Freaky Friday

One basketball great playing baseball, and one baseball great playing basketball. Like the post from yesterday, each of the cards shown in this post were added to eBay orders after finding the card I was actually looking for. 

 

Moving on to a real 2-Sport star, Bo Jackson! His 1990 Score card is getting a lot of hobby buzz lately, which shows Bo wearing shoulder pads and holding a bat. This "AAMER Sports" oddball is even better if you ask me. It even comes with a bootleg Rookie Cup!

The card back features his career stats in both sports so far. you could see he was just getting started in both with a great deal of potential still to come if not for his hip injury.

A few bootleg Kirbys and a Pizza Rolls Vikings card - This image looks like a Renaissance painting!

Here's the back of the Puckett cards, in all their non-descript glory. 

Here's a Barry Larkin rookie card from the folks at The Press Box.

Do you like to collect oddball cards, or do you prefer to stick to major brands?

Thanks for reading!

Cards on Cards with Stickers

Kerry from Cards on Cards emailed me to let me know he had some cards to send me in PWE, little did I know there would be stickers, too!

Just in case you thought I only collect Twins, here's Barry Bonds, whose 2001 season could have been the combined production of two identical players. 

Another sticker! And I tried to find these Rosies on TCDB, but I couldn't place them. There's Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic, Donruss Holo... But these are 2019 Donruss Optic Prizms, which I can't seem to find an entry for... I was going to start being really vigilant about logging my cards into TCDB as soon as I acquire them, but I've already fallen behind.

Oh well, whatever they are, they are awesome. Thanks Kerry!

A Patch Works Trade

Trevor from Bump and Run sent over a stack of cards in a PWE recently, and here they are!

I will never get tired of Willians Astudillo's big grin.

Here's the source of that labored pun of the post title this time - I do enjoy collecting cards that feature commemorative patches.

Duda had the 50th anniversary patch, Brett has the 25th anniversary patch on this card!

It's Brett's sunset card. Nice! He was good at baseball.

Finally, here is a trio of player collection cards - Lofton in the media scrum is a great photo!

Thanks for the cards Trevor, much appreciated!

Hats Off To The Card Show!

In a collecting world that pushed more and more towards online sales, I am grateful for the Local Card Shop and Local Card Shows. I am very fortunate to live in a region that has a number of both shops and shows. The Online card buying experience has been lacking lately, whether it's getting damaged cards from eBay, empty unsealed envelopes from Topps NOW, and the recent COMC debacle (they have still not provided an update about my missing order from December 2nd...). But going to a card show, with all the sights sounds and smells can remind me what drew me back into the hobby six years ago.

File these under "just in case." Graterol's status was still up in the air in the Red Sox trade on Saturday morning. By the time I got home, the deal was dead, and I was looking forward to seeing him in the Twins bullpen in 2020. By the time I made it into work, everything was back on again, with a little twist.

On "Twins Twitter" there was a lot of chatter about trading away Eddie Rosario for pitching. Even if I thought that was a good idea, let me remind everyone that there are guys still available in free agency that can duplicate Rosie's numbers. But more importantly, he's awesome and you can't have him! This auto is numbered to 50 copies.

Switching gears, I am always up for adding new Barry Sanders cards to my collection. I'm still very hesitantly wading into vintage basketball. The trouble is that I don't know the players from 70s ABA/NBA the way that MLB players from that era are so much more recognizable. Does anyone know of some good books about the ABA?

The Timberwolves were never better than during the time Sam Cassell was on the roster. Obviously it was Kevin Garnett's team, but the addition of Cassell and Latrell Sprewell made the team a championship contender for the first (and only) time.

I don't really collect football at all, but my goodness, how could I not add this card to my collection?

Jim was good at football.

I found a box of O-Pee-Chee! I was hoping to snag a 1972 Gil Hodges, but these were a nice surprise and consolation prize.

Sometimes I do these things on purpose - adding a '63 and a '73 of the same player at a show. Other times, I don't realize until I'm organizing the cards to scan them.

I went after some newer stuff as well. The image variation on the Scherzer card is stupid, but I tend to like stupid.

Even after losing Graterol, I am still excited for the future roster of the Minnesota Twins. Arraez has arrived, and 2019 First rounder Keoni Cavaco could be a short stop away from the big leagues.

Last but not least I went outside my usual comfort zone to add this 1990s insert of Barry Bonds. It is very shiny.

One Week Til Cooperstown

The Baseball Hall of Fame announces its 2020 Class one week from today. Let's take a look at the ballot. Eric Chavez is appearing for the first time this year. Injuries wrecked an otherwise promising career.

Carlos Peña is a talented analyst on MLB Network and a champion of baseball's sabermetric community. His Rays tenure included a HR title, another season with a Silver Slugger, another with a Gold Glove, and yet another with an All-Star appearance.

The 2020 ballot features plenty of familiar faces for the first time, and it is an honor just being nominated.

Some guys, like Konerko, were the face of a franchise, or made significant contributions for multiple teams. They might not be Hall of Famers, but certainly it is fun to make a case for them, or at least discuss their careers again.

Alfonso Soriano passed that 400 HR milestone, and started out burning up the record books. He was a 40/40 man in Washington, and had over 2,000 career hits.

Rolen and Jones had an injury history, Vizquel was all glove / no hit for a long portion of his career, and Billy Wagner was a closer just outside the inner ring of all-time-greats. All have compelling cases for induction, but so far have been on the outside looking in.

Some players may have the numbers, but have a cloud of real or perceived questions surrounding their integrity. There is no denying their talent, but PED use, even the suspicion of it, could derail their campaigns.

Others would present cases so strong that they might even override the proven fact of PED use.

Whether you hate him or really hate him, Curt Schilling seems to be gaining real momentum towards election. His post season stats are much more favorable than his Twitter feed. Todd Helton and Larry Walker may have been beneficiaries of the "Coors Effect," but they put up numbers that no one else could, even in the thin air. 

The only question would be whether or not Jeter would be a unanimous selection or not. He might be overrated, but he was still one of the best hitting shortstops of all time. There's no question about his leadership, or toughness, or any other intangible a New York sportswriter could come up with.

I'm guessing Jeter (and Ted Simmons) will be joined by Larry Walker, Curt Schilling, and maaaaybe Bonds and Clemens.

How about you? Who do you think will get the call next Tuesday?

1993 Topps Traded Set

Found a nice deal on a sealed 1993 Topps Traded Set, so today I am sharing some of the highlights with you! Mike Piazza was already an established star when this set was issued, even though he was still a rookie.

The 1993 Topps Set featured a 2nd player photo on the back, a flourish they hadn't tried in a long long time. But the pressure was on to keep up with Johnny Fleer and Joey Donruss and uh, Janey Upper Deck, so that means photos on both sides! I don't know if this a common issue with the traded set, or a symptom of being in a sealed box for so many years, but the ink on the backs looks a little runny to me.

Also - what's the deal? For the first time, the traded set was no longer in alphabetical order. Also ALSO, " IT - 132T ?" I? Weird.

Piazza was one of 6 Hall of Fame players in the set (with 2 or 3 more possibly to add later?). Boggs defected from Boston to the Yankees, where he would finally win a World Series, and get to ride a NYC Police horse after the clinching game. Andre Dawson went from the Cubs to Beantown, now towards the end of his magnificent career. Greg Maddux and Paul Molitor were thinking championship as well, and both would be rewarded by the end of their tenures with their new teams.

Now that Bowman has returned and the Prospect Machine was in full motion, finding quality rookies in the traded set was becoming more rare. The Team USA issue provided opportunities to add more young players to the set, and like Nomar in 1992, another Freshman made a splash in the new traded set.

The Team USA backs are a little different, so I figured I'd share those, too. Todd was quite the athlete!

The Twins representatives had nearly 20 seasons combined in the big leagues by the time the set came out - granted, they were all from Hall of Fame OF/1B/DH Dave Winfield. Todd Walker technically wasn't with the Twins organization yet, but he'd be drafted in the first round in 1994 by the Twins. David McCarty and Pat Meares were expected to take the reigns in the infield for Greg Gagne and Kent Hrbek. Meares ultimately did become the team's everyday SS, and McCarty had flashes of brilliance, but never really became the player to match the potential.

This group of guys might have a Hall of Famer or 3 in it, you can argue about which 3 they might be. Bonds had card #1T honors, all of these guys became key pieces of their team's success for the rest of the 1990s.

Lastly, here are a couple of my favorite photos from the set, and two guys that were appearing in familiar uniforms. The traded sets can be light on action and personality, but Boomer Wells listening to the national anthem and Erik Pappas sporting some gnarly hat hair. The Big Cat had a miserable 1993 in Saint Louis, playing in fewer than 100 games, and hitting just 10 homers. But Colorado would prove that he still had a few of those 9 lives remaining, and in fact would have the best years of his career. Kirk Gibson was returning to Detroit where he found his early post season success.

Loaded With Potential - The 1986 Topps Traded Set

Here it is! In my opinion, the 1986 Topps Traded set is the best of the cardboard box sets. Maybe not in monetary value, or design prowess, but to me this is the set with the most excitement! The rookie class in the set is second to none, and any set with myth/man/legend Bob Walk is a keeper.

The Hall of Famers in the set are of the grizzled veteran variety, though when the set came out, I'm sure most baseball fans and analysts would be shocked that these were the only three guys. Niekro was still tossing his knuckleball, Seaver was maybe not as Terrific as he once was, but still an excellent veteran pitcher. Dick Williams is a Hall of Famer for his managerial career, which included the "Impossible Dream" Red Sox of 1967, 2 World Series Titles in Oakland, turning the Expos from and expansion team to a playoff contender, and taking the Padres to their first World Series in 1984.

On to the Rookies! Bonds may still be joining the three Hall of Famers someday, he is the All-Time leader in Home Runs, Walks, Intentional Walks, and won 2 batting titles, 7 MVPs, went to 14 All-Star games, 8 Gold Gloves, and 12 Silver Sluggers. Bobby Bonilla will get his last paycheck from the Mets in 2035, part of a unique contract structure that is worth reading about. Jose Canseco, of course has been covered at length on this blog and others. The Oakland great probably could have been in the Hall as well if not for the Steroid controversy swirling around him. Bo Jackson may have been the most hyped of all. A Football Superstar and Baseball prodigy, Bo was an athlete without a peer in 1986.

He played just 53 minor league games before being called up to the Royals, and would only return for injury rehab stints in later years. Probably no other player in the 80s was filled with so much potential for greatness, and the hip injury he sustained as a Raiders running back robbed him and fans of a promising baseball career. Jackson has no regrets, however, and his comeback in Chicago and with Angels proved just how remarkable his determination and strength was.

This set was so loaded with rookies, there's a whole crop of just 1st basemen / future 1st basemen!

This post doesn't even include guys like Todd Worrell, Milt Thompson, Pete Incaviglia, Dan Plesac, who had solid MLB careers.

Just one Twins player in the set, so you know I'm not playing favorites - they'll get the star treatment in next week's post on the next year's traded set. Pastore was a long time Cincinnati Reds pitcher, joining the team in 1979. '86 was his final season in the big leagues.

Some of my favorite pictures from the set. Technically, that's a Jim Leyland rookie card, as the Pirates were his first managing gig. I just heard a fun anecdote about Franklin Stubbs on an MLB Network clip. Mark DeRosa was talking about Michael Brantley, and mentioned that his swing reminded him of Garrett Anderson, very smooth and fluid mechanics. DeRosa went on to say one of his minor league hitting instructors was Franklin "Ticket" Stubbs, and that Stubbs told DeRosa that he needed to have a love song playing in his head at the plate, so his body could move to the right rhythm to hit.

Oh No! Poor Claudell has the dreaded "airbrushed pinstripes" treatment from Topps. He'd go on to have some of the best seasons of his career in the Bronx, though, so he got the last laugh.