Everyone knows 1948-present is the "modern era" of baseball cards; but how would you sub-d
Estil
Posts: 7,229 ✭✭✭✭✭
Okay, it's pretty common knowledge that the "modern era" of card collecting began in 1948. But how would the 1948-era be subdivided? Here's how I would and what each era is called (also I intentionally avoided "overlap" on the eras; for example, having 1956 as the last year of the Topps v. Bowman era even though Bowman was gone in 1956):
Topps vs. Bowman (1948-56)
This era starts with Bowman being the top dog so to speak, with Topps coming in starting in 1951 and of course with their landmark set the following year. Although Bowman no longer existed in 1956, I have that year as the final year because of two important changes that would come the following year.
Topps Monopoly Part 1 (1957-73)
The beginning of this era, 1957 would be the beginning of the standard size card (2.5 x 3.5 inches) as well as the first time full color photos were used for Topps. Furthermore, Topps would continue the practice of doing multiple series (including the rare final series) that they had already started from 1952 for over twenty years straight. Another constant from 1952-69 is that Topps always offered nickel wax packs (5-6 cards depending on year) and also penny packs from 1951-64.
Topps Monopoly Part 2 (1974-80)
This relatively short era marks the era where Topps still held a monopoly, but now did cards in only one series, which they would continue for almost the next twenty years. Also, Topps "standardized" the card set number starting in this era too, with 660 cards from 1973-77, 728 cards from 1978-81, and 792 from 1982-94 (825 in 1993).
Big Three (1981-88)
This is the time period when Donruss and Fleer joined Topps in the major baseball card market as well as the time when card collecting began to really catch on as a "mainstream" hobby, up there with things like stamps and coins. This is also the time factory sets and traded/update sets would begin in full force.
Big Five (1989-98)
This is the time period when Pinnacle Brands (starting as Score in 1988) and Upper Deck joined the existing Big Three and also marked the beginning of insertmaina and a much bigger variety of sets (which even as early as 1992 people complained about too many sets out). 1991 would mark the beginning of the first serial numbered cards (1991 Donruss Elites).
?????? (1999-present)
And here we come to the current era, when 1/1's and game used memorbilia cards really begin to take off (though both began in 1997) and also marked the closure of Pinnacle Brands and Donruss (though they did try a comeback in 2001-05) and would be followed by Fleer in 2005. Thus, we are now down to the "Big Two", Topps and Upper Deck.
What can I say? I'm also fascinated by the history aspect of cards too.
Topps vs. Bowman (1948-56)
This era starts with Bowman being the top dog so to speak, with Topps coming in starting in 1951 and of course with their landmark set the following year. Although Bowman no longer existed in 1956, I have that year as the final year because of two important changes that would come the following year.
Topps Monopoly Part 1 (1957-73)
The beginning of this era, 1957 would be the beginning of the standard size card (2.5 x 3.5 inches) as well as the first time full color photos were used for Topps. Furthermore, Topps would continue the practice of doing multiple series (including the rare final series) that they had already started from 1952 for over twenty years straight. Another constant from 1952-69 is that Topps always offered nickel wax packs (5-6 cards depending on year) and also penny packs from 1951-64.
Topps Monopoly Part 2 (1974-80)
This relatively short era marks the era where Topps still held a monopoly, but now did cards in only one series, which they would continue for almost the next twenty years. Also, Topps "standardized" the card set number starting in this era too, with 660 cards from 1973-77, 728 cards from 1978-81, and 792 from 1982-94 (825 in 1993).
Big Three (1981-88)
This is the time period when Donruss and Fleer joined Topps in the major baseball card market as well as the time when card collecting began to really catch on as a "mainstream" hobby, up there with things like stamps and coins. This is also the time factory sets and traded/update sets would begin in full force.
Big Five (1989-98)
This is the time period when Pinnacle Brands (starting as Score in 1988) and Upper Deck joined the existing Big Three and also marked the beginning of insertmaina and a much bigger variety of sets (which even as early as 1992 people complained about too many sets out). 1991 would mark the beginning of the first serial numbered cards (1991 Donruss Elites).
?????? (1999-present)
And here we come to the current era, when 1/1's and game used memorbilia cards really begin to take off (though both began in 1997) and also marked the closure of Pinnacle Brands and Donruss (though they did try a comeback in 2001-05) and would be followed by Fleer in 2005. Thus, we are now down to the "Big Two", Topps and Upper Deck.
What can I say? I'm also fascinated by the history aspect of cards too.
WISHLIST
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings
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Comments
Robert
cutting up real memorabilia; jerseys, hats, bats, gloves and sticking them on cards.
Unaffordable packs, shutting out kids from the hobby. shameless.
<< <i>1999-Future - The Gambling era. What makes paying $100 plus for a pack of cards hoping for a big payoff/card/etc. any different that plonking $100 down at the tables. Sure you have a product unlike Vegas, but in no way can I justify/see paying that kind of money for a single pack of cards. >>
I understand the gambling aspect, but I don't see it limited to cards produced in this period, but more to packs busted in this current time period.
Vintage card collectors may not want to admit it, but there are threads on this board dedicated to busting boxes of cards from the 70s or GAI graded packs from the 60s that amount to the same "gambling" type of mentality. Most people that bust these packs are looking for cards to send to PSA to grade for their set or sell through auction.
Its easy to point out modern high price packs with the potential payoff (which is real, just check out the recent Ruth/Frazee dual auto card sale on ebay), but I get lots of auction house catalogs with unopened pack descriptions that include all the potential stars of that particular series. Unopened vintage pack prices play on the same gambling mentality as the modern packs.
<< <i>I understand the gambling aspect, but I don't see it limited to cards produced in this period, but more to packs busted in this current time period. >>
While older stuff is gambled on today, it wasn't originally produced for that purpose. Some of the stuff today is specifically produced for the high-stakes pack rippers.
However, if you incorperate grading and authentication of vintage packs to the "1999 - present" era of the hobby, then it'd fit.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
<< <i>1999-Future - The Gambling era >>
<< <i>
While older stuff is gambled on today, it wasn't originally produced for that purpose. Some of the stuff today is specifically produced for the high-stakes pack rippers.
>>
That's true. Maybe it really is the insert era.
Someone said that the definition of art was not its intent but its destiny. Maybe it is the same for cards. Intended as cheap collectibles, their destiny is now an expensive hobby.
It makes me sick when a card company cuts up a 100 year old jersey, bat, or whatever just to make a numbered chase card. I personally wont buy the product for that reason alone. In my opinion none of these cards are true collectibles. For 10000 or whatever they get for some of the 1/1 cards.....go buy yourself the real thing....whatever that may be.....a jersey, ball, bat of your favorite player. 20 years from now.....I am sure you will be money ahead. (in my opinion)
My eBay Auctions
My PSA Sets
<< <i>1999-Future - The Gambling era. What makes paying $100 plus for a pack of cards hoping for a big payoff/card/etc. any different that plonking $100 down at the tables. Sure you have a product unlike Vegas, but in no way can I justify/see paying that kind of money for a single pack of cards. >>
Good point, and usually after opening a pack such as this it's "Craps, line out"
<< <i>How bout the "destruction of alot the real sports memorabilia era" for 1999 to present
It makes me sick when a card company cuts up a 100 year old jersey, bat, or whatever just to make a numbered chase card. I personally wont buy the product for that reason alone. In my opinion none of these cards are true collectibles. For 10000 or whatever they get for some of the 1/1 cards.....go buy yourself the real thing....whatever that may be.....a jersey, ball, bat of your favorite player. 20 years from now.....I am sure you will be money ahead. (in my opinion) >>
As far as destroying old vintage memorabilia, it never bothered me because I never believed for a second that this "memorabilia" was actually as stated. For example, I've seen those old bats in antique junk stores for a $10 asking price - any grandchild of any oldtime player who needs a few bucks can buy this bat and say they inherited it from their grandfather - it's all such BS. Even an actual player can BS and say something was game used in a WS or something like that, when in reality it wasn't.
Yes, if it was actual true vintage memorabilia it would bother me to cut it up, but in my firm belief the stuff they actually cut up is simply old garbage pretending to be real.
56-67: Part II of the post war vintage era. Post 67, I am more likely to keep a card raw than grade it.
68-80: The Height of the Topps Monopoly. Some nice sets, some average sets, some junk, and quality control issues all over the place.
81-87: The Big Three.
88-Present: JUNK.
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
And can we find a bit more POSITIVE sounding term for the 1999-present era of baseball cards? I mean, I personally don't care for 2000s era sets (besides regular Topps) in general either, but others DO like all those new fangled 1/1 and memorbilia cards (even if both techincally began in 1997). "The Gambling Era" wouldn't fit for 1999-present as insertmania of the 1990s was every bit as much about "hitting the jackpot" as memobilia/autograph/one-of-one cards are now, even if to a slightly lesser extent.
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings
With few exceptions, maybe 89 Upper Deck/90 Leaf/92 Bowman/93 Finest, everything else is so overprinted that in the year 2500, people will still be selling unopened cases on ebay for less than the issue price
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings
it was donruss who started the STICKER AUTOS, 1/1,unlimited inserts (Leaf exihibits) and parallels (Diamond Kings)....their style was copied by the other companies and is still used today (Topps steling) eventhough donruss is no longer in baseball...
the Donruss Style was so confusing/unappetizing that they were kicked out of the party by MLBPA themselves,that also marks the first time MLB influenced Baseball cards Directly...
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings