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BBM Sumo 大相撲 Card Collection 1997-2022 This album contains my collection of Japanese-licensed BBM (Baseball Magazine) sumo wrestling cards/sets, starting with BBM's sumo debut, the 1997 "Modern" set, to date. A description appears under the first entry for each year (in the far left column), and notes the number of cards in the set. Sets from 1997-2010 are represented by scans of 14 cards (7 cards for the more recent 2011-date sets) which include ALL active Yokozuna along with some of the other top/most popular rikishi cards of that year. Also included are special/short printed cards that were randomly inserted in card packs (or "inserts") and were NOT part of the regular set. These insert cards, issued from 1997-2003, are displayed in the rows beneath the regular (or "base") sets they were issued with. The rank assigned in each card's description is the highest the pictured rikishi would achieve in his career, though not necessarily his rank in the card/year shown.
Cards from 2004 through 2007 are particularly difficult to locate, as BBM sumo card production purportedly dropped significantly during this period--which is often referred to by advanced collectors, such as Ryan Laughton and Paul Fogarty, as the "Black Hole" or "Lost Years/Dead Era" of sumo card collecting. A possible reason for the 2004-07 scarcity is a decline of Japanese interest in the sport following the retirement of mega-popular native son Yokozuna Takanohana in 2003 (after he had two years of frequent kyujo in 2001-02). Also, beginning with the 2004 set, BBM reduced the base set size to 99 cards, and discontinued insert cards--obvious signs of less demand in their Sumo product during that time. The tough 2004 set also features the debut of future Yokozuna Hakuho- the all time record holder for victories and championships- who appears on two cards in the set (#65 & #88)--arguably the 2 most valuable base set sumo cards that BBM has ever produced.
I have added some approximate current values for sets, insert sets and autographed cards underneath their descriptions. The values assigned are just my best guesses, as there is no price guide for sumo cards at the moment, and reflect my own purchase prices as well as my observations on recent transactions. At the bottom of the page, I have listed my autographed cards, SCM /BBM promo cards, and "other" BBM cards/subsets/inserts, JSA licensed postcards, as well as Heisei Era "Trump" sumo playing card decks, and BBM/NHK-issued Sumo DVDs. If anyone shares this collecting interest, I would heartily recommend the BBM Sumo Card Collectors page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1630250003925942/ or you may contact me at supplex55@yahoo.com |
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