on thick white card stock with a write up on the reverse side describing what is pictured on the front.  Packs of cards were quite cheap in 1956, but this was one of the cheapest even at it’s time.  Gum Products issued these cards in one cent packs.  It doesn’t get any cheaper than that, but you were only getting one card per pack too.

Scott Schwartz Delivers Panini Products To The View

Yesterday, long time collector Scott Schwartz stopped by The View and dropped off a few boxes of Panini Americana.  Schwartz is most notably known for playing Flick in the 1983 film A Christmas Story.  You may also remember him from The Toy, where he co-starred with Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason.  I love it when trading cards receive any kind of national publicity.  Very cool!

Feedback For Topps

Now that Topps has the rights to produce NFL licensed trading cards…… again, yesterday they posted a few questions on their blog to try and get some feedback from collectors on what people would like to see in their 2010 football products.  Below you’ll find my answers to their questions 🙂

• What products from our previous Topps football lines would you like to see us continue or bring back?

I would like to see Topps continue their Triple Threads brand of football cards.  Being a high-end box breaker, I really enjoy opening those boxes.  If Topps is looking to improve this brand, I would recommend that they try to get more signatures on-card for their high-end brands like Triple Threads.  The foil stickers just don’t seem right when a collector spends almost $200.00 for two packs.

• What new products or ideas would you like to see?

I have a few ideas for new products that I would like to see hit the market.  One of the most popular baseball sets Topps produces is Allen & Ginter.  It has been product of the year a few times now, and collectors seem to go nuts over it.  I think Topps should make a football version of A&G.  For the past two years they have made Mayo, but I don’t think it lives up to the hype of A&G.  I still would like to know what happened to the Joe Paterno certified autograph that was suppose to be included in 2008 Mayo.

On the high-end side of the spectrum, I’d like to see Topps make a football version of Topps Tribute.  I’m talking about designing Tribute cards like the baseball sets from 2002 through 2004.  They looked totally awesome!  I love how Tribute products from that time look and seeing some of football’s legends on that type of cardboard would be great.

• Which 2010 NFL Rookies would you like to see us sign to autograph deals?

It sure is fun to pull an autograph of a top draft pick.  Last year I was lucky enough to pull and autograph of both Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford.  I’m not that big into prospecting, but one player that doesn’t have a certified autograph yet would be Jared Odrick.  He was drafted in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and was a Defensive End for Penn State.  Like myself, he is from Central Pennsylvania and its always fun to see someone from an area that you lived in make it to the pros.

• Regarding our products calendar, which releases would you like to see early in the season, late, etc?

I don’t have a huge problem with the order products are released in.  I believe that starting with set-building products and slowly working your way up towards the higher-end stuff is a great way to keep collectors on the edge of their seats.  I wish companies could get all their current year products out within the realm on that same year.  For example, it doesn’t seem right for a 2009 product to be released in 2010.  I know manufacturers are under deadlines and if products are rushed they may not turn out so well, but I wish this is something they could fix.

• Are there any NFL-related themes, anniversaries, celebrations, etc. you’d like to see featured in our 2010 products?

I would like to see the 1972 – 1973 Perfect Season Miami Dolphins have some card set celebrating that monumental accomplishment.  I’m not saying create an entire product around it, but include something in one of the other popular Topps products.  Try and track down some of the players from that team that don’t have any relics and/or autographs.  Players such as Nick Buoniconti, Howard Twilley, and Bob Kuechenberg have yet to have any modern cards made.  I think you’ed be surprised to find out how popular those cards would be.

Another area I’d like to see Topps explore is the individuals who helped shape the game of football.  I’d like to see more cards of Amos Alonzo Stagg, Edward Cochems, and “Pop” Warner.  TRISTAR did a great job with their Obak set and honoring some of the people that helped start baseball.

Upper Deck Should Revive Their Golf Products

Should Upper Deck bring back its golf products?  I believe so.  Today’s hobby is filled with a bunch of different products based around UFC fighters and the PBR.  Why the hell not bring back golf boxes?  With MLBP making it very difficult for Upper Deck to produce baseball cards, I think this would give them a good opportunity to revive their popular golf brands like SP Authentic and perhaps create a few new ones.  From 2001 to 2004 Upper Deck produced golf cards on a regular basis and today many of those cards are still in high demand.  Obviously, Tiger Woods leads all of golf with some of the most valuable cards even with his recent troubles.  But other players such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and Payne Stewart are still bringing in a lot of bids.  Even John Daly can bring in some big dollars depending on the type of card.

After 2004, you could find golf cards randomly inserted within other trading card products.  Most of the time these cards would be of Tiger Woods, especially if it was an Upper Deck product.  Today the largest maker of golf cards I believe is Creative Cardboard Concepts which distributes products like Sportskings and Famous Fabrics.  Those are two very high-end products and judging by some of the sales collectors are still into golf relics and autographs.  Famous Fabrics doesn’t even contain pictures of the players and people still want them for their collection.

There are a lot of unexplored areas Upper Deck could venture into when it comes to golf cards.  Shirts, gloves, and bags are some of the relics you’ll find on the market today.  I’d like to see part of the golf ball inserted into a card somehow.  Many pro golfers have unique ways of marking their balls and I think it would be cool to see that part of the ball in a card.  Lets not forget about flags, shoes, and clubs.  If Upper Deck can obtain sand from Omaha Beach, why not get some sand from Pebble Beach 🙂

New Press Pass Set For 2010 Products

Next year Press Pass will be making a 100-card set commemorating NASCAR figures and events.  These cards will be found throughout many of their popular products starting with Press Pass 2010.  Its going to work just like the Yankee Stadium Legacy set, except this one will only consist of 100 cards.

Speaking of Richard Petty.  What a career this guy has had.  Not only does he race cars, but he had a hit song on the charts 🙂

Card Annoyances: Products Made for Specific Teams

I’ll admit that back in 2003 I opened a few packs of ’03 Yankee Signature Series.  I pulled a few autographs, but nothing major.  I don’t have anything against card manufacturers making products for specific teams, but I wish they would do it for more teams.  I would love to see a product like this made for the Phillies.  There has been a baseball organization in Philadelphia for over 100 years, and there is just as much history.  What about the Miami Dolphins and their perfect season?  Thats great history.  Card manufacturers need to target other areas of sports history other than the Yankees for a team oriented product.