Baseball Cards Top Five Darkest and Brightest Moments

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by abothebear

How about for darkest, the introduction of the factory set. I believe Topps started in '86, maybe Dunruss a few years earlier.

I believe Topps did a factory set in '74.

[perezfan]

Seems funny to see "the demise of Card Shops" on the Darkest list, and "Ebay" on the Brightest list. The "former" likely would not have happened if not for the "latter". So there's a bit of irony there...

But I understand the sentiment, as I miss the old Card Shops too.

I would say that the over-abundance and mass-production of card issues from the 1980s - 2000s was the most damaging aspect. It not only drove masses of collectors into apathy mode... it also "cheapened" the hobby. Or at least that's the perception it conveyed.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Seems funny to see "the demise of Card Shops" on the Darkest list, and "Ebay" on the Brightest list. The "former" likely would not have happened if not for the "latter". So there's a bit of irony there...

But I understand the sentiment, as I miss the old Card Shops too.

I would say that the over-abundance and mass-production of card issues from the 1980s - 2000s was the most damaging aspect. It not only drove masses of collectors into apathy mode... it also "cheapened" the hobby. Or at least that's the perception it conveyed.

Everything on my "bright" list also happens to have led to it's corresponding number on my "dark" list. ***I feel no.2 on my bright list is mainly necessary because of no.1 on my dark list..

Ebay technically belongs on both lists, as it has also, to some extent, contributed to the falling prices.. Depending on your perspective, as a person who was somewhat out of the hobby, the deals that could be found on ebay were a big factor towards bringing me back. I'm sure I'm not alone in that regard. BUT I can imagine someone who was still active in the hobby as a dealer, or for investment purposes, lost a good chunk of money thanks to the deals that can be found on ebay..

[Jcfowler6]

Worst
1. 1980's and overproduction overbloated market
2. Billy Ripken's "F-face card"
3. Searched wax packs
4. When packs of cards went over .25c per
5. The day that dealer ripped me off when I was a kid

Best
1. Like it or not the Gretsky Wagner card
2. Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle and their marketing machine
3. The creation of the American Card Catalog
4. First time a kid put a card in tire spokes
5. EBAY and Grading tie here but these both could be on the dark side depending on your perspective.

[alanu]

in no particular order

worst
1. Counterfeits, alterations, scammers, thieves et
2. Card overproduction in the 80-90's
3. The unfortunate demise of card shops and local shows
4. The negative attitude towards the hobby of many dealers and collectors
5. Can't think of many more not included in one above

best
1. "Reputable" card grading in response to 1 above (and forums like this for policing)
2. Ebay in making cards more available to everyone
3. SCD, not in it's present form though
4. Topps/Bowman in the 40's thru 80's for producing an annual set of cards
5. Whoever thought of making "cards" with sports personalities

[JEFFV96MASTERS]

Post / opinion no longer available

[steve B]

worst - in no particular order.
1 Fakes and fraudulently altered cards.
2 demise of card shops. ---Tough one, many of them went because of a lack of knowledge of both cards and business which is as it should be.
3 The rise of a lottery mentality and corresponding lack of general interest in cards older than a couple weeks
4 The failing of print publications with worthwhile content- Use the internet/electronic formats, but if it's worth knowing it's worth printing
5 The well funded collector as a sort of celebrity. Halper may have been the first? but there have been others that are better known for spending ability than knowledge. Fortunately there are few of them, but those few make everyone else focus on the monetary aspects of the hobby.

The best - Again in no particular order
1 The Rose rookie fakes - woke people up to what was possible.
2 The pioneering collectors and cataloguers like Burdick. Without them we'd all be just stumbling around in the dark.
3 Catalogs/checklists/price guides - Yes, even Beckett. Before them things were a bit of a mystery. How many cards in a set? What players? Without those things collecting isn't readily accessible to many people. And also brought some consistecy to pricing.
4 The internet. Like it or not it's made cards more available, and shown just how common the common stuff really is. It also makes lots of information easier to find.
5 Availability of a wide range of decent if not good looking storage supplies. I bought my first plastic pages in late 74 early 75. And they were horrible. Now there's a full range of stuff from penny sleeves to grading slabs. Anyone who recalls stacks of rubber banded cards at shows and being warned against putting them on too tight - or worse yet, dropping cards wrapped unexpectedly loose or wrecking a card or two by wrapping tightly should have this on the list.

Steve B

[U240robert]

Originally Posted by novakjr

I believe Topps did a factory set in '74.

Yeah they did !
They also had 'presentation' sets from as far back as the early 60's.
Although not sold to the public they were given out by Topps.