More and more sets are being made with retired players. Mickey Mantle has had a number of cards made postmortem, I actually wonder if he has had more cards before or after his death.
The thing I wonder about is how do those who collect the retire players feel about having more cards to chase?
I have nearly 1,500 unique Derek Jeter cards and he is not retiring within the next couple of years, although, it's going to be sooner rather than later. Eventually, I would get to a set number of cards I need to track down, but card companies continue to make Jeter cards after his retirement, my chase never ends, which is what the card companies probably want.
However, I'm not there yet.
For the collectors that are there, how do you feel about new cards?
I am tired of seeing the same retired players repeatedly - how bout going back to Fan Favorites which topps made from 03-05. They dug deeper for their retired players. Don't get me wrong a Mike Schmidt card is great but a Bob Dernier retro card is pretty cool too.
ReplyDeleteI think your right, there are probably an exponetially larger amount of cards put out after Mantles death, especially since Topps got ahold of the property. Just think of all those Mickey Mantal HR and MMS Cards Topps put out a few years ago. As for me collecting a few HOF's namely Yount, Fingers, and Reggie Jackson. I like the new "Post Career" cards. Especially since there were so few cards made when they were playing, although there is a staggering number of food issues and oddballs out there for players from the 70's and 80's. I couldn't imaging trying to keep up with a current player as popular as Jeter in todays supermarket of cards, inserts, and parallels. I guess for me it's the trill of the chase and finding something new to add to the collection, not looking at an end to it.
ReplyDeleteI will never ever come close to even getting half of the Chipper cards out there already. Just to think that after he retires there will be MORE.
ReplyDeleteI mean, I love getting a new card, but when there are thousands it gets a tad overwhelming.
I do think there should be cards after a player's retirement if the demand calls for it, but just not that many.
I can do without all of the extra stuff. I'm a set collector, but if I were a player collector I would concentrate on cards in the following order:
ReplyDelete1. Regular issue from major companies
2. All-Star / leader / highlight / record breaker cards
3. Cards made by smaller companies
4. Specialty cards made during his career (inserts, parallel, etc.)
5. Cards made after his career
I have it pretty easy, collecting Ron Santo cards. Outside of short-printed relic or auto cards it's pretty easy to keep up with the new base cards. As a casual collector it's fun to see a new Stan Musial or Mantle card or even someone like Ryne Sandberg. When it comes to more recent players it is overwhelming. Will you ever get all of the Jeter cards out there? I guess the question is does the difficulty of the hunt keep you going or does it make you want to give up in frustration?
ReplyDeleteHackenbush has a good point. I guess it all comes down to what are your goals for your player collection? If it's to obtain every card ever made of that player including all the ultra rare 1/1 cards well that's just impossible and I think that would lead to giving up, but if its to acquire a nice collection with modest means then chasing down deals and cards you don't have that can be fun. If your goal is to collect all the regular issues of a certain player and then move on to another player, that's more doable. To each there own.
ReplyDeleteI have a pretty nice collection of Gary Carter cards from his playing days. With the exception of a few minor (and very limited) regional issues, I have everything that came out from 1975-1993.
ReplyDeleteI have very few of the cards that came out after he retired because they don't matter that much to me.
As a Jeter collector, I just go after what I don't have. I know that sounds goofy, but I don't really have a system.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I don't chase are his cards numbered in the single digits. So no 1/1 and the like.
Recently I calculated that I meant I needed about 9,000 more cards in my collection.
9,000.
For me personally with collecting Pujols my first priority it gathering all base cards and rookie cards (non-auto's), and SP's. Next preference would be autographed cards but that is not practical right now so someday I will try and fill in a few auto's here and there though the price will just keep getting higher I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteFor Cano and Lind I usually chase their auto cards before base cards simply because they are more affordable and their base and SP's are a dome a dozen.
I'm not really a player collector, so this doesn't concern me that much.
ReplyDeleteBut as for the retired players in new sets, I would like to see some different players added. It's the same recycled players. For me, a retired/deceased player in a new set is a chance to learn about that player. But I've learned just about all I can on Mickey Mantle.
I've got to agree with those who have said they'd like to see different players. Topps does the same thing in their retro basketball sets as well. They just use the same players over and over again.
ReplyDeleteThat's my main turnoff when it comes to the plethora of retro sets out there. While it is nice to see cards of Williams, Yastrzemski and maybe Foxx, I'd rather have some variety. I like pulling cards of Wally the Green Monster in Topps Total. It's nice to have cards of people such as Theo Epstein and Johnny Pesky, but the problem there is that those cards only appeal to Red Sox fans and that's about it. Topps probably figures that the players that they use over and over again are safe bets.
I agree that as for a player collector it is an almost insurmountable task to try and keep up with the total number of cards that come out. Thankfully I am a McGwire collector and the card companies have seem to forgotten about him since he retired. Although that may change since he is now with the Cardinals organization again.
ReplyDeleteI am not 100% against it.
ReplyDeleteI collect Bob Gibson some and enjoy his modern cards (especially the reprints) because his older, in better shape cards generally go for a pretty penny.
At the same time, I would love, as deal said, to see Topps go back to ATFF and dig into the rosters of older teams and bring out some sweet cards.
I would love to see a Bill Doran, Kiko Garcia or Jim Deshaies certified auto :D
As a Roy Halladay collector, it's going to be tough keeping up with him in a Phillies uniform.
ReplyDeleteI like having the retired players coming back in packs - it keeps me interested in the new packs. But I agree with Deal - I'm tired of seeing the same players. I think there are plenty of '80s star players that we'd all appreciate seeing more often.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for post career cards. I always get a thrill when I see a new Fisk or Baines base card.
ReplyDeleteI just wish the companies would mix them up a bit. If they are going to use the same players over and over, at least give us some new pictures.
I have about 40 player collections, mostly from the 70's and 80's. I started with just the major issues, and added Kelloggs, and now Hostess and Drake's to the "official list". I've picked up lots of oddball stuff along the way, but don't have ALL of it listed on my wants.
ReplyDeleteThe post-career issues are tougher because, while it is possible with Beckett online or the newest alpha-book, I don't try to keep track of them. There's just too much. Especially for guys like Fisk and Jim Palmer. I just pick 'em up as I see 'em if they're cheap. And I try to get a jersey or auto of each guy, and have a couple Palmers & Fisks, but once I get a couple nice looking ones, that becomes a very low priority.