Press Pass ups the ante with Wheels Main Event
Sports card design is a subjective thing.
Some collectors insist that a card must have some of the basics on the front — a name and a logo and some color along with a photograph. And then, of course, images and stats on the back.
Other collectors balk at the idea of anything that’s not the standard vector art or identifiable sports-related texture even if it’s more organic and pushing the envelope to help redefine what a sports card design can include (see Rookies & Stars).
Others insist that there’s a reason retro sets have such staying power — the designs and the feel of the past.
But the rarity among current products is a new design that has a concept behind it.
Last year, Wheels Main Event relied on an Election Day feel to get the job done. This year, Press Pass has shuffled up and dealt what might be the most unique card set — for any sport — produced all year.
Some might not think poker and NASCAR have much in common — and the truth is they might not — but the touches applied to this card set, which arrives next week, are interesting to say the least.
From the terminology on the backs of autographed cards “Congratulations, you have drawn a … “, to the 54-card Full Deck insert — printed just like playing cards on playing card stock — there are some smart touches and interesting ties to be found.
The 90-card set consists of Rounders (driver cards), six Winning Hand cards (teams), Double Suited (drivers with more than one sponsor), Pit Bosses (crew chiefs), All In (race highlights where gambles apparently paid off), Jackpot (winners), Poker Face (drivers’ in-car concentration images), Poker Pros (six pro poker players) and Rookie Rounders.
Inserts include poker player autographs (a bonus find on top of the standard three hits per box), High Rollers and even a Shuffle Up and Deal contest where a winning hand of collected cards can translate into autographed playing cards. Also to be found are four suits of autographed cards — the suits being parallels of varying quantities — as well as Wild Card Cuts, driver memorabilia cards made with event-used playing cards.
And then there’s the typography of the various card backs in the base set. It’s amazing what a simple choice can mean.
While there are all types of designs for all types of collectors, few can draw together two different entities into something that’s unique. This set does that and it just might draw the interest of collectors — and perhaps poker fans or non-collectors.
Sure, Wheels Main Event won’t be for everyone.
But it’s not the fault of its design or its concept.
Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball and Beckett Graded Card Investor. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com.
