Card of the Day: 1992 Topps Stadium Club Batman Returns #1

Leaf In The Game Used Sports Returns For 2019

Good luck trying to find a sealed box of 2018 Leaf In The Game Used Sports.  Its almost impossible.  Released on August 1, 2018 (the first day of the National), this product was a huge hit at the show.  If you couldn’t make it to Cleveland, various dealers carried it.  But their stock didn’t last very long.  Its been months since I’ve seen a sealed box surface.

What made this product so popular?  Boxes are loaded with low-numbered hits.  Five to be exact.  At an initial cost of $160-$165 per box, collectors quickly realized they were getting quite the deal.  Most boxes were solid, and delivered value that was equal to the box price.  Lots of times the value was much more.  Not mass-produced.  Low case production.  I think Leaf configured it this way because they knew it would draw people in.  As collectors began to catch on, the price of a single box began to grow.  The last time I saw a box listed for sale it cost $269.  I was lucky to get my hands on three boxes last year.  You can see what I pulled here and here.

I’m happy to announce that Leaf plans to bring back In The Game Used Sports for 2019.  While we don’t have a release date, box/case price, configuration details, and/or print run yet, Leaf did let a few images slip out.  These pictures are of cards from their “The Chosen Few” collection.  Randomly inserted are redemptions for some heavy-duty high-end cards.  If you pull one, Leaf will allow you to pick a card from their “The Chosen Few” inventory.  Obviously the sooner one is pulled, the more selection you will have.  More details to come.

Artist Jared Kelley Returns To Work On SAGE’s Sportkings

Since the announcement that SAGE will be producing the next incarnation of Sportkings, little information has been provided about it.  So far, the two Walter Payton promo cards found in 2018 SAGE Hit Premier Draft Low Series are what we have to go on.  Granted its only two cards, I do like what I see.  I’m a total sucker when it comes to artistic sets, and that is what Sportkings has always been.

On the reverse side of those Walter Payton promo cards, SAGE does list what we can expect:

• Game Worn Cards
• On-Card Autographs
• Spectacular Patches
• 1/1 Sketch Cards w/ Autographs
• 1/1 Hand Painted Art Cards
• Original 1933 Sportkings Cards

After some intense investigating, I’ve learned that artist Jared Kelley is working on some cards for the next edition of Sportkings.  Specifically the 1/1 Hand Painted Art Cards.  If that name sounds familiar, its because Mr. Kelley worked on various products when Dr. Brian Price had control of the Sportkings brand.  I’m glad to see that SAGE brought him back.  His artwork is amazing.  Every now and then one of his Hand Painted Art Cards pops up for sale.  Most remain in collector’s private stash.

When talking with Mr. Kelley, it sounds like SAGE could be looking at a summertime launch for Sportkings.  That’s not definite.  Although it would be great to see them release it during the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland.

Here is a little taste of the 1/1 Hand Painted Art Cards that Mr. Kelley has been working on for SAGE’s Sportkings set.  No checklist quite yet, but we know Kevin Durant, Mickey Mantle, and Ty Cobb are in the mix.

 

Football Returns To Topps

The official report was announced today that Topps will be able to make officially licensed football products once again.  It wasn’t that long ago that Topps was stripped of this honor while Upper Deck was given the rights to make NFL cards, along with Panini.  But with all the financial troubles surrounding Upper Deck, the rights have been restored to Topps……… for now 🙂

I think we can all agree that Upper Deck is the best manufacturer when it comes to high-end products.  Topps on the other hand doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to expensive stuff to break.  I’m interested to see what Topps can come up with.  Topps really knows how to produce products for set collectors.  Its what they’re good at.  Their 2010 Football set will have the same design as 2010 Baseball.  This set I believe has one of the better designs.  I like how big the team names are and the photography is usually great.

I find it harder and harder to predict whats coming next for The Hobby.  I will make one bold prediction that I’d like to see come true.  I predict that Topps will create a football version of Allen & Ginter.  Topps has made Mayo, but I bet an A&G football set would be a big hit.  Why not do it?  National Chicle was originally a football set, and they’ve made a baseball version.  Why not take A&G, which originally was a baseball set, and make a football one?  Would you purchase a box of Allen & Ginter Football?