ETopps Goes Back in History with "Cards that Never Were"

eTopps, the maker of internet-exclusive sports cards, has created a new set of cards that gives collectors the chance to collect their favorite sports legends on cards styled after classic designs from the past. Dubbed the "Cards That Never Were," eTopps has corrected oversights and missed opportunities to give classic players life once again.

Among the player cards offered are Joe DiMaggio on a card design identical to the 1952 Topps design, one of the more recognized card series ever, thanks in no small part to the Mickey Mantle rookie card that was produced that year. Casual baseball fans may not realize that Topps never featured DiMaggio on a card during his career, since the Yankee Clipper retired in 1951. Topps had the chance to include Joltin' Joe in the historic 1952 set, but DiMaggio did not sign a contract with Topps, so the card remained only a dream, until now. Using a classic pose from the era, the new card is striking. The card features a "refractive" finish, which gives it a metallic prism look to ensure it is no doubt identified as a new product.

Texas Ranger and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan had his rookie card issued in 1968, but as was the custom at the time, Ryan shared a card with fellow Met Jerry Koosman. Ryan actually played briefly in the majors the year before, but a card was never issued. eTopps now corrects that oversight for the all time strikeout king with a new Ryan card, with a 1967 photo, on a card featuring the classic 1967 Topps design. This time, Ryan is all alone, making it a "fantasy" rookie no true Ryan fan can pass up.

eTopps features new cards in the set every week during the baseball season, and the company is expected to include the practice in both future football and basketball sets. The cards are offered for one week only, in limited edition runs that vary from several hundred to nearly 1500, depending on the particular card. Collectors who miss the initial offering of a particular card can usually find them on ebay in sufficient quantities.