Glebe Wraps Up Their 1st Sports Sculpted Sketch Card

Collectors are itching for something new.  You can feel it in the air.  Finding growth within this industry today has become quite difficult.  It needs a shakeup.  But yet, there is nothing more exciting than pulling a big “hit” from a nice box of cards.

In February I blogged about these really cool looking Sculpted Sketch Cards by Glebe.  At the time they were making them for comic book and movie characters.  Recently they wrapped up their first sports related Sculpted Sketch Card.  This Michael Jordan Sculpted Sketch Card was recently finished for a private collector.

These pieces look so awesome, and make unique additions to any collection.  From the moment I saw them, I knew it wouldn’t take long until sports collectors would want them.  I believe its only a matter of time until they strike a deal with a card manufacturer.

What famous sports scenes would you like to see done like this?  Babe Ruth’s “called shot” with the bat coming right off the card would be neat.

Be sure to follow Glebe on Twitter and Facebook to keep up-to-date on their latest artwork.

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Jamie Cooper Wraps Up His Latest MLB Masterpiece

Renowned sports artist Jamie Cooper recently completed his latest piece of MLB artwork.  This masterpiece was done for a private collector in California.  After working on it for three years in Australia, its finally arrived in its new home.  Complete with a museum grade frame of water gild gold leaf.  This All Stars painting now rests peacefully in what looks like a very high-end collection located on a sprawling seven-acre estate on the side of a mountain.  The collector’s name was left unsaid for privacy.  I think we can all agree this collector has some cool stuff we can only dream about owning.  Jamie Cooper documented his entire trip to the U.S. on Facebook.  There you can see where this painting now resides.  In addition to the painting, its fun to look around the room to see what else is there.  I spot a lot of bats, and what looks like some 1992 Donruss Diamond Kings – Supers.  Jamie Cooper is pictured on the right, with the owner to the left.

One glance at this painting and you’ll see a who’s who of ballplayers coming from multiple generations.  Much like the Phillies and Yankees Dream Scenes he has done.  My eyes go straight to Mike Schmidt.  That powder blue uniform and red hat really stand out.  I think I can even see Jamie Cooper and the painting’s owner back there behind the dugout next to Nolan Ryan.  I wonder what all these guys are talking about while sitting around 1933 Comiskey Park?

Card companies here in America need to recognize Jamie Cooper’s talent.  His work would look great on some MLB sets.  He’s already done caricatures for an AFL product.

Upper Deck Opens Up About Their 2016 National Plans

UPDATE – Here is a list of the qualifying products for Upper Deck’s Wrapper Redemption Program.

In an interview with John Broggi of the National Sports Collectors Convention, Upper Deck unveiled some of their plans for the industry’s biggest annual event.

VIPs will receive a 5-card set that features LeBron James, Martin Brodeur, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan.  Collectors taking part in Upper Deck’s wrapper redemption program will find (10) Prominent Cuts multi-sport base cards.  Autographs and cut signatures will randomly be thrown in.  Wrapper redemption packs and case breakers exclusive cards will also contain ten top NHL rookies.  Autographed versions of those can be found as well.

Without going into too much detail, Upper Deck did mention that they will have a special trading card tribute for Mike Berkus.  Berkus co-founded the National and passed away last year.  I’d like to see their tribute card designed to look like something you’d pull from 2016 Goodwin Champions.  Upper Deck traditionally doesn’t design their National promos around already existing products.  Topps does, and perhaps that’s why Upper Deck chooses not to.  Yes.  Prominent Cuts was a product they released in 2009, but it wasn’t seen again.  Goodwin Champions on the other hand is a product that Upper Deck continues to make.  It has a good following, and feels like their version of Allen & Ginter.  To those collectors who have never attended the National, the name Mike Berkus may not be that easily recognized.  At least not at first.  Issuing a card(s) of him in the 2016 Goodwin Champions design would help drive demand for it.  Set collectors want everything.

The 37th National Sports Collectors Convention takes place in Atlantic City, NJ Aug. 3-7.  I plan to be there with handfuls of my Sports Card Info pins to give out.  Find me!

Q&A – What’s Up With Those Black Marks On 80’s Topps Boxes?

Question: Dear Sports Card Info: I really enjoy your blog, especially the weekly contests.  I’ve got a question for you.  I’m looking to purchase a box of 1984 Topps Football.  Why do so many of them have black marks on the front?  It seems like a lot of Topps boxes from the 80’s have these markings.  Thanks!

Answer: Great question!  Congrats on wanting to purchase a box of 1984 Topps Football.  That set has some great rookie cards including Dan Marino and John Elway.  Opening a box like that can be really fun.  If that’s what you plan to do.

During the 1980’s, Topps allowed distributors and stores to return older products that they were having a difficult time selling.  A way to get rid of old inventory.  The people making the return would get a little something back.  When an old case would be sent back, Topps would open it, place a black mark on the front of each box, and then send it back out to discount retail outlets for sale.  If I’m not mistaken, Topps would even allow individual boxes to be sent back too as long as they contained all (36) packs.  Back then, Topps did not seal their boxes with plastic like they do today.  Its possible that individual boxes sent back could’ve been compiled from other boxes in order to make a complete box.  Its almost impossible to know if the packs inside are the original ones Topps put in there.  They could be from other ’84 Topps Football boxes.

Authentic boxes without the marks will almost always be more desirable.  I wouldn’t purchase a valuable older box without the people at Baseball Card Exchange looking at it.  They have a great reputation with collectors.  The last thing you want to do is spend $1,000 and find out your box was tampered with.

Card of the Day: Kyle Kendrick 2013 Topps SSP Close Up Error #71b

Card of the Day: Mike Schmidt 2012 Playoff Prime Cuts Barrel Up – Bat Barrel Relic

What Has TeenyMates Been Up To Lately?

The Party Animal, makers of Lil’ Teammates and TeenyMates, have been working hard to bring some new products to its fans.  After the successful launch of their NFL Series 1 TeenyMates set last year, they’ve decided to roll out a Series 2.

The new Ice Blue chase figure reminds me of Iceman from the X-Men.

2013 NFL Series 2 Highlights:

• Collect all 32 NFL teams + 6 rare figures
  
• 2 Throwback figures, a Metallic Gold figure, an Ice Blue figure, a referee, and a Glow-in-the-Dark figure
• Each foil bag includes 2 random NFL figures and 2 random puzzle pieces, adding mystery and excitement to each pack
• Collect all 35 puzzle pieces and build a double-sided puzzle featuring a football field playset and collector mini-poster
• Packs will cost around $3.99

Hockey fans will be glad to know that TeenyMates decided to make an NHL set which is new for this year.

2013 NHL Highlights:

• Collect all 30 NHL teams + 4 rare figures
  
•  2 different Throwback figures, a Metallic Gold figure and a Glow-in-the-Dark figure
• Each foil bag includes 2 random NHL figures and 2 random puzzle pieces, adding mystery and excitement to each pack
• Collect all 35 puzzle pieces and build a double-sided puzzle featuring a hockey rink playset and collector mini-poster
• Packs will cost around $3.99

After the initial release of the Series 1 NFL set, collectors began turning their TeenyMates into keychains and earrings.  It looks like the folks at TeenyMates saw this and decided to create these new Tagalongs.

Tagalongs Highlights:

• All 32 NFL teams available
  
• Each Tagalong costs around $5.99

Judging by their website, it also looks like they will be making TeenyMates for the NBA too.

If you’re looking for something a little bigger, Lil’ Teammates are now making NCAA and NFL wide receivers.  Plus they have all new team sets.  I would like to see variations made for the bigger figures like we see with the blind packaged TeenyMates.  I’ve got some new packs of the NFL Series 2 and NHL TeenyMates to bust.  I’ll also be holding some contests for a few sealed packs and a Tagalong.