Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    
    For those interested, the latest SCD (Tony Gwynn cover) has an ad
    for these on the back page of the second half.
    
    They're called "portrait" cards.  But if you look real close,
    all they really are is an advertisement for their clothing.
    
    But don't forget, they'll include "player's wives" cards too.

Feel free to heap abuse upon me... I have bought and sorta like these
Pro-Line cards.   Maybe it's because I'm not a big football fan and like
the quality of the pictures.

    
    I got a question for people who bought these.  Is there a toll
    free number on back where you can order the merchandise pictured?
    Are the items of clothing displayed given stock numbers?
    
    (FWIW, the NFL ProLine catalog, the real one -- not these cards,
     has these cards for sale @ $42.95/box).

    re.-1
    
    Doug was kind enough to give me one of the montana cards(not Joe). 
    While I paid more attention to studying the front than the back I did
    not notice any toll free # to order merchandise.  
    
    Jon

    
    I was being sarcastic Jon.  Maybe a :^) would've helped!
    
    -rjk

    Well, I'm not much of a football fan, and I'm not a collector of
    football cards, but I must confess an interest in beautiful women.
    
    So, anybody wanna part with a "wives" subset?
    
    Let me know!
    
    John D.
    

    These cards were supposed to be limited in distribution, and at the
    time I bought a box they were $30 a box.  I made a set from the box,
    and got one autograph, some noname from Green Bay.  Now I feel ripped
    off, I saw the same boxes selling at KMart last week for $15.  How
    limited can their distribution be if my KMart had about 3 cases, and
    they are selling them so cheap.  I'm almost tempted to buy another box
    just to look for autographs and the Payne Stewart and Rashad Family
    cards.

    Simply supply and demand, Bud.  Card manufactuers don't make money by
    limiting issues.  The game goes like: create the perception of a
    limmied issue, then flood the market when it is all juiced up.  It has
    worked well several times.  Stadium Club, Leaf.  For proline and
    others it is working poorly.  That stuff was selling for .25 cents a
    pack in South Carolina.
    
    It seems like to me that card companies are competeing for dollars that
    are being spent on the secondary market.  The strategy is to get people
    buying new cards rather than old cards.  Otherwise they don't make
    money.  This process will continue until the system breaks.  I am
    curious as to the market reaction when the first set or manufactuerer
    fails to issue cards.  My suspicion is that Donruss may be the first to
    go south.  Just a guess, but I'm biased I think they su**.
    
    Jon

    FWIW,
    
    In yesterday's USA today, there was an ad for a ProLine Santa Claus
    card... 20K made, $10 and 1 Proline wrapper  or 10 Proline wrappers
    
    Send SASE to
    Pro Line Portraits
    Santa Card offer
    1215 Harrison Ave.
    Kearny, NJ 07032
    
    Proceeds go to Variety Clubs International. (The Children's Charity).
    
    I like the disclaimer. "This is the only way the general public can
    get this card..."       

    
    The operative words being GENERAL PUBLIC.
    
    Somehow I think Rig Rob and Blew Fork Card Company, to "name" a few
    will have these cards in quantity.
    
    For those who missed, ProLine also had 7,500 autographed cards they
    were giving away -- first come, first served.  These were from
    players who were late in submitting their 'graphed cards for
    dsitribution in packs.  The only really big name I remember was
    Jim Kelly.
    
    -rjk

    Yeah, that's why I got a chuckle out of that.  I admit I sent away for
    1 of the 7,500.  I think it was 5 packs or a seal off one of the boxes.
    I opted to grab a seal off a box and send it in... still waiting for my
    card...

    I sent in my ten wrappers, for my "free" card, now I'll just have to
    wait and see if I actually get one, or if they are going to send me a
    nice "Sorry but we are out of these" letters.
    I also was wondering what Rickey Jackson of the Saints card is worth
    autographed, any help would be appreciated!

    Well Here's on person who was one of the first 7500 people to send in
    a request.  I just got my package and a letter congratulating me for 
    being one of the lucky ones.
    
    I opened up the package and got NOTHING but a semi-rigid with no card
    inside.
    
    Anyone have an address of a phone # for this company so I can rip them
    a new orafice.... :-)
    
    Thanks

    Suprisingly I just got my Santa Card!  Anybody know an aprox. Value?
    

    
    	I just got a signature card out of a pack...any idea what the 
    signature and stamp does to the value?
    
    	Hal

    It would depend on the player.  I have a signed Rickey Jackson, and my
    dealer will give me $15 for it.  I think I may hold on to it for a
    while, until I get more prices.

    
    	I can't remember the name of the guy but its a rookie from the
    49ers.  Nice stamp on the card though.
    
    	Hal