Cutting Up Valuable Autographs

[mouschi]

So for about 10 years now, I've been creating custom cards for both my and other people's collections, while showing them here. I've had a blast doing it, but 2023 is the year I focused on it more than any year prior.

I've done TONS of cards from modern, all sports, non sports, etc. but here are some of the older baseball pieces.

I wanted to show a handful of pieces that I created throughout this past year. I've done a ton more, but these cover a wide array of various designs I created, etc.

Happy New Years, fellas! I hope 2024 brings you a lot of great cardboard into your collections!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

My advice would be "Be Careful" You are potentially infringing on trademarks, using team logos without authorization, and since you are doing so presumably for profit, you are taking a risk. That being said they are incredibly well done pieces!

[ejharrington]

Beautiful work Tanner!

[Snapolit1]

Really well done but not a huge fan of cutting apart jerseys, bats and, most remarkably, what must have been a real sweet Jackie Autographed ball. Ouch.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Really well done but not a huge fan of cutting apart jerseys, bats and, most remarkably, what must have been a real sweet Jackie Autographed ball. Ouch.

I agree with that, for sure.

That said, the work you've done is fantastic. After I saw what you did with the A35 album, I was wondering what else you'd come up with.

Just curious, what does the back of the Tinkers-Evers-Chance piece look like? An assumption is that the backs of the cards are visible.

Are you a graphics artist? Or is this just a hobby that you tinker with? Do you have a website that we can look at that shows what you've made so far? I'd be more than happy to look at the work.

Thank you for sharing!

[mouschi]

Thank you everyone!

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Really well done but not a huge fan of cutting apart jerseys, bats and, most remarkably, what must have been a real sweet Jackie Autographed ball. Ouch.

Originally Posted by Fred

I agree with that, for sure.

That said, the work you've done is fantastic. After I saw what you did with the A35 album, I was wondering what else you'd come up with.

Just curious, what does the back of the Tinkers-Evers-Chance piece look like? An assumption is that the backs of the cards are visible.

Are you a graphics artist? Or is this just a hobby that you tinker with? Do you have a website that we can look at that shows what you've made so far? I'd be more than happy to look at the work.

Thank you for sharing!

Yes, the cutting up part is a polarizing part of doing these. Most of the time, I utilize pieces that, as full pieces, are not the greatest ... (I did a jumbo dual auto of Jordan and Brady, and the sigs didn't look great, but displayed well with my art.)

Regardless, people send me stuff, be it a ball, jersey, etc. that they don't like all that much, and would prefer a card instead - that is kind of my wheelhouse! For relics, I typically will use donor cards - for example, the Jackie, I used a couple licensed game used cards to harvest the pieces.

As for the Tinker/Evers/Chance ... gahhh, I've been wanting to do one forever! Here is a quick video - the video tells a much better story of it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56ESss0kskA

You can see a lot of my work at www.instagram.com/tanmanbaseballfan - I'm commissioned all the time

[The Detroit Collector]

Really cool looking cards. Nicely done.

[bnorth]

Amazing work as always. Thanks for posting pics of your work.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by mouschi

Thank you everyone!






Yes, the cutting up part is a polarizing part of doing these. Most of the time, I utilize pieces that, as full pieces, are not the greatest ... (I did a jumbo dual auto of Jordan and Brady, and the sigs didn't look great, but displayed well with my art.)

Regardless, people send me stuff, be it a ball, jersey, etc. that they don't like all that much, and would prefer a card instead - that is kind of my wheelhouse! For relics, I typically will use donor cards - for example, the Jackie, I used a couple licensed game used cards to harvest the pieces.

As for the Tinker/Evers/Chance ... gahhh, I've been wanting to do one forever! Here is a quick video - the video tells a much better story of it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56ESss0kskA

You can see a lot of my work at www.instagram.com/tanmanbaseballfan - I'm commissioned all the time

Good work Tanner, you've done those pieces justice, The knuckleheads at Topps or whoever is grinding out those less than pieces should hire you.

[StraightRaceCards]

Very cool,

I think the Tinker Evers Chance is my favorite, as you didn’t mess with any of the cards, just incorporated them into a larger one.

Keep up the great work Tanner!

[JollyElm]

Definitely great stuff. You are an artiste!!!

Like many others, I can have a problem with relics being destroyed, but also realize that instead of a fine line, it can be more of a thick line.

First off, people are free to do whatever they please with their possessions, so there's that. But also, it's not like every single autograph is on some truly significant document, so I don't see a lot of harm there (of course, what signifies a 'significant document' probably varies wildly among people), unless shown otherwise, so your work really enhances the autos and gives them a more enjoyable life, so to speak.

Also, unless we've seen the original piece the autograph was on, we have no idea what made it a ready (and proper?) candidate to be sliced and diced. I would have to imagine (with exceptions, duh!!) that the very vast majority of them come from more 'throwaway' items and such. (Stepping off of my soap box now.)

Again, very impressive creations!!!

[T206Collector]

Tanner does truly great work — hobby magic really. I truly believe custom cards are the future of card collecting. And I love the way pairing an autograph or relic of a player with his baseball card — especially a T206 card — has the propensity to bring that player back to life in a way the card standing alone doesn’t achieve.

I commissioned Tanner to make this epic Harry Pattee booklet card, including his authentic autograph. I found an old Spalding Guide image of Pattee, and Tanner was able to incorporate it into this card, which pairs with his T206 a vivid image of Pattee’s profile — not unlike a 1983 or 1984 Topps card, carrying an action shot with a portrait.



In the late 1960s, Don “Barefoot” Post sent this T206 card, glued to a 4x6 index card, for Zach Wheat to sign. Which T206 collector today would volunteer his T206 card for gluing the tobacco advert on the back to a 4x6? But, thank the hobby gods he did. A T206 card alone will never reach the vibrancy of the combined efforts of Barefoot and Wheat.



To me it shouldn’t and doesn’t matter whether the paper or baseball holding the autograph are cut, provided the signature is preserved as fully as possible, and the act of cutting alone doesn’t destroy a unique historical record. The point of collecting is to enjoy the items while we have them and then pass them on — as enjoyed — to a future collector. As long as there is one future collector willing to carry the torch forward is the only thing that should matter.

[todeen]

Tanner, great work! I wish you consulted with Topps about aesthetics.

I talked to Tanner about making a Frank Robinson piece. He recommended I find relic pieces already cut up, and a 3x5 index auto. I thought he offered great advice. I'm still looking for the right pieces.

Sent from my SM-G9900 using Tapatalk

[Jay Wolt]

Tanner Incredible job, a card company should hire you

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Definitely great stuff. You are an artiste!!!

Like many others, I can have a problem with relics being destroyed, but also realize that instead of a fine line, it can be more of a thick line.

First off, people are free to do whatever they please with their possessions, so there's that. But also, it's not like every single autograph is on some truly significant document, so I don't see a lot of harm there (of course, what signifies a 'significant document' probably varies wildly among people), unless shown otherwise, so your work really enhances the autos and gives them a more enjoyable life, so to speak.

Also, unless we've seen the original piece the autograph was on, we have no idea what made it a ready (and proper?) candidate to be sliced and diced. I would have to imagine (with exceptions, duh!!) that the very vast majority of them come from more 'throwaway' items and such. (Stepping off of my soap box now.)

Again, very impressive creations!!!

One Hundred Percent. I am truly amazed at how some people criticize decisions made by others on what they own.

Great job Tanner.

[mouschi]

Thank you all very much for the kind words - it makes my day, truly! And Paul, thank you very much for posting that - I really enjoyed putting together some for you

So, I figured maybe I should post some others. Here is one of my latest! It is a Rickey Henderson jumbo (and I mean MASSIVE) 3 panel booklet featuring 9 patches - the patches are not game-worn, but rather commemorative to celebrate all the teams he played for.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

Tanner does truly great work — hobby magic really. I truly believe custom cards are the future of card collecting. And I love the way pairing an autograph or relic of a player with his baseball card — especially a T206 card — has the propensity to bring that player back to life in a way the card standing alone doesn’t achieve.

I commissioned Tanner to make this epic Harry Pattee booklet card, including his authentic autograph. I found an old Spalding Guide image of Pattee, and Tanner was able to incorporate it into this card, which pairs with his T206 a vivid image of Pattee’s profile — not unlike a 1983 or 1984 Topps card, carrying an action shot with a portrait.



In the late 1960s, Don “Barefoot” Post sent this T206 card, glued to a 4x6 index card, for Zach Wheat to sign. Which T206 collector today would volunteer his T206 card for gluing the tobacco advert on the back to a 4x6? But, thank the hobby gods he did. A T206 card alone will never reach the vibrancy of the combined efforts of Barefoot and Wheat.



To me it shouldn’t and doesn’t matter whether the paper or baseball holding the autograph are cut, provided the signature is preserved as fully as possible, and the act of cutting alone doesn’t destroy a unique historical record. The point of collecting is to enjoy the items while we have them and then pass them on — as enjoyed — to a future collector. As long as there is one future collector willing to carry the torch forward is the only thing that should matter.

And Zach's RC to add flavor to his autograph.

[icurnmedic]

That Rickey is amazing and educational, Did not realize he had played for all those teams. NICE!

[mouschi]

Originally Posted by icurnmedic

That Rickey is amazing and educational, Did not realize he had played for all those teams. NICE!

Thanks! What's crazy is that some teams he went back multiple times - I think he was a member of the A's 3-4 times.

[Leon]

Late to the thread but that is some great artistry, Tanner. Good luck!!

That last Pattee display card is really nice looking...
.

[perezfan]

Great stuff Tanner! In most instances, the aesthetics of your cards puts Topps to shame.

That said... If they ever make a movie about George Wright, I'd think Michael Richards would be a shoe-in for the role.

[mouschi]

Thank you very much Leon and Mark!