I love vintage oddball cards. But in reality, this post is really just an excuse for me to test out a photo slider / slide show plugin for WordPress. If you’re a blogger, I’m using the free version of Soliloquy, FYI.
If this one works well, I’ll go back and reconfigure other past articles. I’ll start with #1 all-timer for views on Cardhound: Amazing Vintage Card Display Ideas.
But I figured a fun gallery of Vintage Oddball cards is as good a test subject as any. This is an ode to all those non-Topps or Bowman vintage cards and sets. They were issued by companies that made everything from dog food to cookies to shoes. Some are very common; many are extremely rare. But what makes them fun to collect is that most are very affordable!
My personal observation is that oddballs used to be hobby cast-offs, receiving very little attention from collectors. Even the name, “oddball,” has something of a negative connotation. Heck, even Topps non-flagship issues and traded sets were not highly regarded.
The attitude towards these unique cards seemed to shift as grading became more mainstream. For one, many collectors needed these cards to build PSA registry sets (hence, increased demand). And unlike mass-produced flagship sets, oddballs generally were printed in much more limited numbers due to fewer distribution channels (hence, a more limited supply). The result? More desirability for many of these cards throughout the hobby, with some exceptions.
In any case, oddballs are a lot of fun. Enjoy!
Do you have a cool collection to show off? An amazing player run? A complete rare set? Let’s do a little feature story, and you can have a gallery of your own! Cheers!
As always, if you enjoy vintage content like this, please Join Cardhound! It’s FREE!
