spinotron E-X 2001 essential credentials chase and stories

spinotron · 08-09-2020, 04:59 PM

Hi everyone,

It has been a while since I made my last PC showcase thread here. Recently, there seems to some desire to have more PC showcase threads in the sea of investment flavored ones. So here is my contribution in that direction. It's a long time in the making. So you will get a full load unapologetically.

I think I can put a starting date on it, April 12, 2011.

On this date, I acquired my second Kobe 1997-98 E-X2001 essential credentials now /8 and also in unfaded lime green acetate, and gem mint condition. At that time I had been in hobby for almost 2 years, and I had read several forums almost entirely, absorbing like a sponge.

Top two 90s cards for each player are PMG green and credentials, as I learned.

PMG green was less hyped then (PMG red was certainly nowhere near its status now) but always highly coveted among top of player collectors' dream card list, as beautiful refracting textured surface, one of rarest in first year of systematic introduction of serial numbering across the board. It was born from a massively produced low end product back then (many cards per pack and pack price was low) but very scarcely inserted; today PMG green has gained its status partly due to hyping and natural evolution and partly due to passionate collectors chasing.

The other in the top 2 spot is Credentials produced from E-X2001 and the product was considered a highend product with relatively expensive pack price and only 2 cards per pack and very hard to hit a credentials (without odds obviously) and the production was much less. While Jambalaya is a hit per 5 cases (6 boxes per case), credentials does not seem to come any more frequently.

Those two cards (PMG green and rarer version of 1997-98 credentials) are often missing from player collectors in ascension and proudly equipped by seasoned player collectors who braved the scene for a longer reign, for the most part.

Having two Kobes somehow made me want to attempt the impossible goal of working towards the essential credentials set. I made a post in another forum announcing my desire and tried to start it off, but was immediately warned as impossible to the highest degree, and regarded as borderline delusional but in more polite words.

After these many years have passed, I think it's time to sit back and make a progress report.

Without further Ado, Let me start off the showcase gradually and recall some details and various stories. This following card in jersey number was acquired in March 2017 updating a much earlier acquired copy. Credentials has a unique creative numbering. In 1997-98, there are 80 players, and in the credentials now set, location of a given player in the set determines its print run as exactly that. As the name suggests, earlier players in the credentials now set are super stars or non-RC players with highest promise. To make suspense going, I will showcase in countdown style, starting with the last and 80th player in the set, Ron Mercer RC. The parallel set, credentials future, has print run flipped over, a player located at X-th spot will have 81-X print run, as RC players will start off that set and guys with highest promises are placed forefront. Mercer future would be 1 of 1, the most promising among the crop at the time of production. Out of Kentucky, his game was super smooth, and his pecking order was higher than Pierce before getting traded and he fell off the map after another trade.

As it is a bit hard to keep both suspense and organization. If I show off both sets down from /80 then it might look a bit confusing and not neatly organized. So I will make pairings, my usual theme, and show off the hands early on. LOL. This card was famous and back then pulled during released year by Eric Bird, and documented by Beckett. Please see the third photo below. I would like to be a fly in that shop when it was pulled. I couldn’t find the shop online and looked up the yellow page, tempted to write a letter to a few likely addresses, but surprised to see it show up and acquired it in Sep 2014. From shop owner’s wife’s account. The seller is from the same city and same surname as in the article. They acquired from Eric and kept since until then. It was the pinnacle of my collecting career then and kept my engine burning to foolishly keep chasing the impossible ghost.

If I may, I have reserve four more posts below to collect things together, but I will update the thread in the latest posts as well. If you have instagram, you can see a version of writing there as well.

spinotron · 08-09-2020, 04:59 PM

reserved 1.

TL/DR version:

Mercer didn’t leave Bird’s nest.

Landing MacMan is as circuitous and fortuitous as <Three Nations>.

Tony B from Gary G:

Landing Tim is slim but ended like Fairy tale Grimm:

David saved the day in my battle against Goliath:

A summary of showcase so far:

Who is the next up?

spinotron · 08-09-2020, 04:59 PM

reserved 2

spinotron · 08-09-2020, 04:59 PM

reserved 3

spinotron · 08-09-2020, 04:59 PM

reserved 4

bjho852 · 08-09-2020, 05:01 PM

Nice!

Jopeal · 08-09-2020, 05:17 PM

Awesome post!
The Mercer Future 1/1! Would love to see you track it down.
Is there any history on the iconic Grant Hill Now 1/1?

I can’t wait to hear more about this legendary set.

abidtsteele · 08-09-2020, 05:22 PM

Love hearing stories like this and seeing the hard work and perseverance pay off, looking forward to future posts! I saw your hobbykings screencap the other day lol

fnd · 08-09-2020, 05:24 PM

Oh my this post is gonna be legendary! Just like your collection!

bjho852 · 08-09-2020, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jopeal

Is there any history on the iconic Grant Hill Now 1/1?

Someone from Europe posted it a while ago. I forgot which thread it is though.
Or spinotron might have already acquired it silently as well.

Jopeal · 08-09-2020, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjho852

Someone from Europe posted it a while ago. I forgot which thread it is though.
Or spinotron might have already acquired it silently as well.

Wait, does spinotron have the Mercer 1/1? Incredible

Tarheelsfan2012 · 08-09-2020, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjho852

Someone from Europe posted it a while ago. I forgot which thread it is though.
Or spinotron might have already acquired it silently as well.

There was a thread on here where someone posted it but I can't find the thread.

Edit: Found it. https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...ht=Hill&page=8

Tarheelsfan2012 · 08-09-2020, 05:55 PM

Ok I'm ready for this thread

mindcycle · 08-09-2020, 06:03 PM

Nice Mercer! Looking forward to this.

ninjacookies · 08-09-2020, 06:05 PM

Any tentative dates on your public museum opening?

LovelyLlamas · 08-09-2020, 06:29 PM

The holy grail of all Mercer cards! Love to see it in all its beauty!

NarnM · 08-09-2020, 06:44 PM

Love it. Also is your site from your iG handle down?

2010GBPackers · 08-09-2020, 07:31 PM

Yes! We need more PC threads told in narration format. Love it. Sit back and learn Sneakerbois.

cowboyzqna · 08-09-2020, 07:34 PM

Best of the best!

BC81 · 08-09-2020, 08:29 PM

Your collection is legendary! Thanks for sharing

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hawkfandan · 08-09-2020, 10:03 PM

Let's go!! Thanks for posting this Spin.

NoleinJax · 08-09-2020, 11:07 PM

Great story. I look forward to following along. Do you still have both Kobe's /8?

thecomebacker · 08-09-2020, 11:37 PM

Popcorn ready to go! Explosive opening so far : )

duron · 08-10-2020, 01:18 AM

spino truly is the hero we all need right now.

Looking forward to this.

Rob 23 · 08-10-2020, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinotron

reserved 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinotron

reserved 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinotron

reserved 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by spinotron

reserved 4

08-09-2020, 04:59 PM	#1
spinotron Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,116	spinotron E-X 2001 essential credentials chase and stories Hi everyone, It has been a while since I made my last PC showcase thread here. Recently, there seems to some desire to have more PC showcase threads in the sea of investment flavored ones. So here is my contribution in that direction. It's a long time in the making. So you will get a full load unapologetically. I think I can put a starting date on it, April 12, 2011. On this date, I acquired my second Kobe 1997-98 E-X2001 essential credentials now /8 and also in unfaded lime green acetate, and gem mint condition. At that time I had been in hobby for almost 2 years, and I had read several forums almost entirely, absorbing like a sponge. Top two 90s cards for each player are PMG green and credentials, as I learned. PMG green was less hyped then (PMG red was certainly nowhere near its status now) but always highly coveted among top of player collectors' dream card list, as beautiful refracting textured surface, one of rarest in first year of systematic introduction of serial numbering across the board. It was born from a massively produced low end product back then (many cards per pack and pack price was low) but very scarcely inserted; today PMG green has gained its status partly due to hyping and natural evolution and partly due to passionate collectors chasing. The other in the top 2 spot is Credentials produced from E-X2001 and the product was considered a highend product with relatively expensive pack price and only 2 cards per pack and very hard to hit a credentials (without odds obviously) and the production was much less. While Jambalaya is a hit per 5 cases (6 boxes per case), credentials does not seem to come any more frequently. Those two cards (PMG green and rarer version of 1997-98 credentials) are often missing from player collectors in ascension and proudly equipped by seasoned player collectors who braved the scene for a longer reign, for the most part. Having two Kobes somehow made me want to attempt the impossible goal of working towards the essential credentials set. I made a post in another forum announcing my desire and tried to start it off, but was immediately warned as impossible to the highest degree, and regarded as borderline delusional but in more polite words. After these many years have passed, I think it's time to sit back and make a progress report. Without further Ado, Let me start off the showcase gradually and recall some details and various stories. This following card in jersey number was acquired in March 2017 updating a much earlier acquired copy. Credentials has a unique creative numbering. In 1997-98, there are 80 players, and in the credentials now set, location of a given player in the set determines its print run as exactly that. As the name suggests, earlier players in the credentials now set are super stars or non-RC players with highest promise. To make suspense going, I will showcase in countdown style, starting with the last and 80th player in the set, Ron Mercer RC. The parallel set, credentials future, has print run flipped over, a player located at X-th spot will have 81-X print run, as RC players will start off that set and guys with highest promises are placed forefront. Mercer future would be 1 of 1, the most promising among the crop at the time of production. Out of Kentucky, his game was super smooth, and his pecking order was higher than Pierce before getting traded and he fell off the map after another trade. As it is a bit hard to keep both suspense and organization. If I show off both sets down from /80 then it might look a bit confusing and not neatly organized. So I will make pairings, my usual theme, and show off the hands early on. LOL. This card was famous and back then pulled during released year by Eric Bird, and documented by Beckett. Please see the third photo below. I would like to be a fly in that shop when it was pulled. I couldn’t find the shop online and looked up the yellow page, tempted to write a letter to a few likely addresses, but surprised to see it show up and acquired it in Sep 2014. From shop owner’s wife’s account. The seller is from the same city and same surname as in the article. They acquired from Eric and kept since until then. It was the pinnacle of my collecting career then and kept my engine burning to foolishly keep chasing the impossible ghost. If I may, I have reserve four more posts below to collect things together, but I will update the thread in the latest posts as well. If you have instagram, you can see a version of writing there as well. __________________ Mainly collecting rare or key cards, mostly Kobe. PLMK if want to sell cards which I might need. Thx! My BGS algorithm: https://www.spinotron.com/bgs.html Instagram handle: spinotron Last edited by spinotron; 08-09-2020 at 05:07 PM. Reason: Minor correction to read smoother.

08-09-2020, 04:59 PM	#2
spinotron Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,116	reserved 1. TL/DR version: Mercer didn’t leave Bird’s nest. Landing MacMan is as circuitous and fortuitous as <Three Nations>. Tony B from Gary G: Landing Tim is slim but ended like Fairy tale Grimm: David saved the day in my battle against Goliath: A summary of showcase so far: Who is the next up? __________________ Mainly collecting rare or key cards, mostly Kobe. PLMK if want to sell cards which I might need. Thx! My BGS algorithm: https://www.spinotron.com/bgs.html Instagram handle: spinotron Last edited by spinotron; 08-19-2020 at 07:25 AM. Reason: Highlights updated

08-09-2020, 04:59 PM	#3
spinotron Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,116	reserved 2 __________________ Mainly collecting rare or key cards, mostly Kobe. PLMK if want to sell cards which I might need. Thx! My BGS algorithm: https://www.spinotron.com/bgs.html Instagram handle: spinotron

08-09-2020, 04:59 PM	#4
spinotron Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,116	reserved 3 __________________ Mainly collecting rare or key cards, mostly Kobe. PLMK if want to sell cards which I might need. Thx! My BGS algorithm: https://www.spinotron.com/bgs.html Instagram handle: spinotron

08-09-2020, 04:59 PM	#5
spinotron Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,116	reserved 4 __________________ Mainly collecting rare or key cards, mostly Kobe. PLMK if want to sell cards which I might need. Thx! My BGS algorithm: https://www.spinotron.com/bgs.html Instagram handle: spinotron

08-09-2020, 05:01 PM	#6
bjho852 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 4,293	Nice! __________________ Instagram (IG): bjho852

08-09-2020, 05:17 PM	#7
Jopeal Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: RI Posts: 8,153 dr.jopeal	Awesome post! The Mercer Future 1/1! Would love to see you track it down. Is there any history on the iconic Grant Hill Now 1/1? I can’t wait to hear more about this legendary set.

08-09-2020, 05:22 PM	#8
abidtsteele Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Houston Posts: 1,421 abidtsteele	Love hearing stories like this and seeing the hard work and perseverance pay off, looking forward to future posts! I saw your hobbykings screencap the other day lol __________________ I mainly collect Duncan and Lebron Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abtistcards/

08-09-2020, 05:24 PM	#9
fnd Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Canada Posts: 24	Oh my this post is gonna be legendary! Just like your collection!

08-09-2020, 05:55 PM	#13
Tarheelsfan2012 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 11,421 tarheelsfan2012	Ok I'm ready for this thread __________________ Current Filling BO GB's-TBD http://sportscardalbum.com/u/jdetter23

08-09-2020, 06:03 PM	#14
mindcycle Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5,043	Nice Mercer! Looking forward to this.

08-09-2020, 06:05 PM	#15
ninjacookies Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: All the girls see the (boi)/ Look at his flips / Look at his kards / All they say is (oh boi). Posts: 57,247	Any tentative dates on your public museum opening? __________________ #5 world ranked Ledell Eackles superclection as recognized by Tuff Stuff junior managing editor, Barry McCaulkinner. Somethin' like a cross between Teddy Aguhob and Kaboom Mystery Packs. I got that Givenchy denim flow.

08-09-2020, 06:29 PM	#16
LovelyLlamas Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 659	The holy grail of all Mercer cards! Love to see it in all its beauty!

08-09-2020, 06:44 PM	#17
NarnM Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 72	Love it. Also is your site from your iG handle down?

08-09-2020, 07:31 PM	#18
2010GBPackers Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 4,539	Yes! We need more PC threads told in narration format. Love it. Sit back and learn Sneakerbois.

08-09-2020, 07:34 PM	#19
cowboyzqna Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Moundridge KS Posts: 9,265 cowboyzqna	Best of the best! __________________ I am a Lucky Man

08-09-2020, 08:29 PM	#20
BC81 Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,152 BC_Sports_Collection BC_Sports_Collection	Your collection is legendary! Thanks for sharing Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08-09-2020, 10:03 PM	#21
hawkfandan Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 549	Let's go!! Thanks for posting this Spin.

08-09-2020, 11:07 PM	#22
NoleinJax Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: No clue anymore Posts: 8,742 ilovetheseminoles	Great story. I look forward to following along. Do you still have both Kobe's /8? __________________ Flickr (In Progress):https://www.flickr.com/photos/noleinjax/albums Looking for rare Jameis Winston rookies (Prizm White Sparkle, Gold Vinyl, etc), 1/1's and jersey #'d stuff.

08-09-2020, 11:37 PM	#23
thecomebacker Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CA, USA Posts: 2,043	Popcorn ready to go! Explosive opening so far : ) __________________ lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Collecting Bulls Players 3 Color GU Patch Cards.

08-10-2020, 01:18 AM	#24
duron Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NYC Posts: 12,155 drewtang duron	spino truly is the hero we all need right now. Looking forward to this. __________________ IG: Darz90sCardz PC: MJ/Penny