[mrmopar]

My first real exposure to baseball cards came in 1978 and each manager had his own card and there were team cards too. I guess I would have expected that to be normal, knowing nothing else about cards before those. The following season, managers didn't have cards but got a small photo on the team card. I would come to find out that this was done in the past as well and would continue for several years after. I think it was 1983 when Topps finally gave managers their own cards again.

Personally, I don't mind them, but I also don't buy new cards in packs anymore, only singles I want. I remember as a kid, the feeling I got when instead of another player, I got that stupid yellow checklist. Manager cards may provide the same letdown for some. I always liked the "special" subset cards though, regardless of what they were (except checklists).

I even enjoy the "premium" oddballs, like the GM autos.