European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Lamri Orl 1 do inn la have Ltd of a v. Oil Lii Only ii in alis tin i v1 c re in. In to a i and i h do it Urt to Cav Ini i it i 1 it Nii Ghoul ring Rurh they n 1 in v.ili1 to in or a of i r to 1 Numi la me Rincy or it l on he discus.1"-1 Luj j in or irl. Dud col Dinn. Foj i i la or r fair ii to Tate cae of Lenng a i i i Jurj " to 5ri-d and ronr1- -. Milf a tin in making a Buck. Iry Irig to sin Ivo and it 1-iu i Nome Good business principles a 19bb Price guide confirms Thill nun Tanly it pays Lor Kirt i to mind their Kcjr Niers for c non pc. One mini con Dilican card valued it $31 Wilt drop to t5 of ten to Etc Allenl condition. And 3.3 in very Good co Dilton what an now pricey pieces of car Boa d originated in the 18dq-5. Hon tobacco Comparios tucked them in tobacco and cigarette pouches Candy Matulac lures joined the cart game after world War i and by the 1930s gum were producing the cards. Food companies such As Cracker Jack tip top bread. A us and coca cola also punted special sets those Early cards were intended to promote the tobacco gum or loud products not the other Way around. Schaab said now the traditionally Nek hard gum that accompanies the Cardi is incidental. Some of the gum companies that printed cards by tween the world wars include Boston s Goudey and Delong companies and Philadelphia s National chicle company Tho loaf and Bowman companies started after a seven year Gap that included world War ii and turned out most of Iho cards until 1955 Topps chewing gum inc. Of Brooklyn n a. The Hershey s of baseball cards issued its first Complete series in 1951. Kenneth Liss a spokesman Tor the 37 year old company said he could not release 1937 sales statistics however in 1964 the card Selling Leader boasted sales of about 500 million cards h year for years Topps rested virtually unchallenged because of exclusive contracts in held with major league players Federal courts turned that around in 1981 by ruling that the Topps monopoly violated antitrust Laws. Shortly thereafter do Russ sold its first cards and Fleer re entered the Market it had shared in Iho 1950s a spokesman Lor san Diego sports collectibles 1he West coast s largest dealer said he does t think do Russ and Fleer have hurl Topps i think it s just a thing whore adult collectors Are buying up do Russ and Fleer Sels along Wilh their regular Pic Harss of Topps to said Topps cards Are wiling As briskly As they always have and Are As popular As they pc always been Donius and floor seem to have simply expanded the polenta Market rather than actually culling Imo Topps share of the business the Queshan becomes murkier among less discerning Young Consumers with smaller Porte Tooks he said out Neil lev is manager of baseball services Lor Leaf. Inc. In Memphis Tenn. Which produces the do Russ cards said he feels Young kids definitely develop Brand loyalties rather than randomly buy whatever they see on store counters. Of course. 3 lot of Hal loyalty goes to Topps which has been around lot Many yeas Lwi sad we be Only been around since 1 981, but we re definitely developing a following even among kids who Only buy a cd packs of cards a week " Don Peck president of Fleer inc. D Sagres. I Don l Furik kids have a holy developed sense of Brand loyalty he said i think choir loyalty is directly related id whatever cards they happen to hold in their hands " like Topps. Oon Russ and Fleer would nol quote soles figures bul donruss1 Lewis said sales of his company s cards Aie a lol less than Topps. But we re j a Strong number two voc Fleer i kids still comprise the. Principal Largel audience of All Hrco companies bul More ind Nitro Adulis Are i becoming serious collectors Topps do Russ and Fleer also will be watching 1h-.� score company which joined their ranks this year with Lew exceptions a card s value correlates with the pictured player s baseball us Cecis. Each year investors and dealers speculate on the major league s Best players and buy their cards before ceremonial Ball tossers have warmed up their arms Good dealers Sis Phool St tvs Andnis collector turned a tier Pete Schaab Al flame teen a3, West Genn Sny with part of Hli Cert coma Coffon. Michael Maher who has a 10,000-card collection with a 1937 cover of time autographed by Cleveland indians Star Bob Feller. Do i hair Homework using collector s journals. Such As Street and Smith s baseball and Tail and Beckett bus Cleiv monthly. Then alter they be myntje their picks the Money makers move Las Wany limes they buy out do Russ and Fleer stocks before they can reach the Public thus pushing those companies prices out of the Ballpark Tor Many collectors some collectors such As die hard red so fan Raher. However lend to buy cards of players they like or have nostalgic lies with and leave speculation to the dealers but even this less aggressive buying method Al facts prices people associate themselves Wilh a particular Star Schaab said this is How big once same about collectors arc crazy people soil there s cof Nething to v. And. Vie ii pay More than m s Worth us to have it " but arc collectors crazy enough to Chew the gum that comes Niho classic 15 card wan packs Schaab said for a while he used the gum As an incentive to enlist his children s Kielp in sorting cards but the gum bribe eventually grew old. So to speak after shattering a new piece of the Pink Topps product Mlo his Mouth. Maher said it s always hard i Ihrk they make it old " to this report a Luca Vonch. 198b the stars and stripes Page 15
