Suggestions to Improve the Topps MLB Sticker Album

I’ve been buying and collecting the Topps MLB sticker albums ever since their return to shelves in 2011 (but I haven’t completed one since 2012 – help me out by looking here and trading!). Usually it’s a fun diversion and a little bit of a nostalgia trip as I’m reminded of growing up in the […]

Transplendent

When I was 12 years old, I was at a card show in our local shopping mall and almost quit collecting forever. I remember breaking down and crying on a bench and my dad had to console me as I realized things were getting way too expensive for me. The year was 1992 and at […]

Time Sensitive Releases and the Future of Collecting – One Year Later

Remember this post? Probably not, but now that a year plus have passed and people are more accustomed to Topps Now, I wanted to revisit the topic.

Originally, I said that the print-to-order, online exclusive, 24 hour (sometimes a week) purchase window cards scared me. Now, I mostly see it as a nuisance. Let’s go […]

Time Sensitive Releases and the Future of Collecting

There’s a new trend in card manufacturing, and quite frankly it scares me a little bit.

This season, Topps introduced a new product called Topps Now. This would not be a retail or hobby release, but instead an online exclusive with a very limited window. Each day, Topps would take events or milestones from the […]

The Future Of Card Collecting

Before we get into the post, I want to make an announcement/request.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PACKAGES TO THE ADDRESS YOU HAVE FOR ME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

If you have something we’ve talked about, leave a comment or email me before sending it but, barring some sabotage, I will be closing on a house this […]

In Defense Of Topps (and Panini)

The past couple weeks have seen articles written about the card collecting hobby (specifically baseball card collecting) by people that I would personally consider to be outsiders. The authors even allude or admit to their status as outsiders. These high-profile writers are using their newspapers or aggregate blog services to chime the death knell of […]

Thoughts on Upper Deck CEO Richard McWilliam’s death

Today, the industry lost a major player and a highly influential force when Upper Deck Co-Founder and CEO Richard McWilliam died suddenly. Here’s the story from Beckett for any interested in learning more.

My thoughts upon hearing the news were conflicted. Of course I feel for the families and co-workers affected, and I’ll touch on […]

Why Who Wins the MVP Doesn’t Matter

Let’s compare something shall we?

McDonald's was a little early with the label

Frank Thomas – Two Time MVP Award Winner

2 MVP awards means 2 pictures

Versus

Not so fast, 80s graphic!

Tony Gwynn – Zero-Time MVP Award Winner

I know these two were never in direct competition for the award, […]

My Thoughts On The Recent Jersey Relic Scandal

Recently, a memorabilia dealer was arrested for mail fraud charges associated with the sales altered sports jerseys. Apparently, this dealer was buying regular consumer-market jerseys and altering them to make them look “game-used.” He then, according to his own confession after arrest, sold those fake “game-used” jerseys to all three major card companies of the […]

Was Topps Reading Our Blog?

The answer, of course, is most likely no. Still, humor me.

When Series 1 of 2012 Topps was getting ready to hit the shelves and our grubby little mits, Topps made an announcement regarding the two big name off-season free agent signings. Jose Reyes and Albert Pujols were going to have “Super short prints” in […]