Are signed Perez Steele postcards the coolest thing ever?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

I dislike Perez' artwork. He has never mastered Caucasian flesh tones. White players are constantly portrayed with blotchy skin, making them look like they have rosacea or a chronic drinking problem.

It's always been fascinating how much some of the early deaths go for due to limited window of opportunity to sign. Hmm, should I get the pristine Lloyd Waner 3X5 for $10, or drop $12K on the Perez Steele?

The base set is OK, but the others do less than nothing for me. Never liked any Perez Steele product enough to be bothered buying a ton. I just pick up the odd valuable name for resale here and there, but haven't in years.

[gonefishin]

Well, I have an interesting story I think.

A few months ago I purchased a large collection of autographs. I didn't see all the items in the collection when I bought it because it was an on line auction. Several unique items in the collection, but when I received it and started sorting through it I found some very interesting cards. They were the Perez Steele submission form cards that one fills out and subscribes to a particular set that guarantees the submitter they will receive each set of that particular serialized set.

Well, the cards were completed by the Hall of Fame players themselves! How crazy is that. There were several.

I did some research and came across an interesting Youtube video about this particular subject, by the handle Legends Never Die. It was a 2 part youtube series detailing these particular submission cards, how they are all 1/1, etc., etc., Part II was an actual interview with Dick Perez.

To shorten the story, I submitted all of mine (15 or so) to PSA and they all came back authentic. Picture attached so you can see what I'm talking about.

I'm not really a Perez Steele collector but I think the set is pretty cool.

Check out the attached and let me know what you think. The home address on the card is also pretty cool.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by gonefishin

Well, I have an interesting story I think.

A few months ago I purchased a large collection of autographs. I didn't see all the items in the collection when I bought it because it was an on line auction. Several unique items in the collection, but when I received it and started sorting through it I found some very interesting cards. They were the Perez Steele submission form cards that one fills out and subscribes to a particular set that guarantees the submitter they will receive each set of that particular serialized set.

Well, the cards were completed by the Hall of Fame players themselves! How crazy is that. There were several.

I did some research and came across an interesting Youtube video about this particular subject, by the handle Legends Never Die. It was a 2 part youtube series detailing these particular submission cards, how they are all 1/1, etc., etc., Part II was an actual interview with Dick Perez.

To shorten the story, I submitted all of mine (15 or so) to PSA and they all came back authentic. Picture attached so you can see what I'm talking about.

I'm not really a Perez Steele collector but I think the set is pretty cool.

Check out the attached and let me know what you think. The home address on the card is also pretty cool.

Pretty cool. Awhile back, the signed cards like the one pictured were discussed on a different thread.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I dislike Perez' artwork. He has never mastered Caucasian flesh tones. White players are constantly portrayed with blotchy skin, making them look like they have rosacea or a chronic drinking problem.

It's always been fascinating how much some of the early deaths go for due to limited window of opportunity to sign. Hmm, should I get the pristine Lloyd Waner 3X5 for $10, or drop $12K on the Perez Steele?

The base set is OK, but the others do less than nothing for me. Never liked any Perez Steele product enough to be bothered buying a ton. I just pick up the odd valuable name for resale here and there, but haven't in years.

Agreed, which is why initially I was not sold on the Perez-Steele base post cards. Perez is not Graig Kreindler or even the late Bill Purdom. But after getting one signed, I got on a roll and lamented the fact I went the signed baseball route and not Perez-Steele. The signatures on some of my signed baseballs have faded into oblivion. I also picked up the Ron Lewis Negro league cards which are well done. I have about 25 of those signed. Nice sets.

[Steve D]

I like them.

I subscribed to them from the start, after seeing Bill Madden's Sporting News column about them; and I still have my set. I am very disappointed that the set was discontinued.

I thought long and hard about getting them signed, but decided against it, especially after seeing how some of the big show promoters would handle them through the mail. Basically, a collector would send their card to the show promoter to be signed, but they wouldn't necessarily get the same #'d card back; which would degrade their set, as it would no longer have all cards with the same matching serial number.

I do have several players' signed cards, from the different Perez-Steele series', all PSA/DNA graded, in addition to my main unsigned set.

Steve

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

I dislike Perez' artwork.

This. I don’t collect his Donruss puzzle pieces either.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Perez also uses gray for areas of white players' skin, resulting in the appearance of deceased tissue. At least that's how I interpret it when I see it. I fail to understand how a different artist couldn't have been found at the time. This was pretty simple sports portraiture for the most part.

Also, in instances where Perez employed backgrounds, they all feel so cookie cutter and forgettable, even when certain unique stadium aspects may be depicted. One gets the impression that Perez isn't concerned with the backgrounds, only painting them due to obligation. For a lot of people, the background is just as important, as we revere the long-lost ballparks and their architecture just as much as we do the players. All of it put together encompasses the total experience.

As someone else mentioned, yes, Graig's style is much more to my liking, but I don't know how great it would have translated to the Perez Steele model. For the later sets, such as Great Moments, it would have been fine, but perhaps not for the base set. So much of the beauty in Graig's work can be found in the backgrounds, and to eliminate that in favor of a white background for autograph purposes might not have worked well. Also, a big part of Graig's personal style is his use of much darker lighting and shading. While it works for what he does, it probably wouldn't have been beneficial in this hypothetical scenario.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

As someone else mentioned, yes, Graig's style is much more to my liking, but I don't know how great it would have translated to the Perez Steele model. For the later sets, such as Great Moments, it would have been fine, but perhaps not for the base set. So much of the beauty in Graig's work can be found in the backgrounds, and to eliminate that in favor of a white background for autograph purposes might not have worked well. Also, a big part of Graig's personal style is his use of much darker lighting and shading. While it works for what he does, it probably wouldn't have been beneficial in this hypothetical scenario.

Backgrounds worked for the Ron Lewis, Negro League postcards. I am sure Graig would make awesome post cards. The licensing is the huge costly hurdle.