This chapter will take you through everything that may be printed on or included with a sports card.
Each card has a number of features that you’ll soon become familiar with - it’s important to understand each of these features before diving-in to buying your first few cards. We’ll use a number of examples from cards across different sports in this section.
The most obvious feature is the player on the card, although in some cases a card may have multiple players or even a whole team. Most cards will have the player’s name on both the front and back.
Each card will come from a specific set of cards. You can usually find the set the card is from on the back; although if the set itself isn’t listed there should be a number of other ways to tell what set the card is from - such as the manufacturer’s logo or other text on the card.
Each card will have a number showing its reference in the set checklist. These numbers may be just numbers, letters or a combination of both. A card’s number can normally be found on the back of the card.
Some cards will be a “parallel” or “variant” of a regular base card or insert. These cards will normally be a different color or have a different pattern to the regular base card.
Some parallels/variants may have additional features besides a different design to the regular base card, such as:
Serial numbered cards will list the number of cards printed for that parallel/variant along with the serial number of the specific card. For example, a card listed with a serial number of 49/99 means that there are 99 copies of the parallel/variant in circulation and the specific card is the 49th card printed of the parallel/variant.
A short print card is a parallel/variant of a specific card that normally has a different photograph of the player(s) on the card or a short print exclusive design. “Short printed” cards are usually printed in a smaller (shorter) volume compared to other cards - so they are considered to be more scarce and therefore rarer.
A card can be a short print (SP) or super short print (SSP) - which is considered rarer than an SP.
Some cards will have an autograph of the player(s) on the card. Autograph cards (should) come with a guarantee of authenticity printed on the back of the card.
You may hear the term “on card autograph” - this means that the autograph is signed on the card itself. These cards are typically more desirable to collectors as the player themselves has held and signed the card.
An “on sticker autograph” or “sticker autograph” is an autograph that the player has signed on a sticker that the manufacturer has then stuck to the card. These cards are typically less desirable to collectors - although they are becoming the standard in newer product releases.
Some cards will have a relic enclosed within the card - this may be a piece of the player’s jersey, equipment or a relic from a specific event. There are a number of different types of relics that are enclosed within cards - this will normally be listed on the back of the card.
These types of relics are not associated with any specific players or events. This means the relic enclosed has no association to the player depicted on the card - for example a replica jersey or piece of equipment. These are typically the least desirable of all types of relic cards.
These types of relics have been either worn or used by the player on the card. This usually means the player wore/used the piece of the relic enclosed in some way - for example in training, at a media event or they interacted with the relic in some way. These are typically more desirable than cards with NA relics.
These types of relics have been worn/used by a player in a match or event. Some cards will also list specifics about the relic such as the season, year or specific event the relic was used in. These are typically the most desirable of all relic cards.
Some cards may feature an “RC” logo - this denotes a player’s “rookie card”. Originally, this indicated the card is from the players first year of professional play, typically in the Major Leagues.
However as more cards were manufactured the meaning of the RC designation on cards became blurred. In modern sets, a card is typically given an RC logo if:
It is important to note that a card with an RC logo may not be a players first card and not all players rookie cards will have an RC logo.
Licensed cards are produced by manufacturers who have paid for a license to print the official emblems, logos and uniform details for players. This includes any league and team logos. Conversely, unlicensed cards are unable to have any official emblems, logos and uniform details for players - although these cards can still use the players name and image on the card.
