Alpha PSA 10s in Magic are like finding unopened wax from the 1950s. Huge score for the submitter.
Because, you know, baseball cards aren't dorky at all. No, really
I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
<< <i>Alpha PSA 10s in Magic are like finding unopened wax from the 1950s. Huge score for the submitter.
Because, you know, baseball cards aren't dorky at all. No, really >>
Hey - I'm just here to judge. Although at least with sportscards you can claim to justify the $ in your emotional tie/bond to a certain athlete. Do Magic players have the same emotional tie to lonely Friday nights and Mountain Dew? I kid...I kid.
Looking for rare Randy Moss rookies and autos, as well as '97 PMG Red Football cards for my set.
<< <i>Hey - I'm just here to judge. Although at least with sportscards you can claim to justify the $ in your emotional tie/bond to a certain athlete. Do Magic players have the same emotional tie to lonely Friday nights and Mountain Dew? I kid...I kid. >>
Not so lonely when you've got a clan of nerds who gather around the table to play MTG all night long. I remember those nerd-fests fondly.
<< <i>It is dorky no matter how much they sell for. >>
Shoot, I'd submit a picture of cabbage patch dolls playing dungeons and dragons on a Friday night in their underwear if I could flip it for a few grand.
My brother-in-law gave me all of his old MTG cards before moving out to Colorado for graduate school. I tried going through them all, but my auto'd Ripken and B.Robinson photos were staring at me with disappointment from the wall. I just couldn't do it anymore.
After looking at this dorkage, I think I may have to dig that box back out, and throw a sheet over Mr. Ripken and Mr. Robinson.
Boy, that didn't sound dorky or anything, did it? lol
Alpha is significantly rarer than many of the subsequent series -- it is about 3x as rare as Beta. Complicated by the following notions:
A) It was intended for game play, not collecting. It sold out very quickly, as did Beta. C) It is tiered in terms of common, uncommon and rare.
Black Lotus, one of the rare cards from Alpha, is worth thousands if unplayed and in minty fresh shape.
I am actively buying MIKE SCHMIDT gem mint baseball cards. Also looking for any 19th century cabinets of Philadephia Nationals. Please PM with additional details.
<< <i>Alpha is significantly rarer than many of the subsequent series -- it is about 3x as rare as Beta. >>
August 1993 = Alpha Edition (2.6 million total cards printed) October 1993 = Beta Edition (7.3 million total cards printed) December 1993 = Unlimited Edition (40 million total cards printed) April 1994 = Revised Edition (500 million total cards printed)
When I was playing in the mid 90s, players didn't like Alpha's, since they were more rounded and were tournament-illegal, unless you played with a deck composed of 100% Alpha cards, which was not practical. The Deck Protector brand of card sleeves didn't exist yet. It was cool to have Alphas, but if you offered one in a straight-up trade for it's Beta counterpart, no one would take it.
<< <i>How can you tell the difference between Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited in 1993? >>
Alpha has black borders and more rounded corners. It's the only Magic set to have corners like this. Beta has black borders Unlimited has white borders
That poppage isn't that special. Some rare cards but mostly commons. Even in tens they won't bring thousands. The card pointed out is part of the power 7 cards that bring in the big money.
The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired.
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards.
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best.
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today.
I had another friend who kept at least 4 copies of every card in magic. So yes he has 4 alpha, bet and unlimited black lotuses.
Currently completing the following registry sets: Cardinal HOF's, 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1980 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, Bill Mazeroski Master & Basic Sets, Roberto Clemente Master & Basic Sets, Willie Stargell Master & Basic Sets and Terry Bradshaw Basic Set
I want to be clear here - I didn't post this to say the cards had no value because they are nerdy (Bill Gates is a nerd afterall), but rather to make me feel better about myself.
Looking for rare Randy Moss rookies and autos, as well as '97 PMG Red Football cards for my set.
As this was my submission I am not sure if I am honored that it was noticed or if I need to defend myself vs. the "Nerd" label
For the uneducated, Magic the Gathering surpassed Monopoly as the most widely sold game in the world several years ago and continues to maintain that honor. The Alpha set that these cards were from in 1993 are very difficult to obtain in pristine condition due to numerous production problems with a new issue. The fact the square cards were forced thru a machine that cut the corners as opposed to having it done with blades makes for very easily damaged corners. Throw in the fact that the cards were made to be shuffled as part of the game and the black borders makes them easily damaged.
The top card in the set, the Black Lotus, has fetched upwards of $20-22K in PSA 10 grade of which there are only 5 graded. A top of the registry set would easily cost in excess of $100K to acquire IF you could get myself (Not selling, sorry) or the possessor of the #1 current set to sell. I challenge anyone to bring forth a sportscard set from 93 onward that could approach that figure!
The 290 card set only had about 1100 total cards graded Gem 10 (last time I checked) which is an average of 4 copies or less per card. Typical commons in PSA 10, when you can ever acquire them, average $100-125, Uncommons $200-250 and rares start at $500+ for the garbage pieces. Cards that have more play value, and thus were typically used in games and harder to find in good shape, easily fetch more than those prices.
Just because there is not a picture of Albert Pujols or Derek Jeter on the front of the card does not mean there isn't an active community buying and selling these cards for some nice coin, trust me, I know!
<< <i>That poppage isn't that special. Some rare cards but mostly commons. Even in tens they won't bring thousands. The card pointed out is part of the power 7 cards that bring in the big money. The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare. Oh Really.... care to produce a similar submission for us all to view? Nearly 1/3 of the sub is rare cards (17/61). See above post for prices being realized of late. It's actually the POWER 9, any MTG player would actually know that.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired. Um, Alpha has been tourny legal for years, get some facts
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards. Alpha has been selling for more than Beta for 5+ years now, again, get some facts
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best. Lets see, Chris Pikula is an MTG Invitational winner and David Price won a Pro Tour and is an MTG Hall of Fame nominee but you beat him every time. Your name would be?.......
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today. Guess you should run yourself down to the local cardshop and have them dig out their stash of pristine Alpha that they have been hoarding all these past 15 years, buy it all and get it graded. I'm sure they are just keeping it behind the counter for their good customers so if you ask really really really nice, you might get it! Seriously, that kind of ignorant statement is sooo childish >>
<< <i>That poppage isn't that special. Some rare cards but mostly commons. Even in tens they won't bring thousands. The card pointed out is part of the power 7 cards that bring in the big money. The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare. Oh Really.... care to produce a similar submission for us all to view? Nearly 1/3 of the sub is rare cards (17/61). See above post for prices being realized of late. It's actually the POWER 9, any MTG player would actually know that.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired. Um, Alpha has been tourny legal for years, get some facts
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards. Alpha has been selling for more than Beta for 5+ years now, again, get some facts
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best. Lets see, Chris Pikula is an MTG Invitational winner and David Price won a Pro Tour and is an MTG Hall of Fame nominee but you beat him every time. Your name would be?.......
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today. Guess you should run yourself down to the local cardshop and have them dig out their stash of pristine Alpha that they have been hoarding all these past 15 years, buy it all and get it graded. I'm sure they are just keeping it behind the counter for their good customers so if you ask really really really nice, you might get it! Seriously, that kind of ignorant statement is sooo childish >>
You don't know anything about Chris, Dave and Tony or the crew from upstate NY. I played with them for 4 years while in Cornell. Where you there when Magic started becoming a big deal? No but I was. There were countless people beating Dave in Type I and then Type II when it first started. He got better or most likely started playing better decks. At the time he liked to play odd decks not the standards.
I graduated and got a job they kept playing. Alot of players were engineering students as I know Chris was. Dave and Tony were too I believe. I felt being a scientist was my calling versus playing a card game. We all make different choices.
How are Alpha cards tourny legal when you can tell them apart from all other issues, even in card sleeves? I quit playing about 5 years ago maybe things have changed and I only did sealed deck or draft for the last couple
Just because you buy and sell the cards doesn't make you an expert on magic. How decks were designed, how Weisman and all the theories started alot came from that group that met in NY in the early 90s.
I basically stated Alpha is now worht more due to collecting not playing ability, they are more rare so they should be worth more. But it wasn't always the case.
You sound like the 75 mini guys here whenever someone states there were people who horded this stuff. It happened, when it all gets outg will it affect prices, maybe but there were people stashing it all the time, especially Alphas as basically they were unplayable so you could pick them up much cheaper than beta cards back in 1993.
Seeing how this is your first time over here why not try and not sound like a douche when responding to other opinions.
If you had a power card 10 in the mix I would have said it was a awesome sub, that was my point.
Currently completing the following registry sets: Cardinal HOF's, 1961 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, 1980 Pittsburgh Pirates Team, Bill Mazeroski Master & Basic Sets, Roberto Clemente Master & Basic Sets, Willie Stargell Master & Basic Sets and Terry Bradshaw Basic Set
If everyone has about 15 minutes go to youtube and type in Triumph the insult comics dog and Star Wars. He goes and stands in line at a the premier of a Star Wars movie. If is one of the funniest things that I saw and I am a huge Star Wars fan. i collect Star Wars and Sports cards. That means I rank about a 2 on the coolness scale.
Also, if you go to a sport card show there is usually not a girl within a 3 mile radius or if there is she usually is there against her will by her husband or boyfriend. (with a few exceptions of course)
At the risk of insulting some people I don't care how much money they sell for these cards are extremely DORKY. If you played this game, buy or sell these cards, ever played Dungeons and Dragons, or watch a lot of Star Trek (or Star Wars for that matter) you are probably a dork. I am not saying that is bad I am just stating facts. There is an extremely high corolation between the above referenced items and dorkiness. There is also a pretty high corolation for sports card collectors and dorkiness but it is much lower than the above referenced items. No matter how many thousands of dollars an item may sell for there is absolutely no way they are not dorky. Sure it makes it more bearable but it is still DORKY and you are probably a dork if you buy, sell, trade or even know what the heck these cards are. Defend yourself all day but facts are facts. Sorry. Ok, now back to my pieces of cardboard with pictures of men on them.
Comments
My eBay Auctions
My PSA Sets
<< <i>Dork , but that dude is going to make a lot of money >>
A lot of money is an understatement. Dorks run the world and this dork knows what he's doing.
Magic cards bring in $$$$$
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
Because, you know, baseball cards aren't dorky at all. No, really
<< <i>Alpha PSA 10s in Magic are like finding unopened wax from the 1950s. Huge score for the submitter.
Because, you know, baseball cards aren't dorky at all. No, really >>
Hey - I'm just here to judge. Although at least with sportscards you can claim to justify the $ in your emotional tie/bond to a certain athlete. Do Magic players have the same emotional tie to lonely Friday nights and Mountain Dew? I kid...I kid.
<< <i>Hey - I'm just here to judge. Although at least with sportscards you can claim to justify the $ in your emotional tie/bond to a certain athlete. Do Magic players have the same emotional tie to lonely Friday nights and Mountain Dew? I kid...I kid. >>
Not so lonely when you've got a clan of nerds who gather around the table to play MTG all night long. I remember those nerd-fests fondly.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
<< <i>I mean - sports card guys have to rate as cooler than those who sub this stuff, right?
Linky
*Edit for horrific grammar >>
No, not after seeing how much they sell for.
The eventual buyers on the other hand...
<< <i>It is dorky no matter how much they sell for. >>
Shoot, I'd submit a picture of cabbage patch dolls playing dungeons and dragons on a Friday night in their underwear if I could flip it for a few grand.
And so would everyone on this board.
After looking at this dorkage, I think I may have to dig that box back out, and throw a sheet over Mr. Ripken and Mr. Robinson.
Boy, that didn't sound dorky or anything, did it? lol
<< <i>Boxes are cheap >>
Cnote: That's a different product. 1993 Magic the Gathering Alpha packs are easily >$100 each. Here's a booster pack for $750-
Here's what some Alpha cards go for on Ebay
Alpha is significantly rarer than many of the subsequent series -- it is about 3x as rare as Beta. Complicated by the following notions:
A) It was intended for game play, not collecting.
C) It is tiered in terms of common, uncommon and rare.
Black Lotus, one of the rare cards from Alpha, is worth thousands if unplayed and in minty fresh shape.
<< <i>Boxes are cheap >>
Yeah, cuz $16,000 for 36 packs is chump change.
<< <i>Alpha is significantly rarer than many of the subsequent series -- it is about 3x as rare as Beta. >>
August 1993 = Alpha Edition (2.6 million total cards printed)
October 1993 = Beta Edition (7.3 million total cards printed)
December 1993 = Unlimited Edition (40 million total cards printed)
April 1994 = Revised Edition (500 million total cards printed)
When I was playing in the mid 90s, players didn't like Alpha's, since they were more rounded and were tournament-illegal, unless you played with a deck composed of 100% Alpha cards, which was not practical. The Deck Protector brand of card sleeves didn't exist yet. It was cool to have Alphas, but if you offered one in a straight-up trade for it's Beta counterpart, no one would take it.
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
Bosox1976
<< <i>How can you tell the difference between Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited in 1993? >>
Alpha has black borders and more rounded corners. It's the only Magic set to have corners like this.
Beta has black borders
Unlimited has white borders
Alpha - Beta - Unlimited
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
DId the Lotus have great stats?
ohhh....NM
The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired.
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards.
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best.
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today.
I had another friend who kept at least 4 copies of every card in magic. So yes he has 4 alpha, bet and unlimited black lotuses.
What give's here, I am usually the one giving the Alpha/Beta/Nimba/Glenderon/Dweebos a hard time over in the Non Sport Forum!!!
YeeHah
Neil
Bosox1976
As this was my submission I am not sure if I am honored that it was noticed or if I need to defend myself vs. the "Nerd" label
For the uneducated, Magic the Gathering surpassed Monopoly as the most widely sold game in the world several years ago and continues to maintain that honor. The Alpha set that these cards were from in 1993 are very difficult to obtain in pristine condition due to numerous production problems with a new issue. The fact the square cards were forced thru a machine that cut the corners as opposed to having it done with blades makes for very easily damaged corners. Throw in the fact that the cards were made to be shuffled as part of the game and the black borders makes them easily damaged.
The top card in the set, the Black Lotus, has fetched upwards of $20-22K in PSA 10 grade of which there are only 5 graded. A top of the registry set would easily cost in excess of $100K to acquire IF you could get myself (Not selling, sorry) or the possessor of the #1 current set to sell. I challenge anyone to bring forth a sportscard set from 93 onward that could approach that figure!
The 290 card set only had about 1100 total cards graded Gem 10 (last time I checked) which is an average of 4 copies or less per card. Typical commons in PSA 10, when you can ever acquire them, average $100-125, Uncommons $200-250 and rares start at $500+ for the garbage pieces. Cards that have more play value, and thus were typically used in games and harder to find in good shape, easily fetch more than those prices.
Just because there is not a picture of Albert Pujols or Derek Jeter on the front of the card does not mean there isn't an active community buying and selling these cards for some nice coin, trust me, I know!
<< <i>That poppage isn't that special. Some rare cards but mostly commons. Even in tens they won't bring thousands. The card pointed out is part of the power 7 cards that bring in the big money.
The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare.
Oh Really.... care to produce a similar submission for us all to view? Nearly 1/3 of the sub is rare cards (17/61). See above post for prices being realized of late. It's actually the POWER 9, any MTG player would actually know that.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired.
Um, Alpha has been tourny legal for years, get some facts
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards.
Alpha has been selling for more than Beta for 5+ years now, again, get some facts
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best.
Lets see, Chris Pikula is an MTG Invitational winner and David Price won a Pro Tour and is an MTG Hall of Fame nominee but you beat him every time. Your name would be?.......
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today.
Guess you should run yourself down to the local cardshop and have them dig out their stash of pristine Alpha that they have been hoarding all these past 15 years, buy it all and get it graded. I'm sure they are just keeping it behind the counter for their good customers so if you ask really really really nice, you might get it! Seriously, that kind of ignorant statement is sooo childish
>>
<< <i>
<< <i>That poppage isn't that special. Some rare cards but mostly commons. Even in tens they won't bring thousands. The card pointed out is part of the power 7 cards that bring in the big money.
The tutor and angel cards might bring the most money. Blaze of Glory I think was a discontinued rare.
Oh Really.... care to produce a similar submission for us all to view? Nearly 1/3 of the sub is rare cards (17/61). See above post for prices being realized of late. It's actually the POWER 9, any MTG player would actually know that.
Beta cards are more collectable due to their ability to still be played if so desired.
Um, Alpha has been tourny legal for years, get some facts
I am assuming graded magic collectors don't care about playing anymore so the value of Alpha cards may have caught up to beta cards.
Alpha has been selling for more than Beta for 5+ years now, again, get some facts
I played in the first pro touranment in New York. My gaming friends were from Ithaca so that included David Price and Chris Pikula the team deadguy folks. Price wasn't the best at all, in fact I beat him in every tournament I entered. Pikula was normally the best.
Lets see, Chris Pikula is an MTG Invitational winner and David Price won a Pro Tour and is an MTG Hall of Fame nominee but you beat him every time. Your name would be?.......
Rumors is that there are huge stashes of both Alpha and beta cards out there. Dealers and card shops basically never put them out for sale and just kept them. I believe its these stashes that are getting the high grades you see today.
Guess you should run yourself down to the local cardshop and have them dig out their stash of pristine Alpha that they have been hoarding all these past 15 years, buy it all and get it graded. I'm sure they are just keeping it behind the counter for their good customers so if you ask really really really nice, you might get it! Seriously, that kind of ignorant statement is sooo childish
>>
>>
That is called a nerd slap!
J/K
I graduated and got a job they kept playing. Alot of players were engineering students as I know Chris was. Dave and Tony were too I believe. I felt being a scientist was my calling versus playing a card game. We all make different choices.
How are Alpha cards tourny legal when you can tell them apart from all other issues, even in card sleeves? I quit playing about 5 years ago maybe things have changed and I only did sealed deck or draft for the last couple
Just because you buy and sell the cards doesn't make you an expert on magic. How decks were designed, how Weisman and all the theories started alot came from that group that met in NY in the early 90s.
I basically stated Alpha is now worht more due to collecting not playing ability, they are more rare so they should be worth more. But it wasn't always the case.
You sound like the 75 mini guys here whenever someone states there were people who horded this stuff. It happened, when it all gets outg will it affect prices, maybe but there were people stashing it all the time, especially Alphas as basically they were unplayable so you could pick them up much cheaper than beta cards back in 1993.
Seeing how this is your first time over here why not try and not sound like a douche when responding to other opinions.
If you had a power card 10 in the mix I would have said it was a awesome sub, that was my point.
Bosox1976
jk
<< <i>wow this thread is bringing out all the weirdos....
jk >>
Yeah and now the King has arrived !!!!!!!!!!!!
<< <i>Looks like this is gonna have to be settled mano a mano..........uh I mean protector de bolsillo a protector de bolsillo.
Neil
<< <i>King Nerd here. I will beat anyone down with my black weenie deck
Ohhhhhhh.......deck. Sorry, nevermind.
<< <i>We need popcorn girl >>
Popcorn girl is way too hot to go out with this thread.
Also, if you go to a sport card show there is usually not a girl within a 3 mile radius or if there is she usually is there against her will by her husband or boyfriend. (with a few exceptions of course)
I also agree about the National... the few women that DO attend have a "you owe me big time" look on their faces.
<< <i>
<< <i>We need popcorn girl >>
Popcorn girl is way too hot to go out with this thread. >>
Part 2
Outtakes
<< <i>You don't know anything about Chris, Dave and Tony or the crew from upstate NY. >>
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25