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!!!

 

Fergie Jenkins 2013 Topps Tribute – Base

Fergie Jenkins 2013 Topps Tribute – Base

It is so nice to see that Fergie Jenkins made it into a few 2013 Topps sets so far this year.  It gives me the chance to build up my collection a bit while also showcases him to new collectors that may not know his great history.

This card is from the 2013 Topps Tribute set; it is the base card from the set.

Time for me to start going after the colored parallel versions now.

Stay tuned!!!

‘Million Dollar Question’ – Better Card To Invest In: 1968 Topps Johnny Bench OR Nolan Ryan??

‘Million Dollar Question’ – Better Card To Invest In: 1968 Topps Johnny Bench OR Nolan Ryan??

I am not really one for making large investments in baseball cards.  I have tagged myself as a ‘budget collector’ but I am not naïve enough to say that I would not mind owning a few more ‘valuable’ baseball cards that have the potential to remain valuable in the future regardless of what direction the present hobby takes.

Amazingly, there are a lot of rookie cards of the players that I admired as a kid that can be had relatively inexpensively.  Rookie cards of guys like Wade Boggs, Andre Dawson, Tony Gwynn, Dale Murphy, Eddie Murray, and more can be regularly had for well under twenty dollars if shopped right.

And then there are the guys that are highly coveted but well out of my price range – Reggie Jackson, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, and Rod Carew.

If I had a big stack of disposable cash, I would surely invest in some of these great rookie cards.  They are cards that I have drooled over for more than 25 years and the intrinsic value that they would offer me and my collection would outweigh the hefty price tag.

That leads me to tonight’s Million Dollar Question – Which Card Would Be The Better Card To Invest In: 1968 Topps Johnny Bench OR Nolan Ryan??

Let’s take the dollar impact out of the equation.

Let’s say that you had a gift certificate that was redeemable for either (1) a 1968 Topps Johnny Bench rookie card or (2) a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card.

Which one would you choose?

For me, I don’t think you can go wrong with choosing either of them.  But, since this is a question with two choices, I feel that having to make a choice in either direction is mandatory.

Two Hall of Famers – One great question!!!!

On one hand, with Bench you have arguably the greatest catcher of all-time, a 2-time MVP, a 2-time World Series champion, and a member of the All-Century Team.  With Ryan you have a 300-game winner, the all-time leader in career strikeouts, the major league leader in no-hitters thrown, and a World Series champion.

But whose card would you rather have??

For me, the choice is a lot easier than what I expected it would be.  And you may be a little surprised with my choice…

For as much as I truly value and acknowledge the greatness of Johnny Bench, I would easily choose the Nolan Ryan rookie card.

For me, he is the more historic player, and if you know me and my passion for Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine”, this is tough to admit.  Ryan’s career spanned two generations and for as much as Johnny dominated the sport on both offense and defense, Nolan Ryan offered more noteworthy individual highlights with his 7 no-hitters, 300+ wins, and 5,000+ strikeouts.

If I was to invest in a card of this magnitude, it would have to be in one that tells a bigger, more grand story.  I can see in 10-15 years guys my age sharing stories of watching a specific Nolan Ryan moment or moments, whereas with Bench, I think that might not be the case.

I would choose the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan card!!

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Leaf Limited ‘Limited Legends’ Game-Used Jersey Relic Card – #’d To 31

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Leaf Limited ‘Limited Legends’ Game-Used Jersey Relic Card – #’d To 31

I’m on a bit of a ‘Hot Streak’ when it comes to landing some rare Fergie Jenkins cards for my collection.

I’m not sure of the reason for all of this luck, but I do hope that it does not end any time soon as I am hauling in some great beauties for my player collection that honors Fergie’s magnificent career.

My latest score comes from the 2005 Leaf Limited set.  The card is part of the ‘Limited Legends’ subset and features a nice piece of jersey framed in the shape of Fergie’s jersey number – #31.

The card is also serial numbered to just 31 copies so that it pretty neat too.

Have a look:

 

Looks nice, huh??

The card is a little dark in the scan, but it is much brighter in person.  Where you are seeing dark Brown, it is actually a vibrant Gold.

 

Nolan Ryan 2011 Topps Lineage – Base

Nolan Ryan 2011 Topps Lineage – Base

Man, I wish that the Lineage brand of cards was still in the Topps product line-up.

I know that it was not the most popular set among my fellow collectors and bloggers, but the set offered a very nice and clean design with large, and more often than not, great images.

This is the base card of Nolan Ryan from that set.

One of my favorite parts of the set was that the parallel versions were very sharp-looking and fun to chase down.  Each base card had a matching Diamond and Platinum version, and while not very expensive to bring home they were fun to go after.

That reminds me that I still have a few Jim Palmer needs from the set – time to go shopping!!!

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Upper Deck Hall Of Fame Baseball – ‘Hall Worthy’ – 38/50

Fergie Jenkins 2005 Upper Deck Hall Of Fame Baseball – ‘Hall Worthy’

It has been a little bit of a slow-going as I try to take my Fergie Jenkins player collection to the next level.

For the most part, I have all of his cards from his playing days.  And I am getting closer and closer to nabbing all of the modern stuff as well.  Staying on top of new releases certainly helps – and the new Gypsy Queen and Tribute issues will give me some new goals to go after in the very near future.

So, that leaves me with autographed cards, relic cards, and low-numbered cards.

And this one counts!!  Serial numbered as 38/50, this card comes from the 2005 Upper Deck Hall of Fame Baseball set tagged as ‘Hall Worthy’.

The card is a beauty!!  And that sweet Golden logo in the center sets it off nicely.

Fergie Jenkins 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

Fergie Jenkins 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

I am in full ‘Chase Mode’ as I go after the full spectrum of cards of Fergie Jenkins from this year’s Gypsy Queen release.

This is Fergie’s first year in the set, and I am going after him with full gusto!!!

I may not be able to snag a wood or leather bordered card, but I should be able to bring home the rest of them.

Here is the base mini of Mr. Jenkins from the set:

And now it is time to go after the Black and Green bordered mini variations.

I’M ON IT!!!

2002 Donruss Elite – ‘Passing The Torch’ With Fergie Jenkins & Mark Prior

2002 Donruss Elite – ‘Passing The Torch’ With Fergie Jenkins & Mark Prior

A few weeks ago, I showed off the base card of Fergie Jenkins from this 2002 Donruss set. 

And after doing a little more research and shopping, I discovered that the the card had another version – and a unique one at that!

The card is serial numbered as 49/500 and it features two legendary Chicago Cubs hurlers – Hall of Famer, Fergie Jenkins & Mark Prior.

While Jenkins can easily be regarded as the best pitcher in franchise history, Mark Prior will certainly go down as one of the most talented with an asterisk for ‘What Could Have Been’.

It’s nice to see both players featured on the same card.

Have a look:

Front:

Back:

I like it.  The whole ‘Passing The Torch’ theme is pretty neat.  And while the bar that Jenkins set for Cubs starting pitchers has yet to be challenged or overtaken by any pitcher for the Cubs to this point, Prior appeared to have the stuff needed to take a shot at it.  Too bad that injuries derailed his career after just four full seasons…

And since I don’t have a Mark Prior collection, I will happily add this card to my collection that honors my favorite pitcher of all-time, Ferguson Arthur Jenkins!!

YES!!!

Nolan Ryan 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

Nolan Ryan 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

I keep scooping up singles from the Gypsy Queen brand of baseball cards – and I am loving every minute of it!!

Taking a small break from the 2013 GQ set, I recently picked up this card of Nolan Ryan from the 2011 debut set of Gypsy Queen.

Here is the card:

And check out the high leg-kick of Ryan.  It is no wonder that he was able to pitch effectively for such a long time.  His use of his lower body to deliver power in his pitching was perfectly captured in this shot.

A fantastic card for my collection!!!

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #6 – 1973 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #6 – 1973 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 6th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1973 Topps baseball card:

As for Ryan’s 1973 season, it was historic!!  Ryan struck out a career high 383 batters during the 1973 baseball season.  And he did it in 326 innings of work.  The 383 K’s that Ryan amassed during the 1973 season is the eighth highest single-season tally in baseball history, and the highest number recorded since 1886 – Yes, 1886!!!

Atta Boy Nolan!!!