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.

 

 

TOPPS Goodness - The Old Is New

We all have our favorite card sets - many of them from our younger days. I collected many of the sports cards back when there was one set per year, per sport.

 

The first soccer cards I ever obtained were the 1978 Topps England Footballers. I found them at a flea market and spent $2 for each pack when the going rate for contemporary cards were about 30 cents. I loved the design as it mirrored the NFL football cards I had collected a season before.

 

So when Topps debuted their Major League Soccer card this year, I was delighted to see the classic soccer cards I remembered.

Dwayne De Rosario

 

I picked up a couple of these to see what they looked like up close. I got Dwayne De Rosario - Canada's all-time leading goal scorer. He is a sure Hall of Famer being only the 5th MLS player to score 100 or more league goals.

Alessandro Nesta

 

I also selected former AC Milan star and Italian World Cup winner, Alessandro Nesta, from Montreal. He has already announced his retirement, which may mean his only MLS cards appear in this set.

David McCreery

 

Back in 1978, some players were going the other way - from Europe to North America. Northern Ireland's David McCreery was playing summers for the Tulsa Roughnecks and later appeared in the 1982 World Cup. He is featured for Manchester United in the 1978 set.

Asa Hartford

 

Asa Hardford was a Scottish International who came to America later in his career. He won a Championship with Ft. Lauderdale.

 

 Like the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey cards from a few years ago, these are nice chase cards. These 2013 Topps MLS cards are a subset of only 60 cards. I think it may be worth trying to complete the set.

 

 

THE KING is Still KING on Cardboard

 

Almost 40 years after he starred for the NEW YORK COSMOS, the legendary Brazilian soccer star PELE' is still commanding premium money on trading cards.

 

Having appeared a few years ago in the SPORTS KINGS series, he is now featured in several TOPPS sets. In my opinion, the most outstanding of these is the Topps Archives autograph card.

 

 

Ironically, this could have been Pele's American card debut had Topps been producing soccer cards in 1975 (assuming they would use the baseball design of the same year). Sadly, they were not.

 

I found only two sales recorded of this card:

$482.77 and an offer accepted from a $649.99 listing.

 

2013 Allen & Ginter included a hodge-podge of Pele cards in their set. A base card, a mini base card, a black border, a Bazooka back, a green back and a blank back.

 

Then there were the A&G memorabilia cards.

 

I purchased a pair of the minis for a small price compared to the specialty cards.

The purpose of the black backs ? Fuck if I know.

 

Then there are the autograph variations - blue autograph (can be found with 2 different border frames).

 

Blue ink have been recorded with $306.58, $315.08, $290, $304, $305, $292.89, $299.95, $311, $276.12, $311.01, $302.22, $318.03, $321, #338, $312.58. Its not certain if some of these were resold as they were not numbered.

 

The red ink rip cards have fared well being only #'d 1 of 10.

 

 

Red ink records were $760, $516.57, $632.57 and $476.00

 

Allen & Ginter autographed box toppers have shown around $400

 

 

 

Topps Tier One autograph cards numbered to # 50 have also sold as follows - $224.72, $274.99, $229.39, $247.50, $237.50 and $219.07

 

 

These Pele cards are part of the modern glut of variations, especially the Topps Allen & Ginter.

If I had the money that these high end cards are bringing, personally I would opt to get some of the vintage Pele cards from the 1960's. But I understand the chase of modern cards.

 

However, whichever the collector chooses, it only proves that PELE is still King ! 

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.

Finally ! TOPPS Returns to American Soccer

Not since 1979 has the Topps Chewing Gum Company made soccer product for the American market. Even then, it was just team logos from the old North American soccer League (NASL).

 

As I have been one of the strongest critiques of Upper Deck and their MLS soccer issues, I am glad to see someone else have a stab at it. (That will teach UD to ignore my ideas) - Bye-bye.

 

The samples released for the base set are not a huge leap from Upper Deck's hum-drum (see boring) random action photos. But I'll give them some leeway for taking on the task.

 

Yes, Topps will employ all the gimmicks it uses with its baseball products - base cards, jerseys, autographs, numbered and throwbackcards. However, it is a step in the right direction for the long standing collectors. Nostalgia was a large missing element in UD issues.

 

So it was with joy that I saw throwback styles of past Topps soccer cards. These limited inserts that worked so well with their hockey sets - are the design from the 1978 English Soccer set.

 

 

Classic 1978 Topps England card 

 

2013 Topps throwback MLS card

 

Topps has already surpassed UD in recognizing club rivalry as a mainstay to the sport. And no derby is as heated as the Northwest battle between Portland and Seattle.

A rather timid scene in the Battle of Cascadia

 

The jersey cards will be making their dreaded return. No matter how you design them, someone has to make a more interesting artifact to put into these cards. How about the goal nets or corner flags from the MLS Cup Final ? How about player shoes or goal keeper gloves ?

 

 

Another swatch of ... cheap cloth

 

To me, the cards which some Americans call minis, are actually the original size - cigarette cards - that began well over 100 years ago. So the subset of these cards will be on my collecting list.

 

There is a nice bunch of rookie cards in this years set. At least Topps is paying attention to young talent besides just draft picks.

 

I have a few more ideas that Topps can use to make their sets stand out. I will be exhibiting them with some custom samples.

 

Stay tuned ! 

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 ....

Adding to My A&BCs - Vintage gets Better But Harder to Find

The debut of modern bubble gum cards featuring soccer (football) began with the 1958-59 A&BC Football Stars of England. As explained elsewhere in this blog, A&BC Gum Ltd. was later purchased by Topps. The card designs are often familiar between the Topps sets especially the various sports issues.

The premier set of 92 cards were issued in 2 series of 46 players each. The second series being uch rarer and seemingly difficult to find. Some are found without the Planet Ltd. advert on top (with dotted line).

I was able to obtain 4 excellent to mint cards for my personal set. It included card # 1 Eddie Baily (below).

 England international and later beloved National Team Manager - Bobby Robson.

The cards with yellow backgrounds are very appealing to me. This is Arsenal's Derek Tapscott (below).  The background colors are dark blue, light blue, green and yellow. They follow a pattern with the card numbering. For example the first 5 cards have blue backgrounds. The next four have green backdrops.  

The forth card is one of the up and coming stars of Tottenham Hotspur's Double-winning side - Terry Medwin.

Although these are less favored to me compared to the subsequent year,  the 1959-60 A&BC set, these 1958-59 portrait style and background colors on these are memorable. Much like the 1952 Topps baseball cards, this is a debut set and will stand as a mark for modern soccer card collections.

The challenge, albeit a small set, will be to complete all 92 cards and even harder to find them in pristine condition. I feel fortunate to have added these four to my collection thus far.

The A&BC s of Footballers - the First Year

The first product of any card company is always special. The 1952 Topps baseball is idolized for its inclusion of the Mickey Mantle card. The 1958 A&BC Chewing Gum card set is actually the second sports product from the British card makers.

The 1954 A&BC All Sports was a multi-athletic set but did feature some great soccer players. However, the first complete soccer set by A&BC was this 1958-59 series. This feaured the rookie card of England's all time scorer and Manchester United great - BOBBY CHARLTON.

I recently traded for 5 cards from this colorful set with my friend Stein. A&BC - also known as the American & British Company Limited - produced sets from 1958 to 1975. They were then purchased by Topps. Topps continued the soccer sets up to 1981.

You can see that the two makers already worked together by the similarity of designs from the Topps baseball and the A&BC soccer cards.

I have already completed two of the A&BC sets - the 1967 and the 1971 series. I have about 75 % of the 1959 set and got a nice start on this 1958 set. The variations are still a curiousity as the debut series were issued wih the Planet album offer and without

the Planet offer. Yet, even the with versions have been found to be on different sizes.

Of course the "with Planet tabs" are more desirable, the ones without were designed to be put in the album. As you can see by the dotted line they expected the collectors to trim off the tab to fit in the album.

I am looking for any trades on these cards. Speak up and get yourself a deal ...

Made in the U.S.A. ... football

It may be hard to believe, but their is some envy over soccer cards made in the U.S.A. - To clearly understand, one needs to see the number of Manchester United fan sites around the world.

Manchester United has always had some of the most famous and flashy players. going back to its 100 year history - Billy Meredith was the top man in the 1920's.

During the 1960's - George Best was known as the 5th Beatle. He was in every way - the best.

Recently, David Beckham captured the attention of fans and now he's playing in America.

His place was taken briefly by Cristiano Ronaldo - who came on tour to the USA this past summer - after his trade to Real Madrid.

Any time you get these star at Manchester United - thier cards are in demand and collectors go ballistic. (if you doubt it, try to buy a Beckham memorabilia card on ebay).

The lastest Man U. hotshot is Wayne Rooney. He is on a tear this season for club and country scoring 7 goals in 5 games. Thing is, he has a card produced by American makers - Sports Ilustrated for Kids. It makes great trade bait.

Ironically, I have covered the huge mistake Topps made by not producing regular soccer cards in the 1970's. But that does not mean they were not thinking about it.

Submitted for your approval are the following 1977 Topps England soccer cards -

England, who have traditionally played in white jersey since, oh, 1872 only began wearing red change kits in 1966. They did make a drastic part from those choices on a tour of the USA in 1976. They played in YELLOW kits.

The interesting thing here is that the above cards of England stars Gerry Francis and Kevin Keegan were shot at RFK Stadium (current home of DC United) in a game against TEAM AMERICA. You can tell the Washington, DC stadium by its seating and background.

The most telling item on the card is the trademark NASL soccer ball at the player's feet.

Now there are over a dozen American players performing in the top league in the world - Premier League - in England. Those cards are now making their way here after most of them appeared in Major League Soccer sets.