Sports Cards Mania

Fishercat

Svelte and sexy!
SoSH Member
May 18, 2007
8,692
Manchester, N.H.
Some caution on Funkos. Shipping them can be difficult. Sensitive boxes, very picky buyers, and lots of counterfeit pops out there. Collectors get VERY particular on condition. I recommend buying a soft stack and hard stack for one that valuable for sure and possibly consider getting it authenticated, there are fake non glow Martian pops readily available, and while PSA is very early in the hobby, this may be worth it.

Pop Price Guide values at 1700 but lags a ton and is rife with errors. 1000-1200 is more readily aligned with eBay sales. I think at that level private marketplaces and sales are a tad more common. There are a couple other martians out there too with the same numbering so if it’s the non glow it’s a good chunk less
 

ElcaballitoMVP

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 19, 2008
4,075
Some caution on Funkos. Shipping them can be difficult. Sensitive boxes, very picky buyers, and lots of counterfeit pops out there. Collectors get VERY particular on condition. I recommend buying a soft stack and hard stack for one that valuable for sure and possibly consider getting it authenticated, there are fake non glow Martian pops readily available, and while PSA is very early in the hobby, this may be worth it.

Pop Price Guide values at 1700 but lags a ton and is rife with errors. 1000-1200 is more readily aligned with eBay sales. I think at that level private marketplaces and sales are a tad more common. There are a couple other martians out there too with the same numbering so if it’s the non glow it’s a good chunk less
Awesome, thank you. It's definitely the glow in the dark version. Condition is excellent to near-mint, IMO. The box doesn't have any scratches, one small little mark/stain on the top of the box (about the size of the point of a marker) and the pop itself doesn't look like it's ever been out of the box. I've got a hard stack for the pop, so I'll look into getting a soft stack, as well. Really appreciate the guidance!
Mars.jpg
 
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runnels3

Member
SoSH Member
I've recently discovered Monarch Corona. The owner (Bob Miller) has been making cards since he was a teenager. They are very limited (200), have solid card stock and beautiful colorization. He does no cards of anyone in the current Players Association, so what you get are some pretty nice images of past players starting from, say, the '90s and going way back. Check him out! https://monarch-corona.com

I will be uploading a few down thread. Here is one of my favs. Did you know the 59 yr old Satchel Paige pitched 3 scoreless innings vs the Sox in 1965? Gave up only a double to Yaz.

IMG_1133.jpg
 

Fishercat

Svelte and sexy!
SoSH Member
May 18, 2007
8,692
Manchester, N.H.
I was looking at some of the Sandy monarchs. Really nice private stock cards especially for players whose original cards are very out of reach
 

Fishercat

Svelte and sexy!
SoSH Member
May 18, 2007
8,692
Manchester, N.H.
Rough week for Topps QC. It was discovered that several Bowman parallels all had the same serial number - like all Aqua Blue Jordan Walkers were 87/199. This is then followed by this Reddit post where it seems fake Jarren Duran (of all people...) autos are in Five Star. I imagine this is more on Duran in all likelihood unless they just didn't send the cards to him but it's a bad look given how...not close the auto actually is.
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
42,829
Rough week for Topps QC. It was discovered that several Bowman parallels all had the same serial number - like all Aqua Blue Jordan Walkers were 87/199. This is then followed by this Reddit post where it seems fake Jarren Duran (of all people...) autos are in Five Star. I imagine this is more on Duran in all likelihood unless they just didn't send the cards to him but it's a bad look given how...not close the auto actually is.
Looks a lot like the fake Randy Arozarena autos from last year:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjzB9CxG8mc


60004
 

Tim Salmon

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 24, 2005
3,445
I like the one in post 1475 better, but I'd take either one!
Yes, that one would be my first choice, with the 1991 throwback design (and on a regular-sized card). I'd also happily take the Chrome version with the sticker auto. It's hard to lose with that iconic picture. My one gripe is that Topps used the faded print at the bottom to help the signature stand out, which means you lose that awesome pop of color from the yellow jackets and Green Monster in the background. The base card shows the colors really nicely.
 

Tim Salmon

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 24, 2005
3,445
Rough week for Topps QC. It was discovered that several Bowman parallels all had the same serial number - like all Aqua Blue Jordan Walkers were 87/199. This is then followed by this Reddit post where it seems fake Jarren Duran (of all people...) autos are in Five Star. I imagine this is more on Duran in all likelihood unless they just didn't send the cards to him but it's a bad look given how...not close the auto actually is.
I've watched many cases of Five Star being opened, and Topps stuffed Duran redemptions in there like nothing I've ever seen before. They'll either never fulfill them all, or we'll find out in April or May that Duran needs to go on the DL with a right wrist sprain. So it's kind of hilarious that the few cards purporting to bear his signature look like they were ghost-signed by my 7-year-old.
 

Fishercat

Svelte and sexy!
SoSH Member
May 18, 2007
8,692
Manchester, N.H.
Rough week for Topps QC. It was discovered that several Bowman parallels all had the same serial number - like all Aqua Blue Jordan Walkers were 87/199. This is then followed by this Reddit post where it seems fake Jarren Duran (of all people...) autos are in Five Star. I imagine this is more on Duran in all likelihood unless they just didn't send the cards to him but it's a bad look given how...not close the auto actually is.
I just bought a blaster of Topps Update and the packs were truly bizarre. 14 cards per pack is the should of it, one pack had nine, one had like 16, I ended up two cards short. An A&G I bought a couple week back had a pack with two minis, and one pack missing three cards including a mini.

With that said, the Topps Update blaster also gave me one of these so…this is why I can’t quit em

60055
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
SoSH Member
Nov 17, 2010
14,917
I just bought a blaster of Topps Update and the packs were truly bizarre. 14 cards per pack is the should of it, one pack had nine, one had like 16, I ended up two cards short. An A&G I bought a couple week back had a pack with two minis, and one pack missing three cards including a mini.

With that said, the Topps Update blaster also gave me one of these so…this is why I can’t quit em

View attachment 60055
The picture makes the edges of that card look all kinds of fucked up.

I wanted a J-Rod serial auto for a while, but that doesn't make me unique I guess. I have a ton of auto/serial cards from Topps this season, but more in the "not worth the cardboard it's printed on" variety.
 

Fishercat

Svelte and sexy!
SoSH Member
May 18, 2007
8,692
Manchester, N.H.
The picture makes the edges of that card look all kinds of fucked up.

I wanted a J-Rod serial auto for a while, but that doesn't make me unique I guess. I have a ton of auto/serial cards from Topps this season, but more in the "not worth the cardboard it's printed on" variety.
Just a sample photo, can never get SoSH to like photos I take. And yeah a lot of…set builders from most of my Topps this year too, This was one of the few exceptions
 

jbupstate

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2022
701
New York, USA
I ripped my first pack of cards in 1975. Oh man have I been hooked since. It’s like scratching a lottery ticket. On three separate occasions prior to turning 30 I sold my entire collection… new apartment, car repairs and such. But I always come back.

I’m older now with a different financial goals and responsibilities but I still buy a few boxes each year and find a occasional gem in a common box… 2011 Topps Trout Update RC a couple years ago flipped for $300.

But for me it’s the hobby of collecting memories. While it’s great to speculate for gain most don’t win long term unless you’re in for huge dollars. Be careful of the 1/1 and limited stuff. Most of it is superseded the next year through. Think Sox top prospects and how Guy fall down the list with each new draft.

Find something or someone to focus on. I have more Mookie Betts cards that Incant even look at now. My current hunt surrounds PSA graded cards with a theme. I’m not some much interested in the grade as the ability to display. Here is my last endeavor- graded Topps Red Sox cards from 1952 - 1987. No duplicate players and tried to match the player with a year of fame. Yaz= 1967

what do you think?
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,517
Crap. File too large to load. Any help on how to shrink?
There are many ways to do that, but for the tech-non-savvy, here's a couple easy ones:

If you have outlook, email it to yourself on your phone. Should be an option to reduce size.

If you have a Windows laptop, insert it into a word doc and the use the snipping tool to capture and save it.
 

jbupstate

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2022
701
New York, USA
There are many ways to do that, but for the tech-non-savvy, here's a couple easy ones:

If you have outlook, email it to yourself on your phone. Should be an option to reduce size.

If you have a Windows laptop, insert it into a word doc and the use the snipping tool to capture and save it.
Thanks. Perfect
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
Rough week for Topps QC. It was discovered that several Bowman parallels all had the same serial number - like all Aqua Blue Jordan Walkers were 87/199. This is then followed by this Reddit post where it seems fake Jarren Duran (of all people...) autos are in Five Star. I imagine this is more on Duran in all likelihood unless they just didn't send the cards to him but it's a bad look given how...not close the auto actually is.
Fake Duran autos makes about as much sense as counterfeiting one dollar bills.
 

YTF

Member
SoSH Member
The 69s-74s were the big collecting years for me as a kid. 25 cent cello packs were the best. Scoped them all out for Sox players on the front and back of the packs. It didn't matter who the player was or how many of each I already had. Red Sox baby!!! Got back into it as a hobby in '82 for about 10-15 years before everything got overproduced and became more about investment speculation. Once we got to the point of professionally grading cards I was done. Never really had much interest since, but if I see something that interests me at a flea market I'll grab it. Once in a while a cheap box of junk era cards for the nostalgia of it, but nothing serious these days.
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,517
Thanks. Perfect
No problem. I start my "intentional*" collection at 1960. I'm currently 37 cards short of a complete 1960-1998 Topps Red Sox run. I have a few monsters I still need (there's a Sox player on the 1963 Stargell Rookie, the 1960 and 1967 team cards are tough, and there's a handful of 60's high #s as well), but I plan on having it complete this year.

I'm the opposite of you in that I DESPISE slabs, and have bought several of my current collection in them only to break them out of them. I think they're ugly and take me too far away from the tactile sense of flipping through cards. I go inner sleeve/top-loader/top loader sleeve. Still plenty of protection, but more in keeping with my preferences. Sucks for whoever sells them after I die, but that's not really my problem.

* By "intentional" I mean that I am going for completeness. If I stumble into random 50's stuff, so be it, but I picked 1960 as a starting point for a reason.
 

jbupstate

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2022
701
New York, USA
I’m not a fan of the slabs. Shoe boxes for me. The slabs above (36 total) fit perfectly in a display frame that hangs in my man cave. I also have every Yaz Topps card framed out and hanging.

Are you looking at high quality for your missing cards? If not I can look around.
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,517
I’m not a fan of the slabs. Shoe boxes for me. The slabs above (36 total) fit perfectly in a display frame that hangs in my man cave. I also have every Yaz Topps card framed out and hanging.
Nice. I have all the Topps base Yaz cards, but am also working on getting all the weird 60's/70's Yaz stuff.
Are you looking at high quality for your missing cards? If not I can look around.
Yeah, everything is VG+/NM at minimum, with very few exceptions (which I will eventually replace). Which is why the Jim Gosger (Willie Stargell) rookie pisses me off so much.
 
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jbupstate

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2022
701
New York, USA
Yeah, everything is VG+/NM at minimum, with very few exceptions (which I will eventually replace). Which is why the Jim Gosger (Willie Stargell) rookie pisses me off so much.
1963 is a tough year. The Stargell in good condition is going to be slabbed due to HOF. $150 is around ballpark on the good deal side.
 

Bergs

don't Judge me
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2005
22,517
1963 is a tough year. The Stargell in good condition is going to be slabbed due to HOF. $150 is around ballpark on the good deal side.
Hah. If I could get a nice one for $150 I'd pounce like a jungle cat.
 

staz

Intangible
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2004
21,790
The cradle of the game.
Looking to complete 2022 Topps Heritage (base)

Need: 79 100 227 379

Need SP: 401 403 404 405 406 409 411 412 414 418 420 421 422 423 425 428 431 433 434 437 438 439 440 442 443 444 448 451 452 454 456 458 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 472 473 474 477 478 479 480 481 482 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 495 498 499

For trade... would consider cash or anything shown here:
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMW86bioX3DdWP5SvfepJ3OESINN6KtQ4lOCotr6cibsYXVuyelx6w8QvRTp-JjcQ?key=dF9HMkpYdlNtRGJuWTRYdkpyOFVlQnBLSlk4VnJR

Also have quite a few 1974 and 1975 Topps Baseball
 

Tim Salmon

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 24, 2005
3,445
This card (not this exact one, but one of the other 9 in existence) just sold for $475 on eBay. It makes you wonder why Topps doesn't release more iconic photos like this to generate interest. You can find other Ortiz on-card autos numbered to 10 for around $100 (sometimes less). But if you slap that auto on an image that actually gives people the feelz, the market expands considerably.

It doesn't cost them any extra to pull images like this out of the vault, right?
 

JoePoulson

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Feb 28, 2006
2,755
Orlando, FL
HOLY SHIT.

So I went to a card show today for the first time in probably 20 years, picked up a box of 2022 Stadium Club because honestly SC is probably my all-time favorite line of cards. Just gorgeous pictures with a chance at some incredible on-card autos. Plus as we all know, the beautiful David Ortiz with his fist raised is in this year's set. Anyway:

60322

I open the box, obviously hoping beyond all hope that it's the auto'd Ortiz box topper. It wasn't, but it's one that I absolutely wanted:

60323

I love that picture of Trout this year. So I get to ripping packs. I open pack #5 and hit my first auto:

60324

Yea, I about fainted. ON-CARD FUCKING BEAUTIFUL AS HELL MIKE FISHMAN FUCKING TROUT AUTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Obviously my best pull EVER and the rest of the box was trash, as is tradition. But holy shit my dudes! I actually have been sorting through the collection lately and have been cleaning it up so I'll have some more pics soon but I had to post this. I'm still shaking!!!!!!!!!!!
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
32,792
Alamogordo
That's sick. I opened one box of SC each of the last two years (not this year yet, broke right now), and got a #/25 Juan Soto auto and a #/10 Juan Soto auto, so I enjoy opening them, too.
 

JoePoulson

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Feb 28, 2006
2,755
Orlando, FL
So I gotta say, I absolutely LOVE the 2022 Clearly Authentic 1955 re-images. When I first saw this card, I immediately fell in love and added it to the personal collection:

60349

I love that card SO much. Pedro's amazing smile, a perfect action shot on the right, and a bright blue auto. Of course I researched the other Sox who have these 1955s and got them promptly added (Fisk, Nomar, Boggs; Papi hasn't popped up anywhere that I've seen yet). I also grabbed an Eck (A's), and will add a Rickey Henderson and a few others. Honestly, they are outstanding cards. This year also has a 1987 re-imaging, but honestly that doesn't do much for me. I didn't really like those cards when they came out when I was 13.

Of course this led me to check the 2021, 2022, 2019, and 2018 lines...and they all have re-images from past Topps sets. The 1954s from the 2021 sets are pretty damn nice and I will be adding the Sox and possibly a couple others. I also like a couple of the 1986s from the 2021 line and have already snagged a Xander.

I know people's opinions on acetate cards are pretty varied, and indeed acetate cards are fragile as hell and who knows how the autographs will hold up over time. BUT...man. Right now they are SO beautiful.

After going through my collection over the past few weeks and sorting, cleaning, etc...I've come to the conclusion that I want to somewhat limit myself and focus a bit more on quality. I think going forward, I'm going to try to collect only one single "important" card, and one single autographed card, for non-Sox stars. So for example I'd keep a Mark McGwire 1985 Topps USA Baseball card, and one of the 1955 re-imaged 2022 autographed card. Everything else doesn't matter, just common city, and I'd obviously keep collecting the cards with the cool pictures and whatever. As for Red Sox, I'll do it similarly and get one good important and one good auto for each, but won't necessarily shy away from buying anything Sox related because I gotta be honest, I see a cool Sox card I gotta have it. I try to get the cheapest version possible each time, but if that card has three on-card autos what can I do, ya know???

Lastly, some folks have mentioned wanting to do another break. I know it's been a few months, but I'm assuming those people would still be in. I'm in and I'd go a step further and consider hosting the break. I've never done it, but it's something I've always wanted to do. I have the technical setup ready to go, and I have a friend who is a HUGE collector (I rode with him to the card show I bought the Stadium Club box from this past weekend) and would love to help. I know we had PE host in the past, but it seems he's been offline for a while. Hopefully everything's OK on his end of course! But yea, I'd be down for getting a case of Stadium Club or whatever and SoSH that mutha out.
 

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