Bench Warmer International

Bench Warmer International was the first Fact|date=February 2007 trading card company to put beautiful girls on collector cards. Their motto is "Trading Cards Never Looked So Good". Some of the first models included Baywatch beauties Cory Givens and Traci Bingham. They would usually be posed in swimsuits wearing a baseball glove or football helmet.

Founded in 1992, Bench Warmer International, Inc. is the creation of Brian Wallos.

Most series typically consist of 100 cards. These series traditionally include 60 different model cards, complete with "stats" and biographical information on each model, "Replay" cards, "Double Play" cards, "Series 2 Preview" cards and checklist cards for the serious collector.

Insert cards tend to feature Authentic Bikini Swatch Cards cards with a piece of a bikini worn by Bench Warmer celebrities. To increase collectibility, 25 cards are signed by each celebrity. Other inserts include 20 different autographed cards; 12 "All American Chromium" cards; eight "Hottie Chromium" cards; and eight 5" x 7" "Jumbo" cards.

Celebrity Connection

A key element for the popularity and identification brand is the celebrity element. Over the years, models who have appeared on the wrappers and boxes throughout the years have included Jaime Bergman, Brande Roderick, Nikki Schieler and Victoria Silvstedt and Valentina. In looking to capitalize on the popularity of inserts commonly found in sports cards (for example, autographed and jersey cards), Benchwarmer would release their own insert cards featuring bikini swatches and autographs.

The models who have appeared on the Benchwarmer cards themselves have been a veritable who's who of Playboy models and future WWE Divas including Christy Hemme and Candice Michelle.
TNA Knockouts have recently been seen in the 2008 Signature Series set and they include Traci Brooks, Gail Kim, and Christy Hemme.

Cindy Margolis Auction

An e-Bay auction featuring a "Bikini Swatch Card" autographed by Cindy Margolis netted $335 in an auction on eBay.com.Fact|date=April 2008 The card was numbered #22 out of only 25 autographed. It was sold in a 25-bid auction that began at $5 and climbed all the way to $335. In addition to being a signed and numbered limited edition, the "Swatch" card features a piece of a bathing suit that was actually worn by Margolis, known as the web's "Most Downloaded Woman."Fact|date=April 2008

Appearances by Playmates

* Katie Lohmann
* Jaime Bergman
* Lauren Michelle Hill
* Tina Marie Jordan
* Brande Roderick
* Nikki Schieler
* Victoria Silvstedt
* Tiffany Taylor

References

* [http://www.benchwarmer.com/ Bench Warmer Official Web Site]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_Dec_19/ai_95622911]