Has the Junk card era ended? If so, when?

[OhioLawyerF5]

I find it fun to track the history of baseball and baseball cards through the lens of my favorite team (and the oldest professional team), the Cincinnati Reds.

Back in 2022 I put together this image using some of my favorite Reds players. It chronicles the history of Topps flagship brand from 1951 through 2022 using base cards of one Reds player (in a Reds uniform) for each year.

[ASF123]

Wow, that image really highlights how similar Topps cards have become in the past 12 years or so.

[ullmandds]

seems to me this era is "junkier" than ever?

[Smanzari]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

seems to me this era is "junkier" than ever?

I agree. Demand is basically non-existent on Products once they hit the 5-8 week mark, unless its one of a small handful of players. If we didn't have "Buy It Now" and had just auctions on eBay overall comps would be no where near where they are for Modern Cards. Modern cards are just like a game of Hot Potato with more steps.

[judsonhamlin]

Originally Posted by ASF123

Wow, that image really highlights how similar Topps cards have become in the past 12 years or so.

Very much so. None of the designs since 2008 stand out and even that year doesn’t jump out as special.