Is this the future of collecting?

[mouschi]

In the late 1990's, I was at a Blockbuster music store, looking for some CD's. As I looked around at all the listening stations, I thought to myself ... "Just wait. Soon, we will be able to make our own CD's filled with only the songs we want."

I never saw that prophecy fulfilled ... until about 4 weeks ago. My family and I walked into a christian book store, and believe it or not, there was a station to allow you to add the songs you wanted all onto one CD! While they just might be about 10 years too late, thanks to the quantum leap we have taken in downloading music straight to our devices, it was cool to see something I thought of 20 years ago actually put into practice.

Let's hope this next idea doesn't take 20 years! I remember at some point in the early 90's a player by the name of Geronimo Berroa did something great in a playoff game. The very next day, his 1988 Donruss rookie cards were being sought after for $5 a pop.

Remembering this got me to thinking. Why not make a special short print set "on demand" for special moments during the baseball history? Yeah, yeah I know - they make cards of epic world series moments in the next year's release, but who really wants these, anyway at that point? They are cool memories, but not something that people are hyper-passionate about anymore. In this day and age, last year's world series is a lifetime ago. Collector's wallets are open mere minutes after something special happens while frantically searching ebay for rookies of whomever did something amazing.

Let's try an example, shall we?

Let's use Jose. No, not that Jose. Jose Bautista. He had an epic home run in the playoffs a few weeks ago that was a pretty big deal. Don't believe me? Ask this guy who got a tattoo commemorating the event:



Anyhow, imagine if Topps decided to take this card:



and modify it a bit in photoshop then stuck it on ebay or their website to pre-sell the very night it happened!?



Can you imagine how many would sell for a lot of money? It could always be "checklisted" after the post season, and they could have a set of 10 cards ... each of which just waiting to be made once the event actually happened.

Let's take it a step further, though. What if the Topps made this card, punched a hole into it, went to their little cubby labeled "Joey Bats' Bat Pieces" and put one in. I mean c'mon, how epic would this be? A bat card ... of the bat flip that JUST happened?



For those of you who don't believe they are really game used, they could also just do a little fade action at the bottom and put one of those sticker autos to the test. This is one application that I don't think anyone would have any qualms over them using sticker autos.



Anyway, just a thought.

[SethMurphy]

as always first, great photoshop work.

i think it would be a very interesting idea. Take the Topps Set and have an SP Update Set basically. 10-15 cards that would commemorate late season heroics and moments from the stretch run of late september and into October for the playoffs.

Sell them on ebay as they happen from their Topps Vault account, and just number them at the end of the Set, 661 or whatever it would be. But limit the quantity, print 100, 200, heck even less than 1,000 of them is probably SPd enough for people

750 base versions and 250 autos, or something like that

I'd find it to be a really cool idea actually

[awz50]

I would buy that Joey bat flip card, its pretty epic

[MeetJSquared]

Not my cup of tea, but I can see a lot of people that would be up for it.

I just don't like the added stuff exclusive to online-only, direct from Topps/Panini, etc. just like I don't like the Topps Vault/Panini Blank Back type of stuff either.

[mfw13]

I would take it a step further and say that considering where photo-editing and printing technology are these days, custom/print-on-demand cards may indeed play a significant role in the hobby going forward.

For example, how long is it going to be before Topps puts their entire design/photo inventories online and lets people custom make their own cards for $9.99 each? Want a 1954 Topps style Babe Ruth card? Done! Want a 1967 Topps style Ted Williams card? Done! Or how about a 1984 Topps style Stan Musial card?

[brentandbecca]

Originally Posted by mfw13

I would take it a step further and say that considering where photo-editing and printing technology are these days, custom/print-on-demand cards may indeed play a significant role in the hobby going forward.

For example, how long is it going to be before Topps puts their entire design/photo inventories online and lets people custom make their own cards for $9.99 each? Want a 1954 Topps style Babe Ruth card? Done! Want a 1967 Topps style Ted Williams card? Done! Or how about a 1984 Topps style Stan Musial card?

I like it, only thing I would say is they would need to have access to a lot more photos, so each collector can pick from new and old. That may be only cost-prohibited since the image right shave to be secured and that adds cost

[tom505]

what is this, 2006? They already do all this stuff, don't you guys get the daily emails where there's always some new 5x7 or 6x9 or 1.56x3.7469 set /99 commemorating something that happened the night before? I mean maybe in this case they didn't do anything for that specific image/player (probably because they lost) but not sure why the OP is framing his PS work like it's a new idea

[mfw13]

The thing is, people are already doing high quality custom work, Mouschi included.

I had a guy in Texas do 100+ cards 1956 Topps style cards for me across all sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, tennis, boxing) for $10/card.

[pfb11]

on a small scale, eTopps did pretty much what you're describing:





Unfortunately, few people realized that they were real cards and not just pixels.

(Fast forward a few years and now people pay for cards that are just pixels but that's besides the point)

[Halonut]

Originally Posted by pfb11

on a small scale, eTopps did pretty much what you're describing:





Unfortunately, few people realized that they were real cards and not just pixels.

(Fast forward a few years and now people pay for cards that are just pixels but that's besides the point)

Yup...the only thing which ruined eTopps for a lot of people were the ridiculous shipping costs. Personally...I loved it.

[Peties Army]

I saw Jose canseco yesterday. He is one big man

[jared6180]

OP has a good idea, especially when they use something game used or a certified auto on it.

I get bored really easily with Topps Bunt so I'm not a fan of pixel cards.

[hofcollector2]

You should do one of Joey getting beaned in the side and have a slice of the the Ball that hit him in the card.

[mouschi]

Originally Posted by hofcollector2

You should do one of Joey getting beaned in the side and have a slice of the the Ball that hit him in the card.

That should be the sssssp variation. ... or a side by side insert called cause and effect

[hofcollector2]

Originally Posted by mouschi

That should be the sssssp variation. ... or a side by side insert called cause and effect

Id be a buyer

[Orange October]

I think they do something like this in Topps Bunt, right? I dont use it myself but I think they have more event type inserts. Pretty awesome idea to make physical cards and just sell them on the Topps website. Or make a special 10 card insert set or whatever to order online at the end of the postseason. I think having it right after the event happens though would be pretty cool.

[jared6180]

Originally Posted by hofcollector2

You should do one of Joey getting beaned in the side and have a slice of the the Ball that hit him in the card.

I would buy one also...but if he played for my team I'd try to defend him probably. lol

[HeritageKing]

...or maybe a card picturing Bautista on his couch watching the Royals play in the world series? Maybe get a game used tv guide and cut that up.

[mouschi]

This is all very interesting to me - I didn't know Topps did anything similar, and while I had my thoughts about Topps offering some sort of virtual cards, I thought ... nah - no one would ever have any interest in them.

I think they would have a boat load more takers if they went straight to ebay with this. I never, ever go to topps.com, but imagine if a Bautista fan saw the epic home run and said to themselves "That's it! I'm taking to ebay now and gonna buy something great of his."

Then ... WHAMMO. A card of the exact home run that got the collector amped up about it in the first place. I think that is a home run (Pun intended.)

This could actually be some sort of a subscription service. We can call it the set "Epic" or "Fluid" or ... "Epic Fluid". Yeah that's it! Okay, maybe the name will need to be worked on later , but as a subscription service, you are guaranteed one card a month of something incredible that happened during the year ... OR ... 1 card a month of your team. Or maybe it is even just during the playoffs.

In doing this, this would not be a custom card scenario, as they would likely want everything to be checklisted.

Okay, enough jibber jabber from me on this - I am literally typing what I am thinking out loud, so go easy on me. There are a lot of refinements to be made (and flat out stupid ideas that just need to be erased!)

[JohnRyno]

Bautista is a wanker.

[anusinha]

topps bunt does this, someone does something significant, and the next day they have a Headlines or Milestones card

[mouschi]

Originally Posted by anusinha

topps bunt does this, someone does something significant, and the next day they have a Headlines or Milestones card

I believe this is just a digital card right? I'm talking real autographed / game used cards.

As a side note, apparently, there are a lot of these digital card collectors who actually spend money on them ... mind boggling to me! That isn't to say anything against those who do that; I just can't wrap my head around the concept. Call me old fashioned, but I like to actually have the cards in my possession.

[Pearce77]

This is more like ordering than collecting.

Bautista is a wanker.

This.

[IronMonkey415]

When he pass away, you think his family will cut that part out and frame it?

[mouschi]

Originally Posted by IronMonkey415

When he pass away, you think his family will cut that part out and frame it?

Funny you mention this - my wife just told me there is apparently a company that offers this!