I have seen some pretty strange items come from the world of trading cards in my 25 years of collecting. From a set devoted to serial killers to a cut signature of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, produced by Topps. Hell, even some of those early WWE wrestling sets with Chris Benoit’s sticker autograph can be chilling considering the unthinkable crimes he would go on to commit before ultimately taking his own life.
While items like those can be considered in poor taste, it’s also very good publicity. Remember, no publicity is bad publicity. Leaf Trading Cards, which was all but dead until Brian Gray purchased the company in 2010, could be considered an underdog in the trading card business. Topps has the history, Upper Deck the track record, and Panini is stepping up their game consistently. That of course puts Leaf as a contender looking to become the dark horse in The Hobby.
Well, 2011 Pop Century might be what gets them there.
Forget for a moment the insane autograph checklist which includes Charlie Sheen, Lindsay Lohan, Mickey Rourke, Harrison Ford, the Kardashian sisters, Stan Lee, and more. Those would all make one hell of a celebrity-themed trading set. But what really makes this future release so shocking is a morbid, one of one fold-out card featuring a cut signature of beloved president John F. Kennedy, his assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald (depending on what you believe), and a piece of leather taken from the 1961 Lincoln Limousine in which JFK was shot in.
I’m as speechless as the rest of you. One thing is certain, whoever pulls this historic trading card is guaranteed to find themselves on the cover of Beckett along with several interviews on different news programs. Video cards are great but this is the type of trading card that will be remembered for a long time. Not to mention the kind of money that could be made if the lucky collector who pulls it decides to sell it on eBay.
As for product details, information for 2011 Pop Century is still under wraps so there is no official checklist or release date, just an ominous “late 2011″. Each box contains 8 cards, all autographed, even those that feature worn memorabilia. To check out the official sell sheet, hosted on Leaf’s website, CLICK HERE.
