Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The $1,000,005 Arm
Readers have already asked me when the first cards of Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel (a.k.a. The Indian Pirates) will be issued, and who will issue them. I'm kind of curious myself, if only to observe the inevitable bidding war between Topps, UD, Pani-Russ, and Razor for their exclusive rights.
Then I saw this on Deadspin this afternoon. Someone from Topps offered Rinku and Dinesh the traditional $5 "Steak Dinner" checks they give to (literally) every Minor League prospect. For those of you that don't know, for decades Topps has doled out the token $5 contracts to as many minor leaguers as they can possibly sign. While the original idea was to keep as many players away from their 1950s competitor Bowman, they've keep the practice alive as it allows Topps to include minor leaguers and top prospects in "Major League" sets. The Steak Dinner Check is the reason why for years, Topps was able to load up its Bowman brands with scores of minor league players.
As it turns out, Rinku and Dinesh both thought Topps was trying to pull a fast one. Both players has already spoken to (and may have already signed contracts with) representatives of Upper Deck and Playoff and had no clue of the practice. But, this being 2009, they wrote about their escapade on their blog.
I cannot paraphrase their post and do it justice. So, for your entertainment, I reprint it in its entirety.
But wait. It turns out it was all just a big misunderstanding.
... And everything worked out in the end.
No word on when we'll be seeing The Indian Pirates on cardboard, yet.
Then I saw this on Deadspin this afternoon. Someone from Topps offered Rinku and Dinesh the traditional $5 "Steak Dinner" checks they give to (literally) every Minor League prospect. For those of you that don't know, for decades Topps has doled out the token $5 contracts to as many minor leaguers as they can possibly sign. While the original idea was to keep as many players away from their 1950s competitor Bowman, they've keep the practice alive as it allows Topps to include minor leaguers and top prospects in "Major League" sets. The Steak Dinner Check is the reason why for years, Topps was able to load up its Bowman brands with scores of minor league players.
As it turns out, Rinku and Dinesh both thought Topps was trying to pull a fast one. Both players has already spoken to (and may have already signed contracts with) representatives of Upper Deck and Playoff and had no clue of the practice. But, this being 2009, they wrote about their escapade on their blog.
I cannot paraphrase their post and do it justice. So, for your entertainment, I reprint it in its entirety.
Yesterday locker room man coming to us from company Topps. He saying we sign contract. We telling him we not reading this english. we say he have talking JB (Jeff Bernstein, the players' agent) sir. He saying he talking JB sir and JB sir say OK signing.
So we signing this thing and he give me and Dinesh $5.00. Then we finding out JB sir not knowing this. Man from company Topps lying to us. he very bad man. This very bad company. We having good deals with upper Deck and Playoff. We not liking Topps. We never be Topps if they ask us signing again. They bad man and say lying to us.
We hoping no people buying Topps cards. Peoples who liking us only buying Upper Deck and Playoff.
But wait. It turns out it was all just a big misunderstanding.
Topps man sir. We sorry. JB explaining that he knowing this man and he not believe man doing these things. he say we not understanding right. Dinesh and i all things new being to us. we wishing many time we just being pitcher, but we also knowing all other things too needed.
This big mistake by me and dinesh. we always sending JB first so no more mistakes. We sorry if we causing any problem. We wanting everyone forget this thing please.
... And everything worked out in the end.
No word on when we'll be seeing The Indian Pirates on cardboard, yet.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Rand-dumb Thoughts on the Pani-Russ Deal.
So Panini is about to buy-out and takeover Donruss. I guess I have to write something, huh? Alright. Here it goes...
Unlike basketball, I still believe that baseball is a sport that can support more than one licensee -- albeit 34 product releases is still about a dozen too many. With the MLB/PA contracts set to expire at the end of this year, will Pani-Russ outbid Upper Deck for yet another license?
And if Pani-Russ does get a baseball license, then what? I know I'm in the minority when I say this, but I was happy to see Donruss go at the end of '05. I may be jumping the gun here, but I hope Pani-Russ gets a license. But with that said, I hope it's the Donruss of the mid-to-late-90s and not the Donruss-Playoff of the early-00s.
If only to satisfy the 10-year-old in me, I hope Pani-Russ brings back the stickers.
Unlike basketball, I still believe that baseball is a sport that can support more than one licensee -- albeit 34 product releases is still about a dozen too many. With the MLB/PA contracts set to expire at the end of this year, will Pani-Russ outbid Upper Deck for yet another license?
And if Pani-Russ does get a baseball license, then what? I know I'm in the minority when I say this, but I was happy to see Donruss go at the end of '05. I may be jumping the gun here, but I hope Pani-Russ gets a license. But with that said, I hope it's the Donruss of the mid-to-late-90s and not the Donruss-Playoff of the early-00s.
If only to satisfy the 10-year-old in me, I hope Pani-Russ brings back the stickers.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Yeah, But Is It Real?
Steve Mendez has got to be the luckiest SOB in the world. Over the past three years, he's pulled autographed ones-of-one of LeBron James, President John Adams and Robert Treat Paine.
Now, this same guy pulls a one-of-one Babe Ruth cut "signature" out of a pack of 2009 Topps. That's four ones-of-one in three years. Pretty lucky, huh?
With what went down yesterday, the question must be asked. Is that even a real Babe Ruth autograph?
Well? Whaddya think?
(h/t Beckett Blog)
Now, this same guy pulls a one-of-one Babe Ruth cut "signature" out of a pack of 2009 Topps. That's four ones-of-one in three years. Pretty lucky, huh?
With what went down yesterday, the question must be asked. Is that even a real Babe Ruth autograph?
Well? Whaddya think?
(h/t Beckett Blog)
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Stick a Fork in 'em.
Now, call me crazy. But if I were in charge of a trading card company, and if my company issued a product that cost $2500 a pack; I'd make damn sure the cut signatures are 100% authentic!
But then again, that's just me.
But then again, that's just me.
The New and Improved Philly Show. Be there!
Come meet Stale Gum's Chris Harris and a slew of your favorite cardbloggers and collectors at the first ever Philly Show at its new location.
Where and When:
The Valley Forge Convention Center
Sunday, March 15
Admission: $7 (free parking!)
Over 350 tables, and a crapload of autograph guests! Oh, what fun we'll have!
For more information on the show, and autograph guests go to the website.
RSVP: chris.harris@stalegum.com
Where and When:
The Valley Forge Convention Center
Sunday, March 15
Admission: $7 (free parking!)
Over 350 tables, and a crapload of autograph guests! Oh, what fun we'll have!
For more information on the show, and autograph guests go to the website.
RSVP: chris.harris@stalegum.com
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
And now a Public Service Announcement
If you've opened up as much 2009 Upper Deck Series One as I have, you've noticed that the collation sucks. How much so? Well...
About a month ago, I bought a Series One Blaster at the local Wal-Mart. You can find that video here. In that particular Blaster I pulled a "Historic Firsts" insert of Mariners manager Dan Wakamatsu and a "USA 18U National Team" insert of Jeff Malm.
The next week, I went to the same Wal-Mart and bought another Blaster. In that box I pulled a Gary Sheffield Gold parallel numbered to 99 and another Jeff Malm USA insert.
For the next few weeks, this Wal-Mart was out of UD Blasters. But today, I noticed that they had put a few more out, so I bought another. Take a guess as to what I pulled.
Another Dan Wakamatsu "Historic First," another Jeff Malm USA, and another Gary Sheffield Gold parallel numbered to 99.
Combine that with the Hobby box I ripped at Dr. Wax Battle's and I've pulled three Dan Wakamatsu's, four Jeff Malm's and two Gary Sheffield Gold parallels.
OBTW, I've yet to pull a David Price rookie card.
2009 Upper Deck Baseball Blasters: buyer beware!
About a month ago, I bought a Series One Blaster at the local Wal-Mart. You can find that video here. In that particular Blaster I pulled a "Historic Firsts" insert of Mariners manager Dan Wakamatsu and a "USA 18U National Team" insert of Jeff Malm.
The next week, I went to the same Wal-Mart and bought another Blaster. In that box I pulled a Gary Sheffield Gold parallel numbered to 99 and another Jeff Malm USA insert.
For the next few weeks, this Wal-Mart was out of UD Blasters. But today, I noticed that they had put a few more out, so I bought another. Take a guess as to what I pulled.
Another Dan Wakamatsu "Historic First," another Jeff Malm USA, and another Gary Sheffield Gold parallel numbered to 99.
Combine that with the Hobby box I ripped at Dr. Wax Battle's and I've pulled three Dan Wakamatsu's, four Jeff Malm's and two Gary Sheffield Gold parallels.
OBTW, I've yet to pull a David Price rookie card.
2009 Upper Deck Baseball Blasters: buyer beware!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Insulting Our Collective Intelligence, One Gimmick at a Time.
The sad thing is, someone at Topps has convinced himself that collectors actually want these gimmicks.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
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