Have the players noticed this.....?

[Jasondr91]

I’m curious if the Bernard Kings and Artis Gilmore’s of the world have noticed that they have been signing the SAME photos on cards for YEARS? It blows my mind how Panini can take a $5 hit with a sticker auto.....and the exact card photo is used on their most expensive on card auto hits. It seems Flawless, Immaculate, now Opulence and such continue to have the same damn tired image used for the countless amounts of auto inserts releasing, every single year.

I’m trying my best to not turn this into another Panini bash. And UD and Topps were better etc.....

But for some one who collects the autos of these two specific guys, there’s no reason to chance a /50 auto from 2012...because the same card imagine is used in 2018 for /10.....they are all the same....minus being shiny or with different colored foil.

I’m curious if the players that are signing all the time for Panini have noticed they are inking the same card over and over and over. :doh:

[derder]

I remember Bill Russell had the same photo used on every card for about a decade...

[bullrose23]

I loved Upper Deck

but look at my Horace Grant thread

Panini not the only ones guilty of this


https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1003066


I do agree, it sucks when you player or team PC and the same picture keeps showing up

the players themselves probably don't even notice

[SanAntonioSpurs]

Yes it definitely sucks and at that point I’d stop collecting that player. No point in having 200 cards in a collection all with the same photo spanning several years.

I’m also sure the players notice but they’re paid to sign, so they sign.

In fact they did that with George Gervin for a while so I picked up a few that I liked design wise and passed on the rest.

[splum]

Yes it definitely sucks and at that point I’d stop collecting that player. No point in having 200 cards in a collection all with the same photo spanning several years.


You say this but you're not tired of collecting cards of dudes with a football tucked under the arm running up the field yet, huh?

I think we're lucky that we collect cards in a sport (or more accurately, the only sport) where there is an opportunity for cool and diverse photography, and it's a bummer when that opportunity isn't taken.

[buckunteer]

I loved Upper Deck

but look at my Horace Grant thread

Panini not the only ones guilty of this


https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1003066


I do agree, it sucks when you player or team PC and the same picture keeps showing up

the players themselves probably don't even notice


This. They use the same Mitch Richmond picture constantly. I don't even pick any up with that photo on purpose anymore and have unloaded a couple with it in the meantime. I get that these guys aren't playing anymore, but they certainly don't seem overly willing to search (and, of course, pay) for photos of retired guys.

[splum]

This. They use the same Mitch Richmond picture constantly. I don't even pick any up with that photo on purpose anymore and have unloaded a couple with it in the meantime. I get that these guys aren't playing anymore, but they certainly don't seem overly willing to search (and, of course, pay) for photos of retired guys.

Great last point there. I think of it like this - if I'm someone that makes decisions at Panini and I consider the prevailing sentiment about my product among people that are pre-determined to not like it, would I waste even one employee's time to get some licenses of Mitch Richmond photos? No chance. It's a bummer but it makes total sense why from a business and manpower perspective.

[Pathora]

Most people are annoyed enough to get a Bernard King, Artis Gilmore or Mitch Richmond auto from a box so why take the effort to shine it up, nobody's going to notice when it looks nice anyway. (No offense to guys that pc them, hell most people just go for rc's nowadays so even a Reggie would piss many off).

[byronscott4ever]

Maybe they’re shocked when they aren’t signing stickers?

[The Admiral]

I think this is what you mean...

https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/hGoAAOSwlgFbpHqP/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/fiAAAOSwT7Nbo~~M/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/Z2YAAOSwLVZVjqEr/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/9lQAAOSw7oZbpf4T/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/LwAAAOSwiFtbogh0/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/aWcAAOSwLB9boaAa/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/meg4qMmO9FNguSq6SfHV0Ng/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/m8VKrh3jTAny47umtzgAoSw/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/mo2w3ReBj_iTYwTakQLdiRw/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/B2gAAOSwVgxboMmZ/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/B2gAAOSwVgxboMmZ/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/mE1csFqIJfvCfvCB9Pu7U2w/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/mj0Q5ZFwi32I0ykMueD9h9Q/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/m2IFTGW53IduNnQ-b8PHefA/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/9ZkAAOSwKf5boBbH/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/gnQAAOSwLVFblL7P/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/m/mMucHoupI4vcEwCbJhl0Thg/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/n68AAOSwTWZbil6y/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/5OIAAOSwFvZbiZU1/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/risAAOSwB5tbNXe6/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/1tQAAOSwX5ZbELg0/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/4WYAAOSw~RVaPHNq/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/kEUAAOSw9idaKfr6/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/HVAAAOSwLnBX4xx9/s-l225.jpg
https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/JSgAAOSwKadXPhQ5/s-l225.jpg

[Jasondr91]

I think this is what you mean...


That's it exactly. Thanks for taking the time. Those cards span from being in a $3 pack to ....what does a box of NT or Immaculate run? It's insane.....and those are various years. Gilmore played from the early 70's thru the mid 80s....and they want to pay for 2-3 images......

[COMCMax]

They probably just notice that check they get for sitting on the couch signing stickers at 65+ years old.

Artis Gilmore probably doesn't care if you stick it on you're forehead lol

[COMCMax]

How much you think...let's say Artis Gilmore gets per sig?

Be interesting to see a list. I know one came out when UD was getting sued.

[splum]

How much you think...let's say Artis Gilmore gets per sig?

Be interesting to see a list. I know one came out when UD was getting sued.

This is an interesting question, I'd love to see a list too. Probably a buck or two? It can't be much.

[COMCMax]

This is an interesting question, I'd love to see a list too. Probably a buck or two? It can't be much.

Some of the UD guys were getting crazy amount per signature. Some scrubs to. Let me dig up the list.

[COMCMax]

Found a little info from a article.


From a 2009 article

*Rose, who had yet to be drafted by the Chicago Bulls when he signed the deal with Topps in May of last year, stands to lose the most according to the suit. The Memphis All-American agreed to sign 10,000 cards for Topps at a price of $25 each. Court papers obtained by Sports Collectors Daily indicate Rose signed 5500 items and attorneys claim that leaves him with a balance due of $112,500. According to the suit, McGrady was paid the most per autograph--$50 for 1,000 items. He signed 250, leaving $37,500 unpaid whlie Roy signed 3,000 of 5,000 at $18 each and is owed $36,000.

Also listed as plaintiffs in the suit and the number of autographs they agreed to sign according to the court papers are D.J. Augustin (4,000 autographs at $8 each), T.J. Ford (500 autographs at $6 each), Danilo Gallinari (4,000 autographs at $10 each), Antawn Jamison (500 autographs at $10 each), DeAndre Jordan (4,000 autographs at $3 each), Brook Lopez (4,000 autographs at $8 each), Robin Lopez (4,000 autographs at $5 each), Anthony Randolph (4,000 autographs at $7 each) and Russell Westbrook (2,000 autographs at $12 each). The players are listed as having signed roughly half of the original number in the agreement except for Jamison and Ford, who were contracted to sign only 500, but did not sign any, nor were they paid by Topps.

[splum]

Sheesh. That's a lot of money for some of those guys. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of it being close to 10 years ago though, idk.

I was obviously way out of the hobby, but what was the general sentiment towards Topps and Upper Deck towards the end of their NBA license when all of this information came out? It feels insane to me to know this about Topps and how bloodthirsty and litigious UD became and see people that want them to have anything to do with our hobby in the present day. Did the hobby more or less just sweep this under the rug?

[Jasondr91]

Sheesh. That's a lot of money for some of those guys. Maybe it makes more sense in the context of it being close to 10 years ago though, idk.

I was obviously way out of the hobby, but what was the general sentiment towards Topps and Upper Deck towards the end of their NBA license when all of this information came out? It feels insane to me to know this about Topps and how bloodthirsty and litigious UD became and see people that want them to have anything to do with our hobby in the present day. Did the hobby more or less just sweep this under the rug?

It’s an old school article though. TJ Ford....he was exclusive to Topps too! What’s sad, many of those autographs paid.....the cards with them signed aren’t “worth the cost of paying for the signature”. That’s crazy.

I believe Artis is probably paid $5-$10 per.......and you see him in everything. Same with Bernard King.

[splum]

It’s an old school article though. TJ Ford....he was exclusive to Topps too! What’s sad, many of those autographs paid.....the cards with them signed aren’t “worth the cost of paying for the signature”. That’s crazy.

I believe Artis is probably paid $5-$10 per.......and you see him in everything. Same with Bernard King.

Hmm yeah that would make more sense. I wonder what UD plays Lebron and MJ to just not sign for anyone else. Million(s?) per year?

[bjho852]

Hmm yeah that would make more sense. I wonder what UD plays Lebron and MJ to just not sign for anyone else. Million(s?) per year?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-michael-jordan-dominicks-case-0813-biz-20150812-story.html

Quote: "Jordan, wearing a brown-checked sport coat and brown slacks, sat with his chin resting on his left hand and showed no emotion as his attorney, Fred Sperling, outlined during a half-hour opening statement the staggering sums that corporate America has continued to pay Jordan since his 2003 retirement. Nike paid Jordan $480 million between 2000 and 2012, he said. He has also received $18 million from Gatorade, $14 million each from Hanes and Upper Deck, and $10.6 million from fragrance company XEL."

Given the time span, yes, Jordan likely received at least 1 million per year for his partnership with UD, maybe more. Same probably can be said for LeBron.

I believe/guess that Panini paid roughly the same annual amount to Kobe too, for him to jump ship. I might be wrong though.

[brettmik59]

It’s an old school article though. TJ Ford....he was exclusive to Topps too! What’s sad, many of those autographs paid.....the cards with them signed aren’t “worth the cost of paying for the signature”. That’s crazy.

I believe Artis is probably paid $5-$10 per.......and you see him in everything. Same with Bernard King.

Seems pricey but when you buy a box at $100 that costs them virtually nothing to produce, and they fill it with 1, maybe 2 autos of guys that on average cost $8-$15 each to sign, it's a nice profit margin.