Trade Bait: Garbage Pail Kids Flashback: Series Two

For all you closet Garbage Pail Kids fans out there, here's a few extras I have for the recent Flashback: Series Two set. I'm working on the set but still haven't made a list of needs yet as it's still very large. As always, drop me an email if there's anything of interest.

Base Cards: 3a, 4a, 11a, 40a, 41a, 42a, 70a, 75a

Parallels
Green: 9b, 30a, 31b, 34b, 52a, 54a, 72b, 74a
Pink: 21b, 31a, 43b, 63b, 72a
Silver: 3a

Inserts
Adam Mania: 3, 9
Adam Mania Green: 1
Adam Mania Silver: 8

Topps Confirms Strasburg Autograph Numbers for 2010 Topps Tribute Baseball

Topps has confirmed numbers for autographed relics of Stephen Strasburg in 2010 Topps Tribute Baseball. In total, there are 500 cards - 250 signed single relics and 250 signed dual relics (because two pieces of base are better than one). The relic pieces are pieces of a base used in Strasburg's debut with the Nationals.

The breakdown for each version is as follows:
Base - 99
Blue Parallel - 75
Black Parallel - 50
Gold Parallel - 25
Red Parallel – 1

According to Topps, cards will be available within the next three weeks. Collectors will be sent one of the five versions at random.

2010 Topps Tribute Baseball Stephen Strasburg Autographed Relic Redemption

Topps Statement Regarding Allen and Ginter Strasburg Minis

Topps has confirmed that the 2010 Allen and Ginter Steven Strasburg mini card is not short printed. However, they also said there is only the one basic version of the card, so no black borders or A&G backs. There's also no regular-sized version of the card either.

The real insanity will begin when folks start uncovering autograph redemptions. There's currently one on eBay and the price is approaching that magical $1000 mark.

To further clear things up (or to fuel the Strasburg fire), the pitcher's minis and autographs are available in both hobby and retail packs.

2010 Topps Allen and Ginter Mini 401. Steven Strasburg

Trader TV: Toy Story Fun Packs Two-Pack Blister Break

This was supposed to go live last night but for whatever reason, it didn't upload right. Below you'll find a two-pack break of Topps' new Toy Story Fun Packs. They combine elements from all three films, offering cards, stickers and other goodies like magnets and motion cards. Because they're aimed at kids, I recruited a couple of very excited helpers.

As you can tell, Evelyn and Ethan were very excited about these cards. Within ten seconds of finishing filming, the magnet was on the fridge and the pop-up Buzz was put together. Ethan had to be stopped from putting a sticker on his hand (these stickers belong in a book).

When you hear the chatter about bringing kids back into the hobby, this is the way to do it. The emphasis is on playing with the cards and interacting with them rather than hoping for a valuable hit. I got into the hobby by ripping packs and sorting through them. "Collecting" came later. But without the initial fun I would have never continued.

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! Random Pack Break: The Ren and Stimpy Show Triple Shot

The Ren and Stimpy Show is one of the strangest, most bizarre shows I've ever had the pleasure of being addicted to. Somehow Topps' 1993 set based on the cartoon has evaded me. While at the card store a while back I came across a cheap brick of old non-sport packs that I snatched up seeing a few of these on an end.

Blending old-school Topps with new fandangled prism technology (at least for the time), each pack has four cards and one sticker parallel. So it's fancy, but not exactly complicated.

Here's a sampling from a trio of packs.

Pack One:

Sticker

The first card sums these up perfectly. Oh joy!! Shiny, silly and subversive, the artwork captures what Ren and Stimpy was all about. Card backs are classic Topps puzzles! Double bonus. My one beef is that the stickers look pretty much exactly like the cards. The tiny numbering on the backs differentiate cards and stickers.

Pack 2:

Sticker

Two packs, one double. Another thing that I love about the set are the captions. They could easily be used to sum up my feelings on various things. So watch out for random postings.

Pack 3:

Sticker

I'm officially going after this set now so if you have any extra cards kicking around, please let me know. As much as I love stickers, they seem redundant in this set so I'm passing on those if anyone needs the ones I have.

Dang, this set is great.

 

Stumbling Upon Heroes in Unlikely Places - Jim Henson

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Jim Henson. It was a shock to me then and I still find myself at a loss at times even today. I never met the man and rarely saw him speak out of character. But I still regard Jim Henson as one of the most influential people in my life.

To me The Muppet Show wasn't just another TV program. It was what life revolved around. Whenever it was on, I'd slide onto the floor in front of our old 13" TV and sit there glued from beginning to end. My sister was bigger and older than me but she knew not to mess with me and my Muppets.  There was also board games, toys and my first magazine subscription.

Watching the Muppets today, they're still as fantastic as I remember them. The Star Wars episode is a little awkward but the genius is still there. Of course, it wasn't all Henson's doing. He had an immensely talented crew working with him. But without Jim Henson, there were no Muppets. To prove that, one just needs to look at what's happened with the franchise since. Only recently have they started to become relevant again. And with a new movie on the horizon with Hollywood hipsters attached, maybe Kermit and company won't be relegated to semi-dictated DVD viewings at the hands of uber-nostalgic parents (sorry, Ethan and Ella). Rather, folks might just seek out the Muppets because they want to.

The Muppets have been featured in several card sets over the years. None have been fantastic and if a manufacturer were able to get the rights for not only the show but the notable guest stars as well, I believe it could be a very popular card license. Costly, but the autograph possibilities are impressive.

Disclosure time: I bought a set of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie cards a short while back. I'd already bought some wacky stuff, so what's a little more. The set was itching to bring back a little nostalgia. There was no other agenda than to flip through some odd cards. Then I stumbled across these:

 That would be the master himself working not long before his untimely death. I don't think of Ninja Turtles when I think of Jim Henson, but I am certainly very excited to see him honored on these cards.

Jim Henson

September 24, 1936 - May 16, 1990

Random Pack Breaks: 2010 Topps National Chicle Baseball

When Topps first announced 2010 Topps National Chicle Baseball, the discussion that ensued was intense. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact it was a rare new brand to baseball. Or maybe it was the questionable images that were released without any background info. But whatever the case, controversy followed the set more than Dallas Braden complaining about some sort of phantom baseball code.

A few months have passed, the set's out and all seems pretty quiet. I have to say, I'm still intrigued. I managed to track down a sample pack on my trip to the city on Friday to get a small taste of what the release offers.

102. Adam Wainwright

 This is probably my favorite card from the pack. I like the water tones a lot. It gives the card a distinct feel. Artist: Jeff Zachowski

157. Jimmy Rollins

 Meh. I can't say it's totally memorable. But not horrible either. It appears to be slightly impressionist inspired mixed with realism. Rollins' blank face is somewhat symbolic of my indifference to this card. Artist: Mike Kupka

192. J.D. Drew

 I'm familiar with Chris Henderson's work and like it a lot. In fact, a few years ago I ordered four custom sketch cards from him, which I plan on displaying really soon when I pay tribute to the subjects. Henderson shows he's excellent at getting a stylized realistic look.

15. Brad Hawpe

 Brad Hawpe says, "Brad Hawpe is tired. Brad Hawpe go to bench after this swing and take a nap. Wake Brad Hawpe up when it's time to go in the field." Artist: Ken Branch

306. Chipper Jones

 Honestly, when I first saw this card I was thinking someone busted into my pack and drew the glasses on Chipper like I used to on photos of people I wasn't too fond of in my yearbooks. Nope. It's part of the card. Between Chipper Ruth and this, National Chicle appears to be bullying Mr. Jones.
 Artist: Monty Sheldon

24. Kevin Kouzmanoff

 Not a lot for me to say, other than very nice clean rendition. Artist: Ken Branch

89. Chone Figgins

 Another card from Monty Sheldon, this one is something of a comeback compared to the above Chipper. It's cleanly painted, although the pose is a little bland.

109. Nelson Cruz

In case you've ever wondered what a reverse bobblehead looks like, here you go. Cruz reminds me of the shrunken head guy in Beetlejuice. Artist: Paul Lempa

Overall, I'd say I really like about half of the art shown in this pack. And even the stuff I don't like so much, it still makes for an interesting set. I also like that the artists are given significant prominence in the set with short bios on every card. But that said, I'd probably have preferred simply their name and website URL so I could check them out myself rather than reading the same bio over and over again.

For better or worse, I suspect there won't be the same amount of discussion from any of the reamining baseball sets this year. Topps is playing it pretty safe in 2010. I don't necessarily see that entirely as a negative as they're not rocking the boat with anything drastic other than the whole exclusive license thing.

I like that National Chicle presents something new, even if a good chunk of it isn't the greatest. It's a fresh concept that I think with a few manageable tweaks could really take off. That is if it's popular enough to warrant being given a chance for a follow-up in 2011.

A Tribute to Mom - The Top 5 Cardboard Moms

Mother's Day was two days ago and only now are you catching a post about moms on cardboard. This would be indicative of one or more of the following:

1. Life has taken over everything else.
2. I'm poring my spare time into a brand-spanking new site and need to convert and transfer another 1000-or-so pages of content.
3. I was too busy talking to my mom for the past couple of days.
4. I'm a slacker.
5. I believe that every day should be a day we all think especially highly of our mothers.

You decide. I'm going to countdown five of my favourite moms that I found digging through my collection. I'm probably missing a bunch, but here's a good start to get things rolling.

5. Sarah Connor - The Terminator franchise.
Let's see, she fought off killer robots from the future, got knocked up by her son's closest ally who technically wasn't born when he did the deed to conceive her and she can tote a mean machine gun. Ms. Connor was a little paranoid about the future, but I think she had a pretty good reason for it.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day Filmcardz Rare R5 (Artbox, 2003)

This card comes from Artbox's Terminator 2 Filmcardz series, perhaps my favorite Terminator set produced. The photos are printed sort of like oversized slides, giving them a unique look and feel. This particular card is a "Rare" insert. Linda Hamilton, who played Connor, also signed for the set.

4. Carmela Soprano - The Sopranos
Gold digger? Perhaps. She certainly must have known what she was getting into when she married Tony Soprano. But I'll let you in on a secret - The Sopranos was all about the familial structure of the Sopranos and Carmela was the driving force. The gangster stuff was cool and all, but I really dug the overriding themes of the series.

The Sopranos: Season One Le Belle Donne BD-1 (Inkworks, 2005)

Unfortunately Inkworks' set based on the show;s first season was a monumental flop. It hit shelves with a ton of hobby hype but within a couple of months prices were falling fast. I attribute it to the lack of big-time signers on the autograph checklist, but The Sopranos: Season One is seriously one gorgeous set. This particular card is from the Le Belle Donne insert set, a simple yet elegant take on the ladies of The Sopranos that resided outside of the Bing.

3. Missy - Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure

So she's not really Bill's mom, but Missy is "Mom." Awkwardness ensues as Bill's best friend Ted fawns over the hot mama.

Bill and Ted's Most Atypical Movie Cards 27 (ProSet, 1991)

 Bill and Ted is one franchise that could easily be resurrected in the hobby, for at least one set. In 1991 ProSet combined both films into one bland set featuring lazy full-bleed photos and very short text on the back. But it's Missy.

2. Mama Fratelli - The Goonies

Growing up I wasn't sure if Mama Fratelli was played by a woman or someone in drag. I don't mean that disrespectfully. Rather, it was an awesome gimmick. Clearly, the late Anne Ramsey thrived taking on roles that required a tough-as-nails matriarch. Mama Fratelli wanted only the finer things in life for her boys. Presumably a single mom, all she desired was for the family to have what they deserved.

The Goonies 9 (Topps, 1985)

Topps' set based on The Goonies was standard stuff for them during the 80s. Cards and sticker with puzzles on the back. Such memories. The biggest chase element comes with a handful of stickers having variant puzzle backs. 

1. Carol Brady - The Brady Bunch

Is there really any competition? Probably not. Although let's debate for a small second whether or not Carol Brady really was the All-American mom pop culture has made her out to be. Yes, six kids is a handful. But Alice is the one looking after the house most of the time. And raising the kids? She passed the problems off to Mike more often than not. And it was Mike who threw the briefcase in court that made the scammer turn his head, thus getting poor Carol off the hook for a fender bender at the grocery store. Still, it's Carol freaking Brady.

TV's Coolest Classics Dream Girls D4 (Inkworks, 1998)

TV's Coolest Classics Memorable Moments M5 (Inkworks, 1998)

 Mrs. Brady appears in a couple of sets. There's the Topps set with the classic wood borders from back when the show was on the air. But a decade ago Inkworks came along with TV's Coolest Classics and gave the lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls a more modern spin. So what does that mean: holofoil sparkles with the Dream Girls inserts and corny embossing on the TV-inspired design of the Memorable Moments card.

I tried looking for moms in the sports section but they proved elusive to find. Anyone got any leads?

To all those moms out there, it's still Mother's Day around these parts. Thanks for making us who we are. And a special thanks to my mom who passed on my guinea pigs to a more deserving home but didn't take my cards out to the fire pit.

2010 Topps National Chicle Baseball Short Prints

Today Topps made the list of 2010 Topps National Chicle Baseball short prints official. The short prints come from three subsets: Retired Stars Revisited, Vintage Veterans and Rookie Renditions, which should keep the disruption to basic complete sets to a minimum. Short prints fall at a rate of 1:4 packs.

276 Babe Ruth 

277 Rogers Hornsby 
278 Pee Wee Reese 
279 Lou Gehrig 
280 Jimmie Foxx 
281 Honus Wagner 
282 Roy Campanella 
283 Mel Ott 
284 Tris Speaker 
285 Jackie Robinson 
286 George Sisler 
287 Ty Cobb 
288 Thurman Munson 
289 Johnny Mize 
290 Walter Johnson 
291 Cy Young 
292 Christy Mathewson 
293 Mickey Mantle 
294 Stan Musial 
295 Eddie Mathews 
296 Ernie Banks 
297 Ryne Sandberg 
298 Joe Morgan 
299 Reggie Jackson 
300 Ian Desmond
301 Albert Pujols 
302 Ichiro 
303 Alex Rodriguez 
304 Ryan Howard 
305 Lance Berkman  
306 Chipper Jones 
307 Manny Ramirez 
308 Dustin Pedroia 
309 Ryan Zimmerman 
310 Joe Mauer 
311 Buster Posey 
312 Tyler Flowers 
313 Madison Bumgarner 
314 Adam Moore 
315 Henry Rodriguez 
316 Drew Stubbs 
317 Kevin Richardson 
318 Reid Gorecki 
319 Eric Young Jr. 
320 Josh Thole 
321 Neil Walker 
322 Carlos Carrasco 
323 Tobi Stoner 
324 Matt Carson 
325 Tommy Manzella 
326 Michael Dunn 
327 Brent Dlugach 
328 Michael Brantley 
329 Juan Francisco

Is it Time the Manufacturers Look at Teaming Up?

Not only is the hobby's marketplace shrinking, but those in the game are disappearing too. They might not be going under completely (yet), but with the trend toward exclusive deals one-sport collectors are losing some of the long-standing brands they came to know and collect. But does it have to be that way? I think it'd be a win-win for everyone involved, from collectors to manufacturers and everyone in between, to consider something a little radical - teaming up and co-producing sets.

Here's how it'd work. Let's take Upper Deck Goudey Baseball as an example. Seeing as how Upper Deck isn't in the baseball game at all right now, 2010 Goudey isn't going to happen. At the same time Topps is working hard to re-brand National Chicle as a nostalgic art brand similar to what Goudey was for Upper Deck. So what if Topps borrowed the Goudey brand from Upper Deck, worked with Upper Deck as a contractor and released Topps Goudey instead of going through all the work of hoping a brand will catch on and adopt an identity for a few years.

The pros for Topps are they're getting a proven brand with a recognized following. Costs might also be a bit lower in that they're sub-contracting some of the work out. Ultimately Topps would have to sign off on it and add their brands to the packaging and they'd be the ones collecting the money at the end of the day. They also don't have to create a copycat brand to fill a hole left by a departing competitor and hope that collectors latch onto it. The industry proves every year that they'd rather take the safe road than risks. I respect this philosophy, even if it frustrates me at times, so this plays right into the conservative logic.

The pros for Upper Deck are that the brand they hold still remains in the public eye. That way, should they regain a license or look to expand into another sport, the name is still fresh in collectors' minds. Plus, Upper Deck is gaining some income from their trademark.

For collectors, they get the continuity that keeps a collection going. Often in today's hobby, there's lots of stopping and going resulting in gaps. I know these drive me nuts. Plus, the brands don't even need to change that much. Keep the spirit of the original product with the same people working on it as well, at least as consultants.

The obvious downside is that competitors don't often like working with one another. Even if Topps is the only kid on the block making licensed baseball cards, Upper Deck is ultimately still a competitor, as is Panini, In the Game, Rittenhouse Archives and even small manufacturers like 5finity and MonsterWax. For the big players in the hobby, there'd probably need to be some reconciliation. But at the end of the day, don't they all speak the same thing: $$$.

I've used the example of Goudey Baseball to illustrate my point but it's not limited to that. Imagine Upper Deck getting another chance to sub-contract to Panini to make SP Authentic and Exquisite Football? Or Upper Deck getting the go-ahead to actually use vintage Topps designs with O-Pee-Chee Hockey. 

Such partnerships aren't unheard of in the hobby. A couple of years ago Rittenhouse Archives made several excellent sets based on Marvel Comics properties on behalf of Upper Deck. I don't know the logistics of it all but Upper Deck seemed to have the license and Rittenhouse made the sets. Why couldn't this work in sports as well?

With this scenario I want to see the producers stay out to some extent. Act like a Hollywood producer who puts up the assets but holds filmmakers accountable for their work. So be hands on but let the partner maintain the brand's identity. This is the key for success. Taking Goudey and adding silver autograph stickers would kill the brand faster than Randy Johnson's fastball blowing up a seagull.

I don't know if there's legal holdups that wouldn't allow for such a scenario to happen. I'm just trying to get creative. I haven't looked into anyone's accounting books so I can't exactly where some manufacturers are at. But there are some signs that would point in the direction that some are doing better than others. So do what you must to survive and if you're hanging in there like Ford, there's no better time than to capitalize and make a little more money. So suck it up and shake hands, men.

Random Pack Break: Topps 2010 UFC Main Event (Rack Pack)

I finally found something at my local (Canadian) Wal-mart that wasn't hockey, Bella Sara or Pokemon and I caved to the idea of opening something I have very limited knowledge in, the world of mixed martial arts. Specifically: 2010 Topps UFC Main Event.

Let's see if the cards do their job and train me a little bit about the "it" sport of last year that's being juiced by Topps for all it's worth before the clock strikes midnight. The packs are rack packs featuring a massive 11 cards spread over two compartments. The first half:

15. Rich Franklin

131. Mike Pierce vs. Brock Larson "UFC Debut"

42. Randy Couture (I've heard of this guy.)

 Top 10 Fights of 2009 TT09-29. Nate Quarry vs. Tim Credeur

(So the insert set is about the Top 10 fights of last year yet this is card #29?)

105. Eliot Marshall

29. Nate Diaz

Second part:

8. Dan Miller

84. Chael Sonnen

147. Donald Cerrone "WEC Fighter"

134. Brian Foster vs. Rick Story "UFC Debut"

10. Anderson Silva

 Checklist 4

These cards have a lot of shine to them. However, I think that the foil board is used correctly to jazz up this set and give it a high-end feel. I do have one major issue with the design, though. The names are almost unreadable. Like many of my students who think it looks cool to convert their stories into so fancy font, the designers went overboard here. Not knowing who a lot of these fighters are, I'm not sure if I even typed their name correctly due to the fact that Old Antique or whatever this supposedly old fashioned typeset is tough make out the difference between the 'T' and 'C', amongst others. The backs don't make it much easier:

Overall, I kind of like this set. It's flashy yet straightforward. I got nothing too exciting and the Top 10 Fights insert set makes no sense to me whatsoever. But when you live far from a card shop and Wal-mart is the main spontaneous pack-purchasing alternative, I've certainly experienced worse.