More TOPPS minis - We Used To Call Them Cigarette Cards

They call them "mini" cards today. What was once the standard size of a sport card, sold as a premium with cigarettes, are now inserts, chase cards or subsets.

 

The 2013 TOPPS MLS set has included a subset of 15 mini cards. I've picked up 3 of these which I have deemed the best of the lot.

 

LANDON DONOVAN is the USA's all-time leading goal scorer with 57. He is 2nd in appearances with 154 caps, but 1st in games started. He is also 1st in assists and total points for the US National Team. He is a slam dunk future Hall of Famer and probably the best known American soccer player.

Landon Donovan

 

THIERRY HENRY is a the all-time leading goal scorer for France with 51. The Red Bulls star, retired from international duty, finished with 123 caps.

Winning the MLS league title (Supporters Shield) with New York this season, he now has championships in France (Monaco), England (Arsenal), Spain (Barcelona) and the US (New York).

 

In addition, he is the all-time goal scorer for Arsenal (174 league goals), has won the Uefa Champions League and the FIFA World Cup. He has won the Cup in both England (FA Cup) and Spain (Copa del Rey). Already a member of the English Hall of Fame, there is little else he can achieve. If you get a chance to see this legend play, take it.

Thierry Henry

 

In keeping with the theme, ROBBIE KEANE is the all-time leading scorer for the Republic of Ireland with 61. He is also the most capped with 130 appearance. He is still active and will probably add to these numbers. He has scored a whopping 126 Premier League goals.

He has won the League Cup in England (Tottenham) and two MLS Cups with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Robbie Keane

 

This is a very manageable subset that can be easily collected for under $50. Although there is no tobacco product connected to these, they fit in well with cigarette card collecting.

 

DO YOU OWN ANY MINI OR CIGARETTE CARDS ? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ?

USA Gold Cup High Lights Topps MLS Players

TOPPS has got a winner on its hands. The US National Team's CONCACAF GOLD CUP victory put a spotlight on MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER. With a majority of the European based Americans taking a summer break, USA Manager Jurgen Klinsmann opted to use a domestic league "B side".

 

Topps' 2013 MLS card set is loaded with variations of cards that feature Gold Cup Champions -

 

A late call up, Sporting KC's MATT Besler was tough on defense.

 

Chicago's goalkeeper SEAN JOHNSON recorded a clean sheet in his one chance between the posts.

 

EDDIE JOHNSON scored 14 seconds after coming on as a sub. He also scored in the semi-final.

GRAHAM ZUSI was seen as the successor to Landon Donovan.

 

LANDON DONOVAN erased all rumors of his demise. His 5 goals netted him of the Golden Boot as top scorer (tied with 2 others) and the Golden Ball as tournament MVP.

 

Once forgotten midfield enforcer, KYLE BECKERMAN was a surprise to everyone except maybe Klinsmann.

With the # 1 and # 2 U.S. netminders playing in England, NICK RIMANDO was called to duty and came up big. He's going to Brazil - but maybe as the # 2 not # 3 goalkeeper.

 

The dangerman, and Mexico's nemesis, was FC Dallas'  Panamanian star - BLAS PEREZ.

Top scorer in MLS over the past 2 seasons, CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI came to play. Wearing and extra "W" on his jersey nameplate, the error resulted in a hattrick against Belize.  He tied for the Golden Boot with 5 goals.

 

Other MLS players who fared well were Marvin Chavez and Clarence Goodson of the San Jose Earthquakes, and Alvaro Saborio of Real Salt Lake.

 

The Gold Cup has come a long way and is a showcase for many of the regions best players. It might be time for PANINI to step up and do a sticker set for the next tournament.

Out with the old - In with the New

So what has been keeping me from writing ? My apologies to all the followers and the ones that check in time to time. I have been writing alright, but just not on my blog.

 I had an article published in the SGC Collectors Magazine  (above) - a hobby publication associated with professional card graders. In the past, this periodical has been mostly baseball oriented. However, if you read my article, you will know how the whole global soccer trading card craze has emerged.

I've also been working on a book. So, these posts are killing my typing hands ...

Now on to new things ...  50 CRACKS

Argentina's TIKI TIKI Magazine has again produced a wonderful set of international star players. The front of the card depicts the players with their club team with National Team flag,club logo and position. There is also a player rating on a color chart.

The reverse of the cards have the player pictured with their National Team along with career highlights and other statistics.

This reminds me of the English 1972 IPC Magazines that had large insert cards.

 These included England and Scotland players featured in their National Team jersey.

The cards were perferated so that you could punch out the player and a grass green stand to display them.

The above Bobby moore card is mislabled as "1969" when they are from 1972.

The Celebration for This Generation ...

As a sports fan who's been around longer than the internet, it gives me great joy to see what technology that has brought me closer to my sport.

This You tube video was compiled by a college football fanatic ... turned soccer fan. And who can blame him after seeing this WORLD'S REACTION TO LANDON DONOVAN'S GAME WINNING GOAL.

My favorite part is the guy alone on the staircase (about 3/4 way in) ... makes me proud to be an American fan.

USA Proves To Be World Class

When they listed the players that were expected to star in the 2010 World Cup, a few Americans wanted Landon Donovan added to the list. After all, he featured brightly with Everton F.C. earlier in the year and led the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS CUP final last season.

But what many Americans are discovering, and what the rest of the world knows now - the USA can match up with pretty much any soccer power they face.

If you picked Wayne Rooney, Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo or Didier Drogba to be the top scorer in the Cup, you forgot about one guy. Landon Donovan.

But the victory over Algeria was sweet in so many ways - topping Group C (over England) and doing what so many want to see - score goals. This was no "miracle on grass", but rather the culmination of hard work, a developing soccer league and the emergence of the passion of soccer in the USA. There are more Donovans in America - they just need to be found.

Super Bowls, World Series and NBA Championships are relagated to nights and weekends - while the World Cup could care less when its played ... people are watching it at all hours. So it is a testament to the efforts of America to play the game the rest of the planet does - and beat them at it. No changing the rules, no bastardized version of the game and definately no interference from the NCAA.

Soccer is the world's game - and that is what the USA is winning in so far - The World Cup.

Congratulations USA - on to the round of 16 !

No Country For Old Men ...

I cannot remember when I got so much use out of my cable tv. With all that is turning the sports world, I have not time for writing this blog. NBC, MSNBC, USA, CNBC, Fox Soccer Channel, GOLTV and ESPN ... and now Fox Soccer Plus is introduced this week ... what the hell do I have time for ?

American international Landon Donovan has been voted Everton F.C.'s player of the month. There is even a facebook site dedcated to keeping at Everton - which means not returning to MLS before the World Cup this summer. 

The other hottest player has to be Manchester United's Wayne Rooney - with superelatives like "greatest" and "legend" being tossed around. One thing is for sure, the USA defense will have one hell of a time trying to neutralize the Englishman at the World Cup on June 12th.

And while I'm interupting my Uefa Champions League, English Premier League with spring training of the MLS clubs here in Florida, along comes the US National Team to play in Tampa. It was a great match to watch in the pouring rain. The US fans were fantastic !

so all this and then the Olympics get even more interesting. Missed turns, wipeouts, wiped tears, torn limbs and limber athletes ...

Canada rebounds with Roberto Luongo (I told you so) and will meet the USA in a rematch for GOLD on Sunday.

It is lucky I can get any sleep. At least I can carry my laptop to the "can" or eat in front of the TV. But  no time for proper blogging ... so until then ... this will have to do.

FUTERA ... Out of This World cards

Last posting I featured a great new set from ITG of Canada. This time it is even better ...
Futera cards of the UK (near England for the geographically challenged) have just released their 9th annual series of World Football cards. The company began in the late 1990's with club sets that included Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Celtic.

The release began some of the most coveted sports collectables in recent years with their 1/1 autograph cards. (that means only one card like this exists in the entire world) Now if you follow baseball, hockey or basketball there might be a few million of you. However, since soccer - football is world wide - the hunt for these treasures is massive for the billions who love this game.

For Americans it's special as the cards depict players usually with national team jerseys - only an exclusive few make these limited sets. Two to three Yanks have been included with sets in the past few years. Recent sets have included Landon Donovan, Kasey Keller and current # 1 goalkeeper - Tim Howard (above).

Some of the more interesting memorabilia cards have been produced by Futera. For the collectors who are weary of jersey cards that come from photo shoots or practice gear - rest assured, these cards tell you exactly from which team / season the jersey originates. The back of the above card of superstar "Ronaldinho" lets you know the swatch comes from his rookie season with Paris St. Germain.

The newest twist on card collecting comes from what is on the back of these cards. Futera has developed online gaming for card collectors. Entering the digital numbers on the reverse of the cards, collectors add to their fantasy teams over the internet. Periodic winners get exclusive cards made by Futera and other prizes.

There are chase cards that feature current HEROES ... (like England / Chelsea Captain - John Terry and Holland / Arsenal gunner Robin Van Persie above).

The old boys are not to be outdone as the most sought after chase cards are the LEGENDS which show all-time greats like two former New York Cosmos - Pele' and Franz Beckenbauer.

So all around the world - at shops or online, from the Brazil's Greatest (Pele') to the Newest ( teenager - "Pato" at top), this set has it all. Made for the collectors and the gamers and the fans of the sport - 2009 FUTERA is out of this world.

Warning - this is a high end product - not for the faint hearted of finance. The HEROES card have a brisk selling price of $15 - 20 on the secondary market, while the LEGENDS can demand from $50 to $300.

The 1/1 cards that make it to the second hand auctions range from $100 to $500 for "average" players. Superstar 1/1 autographs (if anyone would give them up) would fetch well into the thousands of dollars price range - AC Milan's Gattuso bringing $450 last week on ebay.