Net 54's Definition of Card

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Posted By: peter chao

Why wait for the grading companies or the auction houses to define what a card is? Why don't we define it? David C. brought up a very good point. A card has to be distributed to the public, it could also be distributed regionally. If it was never even distributed regionally there's no collectibility to it. You could simply take a photograph and call it a card.

Although most cards belong to sets, there are a few one card or one player sets, so it's possible to have a single card set.

Anything else we need to add to the definition? Should there be a size limitation? Most of us agree studio cabinets are cards. How about something larger?

Peter C.

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Posted By: Gil

Yeah bigger, way bigger.
And smaller too.
I have a R346 Blue Tint which measures about 2x2.75" - that is a card.
I have a 1949 Acebo y Cia which measures 1.5x1.75" - that is a card too.
How small can an item be and still be a card?

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Posted By: Corey R. Shanus

What do you mean when you refer to studio cabinets? That term is very broad. Certain types did have public distribution (e.g., N173s), but many did not. There are no shortage of player studio cabinets that are believed to have been distributed to only the player or his designees. Those kind of studio cabinets would not then have had a public distribution and therefore should not, based on your definition, be called cards.

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Posted By: peter chao

Corey,

The hobby is special because of the collectibility of cards. Promos are promos because maybe only the hobby stores got them, giveaways are giveaways but they occur only at special events. But they should not be considered cards issued to the public. I would like the term cards to apply only to cards or studio cabinets which are issued to the public. That way, everybody has the opportunity to collect them.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Ken W.

Everybody has the opportunity to collect them NOW.

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Posted By: Anonymous

What constitutes "distribution of a card"? For example a Darby box which contains the image of a player is not actually a card until the player portion is disconnected from the box. The same with w555, Wheaties, Hostess and any other cut out. But does this "any other cut out" include notebook covers, advertising displays, albums, etc.?

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Posted By: peter chao

If the manufacturer intends the collectible as a card to be cut out then it should be a card. This is true irregardless of whether it is cut from the box or not. A player pictured on a wheaties box normally is not intended to be cut out is not a card when it is cut out. People normally collect the entire box.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Corey R. Shanus

So then Type 2 e107s are not cards because (it is believed) they were either cut out of a box or an advertising display (which presumably was not intended to be cut up)?

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Posted By: Peter_Spaeth

Like obscenity, I know a card when I see it. It is impossible to define and in my opinion futile.

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Posted By: Gil

It should be the intent of the cutter, not the manufacturer, on which items are cards. Afterall the cutter is the collector (who decides on acceptance of an item as a collectible). The manufacturer proposes that an item be accepted as a collectible.

This would apply then to a grandmother in a card shop who chooses to buy a postcard of her grandson's favorite player for him. That sapecific choice, coupled with her grandson's acceptance makes the postcard a collectible baseball card, imo.

A deliberate national or local distribution network has nothing to do with a card's status as a collectible. That identification is an end user choice.

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Posted By: peter chao

Gil,

Everybody knows that a card is worth more, you will have people calling everything cards, basically the present situation. There should be a maximize size, otherwise, a huge poster might be considered a card by some people.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

And so if a huge poster is considered a card by some people that means that the huge poster card is worth more. And that is bad.

Wait, almost forgot -->

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Posted By: ScottIngold

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Posted By: DaveL

A baseball card is, generally,

1)a cardboard or paper product roughly the size of
a playing card, but ranging from a the size of a
large stamp to a postcard. (There are exceptions)
2)Depicting a baseball related theme, usually a player or a team. (There are exceptions)
3)Produced in set form (i.e. a series of players or
teams within a common format. (There are exceptions)
4)Produced in a finite time period, usually a specific year or baseball season. (There are exceptions)
5)Produced for widespread distribution, OR related to a set that was produced for widespread distribution. (There are, of course, exceptions).
6)Produced as a individual product or premium unto itself. A clipping from a 1929 magazine would NOT qualify.
An exception to #1 would be T3's. To #2, Tip-Top Bread #24. There are plenty of single card sets to violate rule #3. The 1954 Red Heart Dog Food set was available (allegedly) for nearly 20 years. (#4) The aforementioned e107 type 2 would apparently violate #5.

In the end, there is no black and white definition. If the item satisfies all six of the listed criteria, it IS a baseball card. But there are many cards which violate one or more of the above conditions which are much more highly prized than those which satisfy all six. In the end, it is in the eyes of the collector (and the collecting community) which determines what is and what is not a card.

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Posted By: Jason L

a picture or likeness of a baseball player on a piece of cardboard or similar paper stock that is created for the enjoyment and impoverishment of boys and girls of all ages

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Posted By: Gil

Why not start with the basics?

A baseball card is a card.

This eliminates pins, felts, pennants, bottle caps, leathers, paper products too flimsy to support their own weight, coins, etc.

We can not achieve agreement that a baseball card is a card thus far. Although we have made some inroads with the concept that a baseball card addresses the subject of baseball.

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Posted By: Al C.risafulli

My definition of this is very cut and dry.

I collect cards.

Therefore, if it is in my collection, then it is a card.

Easy.

-Al

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Posted By: Peter_Spaeth

It depends on what the meaning of "is" is.

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Posted By: Peter_Spaeth

When asked, "what is art," Picasso supposedly replied, "what is not?"

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Posted By: Bruce Babcock

I'm with Al.

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Posted By: peter chao

Al, Bruce

You guys are probably closer to the mark than you could ever imagine. A case in point are some of the cabinet cards, they were huge and could have very easily been considered posters. But, card collectors collected them just like cards, so over time they became cards.

Peter C.