Card of the Day: Honus Wagner 1960 Fleer #62

Card of the Day: Hans Wagner 1910 E98 Set Of 30 Black Swamp Find

Have You Seen This Audi Commercial?

I saw this commercial for the first time last night and thought it was funny.

Making A Bold Prediction

I’m going to make a very bold prediction.  Someday one of the major card manufacturers will purchase a very valuable vintage card, cut it up, and insert various pieces into newer cards.  The signs have been there all along and it sure wouldn’t surprise me one bit.  Starting with products like TRISTAR Signa Cuts and slowly moving into more popular products like Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts, its not uncommon to find older cards cut up and reinserted into circulation.  I don’t like the idea of a company cutting up any type of card, even if its only worth one penny.  I really don’t like it when they destroy modern day cards like Topps does with their Pro Debut product.  There is absolutely no reason to cut up a perfectly good AFLAC autograph.  Just insert the whole card.  It would save a lot of time and money.  Hell, I’d settle for a redemption for the entire AFLAC autograph instead of this half breed of a card.

I can’t believe Topps is doing this for a second year in a row.

Why don’t they just get it over with.  The next time a T206 Honus Wagner shows up for auction, buy it, and cut it up.  When does a card become more than just a card?  When does it become a relic worth cutting up?  What do you think the value of a T206 Honus Wagner relic would be?

Rare Gem On Display At Citizens Bank Park

Last night while watching the Phillies I heard Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler talk about something you rarely hear about on prime time television – baseball cards.  Right now at Citizens Bank Park this 1909-11 T206 uncut strip containing Honus Wagner will be on display thanks to Hunt Auctions.  This strip has been bought and sold many times over the years and still amazes collectors.  How in the hell did this thing stay together after all this time?  Many rumors state it was found in a pair of old pants owned by Wagner.

This would make the ultimate box topper.

One T206 Relic I’d Like To Have

The Honus Wagner T206 tobacco card is one of the most counterfeited and reprinted cards on the market.  I consider myself lucky to have seen three originals in person and actually held one worth about $900,000.  I’m a sucker when it comes to the old relics that can be found in 2002 Topps T206.  From that set I own bat relics of Jimmy Collins, Sam Crawford, and Johnny Evers.  I’d like to add Buck Herzog, Tris Speaker, and John McGraw too.  But most of all I’d like to add this Honus Wagner bat, which is probably one of the most expensive relics in the set.  Of all the the Wagner reprints out there, this is my favorite.  Believe it or not, there are a few other versions of this card featuring a red background and a blue background that you rarely see because there are only 25 copies of each.  Recently one popped up for sale and it is already over the $200.00 mark.  This one is my personal favorite, just because it looks like the original one.

Monty Sheldon’s 2010 Sketch Cards Come With A Little Extra

Monty Sheldon has started up his sketch cards for 2010 already, and this year he has added a little twist to each of his cards.  His first five cards of 2010 will feature the first inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb, and Christy Mathewson.  Sheldon has attached coupons to the bottom of each card in which collectors can redeem for other art such as sketch cards, hand-painted premium cards, a hand-painted hockey puck or cigar box, or a hand-painted baseball.  The coupons make each card look like the old Pacific Coast League Zee-Nut cards that were made from 1913-1937.  The redemption plan goes as follows:

• 10 coupons = One (1) 2010 S.S.C.C. sketch card which will be a part of the 2010 series; customer selects player
• 20 coupons = One (1) hand painted premium art card; customer selects player, more details to follow
• 30 coupons = One (1) hand-painted hockey puck or cigar box; customer selects player
• 40 coupons = One (1) hand-painted baseball customer selects player

Coupons distributed with the 2010 SSCC cards expire on 12/31/2012.

All sketch cards feature a very detailed pencil drawing with a black ink border. The size of this year’s sketch cards will be the standard 2 ½” x 3 ½” with the coupon intact. With the coupon clipped the card would measure 2 ½” x 2 7/8”.

Card of the Day: 2008 Upper Deck: The First Class

This card basically wakes up in the morning and pisses excellence.

Famous Fabrics Preview

Creative Cardboard Concepts distributes products such as Sportkings and various ITG products.  I’ve never owned anything made by any of these manufacturers, but I just received an e-mail containing new images of their Famous Fabrics product and I think they look awesome.  This product is very limited (according to Creative Cardboard Concepts).  You can check out more information about Famous Fabrics over on their blog.  It is scheduled to be released 2-24-10.

As a big Phillies fan, this triple jersey of Burrell, Howard and Rollins celebrating the ’08 Championship looks awesome.

They even have the Dolphins covered too.  I swear I’ve seen this design done before with a football product from the late 90’s featuring jersey relics.

I’m not a big Pirates fan, but I sure wouldn’t mind pulling this card.  Would you?

The Flying Dutchman Is Still Going Strong

There is no doubt about it that the Honus Wagner 1909-11 T206 tobacco card is one of the most popular, controversial, and reprinted cards in The Hobby.  Usually reprints of this card barely sell for much, beside some of the ’02 Topps T206 Wagner bat relics.  Recently sports artist Monty Sheldon decided to see what it would be like if he drew his own sketch card of Wagner in that famous pose, and I think it came out pretty good.  As you can see he modeled this sketch card after the photo of Wagner that was taken by Carl Horner.  The word “Pittsburgh” wasn’t on Wagner’s jersey, that was added after the picture was taken.  Collectors seem to really enjoy Sheldon’s sketch cards when looking at all the completed auctions.  His sketch cards seem to be more popular than ones inserted into packs.  The card below has already pass the $100.00 mark and I’m sure it will go higher.