Today we're going to get stuck into one of the most interesting types of card out there. Relic cards first came about in 1997 when card manufacturers were looking for a new way to engage potential new customers. One of the ways they looked to do that was by including relic cards in their packs.
Relic cards are essentially cards which contain a piece of equipment, which can be part of jersey, part of a bat, part of a ball or even spikes from a cleat.
Before we get started, I think that it's important to note a very important distinction.
There is a big different between "player used" material and "game used" material.
When you look at the back of a relic card, you'll likely be looking at a "congratulations!" message, but it's important to read the rest the back of the card too.
A "This was worn in an official MLB game" message is pretty self explanatory. You've got a piece of something that was worn by that player in a Major League game. Pretty cool!
However, some come with the message "this material is player-used", which sounds very similar but is actually quite different. You see, card manufacturers quickly realised that there was a big demand for this type of product. So they started creating opportunities for players to wear something, take it off and then be able to claim that it is "player used". So it's always best to read the small print to find out exactly what you have.
To complicate things further, cards will sometimes come with a "not from any specific game, event or season" message. This just means that the material has been used in a game, but could be from Spring Training, the minor leagues, MLB game, or anywhere really.
Helpfully, some higher end product (such as Diamond Icons or Definitive) have an official Major League Baseball authentication sticker on them. This allows you to go onto their website, type in the code on the sticker and find out exactly when the item was used. If you really want to delve deeper, from here you can look up the box score and see exactly what the player did on the day he wore the item you now own part of.
Additionally, older relic cards sometimes came with a photo of the actual item that the piece on your card was taken from.
By far the most common items to be included in these relic cards are pieces of jersey or pieces of a bat. For jersey relics, generally the ones which have more colour have a higher value. This usually increases further for relics which contain part of the team or player name, and further still for the laundry tag.
There are plenty of other more obscure items out there too. Encased dirt from a mound or infield, batting gloves, parts of bases and even things like stadium seats have been used within cards in recent years.
Although not technically a "baseball" relic, Topps Holiday - a product released in time for Christmas - includes player worn Santa hats as part of their relic set.
And I haven't even mentioned some of the non-baseball relics included in primarily baseball sets like Allen & Ginter. You can find plant seeds, genuine bugs, and most bizarrely, DNA relics which contain actual hair of historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon & Charles Dickens.
We're pretty big fans of relic cards, but certainly prefer those which have been used in an official game over simply player worn. There is such a wide range of products out there that there is sure to be something that appeals to you.
Are you a fan of relic cards? Do you have any in your collection?
Let us know in the comments or on twitter.
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