Hobby challenge: Build an autographed card set
By Chris Olds | Beckett Baseball Editor
We all want the best player possible as the autograph every single time we open a box, but we should realize that’s not possible.
Why? Simple economics.
Every time a card company puts a card of The Iconic Veteran Player into a pack of cards that sells for $5, it’s actually losing money on that pack and the box that it’s in. Why? Because the player dictates his cost of signing — you take it or leave it — and that’s got nothing to do with how much the card will sell for on eBay or what your product might cost.
What do you do? Who makes it onto your checklist and who doesn’t? That’s up to you as the brand manager — but your goal is to hit your production numbers while also creating the best lineup you can that will appeal to the most people.
Do you load up on quality bargain players? Do you go for the big chase cards? Do you create a balanced product that would appeal to more people but not necessarily draw in the gambler types hoping for a crazy find?
Take our challenge … after the jump.
Your challenge … build a set with the needs below.
Total cards: 12
Total volume of cards: 300
Your autograph cost budget: $10,000 (you can’t go over; you can be under)
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You can use any of these players below. Their hypothetical cost is listed after their name. This is their cost per autograph. No added inscriptions on combo cards are allowed — that only raises costs and complicates the signing process when it comes to deadlines.
Player, hypothetical cost (per signature)
Derek Jeter, $300 (minimum 10)
Reggie Jackson, $17.50
Pete Rose, $15
Jose Canseco, $5
Bo Jackson, $75
Hank Aaron, $100
Sandy Koufax, $120
Ken Griffey Jr. $110
Frank Thomas, $65
Cal Ripken Jr., $50
Nolan Ryan, $55
Dave Parker, $12
Al Kaline, $50
Albert Belle, $18
Omar Vizquel, $9
Frank Robinson, $65
Carl Yastrzemski, $100
Johnny Bench, $42.50
Fergie Jenkins, $10
Jim Abbott, $7
Will Clark, $22
Will Ferrell, $250
Rob Manfred, free (limit 50 from the MLB commissioner)
Randy Johnson, $100
Greg Maddux, $110
Tom Glavine, $25
Wade Boggs, $30
Tommy Lasorda, $12
Tony LaRussa, $7
Juan Gonzalez, $5
Chris Sabo, $4
Herb Washington, $3
Dave Justice, $5
Ryne Sandberg, $50
Dennis Eckersley, $12
Mariano Rivera, $90
Willie Mays $200 (maximum 10)
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Just to show that it’s do-able to build a set — and come in under cost — using these hypothetical numbers, here is an example:
Presuming my math is correct (B = number of cards, C = cost per card, D = total cost … if it’s wrong I blame some dude in accounting), here’s my lineup. It came in under budget.
In the comments below, give us your checklist of 12 players and their quantity/cost.
And, remember, you can’t go over budget — if you do, you’ll be fired. The same could happen if you put out an awful set, too. (How do they package and sell these 300 cards? Well, that’s another piece for another day.)
How will your checklist look if you opt to take the challenge? Show us below.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Sports Card Monthly magazines. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an email to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisolds2009.
It’s not JUST the autograph.
I’d rather see a balanced approach.
Start with lots of rookies and legitimate prospects.
These would be first round draft pics and guys in the minors that have done something of note.
Add to that a limited selection of autographs that are relevant.
So, last years award winners (ROY, CY, MVP), newly retired future HOF members and their induction into the Hall.
And reduce the number of sets created so their is at least a base level of demand.
Too many products kill value.
“Memorabilia” with COA’s that promise nothing, kill value.
There really is no excuse for stickers except possibly for replacement card purposes.
Redemption cards should only be issued for things you know will be available and any product
with a redemption card in it should publish an expiration date warning on the boxes.
“Warning, this product may contain redemption cards which expire on 1/1/2016”
Rookies appeal to gamblers and support the box prices for at least a few years.
A limit on parallels would help a lot. They keep taking good ideas and running them into the ground.
Reggie Jackson, $17.50 $17.50 $0.00
Jose Canseco, $5.00 40 $200.00
Bo Jackson, $75.00 10 $750.00
Ken Griffey Jr. $110.00 10 $1,100.00
Frank Thomas, $65.00 10 $650.00
Cal Ripken Jr., $50.00 10 $500.00
Nolan Ryan, $55.00 10 $550.00
Omar Vizquel, $9.00 30 $270.00
Randy Johnson, $100.00 5 $500.00
Greg Maddux, $110.00 5 $550.00
Wade Boggs, $30.00 45 $1,350.00
Ryne Sandberg, $50.00 50 $2,500.00
Dennis Eckersley, $12.00 75 $900.00
That was fun, here are my choices:
Reggie Jackson – Qty 30
Pete Rose – Qty 50
Jose Canseco – Qty 50
Sandy Koufax – Qty 10
Ken Griffy Jr – Qty 10
Cal Ripken Jr – Qty 15
Nolan Ryan – Qty 15
Will Clark – Qty 25
Randy Johnson – Qty 10
Wade Boggs – Qty 25
Dennis Eckerlsey – Qty 40
Mariano Rivera – Qty 20
TOTAL COST $9980
For a real challenge I decided to see if I could include all the players with at least 2 of each player. I also wanted the added challenge of making the lesser players more desirable by making them have as few cards as possible. Here is what I came up with:
Derek Jeter 10
Reggie Jackson 15
Pete Rose 15
Jose Canseco 50
Bo Jackson 2
Hank Aaron 2
Sandy Koufax 2
Ken Griffey Jr 2
Frank Thomas 2
Cal Ripken Jr 2
Nolan Ryan 2
Dave Parker 10
Al Kaline 2
Albert Belle 2
Omar Vizquel 10
Frank Robinson 2
Carl Yastrzemski 2
Johnny Bench 2
Fergie Jenkins 15
Jim Abbott 10
Will Clark 5
Will Ferrell 2
Randy Johnson 2
Greg Maddux 2
Tom Glavine 5
Wade Boggs 5
Tommy Lasorda 15
Tony LaRussa 15
Juan Gonzalez 2
Chris Sabo 2
Herb Washington 2
Dave Justice 10
Ryne Sandberg 2
Dennis Eckersley 15
Mariano Rivera 2
Willie Mays 10
Rob Manfred 45
For a grand total of $9,992.50
From Olds: You’re under budget … but you’re fired for not reading the instructions! 12 cards and 12 subjects only! Haha.
My theory is simple. All HOF players and one virtual HOF lock (because let’s face it, it’s tough to beat pulling a HOF autograph).
Reggie Jackson $17.50 20 $350
Frank Thomas $65 20 $1,300
Cal Ripken Jr. $50 20 $1,000
Nolan Ryan $55 20 $1,100
Al Kaline $50 20 $1,000
Omar Vizquel $9 20 $180
Frank Robinson $65 20 $1,300
Johnny Bench $42.50 20 $850
Fergie Jenkins $10 20 $200
Tom Glavine $25 20 $500
Wade Boggs $30 20 $600
Tommy Lasorda $12 20 $240
Tony LaRussa $7 20 $140
Ryne Sandberg $50 20 $1,000
Dennis Eckersley $12 20 $240
Equal number of all autos should encourage collectors, because they would know that they have an equal shot at LaRussa as they do Frank Robinson. As a bonus, I would score the Rob Manfred autographs too and insert them as bonus cards in Hot Packs/Boxes.
Total budget… $10,000
Fergie Jenkins – quantity 50, cost $500
Tommy Lasorda – quantity 50, cost $600
Tony LaRussa – quantity 50, cost $350
Wade Boggs – quantity 30, cost $900
Reggie Jackson – quantity 20, cost $350
Tom Glavine – quantity 20, cost $500
Dennis Eckersley – quantity 20, cost $240
Rob Manfred – quantity 20, cost $0
Nolan Ryan/Randy Johnson combo – quantity 10, cost $1550
Greg Maddux/Tom Glavine combo – quantity 10, cost $1350
Frank Robinson/Carl Yastrzemski – quantity 10, cost $1650
Ken Griffey Jr./Frank Thomas – quantity 10, cost $1750
Total: $9740
Manfred 50 $0
Jackson 25 $437.5
Rose 25 $375
Aaron 15 $1500
Koufax 15 $1800
Ferell 10 $2500
Glavine 25 $625
Mays 5 $1000
Vizquel 25 $225
Griffey Jr 10 $1100
Canseco 50 $250
Sabo 45 $180
12 People 300 Cards $9992.5
I feel like the best deal by far is Vizquel, he is crazy popular and sells extremely well.
I always thought autographs sets should follow some sort of theme, so I’m presenting “End of the Century Stars”
Dave Justice, $5 $5.00 15 $75.00
Albert Belle, $18 $18.00 15 $270.00
Juan Gonzalez, $5 $5.00 15 $75.00
Omar Vizquel, $9 $9.00 15 $135.00
Tom Glavine, $25 $25.00 15 $375.00
Frank Thomas, $65 $65.00 15 $975.00
Mariano Rivera, $90 $90.00 15 $1,350.00
Randy Johnson, $100 $100.00 10 $1,000.00
Greg Maddux, $110 $110.00 10 $1,100.00
Ken Griffey Jr. $110 $110.00 10 $1,100.00
Cal Ripken Jr., $50 $50.00 10 $500.00
Derek Jeter, $300 $300.00 10 $3,000.00
155 $9,955.00
This is more of an exclusive offering you would find in a premium set with only a total of 155 autos available. But you’re just as about likely to find one star as another in this set. This veteran set would interest folks who grew up in the 90s and now have more disposable income on packs/boxes and want even odds on the player of their choice. On the secondary market given the low print runs player collectors would snap them up due to scarcity of the print runs.
From Olds — you’re fired! We needed 300 autographs for the product! Ha.
Here is my list – 150 packs . VERY High End online exclusive product………”2 Auto’s Per Pack. Look for special 1/1 HOF Gold Sparkle Purple Right Border White Ice parallel gum stained back, on-card auto flashback rookie cards!!!! ”
Thanks Chris…this was really fun
Aaron 15 1,500
Koufax 16 1,920
Griffey 15 1,650
Ryan 15 825
Ripken 15 750
Mays 10 2,000
Boggs 20 420
Manfred 49 0
Jenkins 25 250
Gonzalez 40 200
Canseco 40 200
Abbott 40 280
300 9,995
So I generally went with a top-level approach with the majority based on baseball legend Pete Rose. Here is my set up:
Hank Aaron 100.00 5 500
Sandy Koufax 120.00 5 600
Ken Griffey 110.00 5 550
Willie Mays 200.00 5 1000
Derek Jeter 300.00 10 3000
Pete Rose 15.00 125 1875
Reggie Jackson 17.50 90 1575
Tom Glavine 25.00 10 250
Wade Boggs 30.00 10 300
Omar Vizquel 9.00 25 225
T. Lasorda 12.00 5 60
D. Eckersley 12.00 5 60
12 Subjects with 300 Autos at $9,995.00
Ok lets have some fun. 300 Autos 10 grand 12 people.
Manfred is a no brainier. Commish = Historical Auto. But I dont want to overkill on him so lets do 30
1. Manfred 30 Free $0 = 1 Person 30 cards $0 Down $10000 Left
Herb Washington is just a Fun Card. Only PR in history plus has the Charlie Finley connection. So I can go 30 on him.
2. Washington 30 $3 $90 = 2 People 60 cards $90 Down $9910 Left
Jim Abbott is the type of cards kids NEED to Pull. If they dont know him they can look him up for inspiration!
Lets do 30 on him!
3. Abbott 30 $7 $210 = 3 People 90 cards $300 Down $9700 Left
Tony LaRussa 3rd All Time in wins But some find Manager Cards Boring. So lets do 15 on him.
4. LaRussa 15 $7 $105 = 4 People 105 Cards $405 Down $9595 Left
Hank Aaron 755 LEGIT & Check his hits total folks & he is half the price of Mays!
5. Aaron 20 $100 $2000 = 5 People 125 Cards $2405 Down $7595 Left
Tommy Lasorda is a value play. At shows he is a $99 Auto so for $12 I will take the value play. Will make his card a Brooklyn Dodgers card just to change it up & for the Brooklyn fans!
6. Lasorda 30 $12 $360 = Halfway point 6 People 155 Cards $2765 Down $7235 Left
Sandy Koufax is Expensive but people LOVE Sandy Autos & the Brooklyn Dodgers. So lets give them BOTH! Sandy as a Brooklynite Auto!
7. Koufax 20 $120 $2400 = 7 People 175 Cards $5165 Down $4835 Left
Nolan Ryan. Sandy is in so why not Nolan. All time No Hit & K king with over 300 wins as a bonus!
8. Ryan 30 $55 $1650 = 8 People 205 Cards $6815 Down $3185 Left
Mariano, All time Saves Leader + Modern Yankee
9. Rivera 15 $90 $1350 = 9 People 220 Cards $8165 Down $1835 Left
Eck. Nice tie in with Mo. HOF & cant hate an Eck.
10. Eckersley 25 $12 $300 = 10 People 245 Cards $8465 Down $1535 Left
Tom Glavine gets me a cheap 300 Game winner with a loyal following.
11. Glavine 30 $25 $750 = 11 People 275 Cards $9215 Down $785 Left
Wade Boggs is the hitting version of Glavine. 3000 Hits with a following so 30 more.
12. Boggs 25 $30 $750 = 12 People 300 Cards $9965 Down $35 Left
Nice mix of Legends, HOF, & Fun Pulls. NO ROSE too many out there. Lots of other ways to go but I went balance with so nice wows!
Thanks for the fun challenge Chris!
1) Derek Jeter, 10 autos at $300 a piece, $3,000 total
2) Hank Aaron, 15 at $100, $1,500 total
3) Bo Jackson, 5 at $75, $375 total
4) Tony LaRussa, 75 at $7, $525 total
5) Pete Rose, 25 at $15, $375 total
6) Jose Canseco, 20 at $5, $100 total
7) Ken Griffey Jr., 10 at $110, $1,100 total
8) Dave Justice, 40 at $5, $200 total
9) Cal Ripken Jr., 20 at $50, $1,000 total
10) Nolan Ryan, 15 at $55, $825 total
11) Tommy Lasorda, 60 at $12, $720 total
12) Reggie Jackson, 5 at $17.50, $87.50 total
Totals: 300 cards for a total of $9,807.50