Whatever happened to the true inserts?

[hardaway10]

SO this has been a topic i've brought up on the beckett boards a few years ago, and I'm sure everybody who collects sports cards, whether it be basketball, baseball, hockey, or football.

I've been collecting Basketball cards exclusively on and off for the past 10+ years. I used to get the 95-96 fleer, 96-97 Upper deck, UD3, Chrome, whatever. All those sets had only inserts, and maybe parallels, refractors, or subsets. I recently opened a box of 08-09 Hot prospects, not a bad box, but the insert sets are just horrible. The designs suck and the odds of getting one have come down to 1:6.

I remember opening a pack of 97-98 Fleer, got a Kobe Franchise Futures diet cut insert, it was 1:36. Pulling that card, was like pulling a card #ed to 15 today.

Then it comes down to the design. I loved cards like 97-98 bowman best mirror image or the foiled inserts from the earlier 90's like Jerry West selects. Comparing the inserts i've seen these days, they don't compare at all, no imagination.

I guess I'm just a little dissapointed the hobby is going in a direction that I was hoping for, but I've learned to love the GU/Autos/patches..etc. This hobby is truely not for kids anymore, haha..

let me know what you guys think, no bashing please, just expressing my mind is all

[Italy61587]

hopefully panini can make inserts interesting again

[mattyj]

hopefully Panini will fix all the problems that Upper Suck and Topps have caused (over producing autos and GU, no inserts, crap designs, etc)


*fingers crossed*

[WilyWestbrook0]

There is still a market for kids, but it's so small (Topps, UD First Edition, and the like).

I agree that the late '90s was the best time period for inserts. Beautiful cards were made then, and the inserts weren't all easy to grab, either. GU, patch, and auto cards are fun to pull, but now it seems like inserts pulls are just barely a step above the base. They used to be the rage..

[BobbyPhills13]

I picked up a box of 08/09 Fleer and the so called inserts were less than impressive. Thats why I buy more of the mid to late 90's stuff. The products then had the best inserts ever produced IMO. I love busting that stuff and getting some of those old school cards, even if they arn't Jordans or Kobes. The card companies seemed to actually take time to make great parallel sets and insert sets rather than throwing something together. I do have to admit the Game Used/patch/auto stuff is cool, but I'd almost rather have some of the rare old school inserts.

[hardaway10]

I picked up a box of 08/09 Fleer and the so called inserts were less than impressive. Thats why I buy more of the mid to late 90's stuff. The products then had the best inserts ever produced IMO. I love busting that stuff and getting some of those old school cards, even if they arn't Jordans or Kobes. The card companies seemed to actually take time to make great parallel sets and insert sets rather than throwing something together. I do have to admit the Game Used/patch/auto stuff is cool, but I'd almost rather have some of the rare old school inserts.

i can totally agree. The only thing is, I want to trade with fellow members here. I'd say 85% of them aren't looking for the old school inserts. So i've busted a few newer boxes for some trade bait

[BobbyPhills13]

I agree with you. I need to get some of the newer stuff too for trade bait. Seems whenever I have money to do it though, I find some Oldschool inserte I've been looking for! Haha.

[trevorp121]

Yes, the main insert I always wanted was a holographic one. I only pulled two from packs but I was really excited when I did.

[beex215]

it seems like that people only care about autos and gu. you ever see this
"i cant trade gu for non gu and autos for non autos". who cares