Marie's View: You wanna know how I really feel?

(Warning: This is a rant and me going bananas in no sort of logical thought process exists here. Just remember I warned you.)

This whole denial of licensing for Upper Deck has put the final nail in the coffin of collecting a variety of different cards. I was enraged when Donruss was taken out of the equation, but now all we have left is Topps? This is bullshi#%.

I don't give a sh$% that Topps was the innovator of the industry, or that they have been around the longest or any other crap reason someone wants to spew. They supposedly want to create this monopoly to engage the interests of young children and young adults again and move the hobby in that direction. I'm sorry, isn't that what they were supposed to be doing all along? Maybe it's MLB saying the hobby is moving in the wrong direction, and maybe they should stop and think about who is buying tickets to their games, buying the gear, etc. because it surely isn't a 9 year old.

I understand that the hobby is dominated by adult collectors, but realistically what kid has means to get to the hobby store (which nowadays could be 30 miles from home), and has an allowance that will afford them packs at $5 a shot for 4 cards in some cases. In the last few years the only movement the card companies have made to engage young children in collecting were putting out Opening Day and First Edition. Not for nothing, kids aren't stupid and they want to get the packs where they have a chance at pulling a jersey card or an autograph, not a pack where there is no gloss and a garbage design.

This has me so amped up, you guys have no idea. I understood the explanation for cutting Donruss years ago because of the oversaturation of autographs and what not but this makes no sense. While I would love a topless set of cards, I would much rather be able to buy a box of Goudey, Sweet Spot, or Goodwin (which I'm still exicted about even if it will only be around one year) yet now we are stuck with Topps. Oh and I guess Bowman and their stale design.

Without any competetion from other companies Topps can continue to produce mediocre base sets, reused designs, and the same BORING sets year in and year out with no worries of people buying Upper Deck or anything else. Great move MLB, bravo idiots. Maybe this will make Topps actually attempt to come up with new designs, or bring back some retro set that people liked from years and years ago like the Heritage.

I would love to see the first year sales report for Topps as the sole provider of baseball cards. Can't wait to see how many children buy Triple Threads and Sterling.

Sooz's View: I still don't like it

After getting the night to digest the information reported by the New York Times, my initial reaction hasn’t changed much.

I don’t like the idea of a monopoly. Upper Deck’s products had gotten a little stale over time (what were all those Xs about), but there were still products I definitely enjoyed. One of my favorite all-time Upper Deck products is 2007 Sweet Spot.

In reality, there is nothing the collectors can do about Upper Deck not getting its MLB license, however, it still has the MLBPA license.

Last night, during my outcry about the news, one of my Upper Deck Twitter buds (@ScoobyCub) said they could still use the players on the cards, just not any team logos. So, apparently there will be Derek Jeter cards just nothing that says New York Yankees or have the NY logo on it.

I am thinking portrait shots. Perhaps topless shots?! Guys in just uni bottoms and no tops?

Maybe this isn’t a bad thing for the female collectors out there.

All kidding aside, in a year’s time we will be able to gauge how this has affected the industry.

Topps will come out with invigorating products and drive the market because collectors want to get everything that is out there.

Or it will shut out the people keeping this business alive because they don’t like the idea of the companies pretending we don’t exist. This could have potentially big ramifications in the industry.

I am interested to hear MLB’s explanation for going with just one company.

Breaking News: Topps gets exclusive rights to MLB cards

Just posted on the New York Times website was an article that Topps will gain exclusive production rights in a multi-year deal to be announced on Thursday. This is a crushing blow for Upper Deck, and all the collectors who love it. We will be commenting and writing more on this in the coming days. Here is the article:

Initial reaction: We don't like it.

By RICHARD SANDOMIR

Published: August 5, 2009

The Topps Company will become the exclusive trading card maker of Major League Baseball next year in a multiyear deal that appears to seriously hurt Upper Deck, its primary competitor in the once-vibrant business. READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Takin' it back to the old school

The other day I was leaving Shop Rite, and yep you guessed it... I left with a pack from the vending machine. Poison of choice was a pack of 1998 Topps Series 1 Hobby pack. I took a picture of the wrapper so everyone could have a good chuckle of it like I did when I saw it.



I got only 2 decent cards in the pack and the rest of the cards were draft picks that never were, and scrubs. I got a Tony Gwynn and Vlad Guerrero.




It was a fun blast from the past for a change of pace. Anyone else open something old and get something cool lately? I'll be back a little later, got no sleep last night between this stupid cold and Step Brothers was on again, so of course I watched it. Last test is tomorrow and then I will have completed 12 credits in 10 weeks which I know know is quite possible, yet brutal.

Coming down the stretch

I know we haven't updated our blog fantasy league in some time so I will start the blog off with the current standings up to today.

The Dude - 5836
Grand Cards - 5760
Purple Donkey - 5490
Carolina Xfractors - 5220
Legion of Boom - 5212
Victorious Secret - 5131
The Franchise - 5047
Cards on Cards - 5029
gcrl - 4636
WESTCOAST PIMP - 4129
Boneyard Braves - 4113
Gabe's Babe - 4043

My team (The Franchise) was doing very well for a short period of time and was in the top 5, and now since my pitching isn't that great (and I forgot to set my line-up a few times) I think I'm pretty much done.

So what does everyone think of the division races right now? The two hottest teams in baseball have definitely been the Phillies and Yankees (if you can't forget the weekend series the Yankees just played). Lee is going to be a great addition to the Phillies rotation, and from what my inside source (Sooz) tells me, they didn't give up all that much to land Lee.

Any predictions of the playoffs from anyone? I think the A.L. East is going to be a tight race this year, and after last year I won't be complaining. I see the Phillies and Dodgers in the N.L. so far, and the A.L. I don't have any solid prediction though I will go with the Yankees taking first and Boston getting the wild card. I know many people dislike Torre now, but I really want to see them to well again and they seem to be a lock for making hte playoffs. Yankees/Dodgers World Series would be awesome and very old school.

Let me know what you think, entertain me. I'll be back in bed feeling sick and maybe opening some packs...

Sunday Question: What is your missing piece?

With everything in your collection, there has to be something you're missing. Is there a card or piece of memorabilia that every time you see, you have to have it?

If there an item that keeps slipping through your grips?

I'm not really sure I have something that I need that way. My Derek Jeter collection feels fairly complete when it comes to the cards that are out there.

I have an auto, patch and plenty of game-used jerseys. I also a signed baseball and all his rookie cards.

I'm feeling good with my collection, but what are you missing?

I'm going to keep my promise

I will not post anymore O-Pee-Chee blaster or box breaks for fear of being stoned by most of the blogosphere. However, I will be posting a highlight of things I find here and there. This gem was too good not to showoff, and I also wanted to point something out on it.

Clearly, this card is freakin' awesome!! Not sure why Bedard is pictured wearing a Baltimore uniform, but that is not what I wanted to point out. If you click on the picture and enlarge it, you can see that around the letters is a brownish color like it was stained or burned when putting the card together. It's like the old treasure maps we all made as kids, that brownish type color on the edges. The fact that I got 2 stripe swatches on the card made it that much sweeter.

Currently at 501/600 of the set complete, which makes me happy. Anyone by chance pull the Cano triple?

I almost feel like I am at the National - almost

With modern technology, you could sit in your home and feel like you're any place in the world. Today, I almost feel like I am at the national card show because of Twitter and Facebook.

It sounds cheesy, but it's true. There are so many updates from those that have been able to make the trip that I have been able to stay informed throughout the day. If you Twitter, some of the best people to follow are @JamesRyanJ and @SportsCollector.

On Twitter, if you do a search for #NSCCShow, you will find dozens of tweets on people at the show and commenting about the show.

If not for them, I wouldn't have known Topps doesn't have a booth there. If not for them, I wouldn't be drooling over all the of tables that set up for the show.

Sigh, and if not for them, I wouldn't actually want to feel like I want to be in Cleveland.

So, while I cannot get to the show this weekend, this is a good alternative. I also look forward to reading everyone's blog posts on those who were able to make it out for this.

2010, here I come!

Could your favorite player be obnoxious?

I was thinking about this for a few days since Albert was in Philly. Sooz had told me a story she heard that Albert told a reporter when asked a question, "You're a writer, make it up." Now I wish this came as a shock to me, but it didn't. I had heard some other things from people asking for autographs, or people paying to go to MLB type dinners that he refuses to talk to people or sign autos. Does this bother me? Only a little bit because really, the odds of me meeting him are slim to none. I also think that part of the reason why he doesn't approach fans to sign autographs is because maybe he thinks they will just end up on eBay that night, and for what his signature goes for I can't say he would be wrong in thinking that.

This isn't the first player I have followed that I have heard bad things about. George Brett is one of my all time favorites. I know a few people who have met him at dinners and said he is a nasty drunk and wants money for an autograph. Great. Do I care? Not so much, but figured I would throw that out there. Any evidence to refute that would be welcomed since I always liked Brett.

While I can kind of understand why some of the old players like Mantle charged for autographs later in life as a result of not making much money while they were playing, I still don't think it's right. Older people, not children want to ask those guys for autographs because those are their childhood idols. Not that younger people don't want them but it's probably different for people that are in their 50's or 60's. I just don't think it's right for any player to charge for an autograph but when everything ends up on eBay, I see why they can get frustrated and maybe only sign for real little kids.

I haven't met many baseball players, but the one of the ones that I did meet was Bernie Williams. The nicest guy on Earth, great personality and very friendly. I met him when I was very young (and so was he), on cap day and he came over and signed all the kids caps behind homeplate back when you could stand there during batting practice and be a kid. I also met him a second time at a bar in Tarrytown, and I couldn't resist saying hello. I didn't ask for an autograph or anything I just went up to him and introduced myself and thanked him for all the things he did for the team over the years.

Anyone ever meet their favorite player only to be disappointed in their demeanor and personality? I'd love to hear about it, whether it's good or bad it would be fun to share stories.

Marie is expanding her work

In case you guys haven't checked out the Upper Deck Blog today, you missed out on Marie's post.

She wrote about being a female card collector and a Yankees fan. I think Upper Deck likes her as well with all the money she has spent on Yankee Stadium Legacy and O-Pee-Chee.

Here's an excerpt from the post.

"Hello, my name is Marie and I am a season ticket holder for the Yankees.

That statement has to be the one that gets the craziest looks from most people. One of the things I have learned over the last few years is that people, mainly men, are absolutely amazed that I have season tickets for the Yankees by myself. Women shouldn’t be sports fans, much less have season tickets right? Most people feel the need to go with someone, or they go with their boyfriends and husbands. Yet I have no problem going alone." Click here to read the full article.

Great job.