2014 Donruss….I like them!

[Jayworld]

After swearing off current/modern cards (not very hard to do with horrible "sameness" to the Topps design in the past four years), on a lark, I picked up a pack of the new 2014 Donruss cards at the local card shop. Pulled an autograph card, but really liked the design of the cards; front and back. Even without the MLB license and the airbrushing out of the team logos, etc., I find the cards to be much more like "baseball" cards for me. I've already gotten 50 cards in the base set, and like the cards for the clean, uncluttered design, the easy-to-read backs, and the few special cards reminiscent of older Donruss sets of the 1980s, such as Diamond Kings, Rated Rookies, etc. Now Target has started to carry the packs at $2.99, which is less than the $3.99 hobby store price (sure, you don't get the "hits" with retail, but I have never been enamored with the modern day inserts and hits anyway)…..

This is the second Panini brand set of cards I have purchased within the year, as I thought the 2013 Cooperstown cards to be very well done, too….

Gotten where I don't really care for Topps at all with the over saturation of product in even today's market, especially when you include Bowman, Bowman chrome, Opening Day, etc., etc.

Donruss and Fleer both made better cards and had better designs in the 1982-85 period as well, so not a big jump for me to collect Donruss again…..

[rjackson44]

Did you pull a jose abreu ill take it ,,they are nice ,,,

[ALR-bishop]

Jay --do you have a scan of one front and back ?

[Jayworld]

I will post scans of front/back tonight, and will check which autograph card I pulled with the first pack…..

I have only purchased 7-8 packs and have about 5 duplicates….pretty good ratio, I think?

[WillBBC]

There are two things about 2014 Donruss that prevent me from buying.

1.) The way they deal with a lack of license really breaks some very basic design laws. The way they frame certain photographs just makes the cards look very amateurish to me. It irks me because Panini/Donruss clearly know what they're doing design wise--you can tell from their NFL/NBA products.

2.) Diamond Kings should be paintings. Death, taxes, Dick Perez/art on Diamond Kings!

Here's hoping they get a license eventually!

(I'm not writing this to trash your post, I'm glad you enjoyed your breaks and hope you continue buying and enjoying the product!)

[Rich Klein]

Topps has an MLB properties exclusive until 2020. You have several years to wait.

[Jayworld]

Originally Posted by WillBBC

There are two things about 2014 Donruss that prevent me from buying.

1.) The way they deal with a lack of license really breaks some very basic design laws. The way they frame certain photographs just makes the cards look very amateurish to me. It irks me because Panini/Donruss clearly know what they're doing design wise--you can tell from their NFL/NBA products.

2.) Diamond Kings should be paintings. Death, taxes, Dick Perez/art on Diamond Kings!

Here's hoping they get a license eventually!

(I'm not writing this to trash your post, I'm glad you enjoyed your breaks and hope you continue buying and enjoying the product!)

1. They do what they have to do to hide player cap fronts, fronts of jerseys, etc. As a graphics designer, believe me, the more you can hide with the particular pose you pick, the less touch-up and "airbrush" work you have to do.
2. I agree, but at least Diamond Kings are back in some format. It's a start.

Per Rich's post; I realize that Topps has the exclusive license for MLB until 2020. That's good information (thanks!) but that is what it is, too. Still like the 2014 Donruss cards better than the 2014 Topps for overall design, etc. Just my opinion. Panini does make a good product, and their 2013 Cooperstown set was/is fantastic, and is less of an issue for depicting the majority of the HOF players without uniform inscriptions/logos, etc. Many didn't have them back then. Been busy (sorry), but will post some Donruss scans tonight.

[Jayworld]

As promised, here is a scan of the 2014 Donruss baseball cards.... enjoy.

[Jayworld]

Just saw last night at the local Dollar Tree store that they sell the new 2014 Donruss cards for $1 a pack; the catch is that there are only 4 cards (rather than the typical 8) per pack. Same wrapper artwork, etc., just says 4 cards. This got me doing some math (a dangerous prospect at times):

1 pack 2014 Donruss from hobby store: $3.25 (8 cards)
1 pack 2014 Donruss from retail (Target, etc.): $2.99 (8 cards)
1 pack 2014 Donruss from Dollar Tree: $1.00 (4 cards)

so, for $10, I can get 40 cards at Dollar Tree, or 24 cards from retail or hobby (and get change back). I assume I would get no special, short printed, autograph, etc. cards at Dollar Tree, and less of a chance through retail than at hobby outlet....

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Jayworld

Just saw last night at the local Dollar Tree store that they sell the new 2014 Donruss cards for $1 a pack; the catch is that there are only 4 cards (rather than the typical 8) per pack. Same wrapper artwork, etc., just says 4 cards. This got me doing some math (a dangerous prospect at times):

1 pack 2014 Donruss from hobby store: $3.25 (8 cards)
1 pack 2014 Donruss from retail (Target, etc.): $2.99 (8 cards)
1 pack 2014 Donruss from Dollar Tree: $1.00 (4 cards)

so, for $10, I can get 40 cards at Dollar Tree, or 24 cards from retail or hobby (and get change back). I assume I would get no special, short printed, autograph, etc. cards at Dollar Tree, and less of a chance through retail than at hobby outlet....

Darn. Now I'm going to be looking for a dollar tree so I can pick up one of the odd packs.

Steve B

[the 'stache]

I just can't get into a card, no matter how well it is designed, when there are no team logos.

[Jayworld]

Bill:
Didn't Fleer re-introduce team logos on card fronts in 1983? before then, it had been a long dry spell (Topps in 1965).

Having logos on the fronts of cards are nice, but I think if a company puts the logo on the front of a card, they don't need to put the team name in print as well (Topps 1985) which is overkill and clutter from a design standpoint.

The reason that Donruss does not have the logos on the front of cards is that they do not have the Major League baseball license. Topps has that. That's why on each 2014 card, only the city name is on the front, such as San Diego, New York, etc.

It's all about the license. Don't let the logo keep you from buying a few packs and trying them out.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I just can't get into a card, no matter how well it is designed, when there are no team logos.

+1

Sorry Donruss and Panini

[JWBlue]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I just can't get into a card, no matter how well it is designed, when there are no team logos.

Further, I don't even get why a company would produce cards without a logo.