eTopps Clubhouse - eTopps IPO Insight Classic Baseball Week 8, 2003

Nap played 21 years in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland, and the Philadelphia Athletics. He primarily played 2nd base (2,035 games). He also played SS, 1B, 3B, and OF. Nap won the Triple Crown in 1901 -- way before Williams. Nap had a .338 career average, over 1500 RBI, and over 3,000 hits. Of course he didn't go yard like they do nowadays (he only hit 82 career home runs... 9 more than Barry hit a few years back). He had a career-high .426 batting average in 1901 when he won the Triple Crown. That year he he hit 14 HR's but he never again hit over 7 HR's in a season. In 21 years he had a .967 fielding percentage, which is a remarkable feat in any era. Nap led the AL/NL in every offensive category at least once in his career and was first 40-some-odd times. I am a huge fan of players that can get it done at the plate and in the field. This guy was a workhorse in his era. He was one of the best players to play and the true pioneers of the sport. This IPO is a must BUY!

Yogi Berra (2,000 @ $12.50)

Yogi, say it ain't so... Famous for his quotes, this fine-hitting Yankee was one of the most prolific to suit up for a team enriched with great players and tradition. His fine career spanned 19 seasons -- 18 with the Yankees and one with the Mets. He appeared in 14 World Series during his 19 seasons, with his team taking the championship 10 of those times. He was also the MVP three times in the AL -- 1951, 1954, and 1955. Yogi was also a 15-time all-star. You can't say enough about Yogi because you have probably heard him say it all... and even some more. Yogi had a .989 fielding percentage as a catcher (yes, he played a few games at 1B and in the outfield). Again, this great Yankee is a true icon and a legend in every regard. You're a fool if you don't pick up this Hall of Famer. BUY this card.

In closing, I'd like to share some of my ideas and reflections for the eTopps Staff. If you want my resume ask Uncle Sam! I am unavailable unless you put me on parachute pay.

How to Fix eTopps - 16 Points of the Stone

1.	Broaden the price spectrum from $4.00 to $10.00, while selling nothing higher or lower than those prices -- not even the Classics.
2.	No print runs below 2000, never ever!
3.	Limit the baseball, footballm and basketball sets to 100 cards... no more blah cards. If you want to make a set over 100 cards, don't do it! Think tight-fisted and not money-grabbing. With a clear vision it is easier to earn money than it is when you flail and fail while trying to make everyone happy.
4.	Don't even think about dropping the Classics. Never ever ever -- this is a good thing and these cards are going to be the legit ones down the line that hold their value better than the 3 - 4 year flops.
5.	Limit the cards introduced each week to not exceed $50 if someone was to purchase one of each. This will open the market up for the young collectors who don't have $100-$110 to spend on cards each week.
6.	Never go to limitless print runs for IPO's.
7.	Extend the IPO seasons (for sports) to cover the entire season of that sport. Cut down the number of IPO's issued each week to accommodate. Have the IPO season coincide with the sport's season... makes so much sense.
8.	Never bring back that dumb and user un-friendly portfolio game.
9.	The new game is a fantasy league for everyone on eTopps and the prizes for each division is a card. Make numerous divisions where we play head to head.
10.	Event cards need to be better controlled and issued with more consistency (Sosa? Hull?).
11.	The vote-in's should be for each sport, including NASCAR.
12.	Focus advertising towards those online sports junkies, former card collectors who transitioned to stocks, and 14 to 35-year old semi-professionals/students who are sports fanatics. Put ads in publications that everyone reads (Maxim, TSN, SI, USA Today, Stuff, Outdoors, etc.) New eTopps focus: FLIP THIS!! (you get the picture).
13.	Crack down on shill bidders with tracking technology that is acquired through funds received from the eTopps store (where hats, shirts, stickers, and anything else a man/woman junkie would want are sold).
14.	Each year (fiscal year) change your card format/look. Put it up for vote on the eTopps site.
15.	Keep the catalog the way it is -- sporadic, elusive, and always full of '02 rookie set cards (football/baseball), etc.
16.	Another idea for contests is to pick the award winners for the sports at the beginning of each IPO season.

TALK BACK!

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