The Power of Value

I don't know if other collectors have this problem, but I seem to be a sucker for repacks and value packs. I have a hard time not purchasing these items when I visit one of the large retail outlets. The new revamped Fairfield jumbo packs; 100 cards for five dollars, have me hooked again with the allure of vintage cards. Sometimes, really most of the time, I find these packs to be more gratifying to open than a pack of cards from a  current release, mainly because most new releases come packaged for retail with six to eight cards per pack for around three dollars. The value packs also offer more variety, even junk wax is more variety sometimes when there is nothing else of interest in the card aisle. Last but not least, it is a lot of fun to pull a vintage card from a pack of cards.

I have found I am also not immune to the various incarnations of value products Topps now produces, including the value rack packs and especially the value boxes with Topps series one and two Heritage hobby packs. I bought my fourth box the other day. I didn't really need it. I have already completed the three card refractor set and I'm not building the Topps base, but since I'm building this years Heritage set, I tell myself I may pull a short print or two I may need. I also continue to buy these boxes under the delusion I'll redeem a star vintage card from the Topps diamond site, even though the best card I have redeemed is a common low number from 1960.

The power of adding some value, actual or perceived is a very real marketing tool that I continue to fall for, especially when I am looking to open some cards and nothing on the shelves catches my eye. Right now is one of those times. I am not interested in Bowman and Gypsy Queen has been out of sight in my area. When I'm not looking to spend much I grab these packs and boxes, the value boxes are cheaper than a blaster and has the same amount of cards and contain enough variety for the consumer to return again. I guess this is what Topps and Fairfield are counting on and what make these packages successful in places like Walmart and Target, since they can appeal to a longtime or casual collector. It looks like value packs will be my purchase of choice for the immediate future, or until Allen and Ginter is released this summer.

Card Show Pick Up-1956 Topps Freddie Marsh

This well loved 1956 Topps Freddie Marsh, I picked up at a card show last weekend for a quarter. The show was surprisingly dominated by vintage dealers, and I was well prepared with my 71' and 73' Topps want lists. I will be showing more cards I picked up at this show in upcoming posts.

According to Baseball Reference, Freddie Marsh was traded to the Orioles in December 1954 from the Chicago White Sox. He played two seasons with the Orioles as a utility infielder, playing third, shortstop and second base. In 1955, his first season with the O's he played in 89 games, saw 344 plate appearances, but batted a dismal .215 with two home runs and 19 RBI. His last game came the next year on May 29 1956.

The back of the 1956 issue is dominated by the cartoons. The right side of the cartoon states Fred worked on his cattle ranch during the off season. In the 1950's, most players could not afford to train or play winter ball in in Puerto Rico or Latin America like some of today's players, but had to take jobs to support their families.

The cartoons are the highlight of most Topps issues from the 1950's and 60's. I really like the cartoons on the back of the 1962 issue, they took up less of the card than the 1956 issue, but were done in a more serious, artistic style. This is why I like this years Topps Heritage release so much, Topps did a great job recreating the original cartoons.