Defining my ‘checkboxes’ helps land a new favorite card
Some of you that have watched our latest podcast episode will have seen this card, and heard me talk about it. But I really wanted to write from a different perspective and describe how I came to want this card, and why it brings me personally so much happiness. In short, it ‘checks all my boxes’. It’s something I’ve brought up a few times in the past, but what does that really mean? Obviously it means I have a checklist of things I’m looking for in a card; and I think a lot of us have a soft list floating around in our head - or we’re flipping through listings and something catches our eye and we think to ourselves ‘Oh I like that, add to watchlist’ - by why specifically? In an instance where you weren’t looking for that exact card, what draws you to stop and look at it a little longer? What makes us see a sales sheet for a new product and get a more excited for it that other releases? As an exercise for myself, I sat down earlier this year and tried to make some real, defined things I’d like to see in a card to help both narrow and refine my search, but also maybe let myself consider cards I may have passed on before. Without further adieu, here’s my list (in no particular order):
Design: We all probably care a little about design, but I truly treat my cards as both a piece of history (especially with vintage) and something I want to display as art. For me, this means the space on the card is used well, I personally like clean lines, not too busy and something unique. When it comes to unique, think the opposite of something like Panini Prizm - I can’t really tell the difference between some years of that product lol. I like, pop and contrast with an intention to the colors used. This Ichiro city variation kills this category: cityscape in the background, portrait and action shot, but one in color and one in black and white for contrast, and a nice refractor finish to make it pop. It looks like something I could blow up and frame to hang on the wall. Box checked.
Scarcity: This personally doesn’t mean something /5 or 1 of 1. It means that you don’t see them very often. There are a lot of instances of this from the 90s where, maybe a set wasn’t popular or maybe the print run was just less than was expected and it’s difficult to find. I have some cards that have a great design and you almost never see them so I’ve been able to swipe some for $20. Rare doesn’t have to mean expensive, just that when you show it to another collector there’s a chance they say ‘woah, never seen one of those before’. Again, this Ichiro CV refractor checks that box: the estimated print run is 7-8 (I personally like that it’s not serial numbered, adds to sneaky scare) and it’s the first copy I’ve caught for sale since this product was released.
Uniqueness: I love when cards have something unique to offer - an odd serial numbering, a really unique technology used, a strange way the card had to be obtained or redeemed, provenance, etc. The Ichiro really works here because this is the first year/time I’d ever seen a one-per-10-case insert put into box topper packs. It’s also the first time Topps has ever done the city variation (also works for the next point related to hobby history). As far as I know, there’s never been a one per case pack that had 4 variation cards, and then one in every 10 cases the 1 pack of 4 cards would have ONE refactor. Such a unique pack out process that’s super different.
Relates to Hobby or Sports history: The over-arching theme for my collection is that a card either tangentially relates to baseball history (maybe a historic player, time period for baseball, player who did a historic thing) or relates to hobby history (first time x thing happened, inaugural version of the card or insert set, first time this technology was used, first autographs inserted in packs, first set that standardized the modern sports card size - 1957 Topps btw). There’s so much to collect here to reference both baseball history and the history of the hobby for me. Tobacco cards, gum cards, first set of Topps, first refractors, first die-cut cards, I can go on and on. The Ichiro again checks this box for me because the design is based on the 1954 Topps design - an iconic set with the Hank Aaron RC and on the design side they played with the no-boarder top.
In summary, by sitting down and making my ‘checkbox’ list, I’ve been able to have even more fulfilling mail days knowing before the card even arrives why I like it so much; even if it wasn’t one I was actively searching for but came across and found that it checked my boxes. If you don’t have your own checklist, I highly encourage entertaining the exercise!
Best,
Ben
