These Cards Are Too Good to Put in Your Bike Spokes

For almost 40 years the sports-card industry made only slight changes in their products.

Actions shots and different border designs were about the only innovation collectors had to look forward to each year.

But all that has changed in recent years and it has never been more evident than at the 17th National Sports Collectors Convention that continues today and Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Company after company has had news conferences to show off technological advancements to be included in upcoming card sets.

One company that is taking it to the edge is Press Pass, which specializes in auto racing cards.

The company recently came out with cards that have race-used pieces of tires from Dale Earnhardt’s car in its Burning Rubber sets.

The next step for Press Box is even more amazing. In its Metallic Force set, due out in August. Pieces of sheet metal from cars of six drivers, including Rusty Wallace, Earnhardt and Bill Elliott, have been encased in cards made of a plastic gel.

Of course, like all ultra high-tech cards, they will be rare and expensive.

The cards will come two in a blister pack so people can’t feel the pack to see what’s inside.

Packs are expected to cost about $4 and the gel cards are inserted one in every 288 packs.

Press Pass also announced its next unique insert, pieces from a race fire suit worn by Earnhardt that will be cut into 200 small sections.

“We want people to be able to touch a piece of history,” said Victor Shaffer, the company president.

Another card innovation is also coming in August from Finish Line, another company that deals with racing.

Black Gold Limited features 30 all-metal cards with etchings of drivers and cars from the Winston Cup circuit.

The line features a pair of game pieces and one card in each pack for about $4.

“We’ve created a product that stays in mint condition its entire life,” company representative Bill King said.

Hologram images are also a big topic at the show.

Fleer SkyBox International showed off two innovations--the SkyMotion and Virtual Vision cards.

The SkyMotion card sets feature three seconds of game action on each card. When the card is moved, the hologram image of a player will move.

Cost is expected to be $4.99 for a two-card pack.

“Emmitt Smith going over the goal line or Matt Williams smacking a home run,” said Steve Bobowski, company vice president of marketing. “Movement, that’s the future.”

Virtual Vision cards, featured in the Marvel Motion set, offer stunning three-dimensional movement by Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and the Wolverine.

Card prototypes are on display at the convention and have attracted interest beyond the desired level: two have been stolen.

Not to be outdone, Pinnacle announced the debut of several sets that will bring new looks--and textures--to collecting.

The Aficionado baseball set will feature a micro-etched profile of the player on silver foil on one half of the card, in addition to an action photograph. A limited edition “chase set,” Magic Numbers, will feature cards printed on wood--a thin slice of maple, to be exact.

Pinnacle will also offer hologram action in its upcoming Laser View football series. Two-thirds of the face of the card is a hologram that displays four seconds of game action.

Another Pinnacle line of football cards will feature cards in which a hole is punched. Collectible coins of the pictured player can be fitted into the hole.

The Denver Broncos’ John Elway, a company spokesman, was on hand for the debut of the prototype cards, on which he is featured.

“When I was first in the league,” Elway said. “We didn’t notice much when new cards came out. But now we kind of look forward to the cards coming out.”

Notes

Exchange programs have proved popular among convention goers. Playoff has offered a special set of football players on clear acetate, superimposed over scenes from around Orange County. Single cards can be obtained in exchange for three wrappers from Playoff’s football products. Topps has hosted a “Quest for Finest” scavenger hunt. In exchange for three wrappers from Topps products, players are sent to six sites at the convention to collect specific items; upon successful completion, the convention goer receives a card with the Topps’ Finest chromium finish, featuring Joe Namath and Steve Young. . . . Topps announced it will issue a special series next fall to coincide with the NBA’s celebration of its 50th season. The series of cards will feature the league’s top 50 all-time players. The list will be announced Oct. 29. Bill Walton was on hand and was asked to name his all-time top five. He said he had to list seven and they are: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Bill Russell. . . . Donruss also announced it would issue its first set of football cards in late August. . . . The show drew an estimated 10,000 Friday and 7,000 Thursday.

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Times staff writer Van Nightingale contributed to this story.