Soccer Cards That Never Were

What might have been? What if Topps went above and beyond their 1979 NASL stickers and made "Footballers" in the USA? What if Upper Deck assembled 1998 and 2001-2003 sets? What if a US company made World Cup cards in other years besides 1994? There was a really cool Sportkings Jersey card of Freddy Adu and Pele that came out this year. I believe only nine exist (check out the photo). If I remember correct, there was a post on the http://www.bigsoccer.com/ forum that fantasized about a similar card a few years back. After much research, I have decided to list a few of the cards that could have been. To be eligible the card must have had a chance to be produced. I would really love some help with this list, here's what I have so far:
1993 Upper Deck World Cup Preview Diego Maradona (before the failed drug test)
1991 Collegiate Collection North Carolina Anson Dorrance (legendary coach)
1991 Collegiate Collection North Carolina Kristine Lilly

Where will Cletus end up?

Recently released from Ergotelis FC of the Greece Super League, Clint Mathis is now a man without a team. Will he make another move back to the MLS? The soccer world awaits.

This card is from his Mathis' spell at Hannover '96 in the Bundesliga, he played there during the 2004/05 season.

Two For The Money

What a huge opprotunity for Freddy Adu at S.L. Benfica, leaving Real Salt Lake for the BWINLIGA will be a great stepping stone. A new country, a new league, a new club, and a new soccer card. Adu is one of two American players featured in the 2007/08 Panini UEFA Champions League set (card #U93). The other American featured is Ranger's Damarcus Beasley (card #U54)

Topps Match Attax

One of the most successful runs of English Premier League soccer cards has done it again this year. The 2007/08 Topps Match Attax is the latest of the rebranded Merlin Shoot Out that has been out since every since 2003/04. This basic set consist of 360 cards, this can be broken down into; 320 base cards and 40 Star Players (foils). This issue did contain inserts and an update set dubbed "Match Attax Extra." Inserts in the regular edition featured 60 "Man of the Match" cards and six "Limited Edition Exclusive" cards. American players were well represented in this set; Carlos Bocanega (Fulham FC), Bobby Convey (Reading), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading), Tim Howard (Everton) and Brian McBride (Fulham FC). Brad Friedel is the lone American with a Man of the Match insert and for some reason Fulham keeper Kasey Keller is omitted. The update set does a great job of featuring new signings and transfers. Besides the 83 basic cards, it displays 20 foiled Club Captains and several levels of chase cards. Inserts include seven "Hat Trick Heroes", five "Players of the Month" and 10 "Man of the Match" cards. Four more of the Limited Edition Exclusives were also circulated in the Extra packs. Yanks included in the Extra include; McBride (Club Captain) and Jonathon Spector (West Ham United). To my dismay it lacked Fulham FC's Eddie Johnson, who transferred from the Kansas City Wizards earlier this year.

What a Year For Yanks Abroad Cards!

I was amazed to how many US players were represented in European Card sets. I'd be willing to bet that 2007/08 yielded about 20 or so cards. I've been able to get my hands on a few. It seems that Topps Match Attax (formerly Shoot Out) have come on strong again. The regulat issue featured; Bocanegra, Convey, Dempsey, Friedel (he has an insert too), Hahnemann, Howard and McBride. The Match Attax Extra includes a Club Captain of McBride and Jonathan Spector.

Panini also supplied us some nice treats. The 2008 Champions League set contains Freddy Adu of Benfica and Damarcus Beasley of Rangers FC. The 2007/08 Coca-Cola Championship (Triple A soccer) gives Jay DeMerit of the regulated squad Watford and it's Frank Simek's second tour of duty in this issue (he was the only Yank in the 2006/07 set).

Soccer Card Price Guide

It's finally here! Pricing for soccer cards! These are the average prices these complete sets have gone for over the past 5 years. Coming soon, indoor pricing.

2007 Upper Deck MLS 10.95 (100)
2006 Upper Deck MLS 14.95 (100)
2005 Upper Deck MLS 10.95 (90)
2004 Upper Deck MLS 14.95 (90)
2004 Upper Deck MLS Konica 39.95 (11)
2000 Upper Deck MLS 14.95 (110)

2000 Upper Deck MLS Pepsi 29.95 (12)
1999 Upper Deck MLS 14.95 (110)
1997 Upper Deck MLS 24.95 (51)

Pro Set Soccer Cards Checklists

It looks like my blog will yet serve another purpose, this time I will provide a few links for some checklists. This week I'm posting some links for Pro Set soccer sets of the 1990's. Here they are:
1990/91 English League (328)
1991/92 English League Fixtures (100)
1991/92 English League Series I (1-230)
1991/92 English League Series II (231-479)
1991/92 Scottish League (100)

Just remember this tip, the 1991/92 second series is very scarce, good luck.

2007 Upper Deck MLS Soccer Cards

I finally broke down and bought a set of the 2007 cards, it's the first time since the 1997 issue that I didn't go on a box frenzy. The cards are really nice, the still carry just three years of stats and a tidbit of information about the player. You have to admit 2007 was a decent year for soccer cards, we had another great Upper Deck set and even though there were just four cards issued by Nabisco this year, they were really nice. Don't forget Donruss' and Topps's sprinkle of a few American soccer players in a few of their baseball cards sets too. Until next time, Tex