I Have Completed My 2012 Topps Archives ‘Cloth Stickers’ Set And It Looks G-R-E-A-T!!!! Check it out!!!

I Have Completed My 2012 Topps Archives ‘Cloth Stickers’ Set And It Looks G-R-E-A-T!!!!  Check it out!!!

As we rapidly approach the release of the new 2013 Topps Archives set, I am very excited to announce that I have completed one of the two subsets from last year’s set that I had been working on - ’77 Cloth Stickers.

I decided to build this set just a few months ago, but thanks to some great trades and donations plus a few card show purchases, I was able to wrap this one up rather quickly.

The set features a solid mix of both vintage and current ball players, and Topps did a great job of staying true to the original design from the ’77 set.  I especially like that Topps chose age-appropriate images of the legends in the set as many of them could have been from 1977.

Here is a look at the complete set:

The set looks really, really nice.  And I am strongly considering putting this one in an album versus leaving them in penny sleeves and top loaders.  I think that showcasing the set in this manner will do the set a lot more justice this way.

I cannot wait to see what surprises the 2013 Archives set may bring!!!

Derek Jeter 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Hometown Heroes’

Derek Jeter 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Hometown Heroes’

When I found this card, I decided to take my knowledge of Kalamazoo, Michigan to the next level.

So, without further ado, here are the ‘Top Five’ things I learned:

5 – The Alligator Sanctuary
4 – Home to the Gilmore Car Museum – The Nations’s Premier Automotive History Destination
3 – Home to four casinos
2 – Caruso’s Candy Kitchen – your source for homemade candies and chocolates with an operating soda fountain
1 – Home to Yankees’ Derek Jeter!!!

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #25 – 1992 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #25 – 1992 Topps Design

One of my 2013 collecting goals was to complete the 1999 Topps Nolan Ryan Commemorative baseball card set. The set features a re-print of each of Ryan’s base cards issued by Topps from his rookie season to his final season.

This is the 25th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1992 Topps baseball card:

As for Ryan’s 1992 baseball season, Ryan was still chugging away at the age of 45.  He started 27 games for the Rangers and compiled a 5-9 record.  He still had the skill and velocity to strike out batters as he racked up 157 K’s in 157 innings of work, good for a 9.0 K:9 innings ratio!!!

 

Vince Coleman 1991 Upper Deck – Props To UD On This One!!!

Vince Coleman 1991 Upper Deck

Vince Coleman had wheels, and I am sure that he was able to cover a lot more ground than the average outfielder from his era.

Did that translate into Gold Glove defensive performance?  Not exactly.

But, I will give credit to Upper Deck for providing us with a card that shows another way that Coleman used his speed on the baseball diamond.

Thanks UD!!!

Did You Know…

Only two brothers have hit home runs in the same World Series Game.  During the 1964 World Series, with the Yankees and Cardinals battling for the championship, brothers Clete and Ken Boyer each launched home runs.

Players & Picks For 30-Year Old Cardboard’s “HR Derby”

Players & Picks For 30-Year Old Cardboard’s “HR Derby”

Alright Guys, you’ve all made your selections. Now the only thing left to do is sit back and watch the greatest exhibition in sports tonight!

Here is a snapshot of the players in the contest and the All-Stars representing them:

Player	# Of HRs
justin	12
pat weber	14
matt w	16
q	23
jeff b	25
jared willden	27
john h	27 (out)
madding	28
ethan p	29
ag	30
sanjosefuji	31
rob	32
irondequoit36	33
superduperman99	34
john (cards)	35
tom s	36
victor	43

*

Enjoy the game everyone – I will have a post announcing the winner of the contest tomorrow morning!!!

And don’t forget that this is the prize you’re all fighting for:

See you tomorrow.

‘Million Dollar Question’ – If You Could Add One Element To The 2013 Topps Archives Release, What Would It Be??

‘Million Dollar Question’ – If You Could Add One Element To The 2013 Topps Archives Release, What Would It Be??

One of Topps’ most popular brands, Archives, is set to be released next week on Wednesday, the 29th.

From what I can recall when the set came back in 2012 after a short vacation from the hobby, the set was highly regarded due to its use of former, popular card designs and it’s on-card autographs.

For me, Archives was one of my ‘Top Two’ sets of last year, with Gypsy Queen being the other.

It is just a matter of time before the cards start appearing on Ebay, and I personally cannot wait to start going after the ones that interest me the most.

And while I have yet to see a finalized checklist at this point, the previews look great!!  I am excited enough about the cards that make up the set to know that I may have to scoop up a few retail blasters to help quench my desire to rip through a box or two.

When I think about the Archives brand and what it represents, I am immediately taken back to my youth as a collector.  And since Archives always takes chunks of ideas from other Topps releases and re-issues them with a modern twist, I thought that it would make for an interesting topic, a ‘Million Dollar Question’, if you will….

So, tonight my question is this – If You Could Add One Element To The 2013 Topps Archives Release, What Would It Be??  Of all of the great things that got you hooked on collecting baseball cards as a kid, what specific thing would you like to see brought back and become a part of the 2013 Topps Archives set?

My answer did not take long.

2013 marks the 30-year anniversary of the 1983 Topps baseball card set, a classic among collectors.  And in that 1983 set, there was a subset that remains my favorite today – ‘Super Veterans’.

And I want it back!!!!

Please Topps, please tell me that this subset is in the 2013 Archives release and that you have done a great job of keeping this secret before the cards hit the streets.  Please!?!?

What about you?  If you could add one element to the 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set what would it be??

I can’t wait to hear your answers!!!

Andre Dawson 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

Andre Dawson 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

Last week I realized that I had not been putting in enough effort to reel in all of the Andre Dawson cards from this year’s Gypsy Queen release.

So, I quickly changed that and started making my way towards completing the set.

Here is Dawson’s mini base card from the set.

I still have the colored parallels to go – AND I WILL GET THEM!!!

Stay tuned.

Rollie Fingers 1974 Topps Baseball Card

Rollie Fingers 1974 Topps Baseball Card

It has been roughly six weeks since I last featured a baseball card of Rollie Fingers on the blog.

It is not because I do not want to, it is because my at-home supply of cards that feature Mr. Fingers has been exhausted.

I am getting very close to completing the collection I am building of Fingers that honors his fantastic career.

I am left chasing a few of his early-issue cards from the 1970′s.  And the chase is rather fun too.

My most recent purchase has landed me his base card from the 1974 Topps set.

Check it out:

I am just a few cards from the finish line – but they are the tougher ones.

Wish me luck as I continue on this journey!!

Tom Seaver 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic – Needs Just A Tad Of Red In It…

Tom Seaver 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic – Needs Just A Tad Of Red In It…

Sometimes, and it does not happen that often, there comes a card in which it can go from a ‘Strong B’ to a ‘Super-Strong A’ with just one slight but very powerful change.

And this card of Tom Seaver from the 2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot set fits into that group.

Imagine this card with Red coloring on Seaver’s cap, uniform, and stirrups.

It would go from ‘B’ to ‘A’ very rapidly!!!