"Collect what you love" - I was once basically made fun of for being into "custom" cards, i.e. cards that never were, Topps Archives / Fan Favorites, etc. '63 Fleer Mantle. '34 Goudey Ruth. '76 Carlton Fisk with a different (and much better...) picture. Well you know what? I like these creations, and they usually cost a fraction of a fraction of what similar, playing days real issues of a lot of stars and HOF'ers cost. I like them because they are not reprints, just fakes of something that really was - but a different take on something that was - that never was.

One of my latest pickups like this is a '68 Topps 3D Mickey Mantle that they did in an Archives set a few years back. This is an incredible card - of course there was no real 3D Mantle that was issued in that test set. Topps picked a great photo of the Mick watching a ball that he had just parked go out. I can't imagine that a kid in 1968 wouldn't think that was just fabulous had it actually existed then. This may not be a real vintage card, but it's that same type of inspired joy I get out of it that I do many of my real ones. To me that's what the hobby is all about.

^Great post^

I have got some of that grief for collecting reprint sets. Personally I like custom cards and reprints. I have a lot of vintage reprint sets and custom cards. They both make me very happy to own them.

Myself I generally shy away from straight reprints, but that's just a personal preference. There is nothing wrong with reprints. If you are a fan of the game first and foremost, it's no different than hanging a print (as opposed to an original) of a ridiculously expensive piece of artwork on your wall.

The types of cards I'm talking about are anomalies. They are often of players who were never made in the real sets they get created into. GBSCC in Boston produced some fantastic cards in the past like this that were show promotions. You can get most of them on eBay for less than $10 apiece.

Some of those custom cards are terrific. I especially like it when they redo a card that had one of those hatless close-ups with a decent picture, like this:


What would be cool would be if somebody would make a fantasy set, with all new pictures of, say, 1966 Topps, and sell them in wax packs of 5 cards each (forget the gum.) If it could be done affordably, and without lawsuits, it would be a blast to open a box of them, with each card being something never seen before.

That "somebody" would have to be (a) Topps; (b) somebody who pays Topps a lot of money for a license; or (c) somebody about to get sued by Topps. ;)

Plus, I assume the MLBPA doesn't administer the rights to former players' names, likenesses, etc. collectively, as I believe it does for (most) current players, does it? Topps obviously has contracted with various HOFers and other former stars for their rights for the Heritage products, etc., but to do a full set, they would probably have to negotiate individually with each player or his heirs.

From Bill James, and hence hobby advice:

"Never marry a pretty girl as they're accustomed to having their faults tolerated."

Unfortunately, I failed to follow it.

I enjoy some of the creative cards too. Like this 3D Jeter:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ge%20Jeter.jpg

The late Bob Lemke (RIP) used to create all sorts of cards that never were. I picked up a Red Man Mantle and a 1954 Bowman Aaron from him.

I commissioned this one to be made out of an autograph I got in person here in LA:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...le_%20Eric.jpg

I also like the Vela art cards.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20Kershaw.jpg

I guess it depends on whether you view cards as investments or something for fun. I think about the former but try to blend in a lot of the latter.

Admittedly the whole concept is fantasy.

I agree that it is a great idea.

Buy cards of players my wife (a complete non-fan) knows. If they’re famous enough to enter her zeitgeist, they’re the best of the best.

For the interested, my wife knows Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Mike Trout and “that guy who married Marilyn Monroe”.

For anyone in the 'cards that never were' crowd who missed it way back when, definitely check out my long slog through the missing players of the 1972 'In Action' subset. Cool stuff.

https://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=219771

I was actually maybe thinking of creating customized versions of these cards for net54 members, or perhaps featuring their wives/husbands/kids/friends/whatever to be printed on a t-shirt? I dunno. Don't want to say too much and be charged with an ad placement fee. :eek:

Those are awesome 1972 customs!

Great stuff Darren, thanks for posting.

1. The rose goes in the front, big guy.

2. When you get in a fight with a drunk, you don’t hit them with your pitching hand.

3. Never f— with a winning streak.

Hey Brian,

I like to follow this advice all the time here on Net54. I agree that it can help others feel good about their collections. ;)

Andy

Alrighty, then

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...20Robinson.JPG

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ries%20120.jpg

Allow me to assist....https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e2647c672c.jpg

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

Nice but when it comes to pulverized cardboard I will not be outdone

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...binson%201.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...es%20Aaron.jpg

Attachment 452718I'll try Adam.


.

I'll play
 

https://net54baseball.com/picture.ph...ictureid=30549

When I sent this card to Porter, he wrote back that he felt so bad about how beat up it was that was enclosing a custom card so I'd have one in better condition. When I put it on top of a less beat up card, the damage becomes more apparent; the picture doesn't show it well, but this one is more oval than rectangular.

It is not realistic these days for a lot of people to collect the Monster in VG-EX/EX. If my key cards are 1-2s, does that mean I should not add a John McGraw that is EX-MT?

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall.”

--Ralph Waldo Emerson, famous T212 collector, I think.

I think the best advice I ever got was from Alan Rosen in the early '80's. He said, "Remember - nothing is scarce. You'll always see it again." He was wrong, of course, but it applied to what I was collecting at the time (mostly Topps and Bowman, but also Red Hearts, Red Man, and the like). And I've retained it as "Be patient, but if you love the card, don't worry about paying a few extra bucks."

I missed all the follow up beat-up card posts after I dropped this pearl of wisdom:

"Make sure to frequently post really beat up cards, because then it will make everyone else feel better about the cards they own."

So here you go...a favorite T216 of Evers of mine. Bet you all are just glowing about how nice your collections are.

Brian

A treasured beater.