Attention Orioles Fans, Topps’ 2013 Archives Product May Not Be For You…

Attention Orioles Fans, Topps’ 2013 Archives Product May Not Be For You…

I’m still going through all of the cards that I pulled from the two boxes of 2013 Topps Archives that I busted two weeks ago.

I have a few trades in the works, I have cards that will go to my player collections, and I have cards that will go to the guys that I exchange cards with often.

Overall, I would say that I am pretty happy with the product, but some of the image choices have left me scratching my head – especially when it comes to some of the legends that were included in the set.

Of the poor image selection that I found, no team was more effected than the Baltimore Orioles.  They are all pretty bad if you ask me.

Attention Orioles Fans, Topps’ 2013 Archives Product May Not Be For You…

First, there is the way too zoomed-in image of Cal Ripken in this 1972 Topps card:

Not complimentary at all if you ask me.  And this one is the BEST one I pulled…

Have a look at the Eddie Murray card:

Sure, I love the 1985 Topps design and the Orioles logo is sweet as well.  But this image sucks – I cannot even figure out why the picture was snapped…

And it only gets worse from there…

Here are the four base cards I pulled of guys on the current roster:

YIKES!!!

What the hell is that in the background?  A tarp?  A construction site??  Where aer the palm trees?  Where are the hand-painted outfield signs??  And can somebody please look at the camera??

Jeez!!!  I’m kind of glad that my Marlins only got one card in the set this year…

Derek Jeter 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Sliding Stars’

Derek Jeter 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Sliding Stars’

This is the second card of Derek Jeter that I picked up from the 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen set.  The first card was Jeter’s base card, and this is his card from the ‘Sliding Stars’ subset.

It was nice to see him included in this subset and my guess is that he was added more for his collectibility than his sliding skills.

While many of the players that are a part of this set are known for their immense speed on the base paths, Jeter is no longer as fleet of foot as he once was.  Still, he is an extremely smart base-runner, and the above image that was used for this ‘Sliding Stars’ card looks great!

‘MVP For A Day’ – Contest Players & Their Picks For June 19, 2013

‘MVP For A Day’  – Contest Players & Their Picks For June 19, 2013

Alright, everyone. Wednesday’s baseball action will get under way in a few hours.

Below is a list of the player that have entered the contest as well as the big leaguer that they are hoping becomes the ‘MVP For A Day’.

Player	Pick
mgrlvr	Andrew McCutchen
victor	Garret Jones
jeff b	Freddie Freeman
brian c	Dustin Pedroia
gerad	Carlos Beltran
jason	Pedro Alvarez
matt w	Mike Trout
matt d	Manny Machado
lost collector	Robinson Cano
unclemoe	Jacoby Ellsbury
rog	Buster Posey
shane k	Edwin Encarnacion
tom s	Wil Myers
jared	David Ortiz
irondequoit36	Chris Davis
dj	Jean Segura
matt h	Yasiel Puig
commishbob	Adam Jones
sport card collectors	Miguel Cabrera
ag	Yoenis Cespedes
ron c	Giancarlo Stanton
jeff p	Starlin Castro
travis r	Paul Goldschmidt
ryan	Carlos Gonzalez
john h	Prince Fielder
pat	Yadier Molina
q	Justin Upton
rick	Nick Markakis
thorzul	Nelson Cruz
charley	Carlos Gomez
jacobmrley	David Wright

*

And don’t forget the prize that is up for grabs!!!

Enjoy the games!!! We’ll know who the winner is after today’s action is through!!

Contest Time: ‘MVP For A Day’

Contest Time: ‘MVP For A Day’

OK, time for another fun contest at ’30-YOC’.

This one should be fun. ‘MVP for a Day’ goes like this. You select one player that you feel will be the most valuable player for the day. On Wednesday, the 19th, there are 15 games taking place – you can review the schedule here. Pick the one player that you think will be the most valuable to their team.

Here are the rules:

1. The player must be an offensive player(no pitchers allowed)
2. Once a player is selected, he is off of the boards and cannot be picked again
3. All picks must be submit into the comments section of this post no later than 10:00 PM on Tuesday

Here is how the scores will be tallied:

1. Hits = 5 points each
2. Home Runs = 8 points each
3. RBI = 10 points each
4. Walks = 3 points each
5. Stolen Base = 8 points each
6. Strikeouts = (-5) Points each

So take your time, but not too much time, and review the schedules. And get your picks in so we can choose Wednesday’s ‘MVP For A Day’!!!

And now for the prize…

How does (6) 1987 Topps rack packs sound???

Now study those match-ups and make your selections!!!  I’ll publish a list of all of the players and their picks on Wednesday morning.

Good Luck.

Steve Carlton 2005 Donruss Champions – NICE!!!

Steve Carlton 2005 Donruss Champions – NICE!!!

I’m often amazed by how many baseball card bloggers out there do not like this set of cards.

Of the complaints about the card’s design, I am only on board with one: ‘Too much empty space’.

Have a peek:

Sure, I understand the complaint, and it is a valid one.

But, for me, there is too much positive about the card to dwell on just one factor…

The color scheme of this set is superb as it matches the team color scheme perfectly.  All of the cards that I have encountered from this set also feature action images of the player – and this one of ‘Lefty’ is a nice choice.  Lastly, I really like the row of flags at the top – it kind of reminds me of the top of a stadium that waves the flags of the other teams in the league.

What about you??  Is this one a keeper or a stinker??

Keith Hernandez 1990 Topps

Keith Hernandez 1990 Topps

You know me.  I love cards that feature players in the on-deck circle preparing to go to work.

The Keith Hernandez card from the 1990 Topps set gets the job done!

Have a look:

It looks like ‘Mex’ has grabbed himself one of those pine-tar rags that the players use to add extra grip to the bat handle.

The only way that this card could be better?  If there was a donut on the bat!!

Nolan Ryan 2013 Topps Series One ‘Chasing History’

Nolan Ryan 2013 Topps Series One ‘Chasing History’

While I have no intention, at this time, of going after the ‘Chasing History’ subset from the 2013 Topps Series 1 release, I will admit that the cards are stunning.

I definitely prefer the horizontal action images that Topps chose versus the vertical ones.  And I also think that the left-side border graphics fit better with the horizontal layout.

This is the card of Nolan Ryan from the set:

It looks great, and is a very nice addition to my collection of cards that feature Nolan Ryan.

Great card!  Just not digging the theme of the set…

UPDATE: ’30-YOC Top Ten Lists’ – Top Ten Most Wanted Baseball Cards For The 30-YOC Collection

UPDATE:  ’30-YOC Top Ten Lists’ – Top Ten Most Wanted Baseball Cards For The 30-YOC Collection

With my recent acquisition of the 1968 Topps ‘Bird Belters’ card that features Frank and Brooks Robinson, I thought it would be a good time for me to review how I have progressed on my quest to score the ‘Top Ten Most Wanted Baseball Cards’.

This was originally posted on ’30-YOC’ on 11/12/2012.  I thought it would be fun to look back and see how I have progressed with going after these cards now that we are six months removed from the original launch date.

I will keep the original post in tact and simply add a comment about the status of each in RED.

Enjoy.  And thanks for reading!!!

___________________________________________________________________________

10 – 1984 Topps Don Mattingly rookie card – Got it!!!

9 – 1990 Topps Glossy TV Andre Dawson – Not yet…

8 – 1989 Fleer Billy Ripken ‘F&CK FACE’ card – Got it!!!

7 – 1960 Topps George ‘Sparky’ Anderson – Got It!!

6 – 2001 Topps Fergie Jenkins Certified Autograph Issue – 1966 Design – Got It!!!

5 – 1992 Bowman Mariano Rivera rookie card – Not even close…

4 – 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card – Not yet…

3 – 1991 Donruss Elite Andre Dawson, serial numbered to 10,000 – Yessir!!!

2 – 2008 Upper Deck Heroes Ernie Banks Purple, serial numbered to 25. I have never seen this card, hence the image of Banks’ base card from the set – Still never seen one…

1 – 1968 Topps ‘Bird Bashers’ with Frank Robinson & Brooks Robinson – YES!!!

_________________________________________________________________________

As you can see, I have done fairly well in bringing home some of the cards that I have tagged as ’30-YOC’s Most Wanted’.

Hopefully in time I can grab a few more, though some may be pretty pricey.

And who knows, a new list may be in order too…

Have a great night everyone.  And ‘Thanks For Reading’.

Bryce Harper 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Glove Stories’

Bryce Harper 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Glove Stories’

I know that in the past Topps’ Gypsy Queen sets have featured subsets of cards in which the theme has a defensive presence.

And I have to say that I really like this theme – I enjoy seeing other aspects of the game given attention.  And the 2013 subset ‘Glove Stories’ does just that.

This is the card of Bryce Harper from that set.

What is really fun about these cards is that many of the shots used for these cards had made some type of highlights show on either MLB Network or ESPN over the years.

So, when encountering on of these cards, it kind of takes us back to the exact moment in which we witnessed the play.

NICE!!!!

Derek Jeter 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen

Derek Jeter 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen

Man, I hope that we get to see Jeter on the field again this season.  It was so hard to watch him carried off the field (literally) in the postseason last year with that ankle injury.

I had projected VERY BIG THINGS for Jeter in 2013 – I am hoping that he can pick up right where he left off prior to that injury.

We need more baseball history to be created…