What would it take to collect modern cards again?

[Doug]

I agree with the first two posters as well. One big simple set without the insert cards, bubblegum and my other preference is that they go back to printing the cards on regular cardboard and not the shiny stuff. Basically something like the Topps Heritage set minus the insert/parallel cards would suit me just fine.

[Jcfowler6]

$.25 wax packs

[grundle20]

I totally agree with OP. It would have to be something that made buying the packs have a lasting effect. There is a major flaw when you can just buy the factory set for way cheaper than trying to compile through the sets. That's basically how the entire concept of "trading" has gone kaput.

From a top-level view, here's the problem. People are buying packs because it's like gambling. They might hit a (refractor) jackpot or something. Everyone's in it for the money, which usually translates to, very few people actually make money...it's a lottery. The entire concept needs to return to buying and trading for the sake of liking the sport of baseball and its players in and of itself.

[powderfinger]

Let's forget about the "short print" cards as well. The last set I tried to build was the 2002 Bowman Heritage set which contained 439 card, 110 of which were "short prints." Because of the other inserts in the series, there were probably around 25 packs in each box that contained one of the 110 "short print" cards that were part of the regular series. Granted, I haven't looked very hard in the ensuing nine years, but I still need four cards to complete that set.

Give me the old-fashioned cardboard, a lot of portraits and posed images, a nice powdery piece of bubble gum and a 50-cent pack, eliminate all the things mentioned in this thread, and I might give it another shot.

[steve B]

I actually like some of the newer sets. Allen and Ginter, and the Gypsy queen from this year. The cardboard isn't shiny, but is more like a T206. I think inserts are here to stay, and that's not so bad. We had them in the 60's and 70's, so it's not really anything new. Some memorabilia cards I could do without, but for current players I don't mind at all. All they have to do is have the player wear a Jersey for one game. Older stuff I'd like to see them give away the complete item, even if it's in rough shape.

The old cardboard while nostalgic is pretty bad, the acids in it will wreck most cards from the 70's and 80's eventually.

Short prints have always been with us as well. Any of the sets with redemptions -George C Millers, US caramels, And most multi series cards had high # series Goudey in 33, 34, ... Or just plain short prints like in 41 Goudey.

We're down to one licensed company for baseball. Multiple brands, but still only one license. From what the local card shop says business has been excellent. Less confusion about what's been issued, and customers are still buying, some buying more. We'll see how long that lasts.....

Anyone remember the pre 1981 days when a Topps set that didn't match what we liked or didn't have a particular player would make us wonder why nobody else could make cards? And how exciting it was when there was a regional set in your area. For me, Chilly Willie discs and Papa Ginos discs.


Steve B

[Ladder7]

A frontal lobotomy.

Although massive overproduction is an obvious factor., The ego's and the buying of cheap foreign talent (Instead of American kids) is a turn off to collecting and going to games, imo.

Even Jeter, whom I'd quietly idolized... Has been somewhat the doosh lately.

[rainier2004]

I could start again with the aboved mentioned changes, but at this point I dont even think of modern players for cards I want. Ive been a vegetarian for 10 years and my cravings have changed dramatically over time...cards are the same way and I only crave vintage irregardless.

[arexcrooke]

Originally Posted by Ladder7

A frontal lobotomy.

Although massive overproduction is an obvious factor., The ego's and the buying of cheap foreign talent (Instead of American kids) is a turn off to collecting and going to games, imo.

Even Jeter, whom I'd quietly idolized... Has been somewhat the doosh lately.

So would you rather have the best player play or would you rather have just Americans play?
that is perilously close to thinking before a certain #42 showed up on the scence.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Doug

I agree with the first two posters as well. One big simple set without the insert cards, bubblegum and my other preference is that they go back to printing the cards on regular cardboard and not the shiny stuff. Basically something like the Topps Heritage set minus the insert/parallel cards would suit me just fine.

There have been multiple sets produced over the past few years that do not have parallels or inserts or anything else.....they have all failed miserably. By the way, I don't collect modern cards but I do sell and open packs of modern products for fun.

[novakjr]

I still collect modern cards, but only rookie cards of guys I like(generally Chrome if possible) and Topps complete sets. That's it. I'd love to be able to collect the way I once did. Buying some packs here and there, piecing together some sets, so on and so on, but that day will never come again. Not that I'm a huge fan of factory sets or anything, BUT they do allow me to avoid the gambling theme that has become the modern hobby..

Intentional short prints as part of modern sets is one trend that I'd like to see disappear forever. I'd also like to see more baseball cards in the packs. Less presidential crap. Less strand of hair or historical document cards. less cards featuring random hollywood skanks and other assorted jerk-offs, just because they've been seen at a game once...

[HOF Yankees]

I agree 100 percent with what was said already in this thread but hers my take. What is the point anymore on modern anything the stuff is all the same, same auto, same game used of the same players over and over again, seriously whats the point. I enjoy baseball and love watching the Yankees but again like Chris L said I don't care enough about the players to even think of collecting them. I think all players in the majors today are doing some type of illegal substance they just haven't gotten caught yet. Plus with the companies screwing over the collectors and giving their redeemed cards to the collector that paid his or her hard earned money and not get what they pulled. I would not even bother on modern anymore and will stick to Vintage Baseball Stuff.

Vintage Is King and always will be

[iwantitiwinit]

1. Topps as the only card manufacturer;
2. No factory sets;
3. Cards sold in series with checklists;
4. 10 ct wax packs and Xmas cello specials;
5. Inserts including only posters, deckle edge, scratch-off's and game cards;
6. Time machine set to April 1967
7. Living home with my Dad.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

There have been multiple sets produced over the past few years that do not have parallels or inserts or anything else.....they have all failed miserably. By the way, I don't collect modern cards but I do sell and open packs of modern products for fun.

A set produced without parallels or inserts will always fail if there are other sets that have them in the same year. What I am thinking of is one set, that's it, produced like 1980 Topps. The year before the Donruss/Fleer era.

[Orioles1954]

That's just not going to happen anymore. With the proliferation of modern inserts and their driving of the hobby, most base cards are just filler.

[geor952]

My main complaint with modern sets is the fact that you pay $4.00 for a pack and the cards inside, stars or commons, or worth $0.10 each. I could do without the inserts. I don't want to spend $100.00 a box and only have $20.00 worth of cards once they are opened. I don't see the appeal at all! I love the idea of Heritage, but don't know why they need inserts, autos, and relics. The packs are way too expensive due the extras.

I want Topps Heritage for a buck a pack, with 10 base cards per pack!!!!!

[drc]

I buy a pack or two at the drug store once in a while and think the cards are okay, but haven't gotten into collecting them. The Topps Heritage cards are nice, the common cards are well done. Topps Chrome is nice too and you have a very good chance of pulling a shiny refractor.

I'm all for gum, and some of the older Heritage packs did have gum.

It's true you usually don't get close to your money's worth, and 95 percent of the cards are worth pennies.

[MacDice]

I will start collecting more modern cards when the card companies produce more cards of guys that I have coached.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by geor952

i want topps heritage for a buck a pack, with 10 base cards per pack!!!!!

exactly!

[abothebear]

I just found out that a girl at my church has a summer job for the printing company that prints for Topps. When she realized I knew something about the hobby she asked me in a very perplexed manner, "I don't get it, we print SO many, how can they be worth anything?"

I was saddened by how easy it was to answer her. I said, "they aren't worth anything. They are worthless filler cards that come with the gamblers' chance of finding a slightly less worthless "special" insert card."

I didn't get a chance to tell her that I collect cards from a different era so I bet she left the conversation wondering why I opened with, "I was trying to get to Chicago this week to go to the national card show..."