2020 topps project

[Rich Klein]

We are *NOT* the audience for these cards. I don't do anything with them but they are. as you can see from the print runs, very successful and also bring in more people into the collecting market.

On that level they are perfectly fine.

And for an intelligent perspective on these cards here is Mike Sommer's blog post on these cards.

https://waxpackhero.com/blog/topps-project-2020

[rats60]

I picked up the Oldmanalan Koufax and Clemente. I really like his work. I will probably pick up a few more, but at 20.00 each it eats into a vintage budget fast.

[mferronibc]

Thanks Rich, great link! As I’m learning more about these cards and to be able to see all the previous runs in one place many are growing on me. Prob not enough to buy past releases on the secondary market for those extraordinary prices but at least to keep an eye on the Topps site every few days so see what’s next.

For me the Beck releases are the coolest overall with the sort of mixed media look to them but did pick up an Oldmanalan Clemente today as I think it’s a beautiful card. My only hang up with his others so far is besides Mariano he seems to deviate a little too far from the original “iconic” card which seems to be the whole point.

[Deadman31]

I’m going for a complete run of Griffeys and if the make more gold cards like the Frank Thomas I’ll grab those as well.

[mferronibc]

Has Topps made any guarantees that they will not go back and print more runs of cards once they sell? Seems as the market for these is picking up and the current runs consistently get closer to the 10-20k range the originals in the 1-3k range are becoming more and more valuable (even the ones that are pretty ugly).

[KingFisk]

I almost got in on these from the jump but thought it would be a pretty big investment at $20 a pop. I had the first two in my cart and never completed the transaction.

I think most of them have been really hideous and I would not have enjoyed having them in my collection from an aesthetic point of view.

I do regret not getting in on them from a value perspective....my goodness. I really blew it here.

[bigfanNY]

I followed them from begining and decided that at $20 each I would just order the Trouts I think that would be 20 cards. The fist card had a print run of 2911 seemed a little low based on watching living set. Then secondary market took off Trout was selling for $75 and first 2 cards for a couple hundred. Then second Trout card came out print run over 13 Thousand. The Trout took off quickly selling for $400 ( I sold mine) and many of the early cards also quickly went up. I continue to buy Trouts ,just one. And will hopefully rebuy the first later when prices tumble. I also sold my first 18 Topps living cards when they hit $900..
Some artists sell autographed versions on their own websites Ermsy who drew the first Trout is one of them. So if you like a particular artist then check them out and see.
I did buy a gold Frank Thomas but on ebay whereyou can save a few bucks presale.. usually $17.50 free shipping from one of the dealers who buy 10 or more and get discounts.

[mferronibc]

Have you been overall happy with the condition of the cards you've gotten in hand? I've seen a few pics on EBay that look like some cards have marks on them or like debris trapped between the card and the holder. Can only imagine what this would lead to if the next wave is cracking them open and sending in for grading! I'm sure it's coming.

[Deadman31]

Originally Posted by mferronibc

Has Topps made any guarantees that they will not go back and print more runs of cards once they sell? Seems as the market for these is picking up and the current runs consistently get closer to the 10-20k range the originals in the 1-3k range are becoming more and more valuable (even the ones that are pretty ugly).

I don’t understand why you think they would do that?

[vintagewhitesox]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

We are *NOT* the audience for these cards. I don't do anything with them but they are. as you can see from the print runs, very successful and also bring in more people into the collecting market.

On that level they are perfectly fine.

And for an intelligent perspective on these cards here is Mike Sommer's blog post on these cards.

https://waxpackhero.com/blog/topps-project-2020

Great point Rich. And Mike's blog is great, and he has a really good twitter feed.
I enjoy this, I made some money on the earlier issues and enjoy the flipping aspect of it. I don't think there's enough money to sustain the crazy prices that we are seeing. I bought the Mcgwire last week and its already at $200. Insane.
I do like Ben Baller's stuff he's funny and original. But yes, most of the people on this board are not the intended target for these cards.
I hope the come out with a rendition of the 52 Mantle or more White Sox cards (Fisk Rookie, a Nellie Fox or Aparicio, etc.).

[JustinD]

I would say the investors killed this one for a while. In a year these will be .99 cards. Supply and demand will never hold even the cost after the clueless stop buying. I will buy no more until the production drops at least to 7-10k. The smart money if you think they are neat, is wait for the auctions after these are actually delivered and get them for a fiver.

I bought the Ryan and Ripken in the last week and have serious remorse.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I would say the investors killed this one for a while. In a year these will be .99 cards. Supply and demand will never hold even the cost after the clueless stop buying. I will buy no more until the production drops at least to 7-10k. The smart money if you think they are neat, is wait for the auctions after these are actually delivered and get them for a fiver.

I bought the Ryan and Ripken in the last week and have serious remorse.

Any of them you are willing to sell at .99 cents I'm a buyer. No questions asked.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Any of them you are willing to sell at .99 cents I'm a buyer. No questions asked.

As these start exceeding 100k runs they have no long term value of exceeding demand once the excitement dies down. Now the cards that had runs of 1000ish with 100k amateur collectors thinking of building the set right now? Different story.

It will die down when these prospectors are stuck with 100's of these they cant sell for cost because the news hyped these to the ceiling. I suggest buying the overproduced ones being made now in 2021 and wading back into to the 20 bucks on Topps.com later. This is Etopps squared at this moment.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by JustinD

As these start exceeding 100k runs they have no long term value of exceeding demand once the excitement dies down. Now the cards that had runs of 1000ish with 100k amateur collectors thinking of building the set right now? Different story.

It will die down when these prospectors are stuck with 100's of these they cant sell for cost because the news hyped these to the ceiling. I suggest buying the overproduced ones being made now in 2021 and wading back into to the 20 bucks on Topps.com later. This is Etopps squared at this moment.

And at an original cost of $20 -- $1 (or 99 cents) is 5 percent of the original asking price. Even for Junk Wax boxes -- you would pay 5 percent of original cost even for the worst boxes. 1988 Topps lets say you paid the $18 retail (50 cents per pack) in 1988, today 5 percent if about 90 cents and I guarantee you everyone would happily pay $1 each because the purest wholesale is $3-5 per box. I'd happily take a triple on every card item I buy any day of the week.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

And at an original cost of $20 -- $1 (or 99 cents) is 5 percent of the original asking price. Even for Junk Wax boxes -- you would pay 5 percent of original cost even for the worst boxes. 1988 Topps lets say you paid the $18 retail (50 cents per pack) in 1988, today 5 percent if about 90 cents and I guarantee you everyone would happily pay $1 each because the purest wholesale is $3-5 per box. I'd happily take a triple on every card item I buy any day of the week.

I feel like we are on different wavelengths here.

I am advocating buying at 1-5 bucks if you like them. I am not advocating taking a 95% loss and making the 99 cents guy happy purposefully.

I can guarantee that every buyer of 88' wax boxes during that boom was not planning on taking a 95% loss. They were just as blinded as the prospectors seeing those early cards sell at four figures and thinking they could do the same with a card 100x higher produced.

I'll be a buyer at a buck too, but honestly bummed to be taking a loss before they even ship. I knew it was coming logically, but this was fast.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I would say the investors killed this one for a while. In a year these will be .99 cards. Supply and demand will never hold even the cost after the clueless stop buying. I will buy no more until the production drops at least to 7-10k. The smart money if you think they are neat, is wait for the auctions after these are actually delivered and get them for a fiver.

I bought the Ryan and Ripken in the last week and have serious remorse.

I bought the Ted Williams because I liked the card, knowing it was going to have a high print run. 20.00 is the cost of lunch at a fast food restaurant. I don’t care about the value, but I would be shocked if you could buy them for less than
10 in the next year. I will continue to buy what I like at 20. If they become worth more than they are worth to me, I will sell. Otherwise they are part of my collection.

[bigfanNY]

If you go to the artists web sites many of them are buying 10,20,50 500!! And then they sign them and sell them for $200 to $1,000.00.
The First Trout card sold for over $2500.00 multiple times this week. And The first card an Ichiro by Ben Baller OVER $4,000.00 for a $20 card bough a few weeks ago. Lots of stories of people buying presales getting money returned. Bottom line LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT PROJECT 2020.
I might get a Trout signed by an artist I will let you know how it goes.
Jonathan

[Snapolit1]

Crazy speculative bubble. I like the cards. And it’s a brilliant idea. But $2500 to have a card signed by the ARTIST? That’s nuts. These are some talented folks but who cares about their autograph. And they can keep signing cards until their arms fall off. Good for them. Making some bucks during a slow time. But the idea that some card is going to be valuable because it was signed by a handbag designer? Cmon.

People are very very bored. No sports. No gambling. Few social activities.

Maybe in 3 years someone will stick this post in my ear. I strongly doubt it.

[MattyC]

I applaud the fusion of art and baseball cards that Topps has achieved here. Obviously with art being so subjective, what some will love others will not find aesthetically pleasing, etc. That said I've happily bought the ones which have grabbed my eye. If one is a fan of a particular card, for example as I am with the 84T Mattingly and 85T Gooden, it is nice to pair these renditions or artistic interpretations of the card alongside the original.

As with anything in the hobby, there will also be those who are only interested in the cards in so far as they can flip them for a profit. That's not how I engage with them so can't really speak to that. I've bought paintings I love decades ago that I still look at and love every day, and have no idea or care as to what they are worth.

[bigfanNY]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Crazy speculative bubble. I like the cards. And it’s a brilliant idea. But $2500 to have a card signed by the ARTIST? That’s nuts. These are some talented folks but who cares about their autograph. And they can keep signing cards until their arms fall off. Good for them. Making some bucks during a slow time. But the idea that some card is going to be valuable because it was signed by a handbag designer? Cmon.

People are very very bored. No sports. No gambling. Few social activities.

Maybe in 3 years someone will stick this post in my ear. I strongly doubt it.

First I did not say any of thhe artist's were charging $2500 to sign their cards. I said they were charging between $200 and $1,000.00. There was an artist today that sold his signed Tony Gwynns for between $175 and $1900.00 for a limited numbeted to 2. So yes prices are moving up but most of the cards sold for $300 and less. Second these are all Artists not handbag designers. I dont know where you got that from. Some of the work they have done so far is great. And if one of these guys takes off his signed limited work will do VERY WELL. Certainly not for everybody but what is. People collect what they collect. I hope they all enjoy what they collect I know I do.
Jonathan