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

Friday, July 6, 2012

Quakes, Kookie cards and more Stan ...

One of the great things about surfing the web for your favorite cards is finding stuff that you've never seen. One of the worse things about surfing the web to find your favorite cards is finding stuff you've never seen ... but now want.

Case in point - this Greek card, of a French movie poster, of BRUCE LEE from Enter The Dragon, depicted as "Kato", from the Green Hornet TV show. Phew !


Just plain kookie, but pretty cool in another way, as it is quite colorful and may be a very rare card.

With all the art cards / sketch cards being produced (I should know, as I used to make them for Topps and Co.) it is interesting to find vintage memorabilia with some quality pencil work. Here are two samples from the 1978 Coca-Cola SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES set.
This is PARVIZ, the Iranian Soccer Captain at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic games. He joined San Jose after the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. Two other Iranian stars who also came to the NASL were Andranik ESKANDARIAN who joined the New York Cosmos and Iraj DANAEIFARD with the Tulsa Roughnecks.

This is LES CHAPMAN, who racked up an amazing over 700 games in English League. He spent one season with San Jose.

I really like these sketch cards, albeit they are just prints and not actual sketches. Upper Deck could learn a few things by making the MLS sets a step up from less boring. 

And the results of more searching is this fantastic 1 of 1 art card of SIR STAN MATTHEWS from the 2012 SPORT KINGS set. From what I understand it went for over $1000.00 to a private buyer. 

That's really too bad. Or should I say good - because I really, really wanted this. And I have a grand burning a hole in my wallet ... NOT.

So I have to settle for some other Stan Matthews cards to add to my collection. I will feature these in an upcoming blog. 

Saturday, June 23, 2012

1975 TOPPS - Manchester United

Adding to my 1975 Topps soccer set with the "red" side of Manchester. The mid 70's finds today's world's most expensive club absent of its legendary trio of Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best. However, the side still has some very good international players:

MICK MARTIN - earned 51 caps for the Republic of Ireland. After 147 appearances for Newcastle United, he caught the end of the NASL wave by joining the VANCOUVER WHITECAPS.  Son of Irish soccer star Con Martin. 

WILLIE MORGAN - won 21 caps for Scotland including the 1974 World Cup. First came to America on loan to the Chicago Sting and then spent 3 seasons with the MINNESOTA KICKS. 

ALEX FORSYTH - winner of the 1977 F.A. Cup with United. Capped 10 times for Scotland. 

STUART PEARSON - another 1977 F.A. Cup winner. Also won the 1980 F.A. Cup with West Ham.  Earned 15 caps for England including the match against Team USA in 1976.

ALEX STEPNEY - the last holdover from the Manchester's great 1968 European Championship. He made an astonishing 546 appearances for United after which he joined the DALLAS TORNADO in America. 

Although I don't think I will ever complete this set, I have hopes of finishing my LIVERPOOL players list and a few more of the special cards like CENTURIONS and the TOPPS SELECT cards.

NEXT:  here is a clue - I'll be STUCK to the TV screen, watching EURO 2012 while eating my  PANINI ....

Friday, May 21, 2010

Return of the ROWDIES

The ROWDIES are here, the ROWDIES are there ... a kick in the grass. The 1970's theme song was a hit in the early days of Florida's permier sports teams. Before the Rowdies, the only professional franchise in the Sunshine State was an obsecure ABA basketball team and the NFL Miami Dolphins.
But all that changed in 1975 - when the NASL awarded a franchise to the city of Tampa. By 1976, the Rowdies were the most popular team in Florida. The New York Cosmos signed the legendary PELE' to a multimillion dollar contract. It is no secret this is what prompted baseball's N.Y. Yankees to do the same with Jim "Catfish" Hunter - the first million dollar player in MLB.

But the Rowdies went out and got a wild one ... the quick witted, clown prince of soccer - RODNEY MARSH. A superstar in England, best selling author by age 20, and the hero of the stadium terraces. HE - came to Tampa Bay.
When the Rowdies opened their 2010 season at Steinbrenner Field on May 8th - the fans were introduced to 10 of the original Rowdies. Rodney was one of those in attendance. I did not hesitate to have him autograph his 1977 Topps card and his 1967 Autobiography.
While I was at it, I added to my 1990 ProSet England soccer cards with former Everton and Manchester City star - Adrian Heath. Heath is now the head coach of the visiting Austin Aztex. This was my 3rd signed Manchester City player in this set.

This is not you father's NASL - but the teams are young and exciting. Hopefully, there will be more collectables on the horizon.