2011-12 Fleer Retro Basketball

Oh dear....how the mighty have fallen. Upper Deck yesterday posted some images of cards from their forthcoming release 2011-12 Fleer Retro Basketball. Originally due to be released in April of this year, the released has steadily been pushed back and is now due to land in September. Whilst a five month delay could be regarded as an issue in itself, it is the above images that have caused the real consternation on my part.

I have long had a hatred of sticker autograph cards. Whilst, I understand the economics for card companies of sticker versus on-card autograph cards, I still think that they were one of the worst innovations that has arrived within the hobby over the last decade. I understand that players have numerous commitments and are not as accessible to both collectors and card companies as we would like, in order that they can sign sports cards. But, I personally would see a lower number of on-card autograph cards released, as opposed to see the flood of awful sticker autograph cards that are currently produced each year.

Upper Deck seem though intent on taking things to a whole new low. 'Autographics' cards that first started to appear in Skybox products in 1996-97 took official autograph cards to a whole new level. The first 96 card set is legendary and the releases of the next few years maintained that high standard; with an excellent array of on-card autographs from a host of then current players. As regular readers of this blog will know, I am still attempting to finish the 1998-99 version of this insert set!

So to see Upper Deck plan stickered versions of these classic 90s set, simply has me shaking my head. I was actually quite looking forward to this release and maybe adding another chase to my ever growing list. But seeing these images, I think it is fair to say I will stay away. When I consider some of the amazing basketball products that the Upper Deck was producing only a few years ago (Exquisite, Chronology, SP Authentic, Ultimate Collection to name but four), I do wonder whether we are really seeing the demise of this once great card company.       

1998-99 Skybox Autographics additions

After a little lull in deliveries, three more cards for my 1998-99 Skybox Autographics chase (taking the total to 91 cards), arrived in the mail this morning. As is often the case when I am adding slightly lesser known players to the set, I find myself doing a little research on them, to find out how their careers panned out.

Whilst both Reggie Slater and Adonal Foyle had strong carers that lasted 8 and 12 years respectively, the 'journeyman' career of point guard Anthony Johnson jumps out at me. Johnson joined the league in 1997 after being drafted mid-way through the second round by the Sacremento Kings, with the 39th pick. Now clearly the standout players from the Class of '97 are Tim Duncan, Chauncey Billups and Tracy McGrady who are all still active and will finish their careers have played over (or in the case McGrady close to) 1,000 games when they finally retire from the game.

Johnson then though finds himself in the next group accompanied by the likes of Anthony Daniels, Tony Battie and Tim Thomas, having played just under 800 games during his 13 years in the league. Although far from unique for a player of his abilities, Johnson played his trade in Sacramento (twice), Atlanta (three times), Orlando (twice), Cleveland, New Jersey, Indiana and Dallas. His career stats ended with him averaging 5.6ppg from just under 20 minutes per game, during which, for the most part, he featured as the back-up point guard on each team he played.

I would be particualrly interested to hear Johnson's view on his career and specifically his personal highlights from a career, with total earrings that topped just over $19 million. He was on the roster of teams that reached, but lost, the NBA finals on three separate occasions. He was with the Nets in 2002 & 2003 and the Magic in 2008, but only played during his first two visits to the finals, being unused in the final series.

In 2008 his then coach Stan Van Gundy said of Johnson that "His professionalism, his work ethic, his toughness are the reasons that he's' had the lengthy career that he's had. He's a competitor." Owning a card that has hand signed by such an athlete and actually only cost me $5, is one of the simple pleasures to be gained from of this hobby.

Another long chase...

Whilst I am trying to urn over a new leaf, I probably still have way way too many chases currently on the go. As I have been sorting through my collection, I keep coming across partially completed sets, that I have started but not managed to complete. The challenge I have had this week has been in deciding which sets to try and complete and which ones should I simply throw in the towel and sell the partially completed set on eBay.

My 1998-99 Autographics insert is a perfect case in point. I have 88 cards from this set, which means, with 139 cards in the set, I have 51 more to find. OK so the good news is that I am nearly two thirds of the way there. But 51 cards? Without a concerted effort, that really could taken me an age to complete! And that is before I even consider the fact, that I am missing the really hard to find short printed cards - such as Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen or Dennis Rodman - from the set!

But it feels too late to turn back now and I simply cannot stop and leave a partially completed set in my collection. But, clearly my OCD tendencies prevent me from leaving a set partially complete! What would be the point of that?

So the only option is to keep pushing forward and get the missing cards loaded up into my eBay search tool (GarageBuy) and see if I can at least get a little closer to completing another loooong chase!