How Jumbo Jerseys and Patches SHOULD Be Done

There is a trend in this hobby that has become quite disturbing to me, especially as someone who values design and look over memorabilia in the cards I buy. Since 2007, the patch and jersey card has become so commonplace, that the companies are looking for more ways to stretch this idea until it is completely worthless. Rather than improving the visual appeal and ideas behind the cards themselves, they have just made the jersey swatches larger and larger, sometimes covering the whole entire card. When this happens, it no longer becomes about the player on the card, just how “OMG SICKZ MOJOS!!!11!” the patch is. Barf.

I hate this practice so much because, most of the time, the people who design the cards shrink the player pictures to the size of a dime, or in some laughable cases, just cover up the player altogether. Its terrible. In fact, on some cards, the product’s logo is larger than the picture of the player.

Topps has found a way around this situation with Rising Rookies this year, as well as Finest and Platinum last year. They have maintained look and design, all while appeasing the growing need among collectors for huge pieces of memorabilia.

Here are some examples:

Sam Bradford 2010 Platinum Jumbo Patch Auto

Sam Bradford 2010 Finest Jumbo Patch Auto

Ryan Mathews Rising Rookies Jumbo Patch Auto 1/1

Mike Kafka Rising Rookies Eagles Logo Jumbo Patch Auto

Mike Williams Rising Rookies Jumbo Patch Auto 1/1

Marcus Easley Rising Rookies Jumbo Patch Auto 1/1

You can easily see in these cards that the oversized patches fit perfectly within the confines of the design, and they still have room for a generous player picture AND an autograph. Although the autos stickers, it works extremely well.

When you see the way other cards have been done, like some of the ones I equate to visual diarrhea on Panini’s side, these look like freaking Picassos.

There have already been previews showing that Topps is going to use this style more frequently this year, which should do wonders for making people like me very happy. Regardless of the way the rest of 2011 turns out, this is a hot start for sure.

One thought on “How Jumbo Jerseys and Patches SHOULD Be Done

  1. There’s a point at which you’re no longer collecting sports cards…just things like autographs, patches, and other types of memorabilia that can be grafted on to cards Frankenstein style.

    Card manufacturers would be wise to remember that there are still a substantial number of collectors who actually colllect the cards, and who couldn’t give a hoot about all these other things that mannufacturers are trying to stick into/onto cards.

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