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!!!

Jim Rice 1980 Topps

Jim Rice 1980 Topps

Jim Rice’s card from the 1980 Topps set is a nice one.

And as you can se, it looks like Mr. Rice is prepped to unleash a fierce swing.

Check it out:

By most measures, Jim Rice has a nice season in 1980.  But by the standards he had set in prior seasons, it was a down year for him in 1980.  Still, the numbers are far from poor – .294 batting average, 148 hits, 81 runs scored, 86 RBI, 18 doubles, 17 home runs, and 254 total bases in 124 games played.

Happy Birthday Reginald Martinez Jackson!!!

Happy Birthday Reginald Martinez Jackson!!!

You may know him as Reggie or as Mr. October or as 1 of the greatest World Series heroes in baseball history. However you know him, Reginald Martinez Jackson turns 67 years old today!!

I unquestionably consider Reggie Jackson as being one of the most dynamic players to ever play the game of professional baseball. On the very short list, I think that Reggie during his prime was one player that was worth the price of admission alone. His persona and ability were head and shoulders above most of his teammates and competitors and when Reggie got the chance to shine, he took full advantage… The result is one of the most impressive careers in baseball for a player playing in a major market city.

Quite simply, Reggie Jackson lived up to the hype he built for himself and not too many players can do that. For his birthday, I would like to give Reggie a hidden microphone and let him coach a high-profile game. Maybe the All-star game. Maybe the ‘Home Run Derby’. Something good but not too serious. Let Reggie have fun, and I am sure that hilarity would ensue…

Happy Birthday ‘Mr. October’!!!

Keith Hernandez 1987 Topps

Keith Hernandez 1987 Topps

Coming off of the 1986 baseball season and a World Series championship with the Mets, Keith Hernandez had a lot to smile about at the start of the 1987 baseball season.

Sadly, the happiness did not last long as the Mets would not live up to their championship winning ways and in-fighting on the squad began.

As a kid growing up in the 1980′s, the media coverage of daily non-field events was rare and nothing close to how things are covered in today’s social-media-first world.  But I do recall reading and hearing about a fight between Hernandez and Strawberry.  There were no pictures, there was no sound, and the story passed rather quickly.  If that happened today, we would have pictures, we would have sound, and we would discuss it for a week.

‘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!!

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!!!

TTM SUCCESS: Miami Marlins 1-Day Hero, Adam Greenberg!!

TTM SUCCESS: Miami Marlins 1-Day Hero, Adam Greenberg!!

I sent just one baseball card out during Spring Training with the hopes of hauling in an autograph for my collection.

That card was sent to Adam Greenberg, formerly of the Miami Marlins.

We all know his story, and for one day Greenberg was the most relevant player in the sport.  As a Marlins fan, there was a lot of attention paid to Greenberg leading up to his appearance with the team and it was very hard to not get swept up in all of the excitement. 

I admire his determination and he can certainly teach many of today’s players about how quickly the dream of playing major league baseball can be taken from you.

Greenberg attended Spring Training with the Baltimore Orioles this year and he still has the goal of making the big leagues on a permanent roster.  I sent my card to him in the middle of Spring and it was returned to me the other day – signed!!

Have a look:

Thank you Adam, and best of luck to you with all of your future endeavors!!!

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.

 

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck Legends

Johnny Bench 2001 Upper Deck Legends

Now this card here is a sharp one!

I really like how Upper Deck employed a Black and Yellow border for this card’s design.  The color combination works well together and the blending into the image of Bench is a fine complement to that strong Yellow coloring.

The scripting used for the Johnny Bench nameplate is pretty nice too.  The font choice has a sense of royalty to it and the size works well with the text underneath it.

Check it out:

I told you!

Now, if the image used had a few muted tones of Red in the uniform this one would jump from a B+ to an A real quick.

Jim Rice 1981 Topps

Jim Rice 1981 Topps

As you know, I am not a huge fan of the use of a zoomed-in image for my baseball cards.  If the zoomed-in shot is action-filled, I will take it, but certainly not a ‘head’ shot like this one of Jim Rice from the 1981 Topps baseball card set.

Buy It.

Receive It.

Log It In.

 Scan It.

Draft It.

Post It.

NEXT!