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When did the term “clean” enter the hobby ?

4for44for4 Posts: 676 ✭✭✭
edited August 29, 2023 2:22AM in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

I hear it so often now to describe a nice card.
I crack up every time I hear it or even think about it.
“Oh, that card is so clean !”
“Yeah, very cleeean !”

Years ago it was “what a nice card”.
Then it turned into “such a nice example”.
Now it’s “that’s really clean”.

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Comments

  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 10,893 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It replaced the term "Blazer" in 1996.

    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • HarnessracingHarnessracing Posts: 227 ✭✭✭

    30-40 years ago

  • olb31olb31 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭

    i thought it meant it wasn't stolen. LOL!!

    Work hard and you will succeed!!
  • waxman2745waxman2745 Posts: 707 ✭✭✭

    In the late 2000s, I often saw the phrase "CLEAN L@@K" on ebay listings.

    Adam
    buying O-Pee-Chee (OPC) baseball
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 22,428 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Vibrant has a better sound... but then again- I have seats in the Upper Deck

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

  • RonSportscardsRonSportscards Posts: 635 ✭✭✭✭

    @waxman2745 said:
    In the late 2000s, I often saw the phrase "CLEAN L@@K" on ebay listings.

    Oh yeah, I've forgotten about that, although I think it was even before the late 2000s.

    And "clean" describes every used car for sale. Not just "clean" but "Super Clean".

  • milbrocomilbroco Posts: 2,709 ✭✭✭

    To me, Clean Look describes a card that looks nice but has hidden faults.

    ebay seller name milbroco
    email [email protected]
  • JolleyWrencherJolleyWrencher Posts: 459 ✭✭✭

    People in my generation have used "clean" to generally mean nice or worthy of owning. It's always been a compliment if somebody says your restored or modified car looks Clean. Not clean like your mother wanted your room to be, but that your car wasn't just thrown together or done without good taste.

    Clean for sports cards, to me, would infer that they are respectable but likely not top notch.

  • 72skywalker72skywalker Posts: 1,518 ✭✭✭

    Collecting Yankees and vintage Star Wars
  • 82FootballWaxMemorys82FootballWaxMemorys Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @72skywalker said:

    1st thing I thought of!

    Unless otherwise specified my posts represent only my opinion, not fact.

  • reelinintheyearsreelinintheyears Posts: 231 ✭✭✭

    Rather than meaningless, nondescript adjectives like "clean," I've always appreciated use of the term "pack fresh" by reputable, knowledgeable sellers. It tells me that although a card may have one or more faults they did not result from the card being overhandled or mishandled. On the other hand, adjectives like "clean" do nothing at all to help me understand a card's actual condition; therefore, I'd personally prefer that sellers refrain from using it altogether. It's not going to happen, but that would be my preference.

  • JoeBanzaiJoeBanzai Posts: 10,893 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When "Gone With the Stain" opened for business? 😁

    2013,14 and 15 Certificate Award Winner Harmon Killebrew Master Set and Master Topps Set
  • craig44craig44 Posts: 9,717 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I think clean entered the hobby language just a few weeks after the first advertiser used the term

    "pack fresh"

    George Brett, Bobby Orr and Terry Bradshaw.

  • Klif50Klif50 Posts: 630 ✭✭✭✭

    Clean means no gum residue?

  • JolleyWrencherJolleyWrencher Posts: 459 ✭✭✭

    Accidentally got washed ilikr my wallet often does?

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