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All About
Sports Cards
Sports
Card Terminology
Each
manufacturer's release may feature some, or all ,of the following types
of cards. We have listed the terminology and definitions that
sports card manufacturers and dealers use when describing baseball,
baketball and football sports card
boxes and sets and the type of cards they contain..
Hobby Box: Hobby
Boxes are available only
from Sports Cards Shops, both on line and in physical shops. These
boxes
are Factory Sealed by the Card Manufacturer. Sports card boxes contain
a
number of factory sealed packs (wax packs) of cards. Hobby Boxes
feature the best
chances of pulling special insert cards. Many special cards are only issued
in a Hobby Box and some Hobby Box products will have
serially number cards.
Retail Box: Retail
boxes are available in
Retail Stores such as K-Mart, Target, and Walmart, and on ocassion from
many
Hobby Dealers. These boxes are also Factory Sealed by the Card
Manufacturer. The retail boxes contain a number of factory sealed packs
of
cards and have the same base cards as the Hobby Boxes.
However, the Retail Boxes
have fewer insert cards than the Hobby Box thus reducing your chances
of
pulling an insert card.
Card Set: Card
Sets contain individual cards, not Packs of Cards. The cards in the Set
are one of each of the base cards produced by the card company for a
particular product they have issued. Newer sets are Factory
Sealed by the
Manufacturer during production. Some Sets are Hand-Collated -
put together card by card by a hobby dealer. The hand-collated sets
should have all the
same cards as the Factory Sealed Set.
A Lot: A
LOT is a grouping of a
particular product into quantities greater than one. (Lot of 5) would
be 5 if the listed item.
Star Cards: Cards
of the more famous, and outstanding players are
considered star cards.
These are players who consistently rank high in one or more statistical
categories.
Semi-star
Cards: Nationally known players but
their stats and popularity are not up to par with the star
players.
Minor Star
Cards: Players that are very popular
regionally.
Common Cards: These
are cards of players who
do not rank that high in key categories. Minor star and
Common cards are of interest to collectors looking
for specific players, or trying to build a complete
set.
Base Cards:
Are
the cards that make up a sports card set. The number of base
cards in a
set can range from 600 cards per set to less than 100 cards. The base
card
in a set can be of stars, semi-stars, minor stars, rookie
cards
and commons. Base cards are also available in sports card boxes.
Subset: Cards which
have a
special characteristics that make the subset a complete set by itself.
The
subset cards are part of a set and are also available in sports card
boxes.
Insert Cards: Cards
that are inserted into packs of cards at a lower rate than the
base cards.
Insert cards have a distinct design and usually number between 10-20
cards. Insert
cards are inserted into packs at a predetermined rate. Often these rates are listed a 1:25
which means that one in every 25 packs will have a insert card enclosed. The insert cards are
available in sports card
boxes and usually are not part of a set.
Parallel Cards: These
are insert card with
the same appearance as a base card, but with some type of distinctive
change that makes the parallel card unique. Parallel cards are inserted into packs
at a predetermined rate and the rates are often listed as ratio (see
insert cards). Parallel
cards are usually only available in sports card boxes.
Memorabilia
(Relic) Cards: These
cards are insert cards that contain a
piece of the
player's jersey, or a cap, a bat, or glove. These cards may also
contain an autograph. Memorabilia (Relic) cards are also inserted into
a box
of cards at a predetermined rate. The rates are often listed
as a
ratio (see insert cards). Memorabilia (Relic) Cards are available only
in sports card boxes.
Autographed
Cards: Cards
that have been
autographed by one, or more players. Autograph cards will include proof
of authenticity. Autographed cards may be part of the base set, or be a
special Insert card. These will be found only in sports card boxes.
Rookie Cards: The
first time a player appears in a major sports card release. These cards
are usually the
most valuable regular-issue sports cards for that player.
Errors Cards: Cards
that were printed with some type of error on them. These may, or may
not, be more valuable than a regular card. Value
depends on what the error is and how long before it was
corrected.
Short
Print: Cards
that are printed in a lower quantity then the regular cards.
Looking
for a great on-line sports card shop, be sure to check out AD Sports Cards Etc
where buying sports card boxes and sets is convenient and easy.
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