1984 Topps – 1983 Highlights With Johnny Bench, Gaylord Perry, And Carl Yastrzemski

1984 Topps – 1983 Highlights With Johnny Bench, Gaylord Perry, And Carl Yastrzemski

I already owned this baseball card, but I needed a second one. 

The first time I scooped this one up it was because I was building the 1984 Topps Highlights set.

And since I am a dedicated, and sometimes obsessive collector, I cannot pull from one set to add to another.

So, I bought another one.

Here it is:

This one will rest comfortably within my Johnny Bench collection.

YES.

Johnny Bench 2001 Topps Archives

Johnny Bench 2001 Topps Archives

I am a big, big fan of the 1983 Topps baseball card set.  Hell, I don’t know too many people who don’t cherish this issue from 1983.

So, when a modern card is issued using the same design as that one that was created almost thirty years ago, I always take a second glance.

And if during that second glance I see a player that I like, or collect, I almost always go after it.

And that is how this card of Johnny Bench from the 2001 Topps Archives set landed in my collection.

And I am glad that it did.  Very glad, indeed!

Johnny Bench 1982 Donruss Diamond Kings

Johnny Bench 1982 Donruss Diamond Kings

While some of the Diamond Kings baseball cards issued by Donruss leave me wanting to grab a ‘barf-bag’, there are some (few) that I actually like.

And this is one of them – Hell, I would go even further and say that this Diamond Kings baseball card of Johnny Bench from the 1982 Donruss set is the best one of that year’s release!!!

Johnny Bench 1984 Fleer

Johnny Bench 1984 Fleer

Very far from spectacular, this card from the 1984 Fleer baseball card set does Johnny Bench no justice at all.

And while Bench did not make an appearance during the 1984 baseball season, it amazes me that they would select a picture like this for their set when the guy still offered us quite a bit to watch and enjoy on the ball field during the 1983 season.

Bench’s numbers from the 1983 baseball season include:  79 hits, 15 doubles, 12 home runs, 54 RBI, and 32 runs scored.  And he had 58 putouts at catcher too!

So, instead of giving us one more glimpse of the great Johnny Bench, we get this: 

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck – ‘The National Pastime’

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck – ‘The National Pastime’

I really, really like the theme of this baseball card set, I just wish that the execution of the design was more to my liking…

Johnny Bench is often mentioned as being the greatest catcher in major league history, and he may very well be.  So, when honoring ‘The National Pastime’ with a card that features one of its greatest players of all-time, I guess I just want more.

Here is the card:

If you had to rank the greatest catchers of all-time, how would that list look???

I know for a fact that my top two wound be Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra.  Selecting the #1 player out of those two would be tough, but I think Berra gets the nod for his lengthier consistency, and postseason success.

The #3 spot goes to Mike LaValliere – LMAO!!! 

Baseball Card Show Purchase #12 – Pair Of Two 1971 Topps League Leaders Cards Starring Johnny Bench

Baseball Card Show Purchase #12 – Pair Of Two 1971 Topps League Leaders Cards Starring Johnny Bench

This was by far the BEST $1.00 I spent at the card show.  Yes, I paid $1.00 for both of these cards.

And while I already owned each of these for both my Billy Williams and Tony Perez collections, these two fill voids in my Johnny Bench collection!!!

And they are both in Excellent condition.

Have a look:

I am a big fan of League Leader baseball cards – I find them to be a very nice way to celebrate seasons that have passed while also paying homage to some incredible feats.

These three guys really dominated the NL in 1971!!!

Johnny Bench 1981 Donruss

Johnny Bench 1981 Donruss

This baseball card, from Donruss’ debut issue in 1981, features a fantastic action photo of Hall of Famer Johnny Bench.

This kind of photo is right up this collector’s alley!!!

But, the background of the photo makes the card so much darker that it really takes away from what could have been the best card of the 1981 set.

Have a look:

I really wish that Donruss had the Kodak Easyshare Software back in ’81 – this card would have been a hit!!!

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck Decades – Award Winners – 1972 NL MVP

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck Decades – Award Winners – 1972 NL MVP

Out of sheer respect for Mr. Bench, I will not call this card a ‘FAIL’.

It is not his fault that his likeness was captured to awkwardly.  I don’t really know what it is – the odd angle, the strange stance, but something just feels odd about this card…

The trophy looks great though, huh??

Johnny Bench 2011 Topps Marquee – Help Me Learn More About This Photo!!!!

Johnny Bench 2011 Topps Marquee - Help Me Learn More About This Photo!!!!

I have been scooping up some great modern-era cards of Johnny Bench over the last few months.

And this card, my newest find, certainly ranks near the top of that list.

The card is from the 2011 Topps Marquee set.

And it is a beauty.  Have a look:

The great thing about this card is that you know that there is some history behind the photo that was used.

Because the A’s and Reds only had a chance to meet in the World Series back in the 1970′s, we can easily say that the photo was taken during the Fall Classic.

And since Bench and his Reds teammates only played in one World Series match-up against the Oakland A’s, we also know that this photo was taken in 1972.

If you look closely at the background of the picture, you can see that the dugout is from the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.  That means that this photo was taken during either Game 3,4, or 5 from the 1972 World Series.

Can anyone out there get me any closer to when this photo was shot??  Game 3, 4, or 5?  What inning? 

Let’s see what you can come up with!!

Thanks!

Johnny Bench 1981 Topps Record Breakers

Johnny Bench 1981 Topps Record Breakers

This card of Johnny Bench comes from the 1981 Topps baseball card set, and more specifically the part of the set that was tagged as ‘Record Breakers’.

The card honors Bench for becoming the all-time leader for home runs hit in a career by a catcher.

From the back of the card – Cincinnati, Ohio, October 5, 1980.  Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench has finished the season as the all-time leading slugger among backstops.  Johnny belted 23 round-trippers while catching in 1980, giving him a lifetime total of 323 4-baggers while wearing the ‘tools of ignorance’.  The former major league record for home runs by a catcher was 313 held by Hall of Famer, Yogi Berra.

Good stuff!