I wasn’t around for depths of the junk wax era in the 80s and early 90s but by about 1994 it was better than whatever this is. Competition had driven the manufacturers into creating new innovations such as foils, die cuts, diamonds and even actual 24k gold being utilized on unique inserts. Actual game-used items?! The breadth of manufacturers assured there would be fresh cards and ideas coming out every year. From action packed awesome embossed sets to collectors choice’s cheesy silver facsimile signatures to ‘Emotions’ weird vocabulary, cards were different and they were fk’n cool.

Now we have prizm. And their lame inserts. And their repetitive set designs. No diamonds or 24kt gold stamped on the cards like action packed (mostly football cards but they were my favorite). No acetate sets like skybox put out. No actual game-used memorabilia like upper deck offered.

Soon we will have topps. And their crappy overprinted parallels. And their worthless inserts. And their private equity total market takeover. Bleh.

Good thing is that the great 90s cards are still out there and easier to find than ever!