Card of the Day: Bobby Abreu 2004 Upper Deck Power Up! #55

Q&A – What Is The First Pack-Inserted Autographed Card? (Follow Up)

Have you ever heard of the 1976 Goof’s Pants Place Tulsa Oilers team set? After posting Q&A – What Is The First Pack-Inserted Autographed Card? this set was brought to my attention thanks to Breakout Cards and Chris Harris as it contains a few autographs.

In 1976 the Tulsa Oilers (Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) released a 26-card team set which could be purchased from the team for $5. Included within that team set were two autographed cards – Satchel Paige and Paul “Daffy” Dean.

Both of these cards predate the Reggie Jackson autographed card issued by Upper Deck by 14 years.

Personally, I still consider the 1990 Upper Deck Baseball High Series Reggie Jackson Auto #’ed/2,500 the first pack-inserted autographed card. The 1976 Goof’s Pants Place Tulsa Oilers team set was a regional issue, and not made available everywhere. A hobby pack, and team set are two different things.

Sports Collectors Daily has a nice write-up about this set.

Card of the Day: 1982 Topps E.T. – All Bundled Up! #61

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.

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!

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.

Card of the Day: Alex Rodriguez 1994 Score Rookie/Traded Highest Call Up #HC1