General Forum

 How could we all forgot:

HowlingFury - I like your idea for a no-frills set of cards.  Back in the day we didn't buy cards just because there was a chance for a super valuable autograph or relic.  We bought them because...wait for it...we actually liked the cards.  We weren't all armed with a Becketts by our side, scouring every pack for that rare card we could immediately put up for auction on eBay.  We lived without inserts, autos, x-fractors, relics, parallels, SP's, etc.  I wouldn't mind a set of cards that had a reasonable set size, had no high cost SP's, and cost relatively little per pack. 

I agree completely. Do I like getting fancy cards like autographs and jerseys? Yes, I cannot lie...I love to get them. But to me they are an added bonus, NOT the main reason to purchase cards. In fact, I enjoyed the hobby more before they existed. It may make me a hypocrite because I would be sad if they went away....but for me base set collecting is the main goal.

I loved the Topps Total set produced for the NBA in 2004-05 and 2005-06. They were simple cards, with a good photo and simple white borders. The sets were over 400 cards and inluded not only all the players in the league, but coaches, even assistant coaches, and the second set even included team mascots! They included everything a true collector could ask for except league leaders and Memorable Moments from the previous season. It remains the only time I am aware of where assistant coaches and mascots ever got cards. They did include parallels and inserts, but the latter are mostly forgettable. I did pull a 1 of 1 printing plate from my 2004-05 box.

 Topps Total was nice and it had a few autographs @ .99 a pack. I guess they didn't like how many boxes they'd have to sell to make big buck... and I'm talking about dealers too. 

 What's the website with the Indie guys? Is that Brian Kelley at MWR?  I know he started a set a few years back but I don't know if that's still current.  I never bought any.  IWAP out of Illinois did a set too but I don't have a checklist for it. I think I only have cards of the referee and of Honky Tonk Man. I could definitely get behind well-made sets of the indies.

jupiterhill wrote: I would love more extensive college sets.  I would even like to have sets featuring Division 2 and lower schools.  Maybe NCAA could make a set featuring all the bowl games each year since there are so many.  Feature a school on each card and show their record and such and a recap of the game. I could go for a WWE Hall of Fame set.  I would actually like a set featuring people in the PWI Hall of Fame of Cauliflower Alley Hall of Fame.  There is a wrestling website that makes a new card every month you can buy that features indy wrestlers (reminds me, I should see about adding a checklist). The game show hosts idea is cool too.  I mean how many chances do we get to showcase Wink Martindale cards (I know some exist though).