2013 Historic Autographs Originals 1933: The Base Set

One post I have in mind for later this year is a look at the increase in high-dollar issues and the "big hit" premium releases.

There have been more of these in Japan lately, or at least they've shifted a bit in format to become super-premium issues. One big example is Epoch's products. Their one-hit-per-box issues used to include a full base set, but now the base cards are just about as limited as the autographs. It was possible to get the full "Red Hell" anniversary set at a good price, but building one of the latest issues (MVP, Record Holders, etc) is cost-prohibitive. And those topical sets are exactly what I tend to collect.

American card manufacturers invented the premium box. Topps Tribute, Upper Deck's Ultimate Collection, Playoff's Absolute Memorabilia. And several sets now have no base set. Topps Strata is just one of several issues that is all hits. That, honestly, pisses me off. I am, first and foremost, a type collector. And with 36 sets including parallels in the Topps Strata release, all with autographs or relics, that's 36 cards that I know will cost me a fortune to get (assuming I ever do). And don't get me started on Panini with their infinite number of parallels: 2016 Prime Cuts has 81 sets, Flawless 108, and Pantheon 128. None of those sets have true base cards for average collectors.

While cut autographs aren't really my thing, unless I really like the subject, the 2013 Historic Autographs Originals 1933 (wow, what a long set name) cut-auto release includes base cards.

Without actually saying "Goudey" the release includes cut signatures encased with original 1933 Goudey cards in most cases. Some cuts include the regular base cards; lots of subjects in the checklist (which is about 250) don't have 1933 Goudey cards.

Inside each box of Originals 1933 is that one cut signature, plus a full 42-card base set. The base set is sized similarly to the 1933 Goudey release, but doesn't share design elements. The cards are numbered to match the autograph checklist, but not all cards were issued.  From what I can tell, every base set includes the same cards in the same order.

My scanner can't handle the darker borders on most of the cards, and the paintings aren't very realistic though they are interesting. I could do without the gigantic website address on the front (put the subject's name there or get rid of it completely) and the excessive use of a difficult to read script font, especially for the player's name on the back. And why did they only make 42 cards, but number them to 249?

Sets can be found on eBay pretty cheap, and I got mine here from YJA for about $2 shipped. But these low prices don't mean that companies shouldn't produce them. The average collector may not be willing or able to shell out $100 or more on a one-card gamble, but we do enjoy the subjects included in these sets.

This particular set includes lots of Hall of Fame baseball players, along with Negro League stars and executives, and even a president. While this set is just a collection of retired people with no real information on the cards, I always enjoy art sets. And the first baseball cards didn't have any real information on the cards, either.

Here are the rest of the card fronts. Again, my scanner doesn't like darker borders, so there is a good bit of auto-cropping going on.

The Only Modern NPB Art Set? 2003 JPBPA

Japan is a land of monopolies and duopolies. Those of you who don't care much for Topps' exclusive licensing agreement with the MLB should probably stay away from Japan - BBM is the only company making major baseball card sets here. Calbee cards are wonderful, but they're food issues, wonderful remnants of a prior time. Other competitors have some major limitations when it comes to sets; Epoch and the others tend to make retired-only sets, team issues (BayStars Season Summary, for example), or player tribute sets.

In 2003, a Panini-style (team logo-less) unlicensed set featuring 60 top NPB stars was issued by the JPBPA (Japan Professional Baseball Players Association). The cards use action or posed images but use artistic drawings instead of photos. They remind me somewhat of Diamond Kings or Playoff's art set (Playoff Portraits) that was also issued in 2003.

NPB Card Guy mentions that these cards were sold in boxes packaged with little pins. There are two sets - the "base" version you see below, and a parallel of sorts with a different card design and different images. However, the same players and same card numbers were used. Based on Engel's description in my guide, four cards must have come per package, with one of those being the "Special" cards. I'd like to complete the special card set too, because the images are unique to that set. 

BBM and Calbee don't really use art. In fact, their card designs seem to focus on very digital layouts with photos cropped onto shiny backgrounds. I don't recall seeing any other set issued in the modern age (1991-present) that used art - drawings or paintings - instead of photos. That's what really makes this set stand out. Art was heavily used for menko sets in the 1940s and 1950s but doesn't really show up anymore. Are there any sets I'm forgetting? There's a possibility of team sets with art.

The set has several stars, including some players who went on to the MLB. Here are all 60 cards in the set: