Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisMark Macrae and I went to the Kit Young Hawaii Show in Feb 1993
and besides setting up at the show, we attended several of the
Seminars. These were "dog & pony" sessions presented by most of
the new card manufacturers (Donruss, Fleer, Upper Deck, etc.).
Everyone of them were represented by lawyers, agents, and "B..S"
executives telling us how much the ballplayers "rights" were of
concern; and how the players were going to be compensated for
having their faces depicted on a BB card...."GIVE ME A BREAK".
And, how these card producers were going to make their product
"counterfeit-proof". And, how they were going to produce flashy
looking sports cards for the kids to enjoy.
Well, the "kids did not enjoy"; instead, they dropped out.
When the cost of a pack of BB cards (thanx to above mentioned
idiots that ran these card companys) started approaching $4 or $5
the kids, or their parents refused to buy them.
And, combine this with the Baseball Strike the following year,
the hobby has lost a new generation of kids to carry on the
collecting habits of us older generation of collectors.
I am sure most recall the "Trickle-Down" theories of the '80s.
Well. my twist on this is the "TRICKLE-UP" theory....this is
when you get many, many kids interested in BB card collecting
that they bring their parents, or even better yet, their grand-
parents to BB cards shows. The kids spend several $$ on the BB
cards (or Packs) they want and their folks spend many more $$
on the BB players of their generations. Then everyone is happy.