Who is your definition of a common man?

[mrmopar]

Let me explain what I mean a little further. In a thread I was reading, someone mentioned not liking to build sets as they would rather skip the Sixto Lezcano cards and grab the cards they want. I think we all probably have "that guy" when we are talking about and describing a type of card by using a named example.



For me, the definition of a common, unwanted card was first Bob Apodaca, because I just thought the guy was plain ugly on his 1978 tops card and remember my disappointment when i pulled one from a pack, but later changed it to Jerry Dybzinski, because of that name. If that isn't a name that screams dirt common, I don't know what is.



Please share your favorite common names when used in a derogatory nature.

[JoeDfan]

I used to HATE pulling Vern Ruhle cards. I don't have anything against him, and I am sure he was a great player and guy, but it seems like every time I pedaled my bike to the store to buy a pack of cards, I got a Vern Ruhle card every time.
I NEVER got a Rose or Mattingly or Boggs, but I had something like 15 duplicate Vern Ruhle cards.

A couple of years ago, I bought some random pack of Topps at Walmart, and pulled a vintage card winner on eTopps. When I logged in to see what card I won, guess who it was?

[swarmee]

First real set I collected, and grew to hate: 1988 Topps. Just so boring. And I probably had 12 of this guy.

[HRBAKER]

Bill Almon

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Joaquín Andújar

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

I also had about a million rookie cards of "can't miss" prospects Kevin Elster and Greg Jeffries around 1988.

[ALR-bishop]

B.Fisk

[1963Topps Set]

Billy Gogoloski

[Bigdaddy]

I own way too many Doug Frobel cards. He's my 'common man'

Can you say 'Gilligan'?

[knoxcat1983]

Doug Rau

[Vintagevault13]

Doug Drabek. Seems like he was in every pack I opened in the early 80's.

[HRBAKER]

ED,

Are you a UGA alum?

[Cliff Bowman]

These two in '78.

[Sean]

Gary Bell in the 1965 Topps set.

[glynparson]

Early 80's Doug Drabek? He is in the 1986 traded sets but i believe 1987 is the first time he was in packs, also a cy young winner is not really my definition of common. I also saw Greg Jeffries mentioned, while his career was not up to the expectations he was a multiple All star and put up some impressive numbers for a few years. When i think dead dirt common I think of guys like Mario Mendoza, Warren Brustar, Marvell Wynne, Bill Almon, Buddy Bianancalana and these types of guys.

[quitcrab]

Mark Belanger fits the bill

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

ED,

Are you a UGA alum?

Yes, I received both my bachelor and master degrees from UGA.

[Tomman1961]

1973 Fred Kendall

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Early 80's Doug Drabek? He is in the 1986 traded sets but i believe 1987 is the first time he was in packs, also a cy young winner is not really my definition of common.

Mea culpa for my Doug Drabek post. I stand corrected on the years. 1981 and 1982 were the last years I collected as a kid as I was 16/17 yrs old and becoming interested in other pursuits. I responded to this post purely from memory (obviously flawed). FWIW, Doug Rau is the player I had in mind.

[stlcardsfan]

I remember buying packs in 1976 with a friend and I swear there was a Pat Dobson - Traded card in every pack. That was our common.

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

These two in '78.

That Warren Brusstar card could be used in some "Don't use drugs" Public Service Announcements. Scary eyes, and a mouth of chew.

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by quitcrab

Mark Belanger fits the bill

Be careful with Belanger. You are likely to get a dissertation on why Belanger should be in the Hall of Fame from a fellow board member!

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

Be careful with Belanger. You are likely to get a dissertation on why Belanger should be in the Hall of Fame from a fellow board member!

While not Hall of Fame, I was thinking the same thing with Doug Rau, he went 15-9, 16-12, 14-8, and 15-9 for the Dodgers from 1975 to 1978 until he blew out his arm (rotator cuff?) in 1979.

[jschris]

My brother and I could not open a pack of '81 Topps without a Mike Cubbage spilling out of it.

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by jschris

My brother and I could not open a pack of '81 Topps without a Mike Cubbage spilling out of it.

+1

[bcbgcbrcb]

It's unfortunate that so many collectors of late '70's through 1980's baseball are just interested in the HOF'ers and anyone not in the HOF gets lumped together as "commons". There is a BIG difference between guys like Ruben Sierra, Gary Gaetti, Terry Kennedy, etc. and guys like Brian Dayett, Daryl Boston, Luis DeLeon, etc. When it comes to selling their rookie cards though, interest is almost the same for both groups (practically non-existent).

[Rich Klein]

That is because the price difference of a nickle or a dime is irrelevant to many. Now a common from 1957 versus Mickey Vernon is a bigger difference because of the HOF potential of Vernon versus the commoness of a Joe Margeroni (sic). That can be a few dollar difference, but for 5 cents, does it really matter?

[toppcat]

Joe Shlabotnik

[bcbgcbrcb]

Rich:

My point is that the REAL common players that I mentioned have book prices of .10 while the star players have book prices of $1 - $2 (let's say). When it comes time to sell, no one will pay more than the same .10 as the REAL common players. That is my issue................

Why do the prices have to be either $3 - $5 for the HOF player or .10 for Everyone else? I realize that this example is extreme but you get where I'm coming from, right?

There is an endless list of '80's stars with solid careers that you can't sell at a card show no matter how cheap you put them out at (except maybe a penny or two). How about: Danny Tartabull, Chili Davis, Tom Brunansky, Lloyd Moseby, Terry Pendleton, Cecil Fielder, Wally Joyner, Will Clark, Ray Lankford, Dickie Thon, Dan Quisenberry, etc......

[Rich Klein]

I know but the book values are probably way too high at these points on these players.

I think for 1982 (so we avoid Double Prints) the values are

5 Cent Pure Common

10 Cent Semistars -- Think of Larry Bowa

25 Cents -- Real Stars -- Think of Alan Trammell

50 cents or More -- HOFers or should be HOFers even minor ones such as Fergie Jenkins at the 50 cent level

In reality, dealers in person can not charge those higher prices while on-line retailers may start at a quarter and then not move

I get where you are coming from, but the issue is these cards are so available that dealers realize they are bulk and move them. Now the 50's-60's stuff,,, that has real value and real differences

[bcbgcbrcb]

Understood, Rich. I guess my big issue is on the buy side, dealers will refer to "book" prices and discount accordingly but on the sale side, you have to "throw away the book" entirely because the prices are over-inflated. I see why I have lost way too much money dabbling in this stuff and that's why I am unloading it all now and never getting back into it. It seems that I appreciated these star players of the '80's but no one else really does..........

[Rich Klein]

I bet because those were the players from your youth and you have such fond memories,

Look, that line about buying and selling for dealers has never changed since I started doing shows way back when

However, there are now several markets for selling cards

Shows in person, Stores in person or bulk mail order -- if you want 1980's "bulk stars" like Baines come talk to me and later come visit me at my house. I'll make you great deals which are a percent of book. Those unsorted monster boxes I hawk on BST for $200 probably have $1500 if not more (or I'd say 30 of the 32 of them) book value and I get little nibbles

I do get some action at times on the team pulls. I enjoy seeing what cards I have of certain teams or areas

Internet Sales like COMC and Beckett Marketplace (Rob Veres) == in many cases the real world marketplace has taken over these cards on the internet and while anything less than a quarter is not worth selling these cards at (even commons) that also means higher base prices so less of a spread for Harold Baines Vs Rudy Law

Rob Veres once wrote a great article way way back in the day in which he mentioned 10 different prices he could sell the same 1982 Topps Mike Scioscia for. He explained all the different ways to market the card out of his own outlet.

And I get it, I loved Harold Baines as a hitter but until there is real value to 1980's-90's base cards (aint happening) then we have to understand that if you want to get those higher prices, you have to buy the tables at the shows and set out those cards at the higher prices.

RIch

[bcbgcbrcb]

My experience selling recently has been at local shows of around 40 tables. I can't afford to pay table fees for the bigger shows to sell cards that nobody is interested in buying. Collectors will pay decent prices for the HOF'ers and soon-to-be HOF'ers like Big Unit, Big Hurt, Pedro, Jeter, etc. When it comes to the guys like Baines, etc., I can't sell them at any price. The problem with selling bulk cheap cards over the internet is condition and I can't deal with returns on cards, due to condition issues, that end up selling for pennies on the dollar.

In the end, there is just no way around it, I guess. It's just not worth it to collect late '70's - 1980's rookie cards of star players of the time that will never be HOF'ers.

[sago]

1978 Tommy Boggs. Must have been buy a pack, get a Tommy Boggs card free secret campaign by Topps.

[mrmopar]

That Brusstar is a solid second dud card for me. Because 78 Topps was the first year I busted packs, most of those card images are burned into my memory. I could probably block the names out and get a majority of the cards named correctly just from poses.

I'd also add that my intention with this thread, and I may not have explained it well enough, it that not only are these cards commons, but they are TERRIBLE commons for one personal reason or another. It's that card you own or buy only because you absolutely must have to complete a set or something like that, otherwise a card like this would never have a home in your collection.

For me, those large close up portrait cards will often fit that bill more so than any other cards. The kind of photos that made you glad that football and hockey players wore helmets! However, if the Apodaca card looked like the 77 Tanana, then it would be a different story for me.

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

These two in '78.

[familytoad]

It took me 0.3 nanoseconds to think of George Alusik in 1963 Topps.
While that predates my pack opening (I was only 1 yr old), he's my poster man for common. Perhaps someone might do us a favor and post a pic?

For my pack opening years in the 70's, I must have gathered several dozen 1972 Cleo James cards. At least some of them turned out to have the color variation in the Cubs banner across the top and now I am rich beyond all imagination.

Great topic!

I also enjoyed the discussion about the pricing of near stars or memorable players from our youth. When I was a kid, I wanted Bernie Carbo and Bob Tolan and Garry Maddox cards. I wanted to get all the Bake McBrides and you can have Jim Ray Hart or Roy White all day. Lucky for us , (if we are still interested) common baseball cards are cheap and easy to acquire. For numerous reasons of course.

When I go thumbing through my set binders (I am close to a set run from 1953 to 1980, all in binders ) I enjoy reading the backs of the common cards or just remembering a player from back in the day as much as I want to see what page the Mantle, Mays, Bench or Ryan cards are on.

[mrmopar]

Originally Posted by familytoad

It took me 0.3 nanoseconds to think of George Alusik in 1963 Topps.
While that predates my pack opening (I was only 1 yr old), he's my poster man for common. Perhaps someone might do us a favor and post a pic?

For my pack opening years in the 70's, I must have gathered several dozen 1972 Cleo James cards. At least some of them turned out to have the color variation in the Cubs banner across the top and now I am rich beyond all imagination.

Great topic!

I also enjoyed the discussion about the pricing of near stars or memorable players from our youth. When I was a kid, I wanted Bernie Carbo and Bob Tolan and Garry Maddox cards. I wanted to get all the Bake McBrides and you can have Jim Ray Hart or Roy White all day. Lucky for us , (if we are still interested) common baseball cards are cheap and easy to acquire. For numerous reasons of course.

When I go thumbing through my set binders (I am close to a set run from 1953 to 1980, all in binders ) I enjoy reading the backs of the common cards or just remembering a player from back in the day as much as I want to see what page the Mantle, Mays, Bench or Ryan cards are on.

[Rich Klein]

There was one other thing I wanted to add about Phil's comments. For various reasons, you will never find a wholesale quantity of any Derek Jeter rookies but if you want wholesale quantities of beloved Yankee Bernie Wililams they are available

And Phil is correct, the logic in why there is not a bigger demand in true rookie cards of stars is valid. BUT look at the names he mentioned:

Danny Tartabull, Chili Davis, Tom Brunansky, Lloyd Moseby, Terry Pendleton, Cecil Fielder, Wally Joyner, Will Clark, Ray Lankford, Dickie Thon, Dan Quisenberry

Not ONE of these people (Unless Pendleton becomes a manager later in life) is going to be inducted into Cooeprstown and thus there is no long term play.

These people, many of whom were card HOT at one time, are barely above commons and their RC's are easy to find

I think you can probably list fairly easily the RC's of the 1980's of which there is interest short and long term: There may be someone I missed as I went through memory

1980: Rickey Henderson
1981 Tim Raines; Mike Scioscia/Fernando Valenzuela
1982; Cal Ripken Jr
1983: Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Ryne Sandberg, Willie McGee as a regional hero in St Louis
1984 Don Mattingly and Darryl Strawberry: Exceptions to the rule but they are NY players
1985: Dwight Gooden (See NY exception); Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire (eventually their numbers will force HOF entry); Eric Davis (beloved)
1986 NO Topps Cards in regular series Jose Canseco and Fred McGriff in 1986 Donruss; 1986 Traded Barry Bonds Bo Jackson and Jose Canseco
1987: Barry Bonds (esp 1987 Fleer); Greg Maddux
1988: Roberto Alomar; Tom Glavine; Craig Biggio and John Smoltz in Uodate Sets
1989: George Kenneth Griffey Jr.; Randy Johnson.

Notice: Rafael Palmeiro, David Cone, Gary Shefflield. Dave Righetti, Kirk Gibson, Matt Williams (he is borderline); Harold Baines; etc are not even mentioned.

And yes Phil. I understand your logic about the other rookies but you are also dealing with a more limited collecting audience at shows. I'd seriously for those cards you mentioned look into COMC or even EBay as outlets

Rich

[7nohitter]

ALWAYS got this rube in a pack...

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

ALWAYS got this rube in a pack...

Seeing this made me remember how many Ivan Calderon cards I reluctantly acquired back in the early 90's. Is there any way a card can book for a fraction of a cent?
Drew

[KCRfan1]

I remember my brother and I opening packs in '79 and hoping for Bob Horner, and the Bump Wills card of him on the Rangers and Blue Jays. In '81, it was all about Super Joe Charboneau! They were hot cards for about 4 months back in the day....All commons now. i remember Jim Roy ( V & J Cards ) telling me years ago in his shop that he knew a collector who only bought Mantles and Mattingly's. This was around 1986 or '87. One out of two isn't bad in this instance.

[7nohitter]

love this post...keep it going!

Here's another sap I always got stuck with in packs:

[mrmopar]

Here is another of the 78 tops cards I knew so well. Duffy looks like some kid that got his picture taken at a fan fest baseball card booth. "Can I get a tissue please?"

[TAVG]

gary thurman

have so many dups of him...like at least 15 1992 topps cards.
i had so many of his cards i started a mini collection of his lmao!

i even traded for an ip auto of him to go with the collection

he always has that goofey smile in most of his cards, always though it was funny

[David W]

I remember opening 1978 packs in Central Illinois, and getting lots of Yankees. Munson, Reggie, et al.

No one wanted Yankees in Central Illinois. I wanted Mumphrey, Brock, and John Denny and kept getting Reggie and Guidry.

I don't know if the distribution was erratic or what, but I know my Yankee section of my shoe boxes was 2x as full as any other team that year.

[Rich Klein]

Guidry was a 1978 double print and there were three different Reggie's in 1978

[Cliff Bowman]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Guidry was a 1978 double print and there were three different Reggie's in 1978

Same thing with the 1978 Topps Tommy Boggs and the 1981 Topps Mike Cubbage, both double prints.

[Section103]

Doug Rau comments are making me laugh. I collect Rau and purposely have every vintage card listed for him in the Guide. That's the odd thing about collecting - dig deep enough and you can find so many different perspectives and preferences.

[smrtn240]

Candy Maldonado
oh that name...