Happy Birthday Tony Perez!!!

Happy Birthday Tony Perez!!!

Tony Perez turns 71 years old today.

And I have to say that after seeing Mr. Perez in person several times over the last few years, he looks incredible for his age!!!

Tony Perez was a key element to the success of the Cincinnati Reds’ during the 1970′s. A veteran of 23 major league seasons, Perez spent 16 of those years with the Reds. He was a 7-time All-star, and a perennial candidate for the league’s MVP award during his prime.

Perez’s career numbers are solid. A lifetime .279 hitter, Perez collected 2,732 hits during his playing days. And while never classified as a power hitter, Perez crushed 505 doubles and 379 home runs while also amassing 1,652 RBI.

A 2-time World Series champion, and current member of the Florida Marlins management team, Tony Perez is a favorite at ’30-YOC’.

Happy Birthday Mr. Perez!!!

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives – 1965 Topps Design

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives – 1965 Topps Design

I have not added a vintage baseball card that features Hall of Famer Tony Perez to my collection since August.

I need to change that.

It is time to go shopping.

In the meantime, enjoy this card from the 2001 Topps Archives set.  It is not his rookie card, but it is the next best thing.

Enjoy.

1973 Topps ’72 World Series Highlights ‘Reds Win Squeaker’ Starring Tony Perez

1973 Topps ’72 World Series Highlights ‘Reds Win Squeaker’ Starring Tony Perez

While this my not classify as an official Tony Perez baseball card, when I was building my checklist I found it and knew that I would want it for this PC.

Have a look:

I love the action that the card brings.

I love that Tony Perez is scoring the winning run for the Reds.

And I really love both the Oakland Athletics dynasty of the early 1970s and the Cincinnati Reds dynasty of the mid-1970′s.

Call this card a ‘passing the torch’ card.

Call it mine, too!!

Happy Birthday Tony Perez!!!

Happy Birthday Tony Perez!!!

Tony Perez turns 70 years old today.

And I have to say that after seeing Mr. Perez in person several times over the last few years, he looks incredible for his age!!!

Tony Perez was a key element to the success of the Cincinnati Reds’ during the 1970′s.  A veteran of 23 major league seasons, Perez spent 16 of those years with the Reds.  He was a 7-time All-star, and a perennial candidate for the league’s MVP award during his prime.

Perez’s career numbers are solid.  A lifetime .279 hitter, Perez collected 2,732 hits during his playing days.  And while never classified as a power hitter, Perez crushed 505 doubles and 379 home runs while also amassing 1,652 RBI.

A 2-time World Series champion, and current member of the Florida Marlins management team, Tony Perez is a favorite at ’30-YOC’.

Happy Birthday Mr. Perez!!!

Baseball Card Show Purchase #6 – Tony Perez 2002 Topps Manager Card

Baseball Card Show Purchase #6 – Tony Perez 2002 Topps Manager Card

I doubt that many people outside of Cincinnati and Miami recall that Tony Perez was once the manager of the Florida Marlins.

Tony Perez, the Hall of Famer??

Yes, that Tony Perez.

He was the skipper of the club in 2001.  And he led the squad to a 54-60 record.

This card is from the 2002 Topps base set, and there was no way that I was not going to bring it home… 

Tony Perez 1971 Topps League Leaders w/Johnny Bench & Billy Williams

Tony Perez 1971 Topps League Leaders w/Johnny Bench & Billy Williams

Man, putting together this collection of baseball cards that honors Tony Perez’s Hall of Fame career has been a slow going…

Of the few cards that I need to complete this set, many of them come with a hefty price tag – and I am simply not yet ready to take the plunge.

I did scoop this card from the 1971 Topps set.  The card celebrates the 1970 National League Home Run leaders from the 1970 baseball season, and Perez was among the leaders.

I owned this exact card prior to nabbing this one.  It is part of my Billy Williams collection (still in progress too).  And now that I have officially stated that I am collecting Johnny Bench as well, it seems like card number three will also have to find a way into my collection…

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives

It seems as if Topps honored their Record Breakers cards in their new Archives set by simply re-issuing the same exact card, just in a more modern fashion (thicker cardstock, glossier finish).

And I am good with that – especially when the card looks like this:

This card of Tony Perez is an exact replica of his card from the 1986 Topps set.

The card honors Perez as being the oldest player in major league history to hit a Grand Slam.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the new record holder is Julio Franco, who in 2005 hit a Grand Slam at the age of 47.

Baseball Card Show Purchase #5 – Joe Morgan & Tony Perez From The 2003 ‘Legends Of Summer’ Set

Baseball Card Show Purchase #5 – Joe Morgan & Tony Perez From The 2003 ‘Legends Of Summer’ Set

There was no way that these two beauties were not coming home with me – not when each one cost me just $0.33 cents a piece.  Yep, I found both of these cards in a 3-for$1 box!!!

Issued in the 2003 Donruss set tagged as ‘Legends Of Summer’ I had a few of the cards from this set already – Dawson, Palmer, etc.

But, now I can add Joe Morgan and Tony Perez to that list too.

They look great.  But don’t take my word for it, check them out for yourself:

I would love to go after all of the Cincinnati Reds cards from this set that features players from ‘The Big Red Machine’, but without having my buddy Pete Rose in the set, it will feel incomplete…  If I find the Bench card, if there is one, I will certainly grab it though…

Anyways, back to the cards.  Each one is serial numbered to 250.  The Morgan is #176 and the Perez is #171.

Very cool.

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives

Tony Perez 2001 Topps Archives

Tony Perez’s 1986 Topps baseball card is one of my favorites that feature the former member of the ‘Big Red Machine’.

So, when I found out that Topps re-issued the same card in their 2001 Archives set, I had to go after it as well.  And while this card is not officially on my ‘Tony Perez Checklist’ I am thrilled to add it to my Perez collection.

High Five for Eric Davis, High five for me!!!

Tony Perez 2011 Topps Lineage

Tony Perez 2011 Topps Lineage

I am loving the Topps Lineage set.  It’s crisp and clean design looks great, and I have yet to find one that I don’t find really appealing!!

So, what did I do?

Well, I bought a bunch of singles from www.sportlots.com for just eighteen cents a piece – quite a steal if you ask me!!

In total, I picked up 13 singles – all featuring the guys that I like to collect.

Here is Tony Perez’s card from the set:

Looks nice, huh?

I agree.  The colors are vivid and the Red really looks fantastic in both the frame around the pic and then the little accents of Perez’s uniform.

Great card!!!