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…

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!

Now that my Alan Trammell player collection is complete, it is time to show of my favorite five cards from the set.

Card #3 – 1989 Bowman

The 1989 Bowman baseball card set did not offer a lot of images like the one that you are seeing above.  As a matter of fact, I would guess that more than 80% of the cards issued in this set featured some kind of posed portrait-style image versus an action one.

So, while not considered rare due to the volume of cards printed when the set was released, I will say that a card from the 1989 Bowman set that featured an image like this is on the rare side.

Kind of like, Medium-Rare.

I have to imagine that watching a manager like Sparky Anderson go through the process of managing a baseball game from the dugout would be an enjoyable experience.

Between the signals, the chatter, the complaining, and the use of multiple pitchers, I would guess that watching him would at times be more entertaining than the game itself.

Luckily, in 1985, Fleer gave us a small glimpse of what that would be like.

Have a look:

In today’s sport, we get a lot more activity: pre-game interviews, mid-game interviews, and post-game interviews.

I wonder how a manager like Sparky Anderson would feel about stuff like this??  My guess is that it is not something he would be agreeable to…

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’.

*

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!!

For the last two weeks we have discussed rookie baseball cards that were issued during the 1970′s.  And we will get back to that next week for another episode of ‘Million Dollar Question’. 

But today, being that it is Lou Brock’s birthday, I have something to ask that is a bit more timely to today’s celebration.

As many of you know, Lou Brock started his major league baseball career as a member of the Chicago Cubs.  This fact may be one that the casual baseball fan does not know, but I guarantee you that every Cubs fan knows this.  And hates it too!

In Chicago, Lou Brock is commonly known as ‘The One That Got Away’.

So, that is what tonight’s ‘Million Dollar Question’ is all about - ‘Who Is The One That Got Away’???

And for me, this one is very easy.  As a Marlins fan for 20+ seasons, I have seen the team dump talent often.  And while some moves were positive moves for the club in efforts to either move poorly performing players or dump salary, there is one move that still burns.

The player??   Miguel Cabrera!!

One of the most talented players of the last quarter century, and the most talented hitter in today’s game, this move crippled the franchise and is one that the team still suffers from making six seasons ago and the team has still not recovered.  The worst part of the trade??  None of the pieces that the Marlins received (Maybin, Miller, Badenhop) in return for Cabrera did anything memorable for ‘The Fish’.

So, now I pose the question to you – ‘Who Is The One That Got Away’???

This is going to be good…

It is not his fault, not by any stretch, but Lou Brock’s rookie card is pretty bad.

Have a look:

As much as I like the 1962 Topps design, there is no escaping the horrible photo that accompanies Brock’s debut baseball card. It is awful!!

Still, I would love to own one. And yes, I would even take one of the many reprints that have been issued over the last decade+.

I try to collect all of the autographs of my favorite baseball legends. And while it will be virtually impossible to get them all, I can have the dream.

Lou Brock offers up a very clean and textbook signature. Extremely easy to read, and identify, there is no mistaking Brock’s signature for another…

Here are a few examples:

Photos:

Cards:

A here is my signed baseball:

I received this ball for Father’s Day a few years ago.  It ia a great addtion to my collection of balls of Cardinals legends. 

Today, in my collection, it rests with my Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Ozzie Smith signed baseballs.  Not a bad ‘Fab Four’ right there!!!

Lou Brock was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. In his first year of eligibility, Brock captured 315 of the 395 votes cast, good for a 79.7% clip.

His plaque at Cooperstown reads: “Baseball’s all-time leader in stolen bases with 938. Set major league record by stealing over 50 bases 12 times and NL record with 118 steals in 1974. Led NL in stolen bases 8 times. Collected 3,023 hits during 19 year career and holds world series record .391 batting average in 21 post-season games”.