Placing it in Context: Co-Signers is one of the many 1999-00 Stadium Club insert sets. Thirteen different players are matched up, two per card, to create this 26-card set. The design is balanced and elegant. Dark background, simple photographs of the players, ample space at the bottom to highlight the autographs so that they don’t feel forced onto the card or get lost in dark sections of the image. The reverse parallels the design of the front using the space below the photographs for trivia this time. (The Topps Authentic hologram could have been incorporated into the card instead of being overlayed as an afterthought.) If only Topps could show the same care and balance in the structure of this set.
As nice as the design is, the structure of the complete set is anarchy. First, the odds have four different levels. The first eight cards are really rare, 1:3,294 unless in HTA (Home Team Advantage) packs, otherwise known to everyone else as “jumbo packs”…then they’re 1:1,332. These first eight are the only cards that feature Tim Duncan. CS9-14 are a bit more common, 1:2,202 or 1:882 HTA. Confused yet? We’re not done… CS15-20 are more common still at 1:733 or 1:294 HTA, and CS21-26 are the most common at 1:550 or 1:220 HTA. The four groups are usually identified as A, B, C and D. Overall odds end up being 1:254 for hobby packs or 1:102 for HTA. But here’s the kicker…none of this matters except for the first eight cards with Tim Duncan! Why stress about those rare autographs in group A when the exact same autographs can be found in more common groups? There’s repeat appearances of the same thirteen players over and over again. Especially when players cross from one group to another. Stressing about that rare Tracy McGrady from group B? Just find a cheaper McGrady auto in Group D! I just don’t think this set was well-planned. Maybe less cards with the same players?
The Card: So how does this all relate to card CS16 specifically… Steve Francis and Shawn Marion, found here on card CS16, are also found in the more rare group A. But would anyone really care if you’re looking to add Steve Francis and/or Shawn Marion to your autograph collection? If you’re not concerned with Tim Duncan “forcing scarcity” on the other players in the rare group, there is no difference in design for these players in this more accessible card… Card CS16 is in Group C, and has the appeal of being a bit more rare than the most common group. But it allows collectors to acquire a Steve Francis and Shawn Marion autograph at a price discount that might not be found in groups A and B. The point I’m trying to stress is that this set is a great way to add autographs of specific players to your collection, and if you maneuver the complex structure thoughtfully, you can save some cash. Although this particular card is hard to locate, the value doesn’t reflect that. If you can find one, it will set you back about $40. A far cry from the $125 estimate in The 2001 Standard Catalog of Basketball Cards closer to when it was produced.
In Short: Autograph collectors need to know about this set. There’s a strange structure in terms of odds that could allow you to get an on-card auto at a great price. Follow this: This is a 26-card set with cards #1-8 at 1:3,294 packs, #9-14 at 1:2,202, #15-20 at 1:733, and #21-26 at 1:550. But here’s the key, many of the players are the same! So let’s say you need a Steve Francis for your autograph collection. There’s a Steve Francis/Tim Duncan in the first eight cards but that’ll set you back hundreds of dollars when it appears. Then there’s a Steve Francis/Corey Maggette at card #22. These last cards in the set often stay well below $100 when they appear. So keep this set in mind for autograph collecting and don’t be afraid to wait for those cards #21-26 if you can. very attractive card for any collection (as long as one forgets about the chaos of the seeding of these cards and the set itself).
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