Point of View: Talking with a Card Shop Owner.

In an era of eBay and big box stores, what's a lone card shop proprietor supposed to do? For one thing, figure out ways to adapt quickly. When asked why he gave up selling on eBay, the owner of Derek's Dugout in Albuquerque, New Mexico responded, "It's more like eBay gave up on me," because the online auction giant made it clear to him that its priority lies in protecting buyers. Fees have risen, feedback rules have changed, and seller protections seem minimal. So Derek relies solely on sales at his brick and mortar store. "The competition with eBay is in my attitude," he says.

He tries to come up with fresh approaches to presenting cards.

For example, soon the store will have cases for specific price ranges. "If you come in with ten dollars in your pocket, I'll have everything that's ten dollars in one display case," and that will be true for higher amounts too. Derek is also "not afraid of sales" and holds them frequently.

The 2000 square foot shop is located in a pleasant small shopping center, and the premises have a spacious, airy feel. He's aware that from the customer's perspective, nothing quite compares to the combination of in-person inspection and instant gratification, and he believes the shop's professional appearance is important.

Another aspect of being competitive, he says, is that "I don't go on trends alone" as he tries to stay separate from the frenzy of cards' fluctuations in value. You can buy high-end materials at the shop, from the framed jerseys to cards autographed by major stars to vintage and offbeat items,

but you can also find a deal if you have some time and the patience to look through thousands of cards that cost anywhere from ten cents to a dollar. In our experience, that is what Lucy finds the most fun.

An item--say, a jersey--may cost more at his shop than on eBay, but Derek thinks he provides an important service by offering a tidy, friendly environment where potential buyers can see the jersey up close, have him frame it and know that, for instance, the glass won't end up broken in the mail. But Derek says that when customers find a bargain, that experience makes them want to come back. When asked what buyers seek, he said new products are probably at the top of the list, but many also look to complete sets or find older cards.

There are now team sets available at the back of the store--for example, if you're seeking the 1983 Topps team set of the Braves, on the tables at the back is where you'll find it. Another browsing area: boxes filled with random cards of your chosen team. This is my favorite stop.

When our family visits card or comic stores (the latter for our older daughter, who is always seeking an angle on manga) there is often a less than streamlined element apparent in the place. Small shop owners might increase traffic if they kept stores organized. Sure enough, we have often seen women, couples, and girls--a customer base we rarely meet when visiting comic stores and other card shops--looking comfortable at Derek's.

Where does his propensity for neatness stem from? "When I was a kid I used to go to a card shop that was owned by a Type A personality, and that always stuck with me," he says. He also finds it easier to find specific items quickly.

He doesn't understand when card shop owners don't aim to please and is also appalled when clerks at large outlets are not trained to treat customers in a friendly and welcoming manner. One instance where this made a positive difference: Lucy appreciated how upbeat he was about looking at her smile card collection binder.

He started selling cards at shows along with a friend when he was eleven. Derek has extensive experience in retail but became disillusioned with the corporate milieu and with the necessary sameness built into the chain store approach to sales. He decided to take the plunge with his own card shop so he can be independent and put some of his own ideas into action. But it's a profoundly different world than selling in the corporate retail environment. "When you walk into a grocery store to buy a loaf of bread, you don't say, 'can you give me a deal on two?'," Derek says. "There are people who think I'm going to be here forever. And I've noticed that the same person asking for a fifty percent discount is often the one complaining because there aren't enough card shops."

Quick questions.

What are some of the recent memorable pulls that your customers have enjoyed? A Jim Thorpe jersey, a Bo Jackson Triple Threads triple multi-colored jersey 1/1 auto printing plate.

How do you contend with pack searchers? "I throw them out."

What are your favorite baseball card sets, past and present?

1954 Topps,

1984 Donruss,

and 2008 Topps Chrome.

"I do like refractors," he says. Based on what Derek has seen come out of boxes in his shop this year, what he calls bang for the buck, he also likes 2008 Topps Triple Threads.

If there are any questions you'd like to pose to Derek, let us know and we'll ask the next time we visit Derek's Dugout. Or perhaps you might pay a visit yourself: the address is 5842 Osuna Rd NE in Albuquerque.

Vintage Quotes Department.

"Any ballplayer that don't sign autographs for little
kids ain't an American. He's a Communist."

He had a .358 career average, along with 301 home runs and 1584 RBI's. Rogers Hornsby hit at least .400 in three seasons.

Please don't forget to tell us about your favorite 2008 Stadium Club card, as in the post below. Leave a comment or link and we'll add your photo and text to the post.

2008 Stadium Club choices: Martin, Chamberlain, Johnson, Ichiro, Granderson, Martin.

night owl:The best is #5 Russ Martin. The reasons: 1. Martin is the king of great 2008 cards (post upcoming on Night Owl Cards!). He cannot have a card that is anything less than excellent. He's incapable of it. 2. It's a play at the plate, the most dramatic play in all of baseball. 3. The ball is IN HIS GLOVE after what appears to be quite the nasty collision. And the runner, Xavier Nady, has gotten the worst of it, as he lies crumpled on the ground sans helmet (which Russell kneels over). 4. Look at the concentration on Martin's face. He is practically willing the ball to stay in his glove with his eyes, while keeping his right hand out to steady himself and/or to keep the ball in the glove. 5. The overhead angle of this is just fantastic. 6. Cards in which the entire background is dirt ROCK. (full disclosure: This photo is also on the Topps Chrome card).


sooz:

I like the Joba Chamberlain card with him blocking the plate.It's a great angle and shows a pitcher doing more than his typical routine. Plus, Joba just looks like he's ready to sack someone. And it's a Yankee.

pab:

Elliott Johnson card #129a. I don't know if Elliott Johnson will ever be an everyday starter for the Rays, but the grit and determination shown in card 129a as Johnson plows over a catcher in a spring training game demonstrates a love and respect for the game.

dayf:

#51 Ichiro. Flying through the air... about to splat into the wall... and you KNOW he caught it.

grand cards:

#6: Curtis is on the run. His pants are already dirty, despite clearly being on first base. It is cold outside, and only the most hard-core fans have stuck around on this cold Michigan spring evening. Curtis has used his telepathic powers to fool the first baseman into going in the opposite direction of him. The two have created a visual chalice—Da Vinci Code style—a fact that did not go unnoticed by the photographer who wished to convey the religious-like power that Granderson embodies. His fingers are taped, his socks are up and his neck is weighed down by magic titanium power necklaces, as if to say not even broken fingers, extra weight and good style can stop me from taking third base before the ball gets out of the infield. The background exudes vintage baseball stadiums, three different shades of green, with a bright yellow line that makes you wonder why oh why replay was ever needed. Curtis’ eyes are on the prize. He is already looking at the third base coach despite barely being past the first baseman. He is going to score. He knows it. You know it. The kid in the red with his arms up knows it—and he hasn’t even gotten to second yet.

nachos grande:

#5 Russ Martin. In an upset for the ages, Martin edges out the retired superstar duo of Robinson and Clemente for the best 2008 Topps Stadium Club picture. This card has it all - a play at the plate, visible determination on Martin ad Nady's faces, a flying helmet, and a blocked plate attempt. You can even see the tip of Martin's mask that he through up the line anticipating the throw home. It's pictures like this that make me want to go out in the yard (if it weren't snow covered) and play a game of pickup baseball like I used to in my "youth."

We don't have the above cards in our collection (although after reading these statements, now we want them) so we apologize that the pictures are mostly from eBay. We will post any more choices that arrive in comments in the next day or so.

The best 2008 Stadium Club card: a challenge.

We can be singleminded where this particular baseball player is concerned. Our kid likes him best. In an unusual bout of reasonableness, we're willing to hear what YOUR favorite 2008 Stadium Club card is, but the argument you make for your choice must be convincing.

Leave your comment; we'll post pictures of your choices, along with your argument, and hold the whole matter up for a vote. We are willing to go into rhetorical combat. Here's our reasoning:

Why this is the best 2008 Stadium Club card

Dirt is flying.
The runner is wearing the narrow almost-elbowband thingy.
The runner is holding his gloves in an intriguingly girly way. But there don't appear to be any women in the stands. What's going on here?
There is a green strip of grass, a brown strip of dirt, a turquoise strip of nameband, and a brighter green strip of grass. This is a layered card. It is a stack of visual pancakes.
David Wright is wearing high stockings and a pink undershirt. He is kind of squatting. And yet his manly awesomeness still manages to loom over the universe.
David Wright, tongue sticking out in a way that makes us concerned he might bite it off, looks completely earnest, which as we have proven before, is his second most common facial expression after worried.

Bwahahaha! Our 2008 Stadium Club card debating club victory is imminent! unless yours is better

Ideal baseball cards, part one.

Yes, I realize these are Dodgers. We're trying to get Dodger Happy because we now have their Triple A affiliate in New Mexico and we intend to be enthusiastic. Soon we may graduate to current Dodgers. But isn't there something perfect about the composition of these cards?

Ideal baseball cards, part two.

Zito. From Heartbreaking. It's GOLD.

This Dice-K jersey bit, a dreaded Upper Deck X, is a card we unabashedly like even as we admit that it couldn't be more graphically busy if it were in flames. But in this case, ridiculosity works. Nachos Grande sent this in a trade and we suspect it's lots better than what we sent him, because he's that sort of person. In a related development, upon seeing it our older daughter asked, "Hmm, would you kill me if I said I like the Red Sox? Papelbon and Dice K and all." I believe she also named other players, although I can't be sure because I had passed out. We've had two experiences receiving mail from The Hamiltonian, whose expertise on Josh cards is unparalleled. Except Tricia collects parallels, so maybe that's not the best word. Anyway. Here is a link to our first experience and then, above, nothing less than a Topps Finest Curtis Granderson auto card, is our second experience. (There are no little dots; those are light specks on the toploader it resides in. This Curtis card is also now surrounded by a deadly laser force field that we had built especially for it so the card does not end up wherever our Carlos Beltran pants bit might be.) We are learning about high end cards. What we are learning is: they rock. Tricia also sent along two jersey bits from one Japanese Collegiate All-Star:

What more can be said?

The collector's destiny.

Much like Fone Bone on his journey of discovery, we card collectors usually get the hope knocked out of us by Topps and Upper Deck, who can't seem to help themselves as they often make the decision to do the wrong thing.

Read Cardboard Junkie's cartoons of the card year in review thus far to see truth, brevity, and the American Way in action.

Fone Bone and the Rat Creatures by the great comic artist Jeff Smith.

Ten Card Confessions: Why We Don't Deserve This Hobby.

10. We can't read Want Lists. The numbers and letters float around before our eyes.

But neither can we create accurate want lists.* Our ANTI WANT LIST approach: when you receive cards from us, they may not be one your want list and possibly some may repeat cards you already have. There is no rhyme or reason to us. On the plus side, what's so great about rhyme and reason?

9. We take forever to cardulate. We want to send cards to all of you, but know we probably won't. We want to get the right size envelopes, but mess up. We will freak out when our local mail place can't send a packet to Canada because it's over two ounces and we have to take it downtown or repackage on the spot. We will employ our Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and check your zip code several times. We'll seal the envelope and then wonder if there are any cards, or the correct cards, inside. We will tell someone we're sending cards and then a month or two later, send them, after retrieving them from behind the seat in the van. If we are upside down in a trade, we WILL make it up eventually. Have alert readers identified the problem concept and word in the previous sentence? EVENTUALLY. This is especially true if you are a player collector and already own every card of this player known to man. On the plus side, we take it as a quest.

8. Our cards tend to explode. We like everything in our house neat and tidy. We like the bench placed just so. The bedspread should not be asymmetrical. But when we undertake any kind of card action, two tables are suddenly covered with cardboard and plastic. We become confused. Eventually, someone in the family comes along and organizes things into files. On the plus side, we really appreciate that.

7. We are inconsistent. For instance, we don't like sticker autos. In fact, we hate them with every fiber of our being. Today, we bought a sticker auto of Hong-Chih Kuo. We don't understand ourselves; how can anyone else be expected to understand us? On the plus side, perhaps some day we will come to our senses.

6. We are easily influenced. We remain intrigued by 1983 Topps, for instance, thanks in large part to patient tutoring from White Sox Cards, not to mention a generous bunch of cards from him, and also cards from Heartbreaking and others we don't deserve to name. When our older daughter put some 1983 team sets into card sleeves, she said authoritatively that 1983 Topps aren't as awesome as Pokemon cards. Why did she lob this terrible insult? Because the 1983 Topps players are "all wearing the same outfits and striking the same poses," she explained. On the plus side, there is nothing better than an action shot and a little circle photo on the same card. Okay? Nothing. It's impossible to hold 1983 Topps cards in your hands and not love them. Unless you prefer Pokemon cards.

5. We are not wise about value. We happen to like David Wright and Curtis Granderson cards, of course--but because they're good role models, not because of value. And we could collect Barry Zito

cards infinitely--does that make any sense to you? You will have to sue us; Barry Zito's picture is next to Zen in our dictionary. As for Jamie Moyer, we like him because he's old and wise. We like Micah Owings because he seems to have some humility. You see? Value? On the plus side, every moment spent on anything together with my family has incalculable value.

4. We don't like football cards. This may be because even though we're pretty smart, we don't comprehend football. But it's also because the helmets prevent us from seeing the player's faces. On the plus side, that leaves more room in our binders for baseball cards.

3. We leave baseball card packs in the glove compartment. See previous post. On the plus side, this provides something to do at unexpected moments.

2. We are a teensy bit fickle. What else can explain, for instance, suddenly appreciating that Eric Byrnes plays with intensity? Or caring deeply about Chase Utley? On the plus side, fickle is fun, and we never wander far from our favorite favorites or our team.

The number one reason we don't deserve this hobby:

1. We make mistakes. Here are the two worst mistakes we made in 2008...and we're hoping you don't upon reading this turn off your computers in disgust, your eyes caught in a permanent rolled position. The first worst thing we did was THINK we had completed our 2008 Allen & Ginter base set (with the very kindhearted help of several bloggers) when in fact we still have four base cards to attain. Does this make you, as a set collector, wonder how people like us are even allowed to subsist on cardboard? The second worst thing we did was lose our Carlos Beltran jersey card. Not just ANY Carlos Beltran jersey card, but this one:

That's right, the dirty pants card. At least we have a photograph. And these four profound comments from bloggers who have had a similar experience. But how could this happen? Probably has something to do with numbers 3, 8, and 9 above. Life itself, children, and the sad fact that we have other interests probably contributed to the distractions leading to this tragedy. We will always wonder how we could have casually removed Carlos from a binder so he could be near us...and then lose track of him forever.

And no, he's not in the glove compartment.

Andrew Miller wants to know...

...why he was left in the glove compartment for two months. I found him while I wondered why Lucy's guitar lesson was taking so long. The Other Parental Unit stayed with her as the strings plunked and plunked. I finished my Beatles book and out of Xtreme boredom, opened the glove compartment. What did I find but Andrew, waiting in a pack of 2008 Topps placed there and then forsaken. First, Andrew waits in the glove compartment. Then, he waits outside Mr. Hill's guitar studio. We'll tell you this. Once found, he didn't seem all that happy, and he could use a shave.

Here's what else was in the pack:

338 Matt Diaz
404 Cecil Cooper
409 Jason Giambi
423 Mike Scoscia
461 Jacoby Ellsbury
474 Yuniesky Betancourt
505 B.J. Upton
626 Mike Redmond
ubiquitous David Wright Topps of the Class smiley card
531 Hiroki Kuroda
591 Rico Washington
652 Rod Barajas

Would you have forgotten about this pack?

Interview with Frank Hipolito, sports autograph master.

If by some chance you're not already familiar with Alex and Frank Hipolito, then try this: search 'baseball ttm' in Google. The first links you find will be to the Hipolito Designs website. We have learned through trial and error that there is no better online source for information and advice about obtaining autographs through the mail. Alex is Frank's young son, and he's the reason Frank gets the autographs and maintains the site. Why, we can relate to that motivation! Frank Hipolito was kind enough to answer some questions from Dinged Corners:

What was the catalyst that began your autograph quest for Alex?
It was a combination of things. I wanted to create an online scrapbook for Alex, document our successes, and actually build the site and try out new technologies. My daytime job is developing websites for clients, and everyone kept asking me "when are you going to get your own website up" and it turned into what we have today.

We have a 'nice baseball player' list on our blog [at right] based on personal experience--our own or that of trusted acquaintances. Who are the nicest current and HOF players you've encountered?
In-Person: Cal Ripken

and Don Mattingly.

Both players must have signed hundreds of autographs, and still greeted you with a smile! Through The Mail: Tommy Lasorda and John Wooden.

What is your favorite 2008 baseball card set and your favorite vintage set?

I love the drawn card sets UD Masterpieces and Topps Allen & Ginter. I really miss the Diamond Kings sets. My favorite vintage set has to be 1983 Topps. I love the photography and design with the two pictures on the front. The Lee Mazzilli card is probably my favorite from the set.

Do you prefer sending Custom Index Cards for autographs? If so, why?

I'm not a big fan of having cards signed across the player's face. I've sent out Custom Index Cards and player questionnaires, but it was twice the work to document on the website, since you have to scan two items. With our current Index Cards,

I try to give the player as much space as possible to write any words of encouragement, or share their experiences with us, which we love reading. Most players will sign their name, while others take the time to write something extra!

What is your number one tip for TTM?

Don't send out blindly to every top star. There are lots of great sites out there that share their successes. If you see someone you like send away! Also try sending out to top prospects before they become stars. We were able to get David Price, Evan Longoria, and Joba Chamberlain already, and they have bright futures ahead of them.

Which do you prefer, collecting autographs through the mail or in-person? What is the main advantage of each?
I love the in-person signings because I love taking pictures of Alex with the players. Most of the in-person autographs we get are members of the 300 win, 500 home run, and 3000 hit club, but we look around for fan favorites who may be signing locally whenever we can. The major drawbacks of in-person signings are signing fees and long lines, for possibly 15 seconds with a living legend.

What one autograph do you wish you had?
Stan Musial In-Person. We went to Baltimore a few years ago, and he was scheduled to sign, but had to cancel due to bad health. I don't believe he travels anymore.

And this one's from our daughter Lucy (8): what is Alex's favorite dog?
He loves both our Pug and Pomeranian, but I think the Pomeranian likes him a little more than the pug does. The pug tends to follow anyone who has food. Sometimes Alex will sit with me and watch Heroes, anticipating the appearance of Mr. Muggles (the Pomeranian on the show). During commercials we may get lucky and see Maria Sharapova and her Pomeranian, Dolce, doing their Canon commercials, which are hilarious.

Here are Frank Hipolito's tips about obtaining autographs through the mail; and here is his site's baseball page. Combine referencing Mr. Hipolito's advice with a good address list--Harvey Meiselman's baseball list is widely considered the best, and is also recommended by Frank Hipolito--you will have success and guaranteed fun, too. It's a rewarding pursuit to undertake with your kid, and a great way for them to learn about baseball history.

Some of our own TTM experiences bear out what Frank Hipolito says:

Dave Bush's signature for us entertwined with his 'stache.

But Jeremy Giambi's autograph traveled right through his mouth and resulted in....this:

Our older daughter summed this effect up well when she said, "At least he signed it...although it does give him an extra mustache and some missing teeth." So we advise taking the Hipolitic Oath, which is to do everything you can to discourage Face Signing.

A sentimental favorite TTM autograph of ours is Bobby Thomson--he also wrote a short note and signed the two index cards that we use to protect the baseball card:

Our Topps card was returned from Alex Rodriguez (we were naive when we started) but we do give the A-Rod machine credit for this:

as it's better than simply never seeing hide nor hair of the card again.

Mr. Drabek has a great signature.

Tommy Lasorda's seems well-practiced; and he gets extra credit for seeking out the white spots.

Here's one of our favorite in-person autographs--but Mike Mussina signs quickly through the mail, too:

Related links:

Harvey Meiselman's sports address lists are an excellent TTM resource. The baseball list is $35 and if you get all lists, the cost is $60. Editions 2008 and forward specify who charges for signing TTM.

We also recommend signing up with BaseballAutographUpdate at yahoo groups to keep up with who signs, who doesn't sign, and to gauge overall success and failure rates. Just tick 'Daily Digest' and you only have to check occasionally.

And of course, don't forget to check Auto-Matic for the People and Awesomely Bad Wax (listed in the Favorite Specialist links at right) for excellent Tales o' the 'Graph.

Thanks again, Frank, for so generously sharing what you've learned through your top-notch site.

Sy Berger card and Jay Bruce custom index cards: Hipolito Designs.