Are base cards a forgotten art?

[gladdyontherise]

Since the begining of time when sport cards were first made, base cards were always made. Base cards are just the ordinary cards you get from a back, nothing to special, all have the same look, almost today considered as a "filler" card for Jerseys, Autographs, inserts, parallels, serial numbered, and rookie cards. Base cards have always been in the hobby and hopefully will be forever.

However when the start of Jerseys and Autograph cards came to the scene, that became the new thing on the block. People stopped saying "Hey look at this awesome base card of Dan Marino!" It became "Hey look at this awesome Jersey card of Albert Pujols!" and with that, became the begining of the hated base card.

Base slowly but surely became less popular and people began to not want them, they were only in pursuit of Jerseys and Autograph cards. So card companies responded by making more of what the people wanted, Jerseys and Autographs.

Not to the year 2009, Jerseys and Autograph cards are becoming over populated, people are becoming frusterated because there Derek Jeter Jersey only books 15 or that the Autograph they pull out of there box of cards only is going on ebay for $4.

Base cards are unsellable now, some cant even be sold for a nickel apiece. Some people will go to there local hobby shop and open the box there, take anything that isnt a Jersey or Autograph card, and just gives it back to the owner of the store, because they dont want there base. Others open the box at home, and whatever isnt a Jersey or Autograph is just thrown out into the trash, because they dont want the "cludder" of base cards.

Card companies have made some really good designed base cards lately, and some have made bad ones such as:



A LeBron James 2007-08 Topps base card. The black background was highly unliked by collectors, because it was thought of, as boring, and these black background cards chipped before coming out of the box.

Card companies have also made good base designs such as:



An Albert Pujols 2008 Upper Deck Heroes base card. Very sturdy base cards, come in very good condition and a very popular design and set among collectors.

My thoughts are if the card companies focused on making sturdy, good conditioned base cards that have an attractive design, that it would make collectors like them more, want to keep them and would create happier customers.

Maybe with more focus on making great base cardsm it would bring collectors back to there younger days of being happy to pull a base card of there favorite player. All I know is that collectors who buy boxes of cards will continue to pull base cards, the effort card companies put into these cards though will ultimatly dictate if collectors get back to basics and enjoy there base or if they continue to just give them or throw them away.

[gmoney168]

Are base cards a forgotten art?

By Dan Gladstone aka gladdyontherise

Since the beginning of time when sport cards were first made, base cards were always made as well. Base cards are just the ordinary cards you get from a pack, nothing too special, as all have the same look and are almost always considered as a "filler" card for jerseys, autographs, inserts, parallels, serial numbered, and rookie cards today. Base cards have always been in the hobby and hopefully will be forever.

However, when the start of jerseys and autograph cards came to the scene, they became the new thing on the block. People stopped saying "Hey look at this awesome base card of Dan Marino!" It became "Hey look at this awesome jersey card of Albert Pujols!" and with that came the beginning of the hated base card.

Base slowly but surely became less popular and people began to not want them, they were only in pursuit of jerseys and autograph cards. Card companies responded by making more of what the people wanted, jerseys and autographs.

Now in the year 2009, jerseys and autograph cards are becoming over-populated, with people becoming frustrated because their Derek Jeter jersey only books $15 or that the autograph they pull out of their box of cards only is going on eBay for $4. However, base cards are unsellable now. Some can't even be sold for a nickel each. Some people will go to their local hobby shop and open the box there, take anything that isn't a jersey or autograph card, and just give it back to the owner of the store because they don't want the base. Others open the box at home, and whatever isn't a jersey or autograph is just thrown out into the trash because they don't want the "clutter" of base cards.

Card companies have made some really good designed base cards lately, and some have made bad ones such as a LeBron James 2007-08 Topps base card:



The black background was highly unliked by collectors because it was thought of as boring, and these black background cards chipped before coming out of the box.

Card companies have also made good base designs such as an Albert Pujols 2008 Upper Deck Heroes base card:


They are very sturdy base cards, come in very good condition and have a very popular design and set among collectors.

My thoughts are that if the card companies focused on making sturdy, well-conditioned base cards that have an attractive design, it would make collectors appreciate them more, want to keep them and would create happier customers. With more focus on making great base cards, it would bring collectors back to there younger days of being happy to pull a base card of their favorite player. All I know is that collectors who buy boxes of cards will continue to pull base cards, and the effort card companies put into these cards though will ultimately dictate if collectors get back to basics and enjoy their base, or if they continue to just give them back or throw them away.
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Dan, you were a few words short of 500 so I changed around some of your sentence wordings to make it longer but didn't change anything major. Karine, I edited this for you, but was also helping get to 500 words, so look it over and let me know of any final changes.

[Pheebs888]

Are Base Cards a Forgotten Art?

By Dan Gladstone aka gladdyontherise

Since the beginning of time when sport cards were first made, base cards have always been around. They are just the ordinary cards you get from a pack, nothing too special, as all have the same look and are almost always considered as a "filler" card for jerseys, autographs, inserts, parallels, serial numbered, and rookie cards today. Base cards have always been in the hobby and hopefully will be forever.

However, when the start of jerseys and autograph cards came to the scene, they became the new thing on the block. People stopped saying "Hey look at this awesome base card of Dan Marino!" It became "Hey look at this awesome jersey card of Albert Pujols!" and with that came the beginning of the hated base card.

Base slowly but surely became less popular and people began to not want them, they were only in pursuit of jerseys and autograph cards. Card companies responded by making more of what the people wanted, jerseys and autographs.

Now in the year 2009, jerseys and autograph cards are becoming over-populated, with people becoming frustrated because their Derek Jeter jersey only books $15 or that the autograph they pull out of their box of cards only is going on eBay for $4. However, base cards are unsellable now. Some can't even be sold for a nickel each. Some people will go to their local hobby shop and open the box there, take anything that isn't a jersey or autograph card, and just give it back to the owner of the store because they don't want the base. Others open the box at home, and whatever isn't a jersey or autograph is just thrown out into the trash because they don't want the "clutter" of base cards.

Card companies have made some really good designed base cards lately, and some have made bad ones such as a LeBron James 2007-08 Topps base card:



The black background was highly disliked by collectors because it was thought of as boring, and these black background cards chipped before coming out of the box.

Card companies have also made good base designs such as an Albert Pujols 2008 Upper Deck Heroes base card:


They are very sturdy base cards, come in very good condition and have a very popular design and set among collectors.

My thoughts are that if the card companies focused on making sturdy, well conditioned base cards that have an attractive design, it would make collectors appreciate them more, want to keep them and would create happier customers. With more focus on making great base cards, it would bring collectors back to there younger days of being happy to pull a base card of their favorite player. All I know is that collectors who buy boxes of cards will continue to pull base cards, and the effort card companies put into these cards thought will ultimately dictate if collectors get back to basics and enjoy their base, or if they continue to just give them back or throw them away.

[gmoney168]

Missing picture Karine...

[gladdyontherise]

She does that when she edits, the pictures will be there :)

[Pheebs888]

indeed she does, right on Dan lol

digg: http://digg.com/other_sports/Are_Bas..._Forgotten_Art
propeller: http://www.propeller.com/story/2009/...orum-articles/
buzz: http://buzz.yahoo.com/article/1:0433...tten-Art?usc=1

article link: https://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=676

[gmoney168]

Wow how did I not know that? Oh well, I gave you a Digg because you were right Dan, not that I wouldn't have done it anyways.