Product Highlight: 1988-90 Topps MLB Sports Shots Duo-Tang Pocket Folders

Whether you’re heading back to school or looking for some fun office supplies I think we can all agree these pocket folders are freakin’ awesome.

I’m going to be dead honest. There really isn’t much to say about them. Pocket folders designed to look like giant Topps baseball cards. You could find them in a variety of stores between 1988 and 1990. We know those are the years they were available because 1988, 1989, and 1990 Topps baseball card designs have been used.

Without an official checklist its unclear if every card in each 1988, 1989, and 1990 set was turned into a pocket folder. You will find folders of stars such as Tony Gwynn and Mark McGwire. But then folders were also made for guys like Greg Walker and Dion James. Folders were not just limited to top name players.

These pocket folders are about as easy to find as their baseball card counterparts. Plenty of them floating around the secondary market.

Folders were issued in 1991, but the design doesn’t follow any known baseball card set.

Card of the Day: Jay Buhner 1997 Upper Deck Collector’s Choice Big Shots #17

Flashback Product of the Week: 1991 Premier Edition Soccer Shots

I could never get into the whole soccer thing.  I never understood how they can play all that time and the ball rarely makes it into that huge net.  You spend most of the game watching the players run up and down the field.  The only exciting part is when they do score a goal you get to hear the announcer go nuts screaming GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Other than that, I don’t find it very entertaining.

Soccer isn’t as popular in the United States as it is in other countries.  I highly doubt it ever will be.  Despite all that, the U.S. does have its share of soccer fans.  World Soccer Promotions issued a soccer based product in 1991 called Soccer Shots.  As it is the case with many products from the early 90’s, these cards were overproduced to the max.  “Invest in Today’s Collectible” is the slogan they slapped on the front of each box.  If anyone took their advice seriously, you’re probably living under a bridge right now.  This product is basically worthless today.

The Soccer Shots base set consists of 100 cards.  There is only one card that carries a little value today, and that would be the Pelé insert #101.  The Pelé card came one in every six boxes.  It has an English and Spanish version.  You’ll also find a promo Pelé card World Soccer Promotions probably made for its distributors.  A full set with the Pelé insert can be found for under $10.00.  Sealed boxes go for next to nothing.  They also held a contest where you could win a Pelé autographed soccer ball.  I’m fairly certain that contest is over.

Cardboard Double Take – Reese & Rollins

Collectors were astonished when their eyes fell upon the 1953 Bowman Color set.  Never before had they seen such beautiful imagery conceived on cardboard.  One of the most impressive looking cards considered by many would be #33.  It features a leaping Pee Wee Reese attempting to make what looks like an impeccable double-play.  Up until this time, collectors didn’t get to see many action shots like this featured on their cards.  Some believe this to be a reverse negative, because it looks as if the runner is going from third back to second.  The runner could have been running in the wrong direction too.  Given that this photograph was taken during a spring training game, you have to imagine that anything could have been going on.

Centering and focus are the two main issues with this specific card.  Some can be blurry.  If you are looking to add one to your collection, poor condition examples can be found for under $100.00.  Ones that are pack fresh and look fantastic can be worth thousands.  If you want a nice one, expect to pay $300.00 to $500.00.

Since the production of the ’53 Bowman Color Reese, there has been countless action shots included within card sets.  It has become a hobby standard by now.  I’m sure there are shots similar to the Reese, but not as similar as this Jimmy Rollins 2007 Topps Turkey Red #10.  Not only is Rollins throwing in the same direction, but the runner is facing the same way too.  I’m sure the Reese inspired this piece of work.