Showing posts with label MLS cards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLS cards. Show all posts

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Blog-Bat-Around-Lost-Cards / SCORE

This coming from a TOPPS friendly blog http://lifetimetopps.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/blog-bat-around-lost-cards/    - cards of player we wished were included with sets, but were not.

As an avid card collector in my youth, there was little regret except for the absence of soccer player cards from the Topps Chewing Gum Company.

Sure, there were regional soccer issues from Burger King, 7/Eleven, Herfy's and Essay Meats.  What would have been great was one uniform set that included all the teams in the old NASL.  It woud have done wonders for interest and preserving the history of the game in North America.

TOP 5 Cards that should have been produced ...

1. So 40 years later a small, unlicensed company in England has accomplished this dream. SCORE has produced a series called INTERNATIONAL STARS that depict some of the World's Greatest in their NASL jerseys.

 
The Legendary Pele' suited up for an NASL All-Star Team to playing in the Bicentennial Cup against the National Teams of England, Italy and Brazil. The Team wore USA jerseys, although it was not an official US National Team.
 
The Dutch Master in Washington Diplomat colors.

 
Georgie Best with the San Jose Earthquakes
 
 
Johann Cruyff joined the Cosmos for one exhibition match and was immortalized in their jersey.
 
How I would have loved to have collected these back then. Topps now produces the MLS cards. Hopefully, they can make up for lost time by including some of the past greats that played in America.
 
2. Because of his exclusive contract with Anglo Confectionery, George Best was not included in any of the A&BC card sets from 1969 to 1974. He re-appeared in the 1977 Topps set.
 
3. Upper Deck skipped making MLS cards in 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2003. These were crucial years that would have included Landon Donovan, Taylor Twellman and Dwayne DeRosario rookie cards among other.
 
4. 1992 Topps Stadium Club should have included JOHN HARKES. who had scored what was voted the "goal of the year" and upset Manchester United in the 1991  League Cup.  Harksie should have made it into the 1994 Merlin card set as he took Sheffield Wednesday to both the League Cup and the FA Cup in the same season.
 
5. Upper Deck dropped the ball (again) as it abandoned producing World Cup Cards after the (1993 preview set) and USA 1994 set. One can only imagine what might have been producing sets for 1998 or 2002 - cards of Thierry Henry, Zidane, Ronaldo, Robbie Keane, Ronaldinho and Beckham.
 
Karma is a heavy burden. Now look at what Upper Deck has left. Not much.
 
 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Careless Upper Deck - Upside Down. No Ka-CHING

Anyone who has read this blog regularly knows my distain for Upper Deck and their piss poor MLS soccer card issues. Printing errors have been part of the hobby since Guttenberg pressed the first bible.

However, the excuse for making an error that a First Grader can see is inexcusable. Here is a perfect example of why Upper Deck should not be making soccer cards for MLS fans ...
 
 
Do you see it ?  While we may remember that the San Jose Earthquakes were moved to Houston to become the Dynamo, and then the Earthquakes were reborn, we should also know that the Dynamo play in in orange jerseys, in an orange stadium.
 
 
All of Brain Ching's jerseys contain orange.
 
 
Can it be any clearer ?
 
 
Houston Dynamo are orange - San Jose Earthquakes wear blue.
 
 
What amazes me is that a company that can produce the waste plant material like the above, can also issue classic soccer legend cards like the Goodwin series (below).
 
 
Although this 2012 Goodwin sample is not without error. For some soccer collector's, it may appear that STEVE BLOOMER played in the USA from the star and stripes shield under his portrait. At closer look, we can see the 3 Lions crest on his shirt depicting the England National Team.
 
And yet, this modern issue is a great link to soccer history at an affordable price. That is unless you can first find, then pay, the $200-$300 or more for this rare Clarke's Cigarettes issue from 1902.
 
 
It is becoming very clear why Upper Deck is losing its licenses for all the sport leagues. I would not shed a tear if they lost the MLS too. I would actually prefer a card maker like In-The-Game to come along and produce unlicensed cards with great history and memorabilia.
 
Upper Deck has become Sewer Dwellers. If the card maker doesn't care, why should I collect them ?

Friday, July 27, 2012

STOKE CITY, PETER SHILTON and New Soccer Card Prices

Premier League club STOKE CITY continue their tour of the USA tomorrow night. I will be attending their game at the Citrus Bowl against USL PRO Champions Orlando City. 

I am hoping new American signing Geoff Cameron (from Houston Dynamo) will make his debut for Stoke along with City's star players - Peter Crouch, Kenwyne Jones and Thomas Sorensen. Hopefully, I will get a few photos to share of the night for upcoming blogs.

July 25 - Columbus Crew 2, Stoke City 1
July 28 - Orlando City (Citrus Bowl) 7:30 PM
August 1 - Sporting Kansas City (Livestrong Park)

PETER SHILTON -

I've added another 1975 Topps card to my collection. When I wrote about Stan Matthews having cards in 4 different decades,  I could have also added another Stoke City player - PETER SHILTON. 


1975 TOPPS Peter Shilton

Shilton played a record 125 games for England. He also added a phenomenal 1005 league matches. In total he holds the world record for most competitive matches in professional soccer. He made his card debut in the 1960's and had various issued collectables in the 70's, 80's and 90's until his retirement.

This 1975 card makes my checklist of all but one Topps Shilton cards (10 out of 11 completed). 

PRICE WATCH -

The recent ebay prices for modern soccer cards has continued to rise.

Here are just a few high lights :

2012 Upper Deck MLS Marks - Thierry Henry - $232.50

The Upper Deck autograph of the Frenchman fetched over $200 bucks even though the signature is on the "band aid" sticker. 


2008 Sport Kings Gold - Pele -  $306.00

This "on card" Gold autograph (1 of 10) from Sport Kings has been hovering around $900 bucks, so someone got a steal at a third of the price. Still one of the best cards ever to have in your collection.


2012 Futera Unique - Demba Ba - $242.22

The rise in 1 of 1 Futera autograph cards is truly interesting. Such is the wonder with the above card of Newcastle United's young star Demba Ba.  A 1 of 1 of Liverpool star Maxi Rodriguez also sold for $315.00


2001 Upper Deck Man. United - Beckham - $809.99

I made the mistake in thinking the auction had ended on this David Beckham card at around $500.00 - it was furious bidding that push it a further $300 bills ...

Next up:  vintage card prices



Wednesday, January 28, 2009

PANINI to the Rescue !

The news that Topps and Upper Deck are out of the basketball card business is making the rounds. As I have adopted the enlightened thinking for my new year - I look at the possibilities, not the negative.


PANINI of Modena, Italy have been producing soccer cards and stickers since 1962. They have been involved with the making of NFL football, MLB baseball and NHL hockey issues in the 1980's and 1990's.

The European based company has also made products for Disney and Star Wars. Their annual soccer sets are made for no less than 30 countries around the globe. So it is a safe bet they know what they are doing when it comes to collectibles.


This brings me to the void that this will leave in the sports market in the USA. Since most of North American leagues are becoming global, it seems a given that soccer will take its rightful role in the American sports scene. It begs to ask what the card makers could conger if they used the designs to make MLS cards ...

Former EPL ironman Brian McBride sports a 1984 topps design in Chicago's colors.

Los Angeles' David Beckham is seen here in the 1981 Fleer style - that is if he retruns from AC Milan.

New Captain and all-time great Kasey Keller is sporting the 1991 topps for the expansion Seattle Sounders.

If only ... Upper Deck would be given a run for their money in this league.