Will Kenner Starting Lineups ever make a comeback?

timc67

I asked this question a couple years ago on this board. Will the starting lineups sports figures EVER be hot like they used to be? You can't hardly give them away on EBay. Could they be sleepers in years to come? Like the '89 Ripken? Just like to get others opinion on this.

Stone193

Good question

My guess? No. I wouldn't rank them with pogs or beanie babies but once the production stopped, it seemed the interest went with it.

I really liked picking them up at the PX too. In 1993 me and another guy did some great scoring on Bkb SLUs.

I've got a bunch - got 2 Griffey RCs.

If you go to a show featuring figurines, I would guess you might see some interest but not much. A lot of people think the McFarlands are much nicer with better detail.

It's all a matter of taste IMO - I like the simplistic look of the SLUs like the old Hartlands.

Not much else to say.
Thanx for the question - I wonder how many others have a bunch collecting dust in the closet?
mike

CDsNuts

Much like cards and anything else that was once very collectible, high grade SLUs will always be in demand. I think your thinking is correct that this is the right time to buy, but only look for unopened figures on cards with clean corners, nice bubbles, and no creases or sticker damage. I think it's a sound investment, but don't fall into the trap of buying figures on cards with damage- they're a dime a dozen and don't show much promise. Kind of like 80s cards that aren't mint.

Lee

NickM

At the right price, even a figure with a damaged box still has value, because of the card and the figure's utility as a loose figure.

Nick

GOODLIEU

I had a lot of the basketball SLU's and they did decline greatly after Kenner went belly up. My question to everyone who ever collected them in any sport is do you think there is a chance that the cards that came with each figure may end up being the most valuable part of the package in the foreseeable future?

Solar77

Many are very very tough and still command large premiums. They generally aren't the figures you'd expect though. Alot of the 88-89 football commons are worth nice coin, as are some of the key 88-90 basketball and baseball figures. Go on ebay and do a completed items search for SLU or Starting Lineup sorted by high price first. You should see some nice stuff.

Stone193

<< <i>My question to everyone who ever collected them in any sport is do you think there is a chance that the cards that came with each figure may end up being the most valuable part of the package in the foreseeable future? >>


Another good question that I wondered about. It was said that some of the figures are short printed and thus the cards would be more rare. But who knows.

The Griffey card in the 90 SLU is far more scarce than any other "first" or RC card of Jr.

mike

CDsNuts

I don't think the cards will ever be worth anything, but those coins and posters they used in 91-92 are sure to be in demand......... Seriously though, I think high end graded SLU cards will be in demand as long as there are player collectors out there.

Lee

timc67

Great comments guys!! I still like the Stadium stars where Kenner had a player standing on his home stadium. I have the 1995 Frank Thomas.

DeutscherGeist

Very high grade unopened SLUs that are graded by that action figure grading company will command higher and higher premiums. It is so difficult to find unopened SLUs that dont have dings on the card or damage to the bubble. Also, I have found that the baseball card inside usually gets damaged in the box because it gets moved around alot. KENNER corrected the problem by changing the design in the mid 90's where the corners do not come into contact with anything.

I tried buying SLUs on ebay, but they all have some damage on them. Even slight damage will knock them down from a premium grade. They are difficult to care for and hard to store. They require a lot of space.

There are protective cases sold for SLUs and other action figures in unopened condition, but most people on ebay do not use them, nor do some dealers at shows. It gets really discouraging looking for a MINT piece.

There are tons of SLUs in decent condition boxes, but those will not command any high premium in the foreseeable future. However, they have one thing going. The figure is still brand new and untouched, so a player collector would be interested in buying. Also, the card inside is necessary to complete the master set of a player.

Basically, if you have the space, get the best condition boxes you can find of the SLUs and store them properly (I wont go into this right now). Space for me is at a premium, so I rather stick with cards. I do like figures, but I limit my collection because of space.

Loose SLU figures (out of the box) are basically worthless right now, but I still think some like to display them and I find nothing wrong with that. However, the SLUs out of the box are just not worth as much as vintage GI Joes and Transformers that are out of the box.

TheCARDKid

I haven't followed the SLU market at all. Who grades them? AFA is a big toy grader.

I'm familiar with the 80's GI Joe graded market and some of those sell for a fortune in AFA 90 and 95. You can imagine what a Gem Mint '88 John Stockton would sell for (or the Jazz team set).

I only have a few SLU's. Seems like an underrated market for a limited edition licensed product.

CDsNuts

Stockton is my favorite all-time player in any sport, and I haven't even seen an unopened 88 Stockton in person. I can't imagine what a 90 or better would bring.

Lee

DeutscherGeist

An AFA 90 or 95 in 80's GI Joe bring in hundreds of dollars, if not in the thousand arena.

AFA 90 on SLU would bring in nice coin too because the supply in getting worse not better. More boxes are getting damaged because of handling. I doubt there are any big collection out there with fresh SLUs that can grade AFA 90. AFA 80 is usually the condition one would find off the shelf of Toys R Us. AFA 90 or above is the condition one would find straight from a case (not shelved or displayed yet).

Solar77

Random anecdote - I bought an AFA 95 "Dusty" GI Joe a while back for $400 on ebay (Dusty was an original Joe from '85 and was my favorite as a kid). I put him back on the 'bay and within 2 hours received an offer of $1500 to sell it outside of ebay. Guess the market took off over the year I had it.

Stone193

DG
Super input!

I have always felt that condition is extremely important.

I have a few that I will always want no matter what happens to the value.

The SLU will always be an important 'addition' to the collectibles hobby from an historical POV.

And as long as we are on the topic: What is your favorite?

Mine is the 1990 SLU Griffey sliding.

mike

gosteelers

I remember a time in the 90's when these were almost as hot as card collecting. I would remember people trying to make friends with personnel at local stores to get in on the latest supply coming in. I have quite a few myself, but they are indeed too bulky to store and collect IMO. I have an early Karl Malone (now loose, out of package!), but I think it was a 1989 or 1990, not 1988.

Mark

mercurynut

I think only the Hall Of Fame players in the series might have some modeate price gains. The rest will only interest team collectors.

yankeeno7

I think that sooner than later there will be collectors of the cards and not the figures.

Figures will be used for fun by painting them into superheroes and other celebraties! Maybe even some will make it to be Barbies new boyfriends...like wife-beater Ken with his baseball bat or something? OUCH!

Soon enough...Hi grade PSA SLU cards will be in demand!

dakota

Good post. Does anyone have a link or website with info on the grading of SLUs?
I have a ton of these properly stored away. I collected them cause I enjoyed them. They are pain in the A#@ to store though!! Being the condition freak that I am..... Id be curious what some of them might grade out. I have also have wondered about grading some of the cards that came in the packages. Compared to main stream cards, there cant be that many hi grade cards of some of the players.

bobwilley

This is interesting,
I have someone bringing me a large collection (about 120) of some of the nicer and more valuable ones,
like Michael Jordan rookie.
I should have them Saturday, so will know more then.
Bob

donnnster

Here is a link to the site that does toy grading

LINK

DeutscherGeist

Dakota,


If you stored the SLUs properly, I think you should strongly consider getting some of them graded. Once they are graded, it is a little easier to store. The linlk above is for AFA--that's the grading company to go with.

I am a condition freak too. I am just curious how you stored them at this point. I just want to learn something. I bought two cases of Star Wars figures and I am going to leave them sealed like that. It is easy to store that way. If I open the case, then I would have to leave these figures in Star cases or comic book board/sleeves.

DeutscherGeist

Stone,

Thanks for the kind words. I only have two SLUs so far. I don't like to order these on ebay because people are not careful to describe the condition, nor do they have the patience either.

I have the last Don Mattingly edition which I like very much. He looks real riegel and the moustache is a nice touch. I also have the Doc Gooden Rookie. They are in pretty good condition, but there are some minor dings and a small crease. That's just the way they come from ebay.

Because they are licensed products, they will always be desired and collected---I agree.

On a side note. Stone, do you seriously think that guys like Cal Ripken, Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, George Brett, etc from the Veterans Committee will not vote Mattingly in when his time comes in about a decade? It does not matter what some people on the board say, but I believe the psychology and perception of the VC will vote favorably for Donnie, whether for better or worse. This is just a prediction of mine based on the VC tendency, Donnie's stats as a player, his continued popularity and his eventual career as batting coach, bench coach or manager. All those COMBINED will get him passed the VC. This will make the Donnie SLU skyrocket like nothing else. Any player that unexpectedly gets into the Hall will have his stuff sky rocket. Everyone knew Boggs would get in, so there was no real increase in his stuff.

Stone193

<< <i>Stone,

Thanks for the kind words. I only have two SLUs so far. I don't like to order these on ebay because people are not careful to describe the condition, nor do they have the patience either.

I have the last Don Mattingly edition which I like very much. He looks real riegel and the moustache is a nice touch. I also have the Doc Gooden Rookie. They are in pretty good condition, but there are some minor dings and a small crease. That's just the way they come from ebay.

Because they are licensed products, they will always be desired and collected---I agree.

On a side note. Stone, do you seriously think that guys like Cal Ripken, Kirby Puckett, Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, George Brett, etc from the Veterans Committee will not vote Mattingly in when his time comes in about a decade? It does not matter what some people on the board say, but I believe the psychology and perception of the VC will vote favorably for Donnie, whether for better or worse. This is just a prediction of mine based on the VC tendency, Donnie's stats as a player, his continued popularity and his eventual career as batting coach, bench coach or manager. All those COMBINED will get him passed the VC. This will make the Donnie SLU skyrocket like nothing else. Any player that unexpectedly gets into the Hall will have his stuff sky rocket. Everyone knew Boggs would get in, so there was no real increase in his stuff. >>


DG
I don't want to get into a protracted discussion on Donnie here - that has been discussed elsewhere till even Gemmy got tired!LOL
I think he will get a nod - they took into consideration other players whose career was affected by injury and there's no doubt in my mind that, if healthy, he would've been around to get a "player's" WS ring.
And, if selected 'out of the blue' - his stuff will take a nice jump IMO.
Now, watch some guys kick my ass!
The tuff thing about the older SLUs from 88 and 89? Try to find them in mint condition? They were dinged right out of the case and got 'handled' on the racks and kids didn't respect the packaging - but ya gotta love'm!



This is not a great scan but like I said this one and a 1990 Jordan with the coin are favorites of mine.

mike

GOODLIEU

This thread has me thinking of just how powerful these figures were in their day. Remember the conventions around the country exclusively for them. I attended one somewhere in Jersey years ago and it was a mob scene with lines to get in and huge lines for the regional convention pieces that were available for sale. The dealers were getting top dollar for certain pieces and trading was brisk. Now you punch them up on EBAY and it seems like the sellers are giving them away. How things have changed in a hurry. One other thing that comes to mind that needs to be considered in terms of storage/condition is the problem that seems to arise naturally and that is the glue that attaches the plastic bubble to the paper backing a lot of pieces become discolored or loose and it is not something that the collector can prevent. My question is can getting them graded/sealed prevent this or will it still occur as the years go by because the glue resins just dry out.

Stone193

Good
Some interesting questions about the packaging - I sure don't know and the stuff only goes back to '88 - wouldn't exactly call that 'vintage' packaging.

I guess only time will tell I guess. All the stuff I own looks pretty good right now.

Does anyone have a complete set of any year?

mike

donnnster

no complete sets but i do have a few of my favorite rookies of that time period...after reading this post I dug up my emmitt smith, barry sanders, and david robinson rookie SLUs. I remember hitting up the KB toystore on inventory day and opening up the cases of SLU that were coming in so I could get the figures before they hit the shelves...ahh the good ole days.

Stingray

I use to collect Bagwell stuff, I know have one or two down in the basement from 92 or 93 I believe, bought one of those plastic square display cases to slide it into. Sits with all my other late 80s early 90s stuff.

Stingray

Stone193

<< <i>Sits with all my other late 80s early 90s stuff. >>


Me too!

I have way too much of that kind of stuff, in the closet, using up way too much oxygen!!!

gregm13

Personally, I like the SLU's because of the cards. I've been buying quite a few SLU's lately and getting the cards graded for my Dan Marino master set. Some of the cards are very difficult to find in high grade.

Regards,

Greg M.

DeutscherGeist

Goodlieu,


You bring up an interesting point about the packaging of SLUs. The glue holding the bubble to the card can indeed dry out and disintegrate leaving you with a loose figure. That is caused by the environment. I guess vacuum sealing them would prevent that. The AFA cases will prevent a lot of the environmental damage, but no all. I have not seen one come apart that has been graded. I guess one would have to look at the Star Wars figures of the 70s to see how the stuff ages. I don't have a better answer for it but I am concerned about this issue.

GoBravesGo

<< <i>No. I wouldn't rank them with pogs or beanie babies >>

what is wrong with beanie babies???

Stone193

<< <i>

<< <i>No. I wouldn't rank them with pogs or beanie babies >>

what is wrong with beanie babies??? >>


Nothing. Some of my best friends are beanies.