If big-time politics is a game of hardball, it stands to reason that its heavy hitters should have their own trading card, right?

Well, Dan Sawyer thinks so.

Sawyer, a 39-year-old graphics designer, is one-half of the brain trust behind D.C. Sluggers, a start-up Denver company that is offering political junkies and apolitical collectors alike the chance to flip cards as often as politicians flip-flop on issues by collecting 33 cards that are modeled on the ones that serve as paeans to baseball players.

Only in this case, the beaming photo, biographical data and career highlights belong to major league pols. Oh yeah - and there's no bubble gum.

Two years in making

"The idea just sort of came to us in the fall of 2006, I guess," says Sawyer, alluding to his silent partner, a childhood buddy who prefers anonymity because he wants to keep his moonlighting separate from his day job. It took the two men two years and "less than $10,000" to bring their idea to fruition, but now that it's here, they hope it sticks around.

Although Sawyer doesn't necessarily expect D.C. Sluggers to achieve Fortune 500 proportions, his secret dream is that the cards will be purchased, then autographed by, say Barack Obama, John McCain or Sarah Palin and "I'll see them selling on eBay. That'd be great."

But maybe unlikely, too.

Sure, there may be people out there who want to know that Joseph Biden's middle name is Robinette; or John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone; or Barack Obama won a 2006 Grammy for Best Spoken World Album; or Sarah Palin played the flute in winning the 1984 Miss Wasilla Pageant; or Hillary Clinton once worked her way across Alaska washing dishes and sliming salmon.

And they may be willing to pay up to $9.99 for a full set of 33 cards, or $4.99 for a pack of six, according to the company Web site.

Lacking nostalgia factor

But any long-term success of political trading cards is a "long shot." At least if you ask Bill Vizas, local doyen of sports memorabilia, who's been operating Bill's Sports Collectibles for 27 years.

"I don't want to put a damper on their parade, but I kind of doubt they'll have much of a future," says Vizas

The problem is, "People care more about athletes than politicians. It's sad, but I bet more people know who the quarterback of the Broncos is than who the governor of the state is."

On top of that, baseball trading cards "have more of the nostalgia factor. People can remember being 10 years old and rooting for their 'hero.' Who cares about what's going on in Washington when they're 10 years old?"

While Sawyer can relate to the nostalgia thing - he remembers his prized card was of his hero, New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson - he hopes Vizas is wrong about the staying power of D.C. Sluggers.

Even if, as Vizas recalls, there have been other political trading cards, Sawyer still hopes to create "some sort of need" among collectors. He's already started a modest marketing campaign to attract the attention of memorabilia shops in Colorado and the nation, and is buoyed by the fact that Bosco's in Alaska recently sprang for 1,000 Palin cards. Speaking of Palin, Sawyer says he's lucky it's "not too hard" to quickly add a rising star - or drop a fading one - from his team. For instance, it only took a week to add Palin - and probably less than that to cut Ron Paul.

Might aim for each state

Someday, Sawyer hopes to print a pack of cards for each state - include the governor, senators, representatives, etc. - and sell them to schools as "an educational product."

Not that D.C. Sluggers haven't already scored a few runs. Before anyone knew who Palin was, Sawyer sold a "couple of thousand" cards during the Democratic National Convention. And that doesn't include the woman who traded her two prized tickets to Obama's acceptance speech for a bunch of cards, including a few Obama-Biden tandems in the "commemorative" plexiglas case.

While Sawyer knows his best chance to grow D.C. Sluggers is right now, as the neverending political campaign careens toward a November climax, he insists, "We're not here to make a quick buck like the T-shirt guys. We want our cards to be keepsakes. We want our business to last."

And not - like so many political promises - turn out to be just another house of cards.

D.C. Sluggers

Two Denver residents are offering a different take on player cards: cards featuring politicians and politicos. They got a response during the DNC, and they are hoping it catches on for good.

SOME OPTIONS

* A pack of six political baseball cards. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get. $4.99

* Bipartisan Pack: Democrats and Republicans wrapped up together. $4.99

INDIVIDUAL CARDS

Barack Obama

Presidential Candidate Trading Card

* The one created for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver (be sure to look at his senator card, too).

* Limited edition collectors' card.

* Photo on the front and great Obama information on the back.

* Single card in a clear plastic collectors' case.

* Price: $5.99

John McCain

Presidential Candidate Trading Card

* The card designed for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

* The Senator from Arizona (look at the McCain Senator card, too) looks great on a baseball card.

* This card is also in rare All-Star Packs but you can purchase one by itself in a clear plastic collectors' case.

* Price: $5.99

THE ENTIRE 2008 SET

* Every card from the 2008 political baseball season.

33 cards in all.

* Obama, McCain, Huckabee, Paul, Romney, Clinton, and more. A must-have for all fans of beltway ball.

* Price: $9.99

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