When Topps first released Five Star back in 2010
, I was so happy that we were not going to have a break in years for pro products that have no stickers. In 2009, Upper Deck had lost their pro license, and with it, many products that were sticker free. Since that time, Five Star has remained the only product on the market that is made without the use of stickers, and that is the main reason why it is my favorite product of the year.
Why buy stickers when you can have the real thing? These are deals:
2013 Topps Five Star Aaron Rodgers Patch Auto
2013 Topps Five Star Drew Brees Patch Auto
2013 Topps Five Star Adrian Peterson Patch Auto
2013 Topps Five Star Ladanian Tomlinson Patch Auto
2013 Topps Five Star Dan Marino Auto Booklet
2013 Topps Five Star Peyton Manning Auto Inscription /10
As I have said for years now, collectors still find reasons not to embrace the product for what it is, citing outdated rookie card definitions and other stupid idiosyncrasies to say why the cards shouldnt be worth more than they are. National Treasures still remains the most valuable, despite the fact that Five Star has continued to be a better looking product for the last 4 years. It is infinitely frustrating to hear people say “Treasures has better patches,” when it should be painfully obvious that all the jerseys are not game worn. Its putting extreme value in a patch that was worn for less than three seconds at the rookie premiere (not exaggerating that, either). This makes absolutely no sense what so ever to me. Its literally the most valuable product solely by default. It shouldnt be that way, and we refuse to reward Five Star, even after it fulfills all the different desires that collectors have clamored for through the whole calendar year.
We bitch constantly about how much we hate sticker autographs, because for the most part, they dont look like a natural piece of sports memorabilia. Having each card personally signed by the athlete is a symbol of commitment to timely completion, and should be a status symbol for each product. Instead, collectors just pass right on buy, continuing to pay similar prices for cards that never are handled by the athletes. Shame on us. Seriously.
Throughout the five plus years on this blog, I have always said that design and look were the most important things that people should gravitate towards when building their personal collection. Its not about the size of a stupid patch on a card, especially when the card is horrendously composed and executed. What is the point of owning an ugly card? I just dont get it. Sure, beauty is subjective, but there are plenty of instances to showcase that even ugly ducklings can be valuable. Again, it fucking baffles me to no end. I have friends that are so drawn to shiny objects that they overlook blatant flaws in card design. How is this accepted by the general public?
My rallying cry has continued to focus on educating people that there is more than just jumbo patches and lazy design work out there. I have called collectors to action to speak with our wallets and reward the products that have exactly what we want. I know my voice is just a fart in the wind under most circumstances, but that is where everyone else needs to start proclaiming their opinion as well. We should never accept a company’s leftover trash, just because they put it on the shelf. Im firm on that. Five Star is everything that is good about design and autographs, and its time we get off our butts and figure out a way to demand similar effort in all products.
I am not saying all stickers are bad, because sometimes they are unavoidable. However, we need to step up and put some money where our mouth is for all hard signed stuff. Dont settle. Never settle.
I never settle for all this new effing garbage from these companies. Matter of fact, I’ve got $400 for anyone who has a 2001 UD Legends Steve Young certified autograph to sell me. Anyone?
I’ve been watching the sales of 2013 Five Star fall for the last week and a half, or so. I am getting ready to jump in on a few of these HOFer on-card autos… 😉
I love the fact that few people seem to see what you and I are seeing in five star. It keeps the price relatively low and for a product like this I’m shocked I can buy some of my favorites like Randall Cobb and for next to nothing. Even the hottest rookie last year in Eddie lacy I won for $48 which is incredible. To me collecting cards isn’t about how much others think they’re worth, it’s about what they’re worth to me. Screw paying $350 for an Eddie lacy national treasures RPA when I can get something much better looking for a fraction of the price. It seems eBay auctions are falling and most collectors might worry but that excites me, more low auctions means more great autos to add to my collection, which to me is priceless.
Not quite a believer in free market economics, are you? You have been on this crusade for quite some time and, while I don’t necessarily disagree with you, there’s no better indication of what people value than what they are willing to spend. Despite your opinion that the cards in Five Star are always supremely better, that people should value the on-card autos over the patch content, etc., that is clearly not the prevailing opinion of participants in the marketplace. Telling people to spend money on a product to show support simply because you think it is better is not realistic. The people are going to spend money on what THEY think is better, and the results will speak for themselves. Since Five Star has been in existence, the results have always spoken for themselves.