eTopps released this special four-card series of Cleveland sports legends to encourage the efforts of a small band of dedicated eTopps participants who are promoting the brand at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland. While I am one of the many eTopps participants unable to attend the Cleveland events, the effort by these collectors showcases the unique community that embraces the eTopps product. Even in a bear market, the community of eTopps participants continues to impress me. While the community is often contentious in its arguments about eTopps' present and future on the message boards, I am continually impressed by the volunteer and entrepreneurial efforts surrounding the product. Think of all that is added to the eTopps experience by the community beyond the Topps Corporation: web sites like CardTarget and eTopps Clubhouse, charity drives such as those for a victim of California fires last year and more recently in support of an AIDS walk, writing in articles like these IPO Insights and the poetic anecdotes about baseball icons in the Classics series by "boysofsummer" on the message boards, bumper stickers printed and distributed by participants, and on and on.

Some participants have scorned eTopps for communication failures or losing the inspiration shown behind the initial vision of eTopps, and some have turned back to the increasingly elite rarities in cardboard sports card collections such as shredded Babe Ruth jerseys or signatures of Presidents cut out of their original historic contexts. But whatever the relative merits of the unique eTopps internet-based product relative to scores of other brands of cardboard-printed sports collectibles, I doubt that anything like the eTopps community will be evident among the hundreds of manufacturers and dealers at the National Convention. Even if the eTopps table and related eCon 2.0 fail to attract a single new member, the effort should reinforce the appreciation of eTopps and this unique community among its core members. Those of us not able to attend should applaud their efforts and can enjoy the experience vicariously by checking the photos on the gallery here at eTopps Clubhouse.

While I applaud eTopps for supporting the National Convention and eCon 2.0 efforts, I must ask myself what future do these four cards have? While they are called eVent cards, they are a new design and new subject matter that do not fit with the original eVent series. Those who collected the eVent series set are unlikely to consider these cards part of that series. Similarly, while Bob Lemon and Bernie Kosar would only arguably merit inclusion in the baseball or football Classics series, nonetheless they are not part of those sets. Unless eTopps expands this series for other events and sports legends, these cards are likely to become orphans among the broader eTopps sets and not retain strong value other than for Cleveland locals and those wanting a memento of eCon 2.0.

Bernie Kosar (2,500 @ $5.25)

An Ohio native, Kosar quarterbacked the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993, passing for more than 23,000 yards. After his release midseason in 1993, he replaced the injured Troy Aikman to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory. Still a Cleveland-area favorite, I recommend DO NOT BUY this card at IPO.

Bob Lemon (2,500 @ $5.25)

Lemon pitched for the Cleveland Indians in the 1940s and 1950s, winning at least 20 games seven times on the way to a 207 win, 128 loss career record. Lemon also managed the Royals, White Sox, and Yankees after finishing his playing career. Elected to the baseball hall of fame in 1976, Lemon one said that "the two most important things in life are good friends and a strong bullpen." A Cleveland baseball legend who would be borderline as to deserving a card in the real baseball classics set, I recommend DO NOT BUY this card at IPO.

Jesse Owens (2,500 @ $5.75)

Jesse Owens stands alongside Babe Ruth and Johnny Unitas as a sports legend, and Jim Thorpe and Jackie Robinson as an American hero. Born J.C. Owens in an impoverished family in Alabama, his family moved to Cleveland when J.C. was eight years old in 1921 where his teacher incorrectly wrote his name as "Jesse." In high school, he tied the world record in the 100-yard dash at 9.4 seconds. He attended Ohio State University in 1933, but could not live on campus or stay in the same hotels as the rest of his team due to segregation. In 1936, Jesse Owens became the first American to win four gold medals, setting three world records, in track and field at the Olympics. More significantly, Jesse Owens' athletic excellence stood in bold opposition to Adolf Hitler who had hoped to use the Olympics to promote Nazi ideals. Nonetheless, despite his Olympics success, he returned to the U.S. with little money and lacking endorsement opportunities, so had to find other ways to earn money such as running races against motorcycles and horses before Negro League baseball games. In 1976, he was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Ford, the highest U.S. honor for civilians. BUY this card at IPO.

Larry Nance (2,500 @ $5.25)

Larry Nance was forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1988 to 1994. Notably, Nance is the all-time NBA leader for blocked shots by a forward, and also was the first NVA slam dunk contest winner. He was a two-time NBA all-star, and has had his number retired by the Cavaliers. While this can be considered the first eTopps basketball classic card, hopefully eTopps will field a stronger collection of classic basketball legends in future years. DO NOT BUY this card at IPO.

This week’s best buy is without a doubt Jesse Owens. There may never be another track and field card (though Jim Thorpe is in the football classics series) unless eTopps issues an Olympics set, but this card is deserving of standing alone.