Bi-Weekly Market Report - August 23, 2006

A Fresh Look at Sports Collectibles News

"This little piece of cardboard is getting so much attention not just because of the player on it, but also because of the jersey number on the player. Bush is pictured in his Saints uniform wearing his familiar No. 5 – the number he wore during his college career and during the NFL Players Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot.

What makes this card unique is that, to date, all other Bush cards with photos from the Rookie Premiere picture him in his new No. 25 Saints jersey – no doubt digitally added to the photo after the shoot. Even his 2006 Topps Rookie Card #359, the version that comes out of all Topps wax and rack products, has the same design as this team set card, but has him wearing No. 25.

The team set card #NO11 is selling for as much as, if not more than, the regular Topps RC. However, BGS graded 9.5 copies of the team set card recently have sold for $20-$50 online."

Why do card companies feel the need to "digitally alter" uniform numbers? It was NATIONAL NEWS that Reggie did his card shoot wearing #5...I saw it on Sports Center! So why not just leave it on ALL of the cards? Everyone knows that a little while later the NFL told him he couldn't wear #5 so he switched to #25. What exactly is the point of switching the number on the card? Just leave them all as #5 as they were shot. Collectors and sports fans are smart enough to understand why he wears a different number on Sundays. [read article]

"Our Sports Picks collectors have waited impatiently for the prototype images of our upcoming NFL 14 lineup. We showed off the prototype for one of the figures during the San Diego Comic-Con, and the fans clamored for more. Although we're still waiting to finalize the tattoo inking for Kansas City RB Larry Johnson, we've decided that the overwhelming requests must be answered. So without further ado, let's take a look at the initial photography for our NFL 14 lineup."

This is shaping up to be one of McFarlane's best NFL series (and that's saying a lot). The Bush figure fielding a punt is an amazing pose and stands out as the one that collectors will be salivating over. The Gates figure in a sweet catching pose and a powder-blue uniform also caught my eye as one of the sweetest looking McFarlane's to date. The poses for Alexander, Polamalu, Smith, and Johnson are also impressive. I don't know if it's just me, but I think McFarlane is getting even BETTER at making realistic figures in jaw-dropping action poses. [read release]

"The Donruss Playoff Trading Card Company will be working with the Indianapolis Colts to produce a limited edition trading card set for the upcoming 2006 football season. Using the Score brand name, the 10-card set will be sponsored by The Indianapolis Star and distributed at and around the RCA Dome during home games throughout the 2006 season."

Of course. Why wouldn't Donruss make a card set of the undefeated, Super Bowl Champion Colts...oh yeah, that's right, they lost their perfect record to the Chargers and got rolled up AGAIN in the playoffs at home by Pittsburgh. Why do we treat this freaking Colts team like they are some sort of dynasty. They are a pathetic excuse for a team that can't win when it matters. Hell, Eli had more fourth quarter comebacks last season than Peyton has in his whole career (or at least it feels like it). They couldn't get by the Patriots for like 3 years, and they couldn't get by the Steelers last year. Wake me up when this team actually does something. The Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Braves think the Colts are a joke.

P.S. Yea, I know it had to do with the newspaper sponsoring the card set and really had nothing to do with their performance on the field, but it was a slow news week and I felt like crapping on the Colts. [read article]