There are very few baseball cards featuring Jose Canseco that I have not seen, either in person or through the Internet. The sad thing is that even if I someday hit the lottery I will never have the opportunity to own every single Canseco card in existence.
That being said, I ran into this amazing 2004 Donruss-produced dual relic featuring Jose Canseco and Will Clark this afternoon. If Donruss had managed to make anything close to this beauty with their over-hyped Prime Cuts last year, I would have jumped on the bandwagon.
Instead, Donruss came back into the baseball market with sticker autographs on 100% of their releases, used same images across brands, and just made some really ugly, dark baseball cards. I truly believe that if Donruss spent more time on design and less on stickers and relics, they could make a full comeback someday.
As for this wonderful card, I didn’t make a bid seeing as the opening price was $10 dollars. Maybe I was being cheap but I think really it was me being tired of the “memorabilia” era of The Hobby. In the long run, this card features two tiny pieces of bats that may or may not have been used by two great players.
Call me crazy but to me this card is not worth $10 dollars.
agreed.
you would have to be a collector of both to take this one in.
note to card companies: its never good if the collector can read the name and number on the players back… it means you didnt capture their face well!!
of course, if it was me.. and there was an edgar bat with some other random guy.. say darin erstad for example.. Id buy it for 10.
but I would be getting ripped
Don’t let go of the memorabilia era yet!! I still believe!!
Really?
I think Donruss Made a few very nice products this year. Some of the most bang for the buck as well. A majority of brands use stickers these days so it isn’t really fair to single Donruss out. As a matter of fact I will put Threads up against any Topps or Upper Deck product in the $60.00 range.
Mojo
Sorry Mario, I don’t think so. I got a Kirby Puckett Jersey card for 12 dollars a long time ago. Much more worth than an old Giant no name Will Clark, and no offense, a Bankrupt scandal who rated out the entire MLB. Not worth it to me
Mario,
You’ve gotten to where you’re whining about sticker autos in every post, even if the subject has nothing to do with them. I used to read this blog several times a day, and now it’s down to every other day because I get sick of seeing you beat this dead horse to smithereens. We get it. You hate sticker autos. Enough already.
As rabid and loyal a following as Canseco has, The Thrill collectors might top them in shear ravenous appettite for all things that might have even been fogged by Clarks breath. That card represents two of the most underrated players with regard to hobby clout.
Mojo,
Topps and Upper Deck didn’t release sticker autos in 100% of their products.
Threads is full of no-name prospect autographs and cheap Photoshopped images.
http://completist.wordpress.com/2008/11/26/photoshop-fail-donruss-threads/
Heres the deal with Threads.
If you ever bought a box ( I can get them for 50.00) you would know that you pretty much get a base set a box minus a few cards. I don’t think collectors were buying this product for them anyhow. The images cam from Cheeseland no doubt, but as far as the auto’s go they came from Cooperstown, and guys that are banned from there as well. As far as the prospect auto’s there were only 100 players, and I have to say about 70% of that list is quality. Donruss also did something with Threads that a lot of other products didn’t last year, and thats showcase auto’s of todays elite latino talent. Guys like Neftali Feliz, and Jhoulys Chacin, are just a few to name.
Mojo
as long as collectors buy the junk, why should they change?
Stickers are here to stay (at least at Donini) until collectors vote with their wallet.
If maybe there hadnt been a Canseco card on the bay for a long time and i was jonesing maybe i’d spring for it. The bat chips are just so tiny and there is just way too much brown on that card.
Wasn’t KIrby Puckett accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a bathroom? If anybody’s a scoundrel………………
I agree with the Mojo Hand here, Donruss Threads was one of my favorite products of 2008. Great value for the money, which is true of many Donruss-Playoff products. I’m not optimistic about the company now that they’ve been bought by Panini, but you’ve gotta give credit where it’s due with 2008 Threads.
Mario, I hate to say it, but I have to agree about beating the sticker drum repetitively. Almost EVERY Topps release uses stickers, including their supposed “high-end” ridiculously overpriced releases.
And for God’s sake, if you are going to bash something, please know more about it. 2008 Threads had autos of 50 retired/HOF players. Here’s a few.
Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fick, Johnny Pesky, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, George Brett, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Stan Musial.
I opened only 2 boxes last year, and pulled a Nolan Ryan /50 and an Al Kaline /50.
No other product from any other company last year gave you a chance to pull players like that at ANYWHERE close the price point of Threads.
I said full of no-name prospects, not 100% of it.
Yes, I have seen those stickers from Donruss… in Threads, Sports Legends, Prime Cuts…blah blah blah.
Also, you say “ALMOST” every Topps release issues stickers.
Almost is not ALL, which is what Donruss did.
The point is, for $50, would you rather have a box of Topps series 1 where you have a chance to pull 1 auto which will most likely be Greg Smith, Andy Sonanstine, or Akinori Iwamura on a GIANT foil sticker? Or…..a box of 2008 Threads with 4 autos, with a very high likelyhood of pulling a promising prospect or any one of the names I listed above on nicely understated clear stickers?
My contention, along with the few others who comment here that aren’t afraid to stray aay from the herd, is that you seem to have a hard-on for Panini/Donruss. And your biggest rallying cry is STICKERS, STICKERS.
Sticker autos are a neccessary evil, and are here to stay. There are a VERY select few Topps and UD products that are on-card. The reason being that it takes almost a year from start to finish to get these products to market, unless you have redemptions up the wazoo.
Long story short Mario, it’s your blog. You write what you want, and that’s part of the reason I read it every day. Just letting you know that I’m growing tired of the rhetoric.
Charlie, for $50 dollars I would choose neither one.
I’d get 2007 Masterpieces, which features on-card autographs, a great design, and a MLB logo.
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards/2007-upper-deck-masterpieces-baseball-hobby-box
2007 Masterpieces are nice. I have some. But once again, you get 1 auto, most likely a scrub you could get for $2 on eBay.
Aside from those veterans you mentioned and some prospects, Threads is Scrub Nation.
http://completed.shop.ebay.com/items/__2008-donruss-threads-autograph?LH_Complete=1&Sport=Baseball%252DMLB&_dmpt=US_SM_Sports_Cards&_fln=1&_sc=1&_sop=15&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282
Charlie, I should also mention that I am one of the biggest supporters of well-done Donruss products.
These are all recent blogs:
http://completist.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/donruss-is-doing-some-good-work/
http://completist.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/man-on-the-street-2009-americana/
http://completist.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/im-not-gay-but/
Sweet, for $50 (approx, including what I would’ve paid for shipping) I bought ‘07 Masterpieces hobby box and I’ve never been so pleased with a purchase. I feel that it’s an incredible value for the money, and I’ve only gotten to one relic so far (I only open a pack or two a day).
So… yeah.
Isnt everyone sick of the sticker autos? he should write about it as much has he wants.
Mario, I have to say I agree with you when you say your a bit tired of the memorabilia days, it seems that’s the only cardboard worth anything these days, which is good – I guess it would be bad to collect from an investor standpoint anyways.
07-08 Masterpiece is an entirely different product, and once again it comes down to preference. The two are uncomparable in every aspect of collecting. Masterpiece is a set driven product with short prints, and sub sets whereas Threads was a (who gives a shit about the base) type of product. I will warn you however, that Boof Bonser, Brian Giles, and a couple other scrubs are notorious 07 Masterpiece dwellers. 08 wasn’t nearly as bad. I would kick both to the curb for a box of Threads any day of the week. If not for collectibility then for entertainment purposes.
Mojo
In regards to the Canseco/Clark, If I needed it and couldn’t find one anywhere cheaper, I would have splurged for the card. If I need it, the price is right and the money is available I’ll go for it! Thats how I approach My Andre Dawson Collection anyway. You can probably find one cheaper if you shop around a little bit. I think those were numbered out of 250.
Thanks
Craig