Starting Lineups

RoseInTheHall

When these first came out in 1988 I thought they'd be the next Heartland Statues. I was wrong and ended up selling most of my 1988 collection for about what I originally paid for them.

I did keep a few key 1988 bb figures like Ryan, Rose, Brett, Rickey, Clemens, etc.

I wonder 2 things ..... Are there any SLU collectors left and will they ever be of value?

DanBessette

I don't actively collect them, in the sense that I haven't bought a new one in 15 years. But I must have close to a hundred of them from back in the day.

vols1

They made tons of baseball, but I have seen graded 1988 and 1989 football & basketball sell in the thousands. This Magic didn't do to bad.

billwaltonsbeard

That 1988 Nolan Ryan has a bit of value.

I remember looking everywhere for them when they first came out. They were nowhere to be found in East TX. I had my dad drive me to every Walmart and Kmart around. I do remember that there were always dozens of Don Mattinglys.

Ironmanfan

Back in 1989, I could not find the Cal Ripken Jr. figure anywhere & late in the summer I wrote Kenner a letter and they sent me one free (certainly different days back then).

IMF

eagles33

I remember buying them at toys r us but I bought them to play with not to collect.. Then around 1992 I started buying then and keeping them sealed. I still want the 1992 dream team set. I also like the 1988 Rod Woodson card because it's his his xrc

esquiresports

I had one where a basketball player could hang off the rim with the basketball on his palm. It came with a backboard and base in the shape of the FT line. I believe it may have been Ewing. I really liked it. I would guess that one has decent value today (more than cost). That's the only one I ever owned.

BLUEJAYWAY

I always understood the 1988 Cal Ripken was the key valued one for that year. I think the book price back in the early 90's was $375.00 IIRC.

Aric

The problem with Starting Lineups is they were collector items right off the bat. No one opened them. Well expect eagles33. The individual cards are pretty hard to find because they are all still sealed in the packages. The figures don't sell well on ebay because they cost at least $6 to ship.

jfkheat

I still have 30 or 40 football, basketball, NASCAR and a few baseball. Some of the football and basketball ones sell for decent money.
James

Piggs

Always glad I collected Hartlands, still the best.

vols1

<< <i>Back in 1989, I could not find the Cal Ripken Jr. figure anywhere & late in the summer I wrote Kenner a letter and they sent me one free (certainly different days back then).

IMF >>



I heard that happen with a few people. Kenner also sold prototypes, I bought this one along with many others.

RoseInTheHall

The chase for the 1988 SLUs was fun. My first wife was a flight attendant and I remember making her buy Saberhagen, Quiz and Brett when she had a layover in KC. That happened in several different cities. That is when players could only be bought in their regions, for the most part.

Heartland values, no. Memories, yes.

Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry?

shu4040

i was big into these for a while, had a pretty successful couple of years with an ad in tuff stuff shipping everywhere including one really passionate japanese guy.

sold or donated most of them through the years. still have maybe 75 or so? keeping all jordans, big rookie hof'ers, etc. i could see them come back at some point, atleast the cards are all pretty solid and i think don't grade as easy as you'd expect.

epislash

The Karl Malone one though I think is the most rarest. A mint one fetches big bucks I believe. And this one isn't mint

Link

ldferg

<< <i>That 1988 Nolan Ryan has a bit of value.

I remember looking everywhere for them when they first came out. They were nowhere to be found in East TX. I had my dad drive me to every Walmart and Kmart around. I do remember that there were always dozens of Don Mattinglys. >>



....along with Wade Boggs and Pete Rose.

RoseInTheHall,
They are included in the Master Set.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry? >>



Yep

Tabe

<< <i>They made tons of baseball, but I have seen graded 1988 and 1989 football & basketball sell in the thousands. This Magic didn't do to bad. >>


What's the real story behind that figure being worth so much? The seller in that auction says it's because the figure got pulled when Magic revealed he had AIDS. Problem is, the figure is a 1996 edition - and he revealed he had HIV in late 1991.

jmmiller777

<< <i>I don't actively collect them, in the sense that I haven't bought a new one in 15 years. But I must have close to a hundred of them from back in the day. >>


Same here, mostly baseball. I also have a few of the Target 12" specials (think Gehriq and Ruth). They are put up and I haven't seen them in 20 years.

CDsNuts

The tough figures have always brought strong prices ($150+): 88 Jazz, 89 FB regional toughies, 96 Magic, tougher Jordan pieces, etc.... The common dime a dozen figures that were everywhere don't bring much unless they are flawless.

Lee

vols1

<< <i>
Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry? >>



They are, but stay away from these cards. They are nothing more than reholdered counterfeit GEM graded cards.

Allen

<< <i>

<< <i>
Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry? >>



They are, but stay away from these cards. They are nothing more than reholdered counterfeit GEM graded cards. >>



annnnnd poof

lawnmowerman

<< <i>

<< <i>
Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry? >>



They are, but stay away from these cards. They are nothing more than reholdered counterfeit GEM graded cards. >>




Fill us in. How do you know they are fakes?

vols1

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>
Question, are the SLU cards included in a players registry? >>



They are, but stay away from these cards. They are nothing more than reholdered counterfeit GEM graded cards. >>




Fill us in. How do you know they are fakes? >>



Here's a handy cheat sheet compared to the real one on the bottom of each.

lawnmowerman

Awesome great info..thanks!

Now I have to check all mine for fakes.

Sheamaster

I have about 400 SLUs - mostly stars - Ripken, Griffey, Jordan, Montana, etc. The best one I ever purchased at a store was the Walter Payton/Barry Sanders Classic Doubles - that was going for at least $100. I also attended a SLU Convention in Cincinnati in the mid-90s. It was like a card show with only SLUs - it was pretty cool. I also have some cool boxed sets - the '92 Dream Team - the Freeze Frames (Montana, Ryan, etc.). My wife wishes I would get rid of them, but I can't.

MantleFan23

I too was pretty heavy into SLU's for a while. I loved going to the conventions in Cincinatti in the late 90's (I believe we went went to two of them, and at the time SLU's were hot). I even picked up the Reggie Miller rookie at the show that I still have today. Probably wont be able to recoup my original investment, but oh well. Also, I have displayed my jordan red box and maddux rookie pieces.

PMKAY

Scroll down a bit on this other thread for some more info on Starting Lineups. I collected them for a bit but being in Canada the only ones that were readily available were the hockey ones. I still have boxes of those in my basement. At the time I remember the goalies were worth quite a bit, I have no idea if they still are.

link

curch

Just seeing this post now. I am a huge collector. I have been collecting starting lineups for over 25 years. I run the Kenner starting lineup group on facebook and interviewed last year for men's health magazine and beckett also pertaining to starting lineups. I would love to answer anyone's questions and see your collections!

alnavman

I know I have some of these in the basement somewhere.....believe I still have the Shaq that was only available if you were a member of the club that they had.....certain pieces were only available to members.....I remember having a John Vanbriesbush??? I know I slaughtered the spelling but it was the only hockey figure I ever had....he was a pretty good player in his time

Stone193

I've got loads of them buried in big containers.

Here's a couple of favorites of mine:

mbz430e

<< <i>When these first came out in 1988 I thought they'd be the next Heartland Statues. I was wrong and ended up selling most of my 1988 collection for about what I originally paid for them.

I did keep a few key 1988 bb figures like Ryan, Rose, Brett, Rickey, Clemens, etc.

I wonder 2 things ..... Are there any SLU collectors left and will they ever be of value? >>



Wow I remember the endless quest to gather as many of these as possible from all the local retailers.......I still have them all. Never really saw a huge market for them although I know there are a few in the 88 baseball that bring decent money. It seems that the football and basketball were the ones to have and of course I didn't buy a one. Seems as though the novelty wore off quickly and people lost interest. Maybe another 25 years will pay off?

curch

Great pics guys!

These are my prototypes

[URL=http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/curch1/media/imagejpg1_zpse558a85c.jpg.html][/URL]

totallyradd

I have a buddy that usually buys big lots of them at the card show auction in Milwaukee. He takes em home and opens them right away to put on a shelf. After seeing what some of them go for, maybe I should tell him to hold off on that behavior for some of these guys.

The only one I ever had was Canseco, but I took it out of the box and displayed it, played with it, etc. Still have it in a box somewhere I'm sure.

Ironmanfan

I wonder what happened to the "Kenner Kid?" While I didn't collect these per se (other than Ripken), I used to enjoy reading his monthly column in Tuff Stuff.

IMF

Tibor

Back in '94 I was at a Kay-Bees at an outlet mall. I bought 400+ SLU
soccer figures, 50cents each. Sold most of them for $2-$3 each. I bought
several Ripken SLU's from the same store over the next couple of years.
I still have dozens of Ripken SLU's.

curch

Kenner kid still sells on eBay.

yankeeno7

I casually collect the cards. But only the cards. I have about 40-50 or so. If anyone has a nice nmmt lot, feel free to PM me.

curch

Yankeeno7, a guy on the Kenner starting lineup facebook page was selling a ton. Not sure what sports you are into. I think he had all different and great prices too!

Musky1011

I have some 1st edition stadium stars.. Nolan ryan and frank thomas

yankeeno7

<< <i>Yankeeno7, a guy on the Kenner starting lineup facebook page was selling a ton. Not sure what sports you are into. I think he had all different and great prices too! >>



Thanks for the heads up!

curch

No problem. Lots of guys are always selling cards there. Worth checking out and asking...starting lineup cards aren't always readily available.

DanBessette

<< <i>No problem. Lots of guys are always selling cards there. Worth checking out and asking...starting lineup cards aren't always readily available. >>



I don't have Facebook, but I'm always looking for Andre Tippett SLU cards. If you see any, please LMK.

heritage

I still have some in my room. I still like them but they take up to much space.

curch

Open them up!

eagles33

The 1988 rod Woodson card was interesting to me because it was before any of his mainstream rookies. I'm sure there are other XRC but that's the one I remember

xbaggypants

<< <i>Great pics guys!

These are my prototypes

[URL=http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/curch1/media/imagejpg1_zpse558a85c.jpg.html][/URL] >>




Please tell me where I can find that afl set

curch

It's a custom.

[URL=http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/curch1/media/imagejpg2_zps2a057017.jpg.html][/URL]

xbaggypants

That is awesome!

curch

Thanks! It's one of my favorite items in my collection.