Heading to Toys R Us for purple parallels

Once upon a time I had to make excuses to go to Toys R Us. These days, I'm hit up the combo Toys R Us/Babies R Us more often than I would like to admit. But having a baby is ever so convienant for "needing" a TRU run.

In this case, there was something we actually needed. So we took the long way around the store to pass the trading card kiosk. 2018 Topps Baseball Series 1 packs were in stock. Each of $3.49 blister packs comes with one pack and two exclusive Purple parallel cards - yep, that means the only place to get a Purple parallel is at Toys R Us (when not using an intermediary like EBay).

I generally like these parallels. Part of the appeal of the Purple parallels is knowing that you can't get them in any other type of packs. They are specific to the Toys R Us blister packs.

I picked up three (though only two are shown). The six purple cards were:

- Wil Myers
- Scott Feldman
- CC Sabathia
- Matt Barnes
- Texas Rangers team card (now in my hsband's possession)
- Houston Astros combo card

The Purple parallels do carry a small premium on the secondary market. Although there is no numbering on the cards, they tend to be a little tougher to get for some collectors since they are only found at TRU, which not everyone has access to.

Currently, the lower-end players are selling for $5-$6 while more popular players and rookies are closer to $20.

An Amed Rosario rookie sold for $28.

The asking price for Rhys Hoskins right now is pretty steep.

These prices will likely come down a bit as more of them enter the market, but these parallels always seem to do well in holding value.

The best player collection EVAH!

When I started this blog in 2007 (holy $%!* that’s a long time ago), my life was very different. I lived in South Jersey, played poker 3-4 times a week, interviewed athletes and wrote about sports nearly every day.

Nine years later, life is drastically different. I’m married a man who also collects baseball cards, which seemed impossible.

And now I’m a mom.

Many new parents post photos of their children on Facebook or Instagram, or they send out birth announcements. But a simple photo was not enough for us, not a family with a cardboard problem.

We made baseball cards to announce the birth of our son. We plan to make this a yearly tradition for all of his birthdays and potentially major milestones. I already have a special binder to place his cards, creating the most amazing player collection I will ever own.

Since mommy and daddy don’t root for the same team, we made two different cards: Yankees and Rangers. As long as it’s not the Red Sox or the Mets, I would be OK with any other choice. But, I can tell he’s already a smart kid and I believe he will be rooting for the team in the Bronx.

These cards were very easy to make. I didn’t get special treatment just because I work at Topps. Topps offers custom cards on its website with a number of different designs (check it out here). We chose the 2016 design because – naturally – he was born in 2016.

In 2014, we also created one for our wedding and used the 1968 design.

Best collection ever!

My newest cardboard obsession

I have a new obsession. I love to collect things. Sometimes not just baseball cards, and I usually have to curtail a collection before it starts so it doesn’t get out of hand.

Pop Funko Vinyls: I’ve had to limit them to just the Supernatural ones. The boxes are not small and can add up after just a few purchases.

Oyo Toys: Only going to get the Jeters (though I’ve been lucky to get most as gifts)

Hallmark itty bittys: I refuse to buy one even though I want ALL of them.

Then Topps began making oversized cards to sell on its website. I held off on buying the wall art – 10x14 passes my thresholds. Now we’re talking posters (which was a problem I had in college and have since been on the poster collecting wagon).

But these 5x7 oversized sets have got me hooked. I received a six-card pack at the start of the baseball card season when Topps created a “media pack” that featured Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner, a few other players, and some dude named Derek Jeter. They were just a 5x7 version of the 2015 Topps Series 1 base cards with the full back. These were unnumbered, but I think just 100 of these packs were made.

A short while later, Topps released the team sets of these on its site. I loved the way the Jeter from the media pack looked, and my finger clicked order. The team sets were numbered to just 99 copies.

Opened the Derek Jeter icon pack. This is what was done for the 1994 Topps card. pic.twitter.com/6dgIBxVSnC
— Sooz (@yanxchick) April 3, 2015

I controlled myself for just a little while and then Topps created the Cardboard Icons collection. It features a pack of 5x7 cards of every Topps cards from that player’s career. It started the collection with Derek Jeter – and I ordered a pack of the regular set numbered to 199. I let the Gold Edition numbered to 49 go.

Then, last week, Topps released a 1952 Tribute team set … with one retired star in each of the team sets. Of course, it was Jeter for the Yankees, and, of course, I made a purchase.

I work for Topps and this post could definitely seem like a plug, but I have to pay for my sets of cards just like anyone else. If I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t spend my money on them. But, spend my money, I have, and now I have a new collection of 5x7 Jeter cards.

One step closer to being a hoarder.

Merry Christmas to me - Topps Series 1 is almost here!

My family celebrates on Christmas Eve. And every year, my nieces and nephew tear into their presents with an exuberance I can’t even pretend to have. I love watching them. It’s a joy that I know I will have one day, just not on Christmas.

That day will be here soon. … So, so soon. In fact, that day is today.

Today, I’m headed to A Fantastic Store to help them open a case of cards. Really, who needs help opening a case of cards? But I am going as a Topps representative to ensure thing run smoothly and the live stream gets on the air so that people can watch it.

But here is the thing that Topps doesn’t realize - this is not work for me. I am going to rip open packs of cards (or at the very least watch an entire case being opened). I will be rolling around in Series 1 cards.

This is my Christmas.

There are a few reasons I am excited for Series 1 this year:

1.       It’s the first set of baseball cards of the season.

2.       I actually find the base set appealing. I can’t say that for every year, including many of the most recent ones.

3.       I had a hand in creating this set. I didn’t pick most of the images, but I did find a few of them. So besides being Series 1, there is a little bit of me in it – just not the Suzy card. That’s not me.

I kept refreshing eBay last night to watch the latest cards trickle in. Then, I got to see some retail opened as Jeff over at 2x3Heroes found some at his local Target (that’s where the Jeter card came from). I felt like a mother who just watched her kids grow up – on Christmas.

Keith Olbermann on Sy Berger

Thank you, Sy Berger

As I headed to work this morning, my mind was on Sy Berger. He died this weekend at the age of 91.

My train ride zips through Manhattan headed to a place where magic happens -- a place with the ability to turn cynical adults into awe-struck kids as they look at pieces of cardboard that have pictures of their favorite baseball players on them. That place is Topps, the same place where Sy Berger worked and developed the 1952 Topps Baseball card set, which many consider the start of the modern trading card era.

From the time I was a child until now, so much of my life has been dedicated to collecting cards. My husband is a card collector. My best friend is a card collector. I have had a blog dedicated to cards since 2007. I work at Topps making baseball cards. All in part because of what Sy Berger started all those years ago.

It's surreal to think about how one person can shape your life, especially someone I had never met. If Sy didn't help mold that 1952 set and help change a hobby into what it is now, my life would be amazingly different.

Perhaps baseball cards don't become a central force in my life. My husband doesn't start talking to me about a card to break the ice. My best friend and I don't drive around New Jersey and Pennsylvania searching for card shops, strengthening a bond. We don't have A Cardboard Problem.

So, many lives were shaped by Sy Berger, from children wanting a piece of gum in their packs of cards to people who try to complete their sets every year.

I'm thankful for the contributions he made to the baseball card world because with out him I doubt I am the person I am today.

A very special Derek Jeter card to me

I’ve had a few moments throughout my life where I’ve had to stop, take in everything around me and say, ‘Wow.’

Lately, that’s happened a bit often (getting married had something to do with it), but when it comes to cards, this may be a first. Of course, there are cards that I love and enjoy, and have thought ‘Wow’ when I saw them, but this was something entirely different.

In June, I started working for Topps creating baseball cards. Not going to lie, the moment I walked through the building for the first time, I had to take a pause, and then the next pause-inducing moment came this week.

One of the first products that I worked on at Topps was 2014 Update Series. I had a hand in picking the All-Star images for the base subset and the retail insert of All-Star Access. I tried to pick good images, fun ones because the ASG is an exhibition. I also didn’t want to screw up in any way.

On Thursday, I opened packs of 2014 Update, and while there were a number of cards in there that I helped create, one of them made me halt …

I have more than 2,000 Derek Jeter cards in my collection, but this is the first one that I had a hand in creating. I selected that image and cropped the photo. I had nothing to do with the design of the card, but the image was all mine. I immediately put it in a penny sleeve and top loader, and currently it’s sitting in my wallet. I know, it’s a bit dorky, but this is now my favorite Derek Jeter card.

Of course, I start working at Topps at a time when Derek Jeter had already announced his retired. But I can at least say I made his last flagship base card.

Wow, indeed. 

The steroid era is back ... on cards

Remember when everyone was crazy about steroids? We had to get those dirty players out of the game and clean up the wonderful game of baseball. Steroids have no place in sports!

OK, I’m being overdramatic, but many felt that way about PEDs back then and still feel that way now. I am not saying they’re right or wrong. Simply stating, they are there.

What’s interesting has been the latest baseball autographs offered in Topps release that feature a number of players from the steroid era. I noticed this while going through eBay listings for 2014 Topps Tier One. Autographs of Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzalez and Rafael Palmeiro were there ready for someone reliving those years to snatch up the cards.

Personally, I don’t have an issue with these autographs being in sets. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa brought the country back to baseball after the 1994 strike. I was 18 during the memorable home run race. I watched every moment I could, tuning into SportsCenter to see if either had hit a home run that night. I was at work at The Sports Authority the night McGwire broke the record and immediately got a phone call from a friend to let me that he just passed Roger Maris’ record.

I was excited about the feat. Even though he knocked a Yankee from the top of the record book, I loved baseball so much and was thrilled to see someone break the record.

Obviously, we know how that all changed, but it doesn’t take away how I felt that night. So maybe it’s these memories – and the years in between – that makes it OK to collect these guys again.

Mark McGwire cards

Rafael Palmeiro cards

Jose Canseco cards

Juan Gonzalez cards

Retirement hopefully brings more Mariano Rivera autograph cards to the market

Seeing one of your favorite players retire is not a fun thing to go through, especially when the player was one of the best at their position.

Mariano Rivera retired last season, now making me cringe anytime Joe Girardi makes a call to the bullpen. However, I did notice one advantage to Rivera hanging up his spikes – more autographs on the market.

Right now, Rivera is listed as having 297 autograph cards, according to the Beckett database. His first autograph cards appeared in 1996 Leaf Signature. He had a number of signed cards in the mid-2000s in sets like Triple Threads and Co-Signers. But there were just a handful of cards in 2011, and none from Topps in 2012 (but his signed cards did show up in Panini and Upper Deck).

Last year, he also had just a handful of signed cards hit the market – and only in high-end sets.

This year, Rivera has had cards appear in Donruss, ITG Past Present Future, Panini Prizm, Topps Gypsy Queen and Topps Tribute. They will also be in Topps Tier One, which comes out tomorrow. Yet, all these autographs have been limited, which makes it seem as though he is getting the Albert Pujols treatment – his autographs are limited and mostly appear in high-end.

Besides being Mariano Rivera and a New York Yankee, the other appeal of his autograph is his beautiful signature. He is probably in the top five when it comes to signatures in any sport. 

The real culprit in bringing more Rivera signature cards to the market seems to be Panini. It has included Rivera autographs in nearly all of its baseball releases. Even though some of the cards have been limited, something is still better than something. 

Spring Fever pack full of stars, just none I collect

Yes, spring is finally here.

That means plenty of baseball cards to start hitting the market. Along with that is Topps’ Spring Fever promotion. This year, collectors can get the cards by going to a card shop and purchasing 16 or so packs of Topps Series 1.

Or, you can go to an awesome card shop.

I managed to get some Spring Fever cards. While they look like last season’s cards, there is a holofoil type of sheen to them, which makes them much better looking in person than they are in the scans.

Of course, I didn’t pull a Derek Jeter card. Instead, I got some of these other guys. I am definitely not complaining about the players I pulled from the silver packs. 

I did manage to get a former Yankee. Seeing Robinson Cano in another uniform still stings. He's a great player and Brian Roberts just doesn't stack up. 

This wasn't the only photoshopped card in the batch. There is no way Topps managed to get the pictures of these players so quickly. Here's Prince as a Texas Ranger.

Along with the Trout, I did manage to get a player that didn't need any new uniforms. 

Those palm trees look good right about now.

For the football fans: Topps releases preview pics of Five Star

In the baseball card collector's past, many people haven't been happy with what Topps has put out when it comes to high-end products.

Triple Threads can be a little gimmicky, especially with some of the wording they put on the card (example).

Some of the autograph cards from Marquee are nice, but the jumbo relics (forever known as rags) have a lot left to be desired.

However, when it comes to football, Topps has a high-end hit on its hands with Five Star. It was popular last year with fans as the autographs were on-card. Additionally, Five Star was well-designed.

Topps just released some preview pics of the next installment on its Facebook page.

You want competition, you got it: Panini gets MLBPA license

Topps is coming to the end of the second year of its exclusivity with an MLB license.

Upper Deck had an MLBPA license in 2010, but no MLB license, which meant they could only make cards with players only, no logos or team names. UD didn't follow those rules and got sued.

So, for some time there was just one.

Topps.

The longtime card company stood alone creating a variety of products that were received differently by the collectors. Regardless if a collector liked or disliked a set, it seemed there was one thing they all wanted – competition.

Most people understand competition is good in a business marketplace. It doesn't allow companies to get complacent. I'm not saying this is what Topps has done. It has put out some really good products this year such as Gypsy Queen.

Still, we wanted more.

Consumers wanted options.

On Thursday, we got one step closer, although we're not entirely there. MLBPA gave a license to Panini America to create baseball cards. The catch? Just like Upper Deck, they cannot use team names and logos because those are with the MLB license.

2011 Topps Chrome break: he stole my mojo

The BF and I hit the card shop on Monday. It was a pleasant trip through the Pine Barrens as we drove past log cabins and almost had a girl hit us as school let out.

But the 45-minute trip was worth it to get a little of the card shop experience.

Dan was happy with his break, especially after he stole all of my luck. I used to pull decent cards. I used to get lucky and get case hits when I would buy a box. Doesn't seem as I have that kind of pull anymore.

But someone else did.

Refractors

Jason Heyward

David DeJesus atomic refractor

Zack Grienke red refractor /25

Topps teases Triple Threads (Say that three times fast)

As we twiddle our thumbs this season waiting for a new baseball product - is it just me or does it feel like forever until something comes out - Topps put up some pictures on their Twitter account showcasing some of the hits from this year's Triple Threads.

Triple Threads is set to release at the end of the month, and it's product I have never bought.

Frankly, I cannot afford it. This year, the boxes are going for $190 each.

Here are some of the highlights.

The biggest difference between this year's edition from years past are the sticker autographs. Stickers are still there but they are clear instead of silver.

On most of the cards, I like the new edition. My favorite are these booklets, especially the Reggie Jackson. That one seemed to catch my eye right from the beginning.

But I wonder how many goofy sayings we are going to see in Triple Threads this year.

I will check out the ebay listings when they come out of Triple Threads. Since I can't ever afford these cards, it's my favorite thing to do once this product comes out.