Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #16 – 1983 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #16 – 1983 Topps Design

This is the first card that I have obtained for this set since officially declaring that I wanted to build the full set as one of my 2013 collecting goals.

This is the 16th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1983 Topps baseball card:

As for Ryan’s 1983 baseball season, it was very strong.  Ryan started 29 games and compiled a 14-9 record.  He threw 5 complete games including 2 shutouts.  In 196 innings of work, Ryan amassed an ERA of 2.98 while striking out 183 batters.

George Brett 2013 Topps ‘Chasing History’ – GOLD

George Brett 2013 Topps ‘Chasing History’ – GOLD

I still have yet to decide if I want to collect the subset of ‘Chasing History’ from the 2013 Topps Series 1 set.

I have a bunch of the cards, in both Silver and Gold, but for every one that I pull or obtain, I either really love it and the ‘Chase’ that it represents or I could care less about it.

This is the card of Hall of Famer, George Brett from that set:

I really like this one, and I like the associated ‘Chase’ that comes with it.  Brett is a very under-appreciated hitter, and his name should certainly be mentioned with the likes of other great hitters from his era – Carew, Gwynn, Boggs, etc.

Also, let me say that the Gold of this card is phenomenal!!  I doubt that the Silver version looks this good…

Jim Palmer 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

Jim Palmer 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen – mini

I keep chugging away on all of the Jim Palmer Topps Gypsy Queen cards on my ‘Need List’.

Sadly, I am simply not finding as many as I need to so I can put these releases behind me.  I would expect that from other brands in which the cards were maybe more rare or had smaller print runs, but for some reason Palmer cards from both the 2011 and 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen sets have been a but of a thorn in my side…

But, me and my Jim Palmer ‘Super Collection’ will persevere!!!

Paul Molitor 2012 Panini Cooperstown

Paul Molitor 2012 Panini Cooperstown

Here is another, of the very few, card from the 2012 Panini Cooperstown set in which Panini did not have to do anything to hide a team name or logo and take away anything from the action that the image offers.

I’m happy to see that they sought out images like these – I just wish that they did it more often than what they actually did.  I would think that it would be easier with players that starred in Molitor’s era simply because of the quantity of high-quality images taken during the 1980’s and 1990’s is sure to be greater than of prior decades.

Sure, the player might not be facing the camera or be providing the best angle for the photographer to give us a better shot, but at least we are getting real action, and no intentional cropping…

Thank you, Panini!!

Mike Schmidt 1983 Topps

Mike Schmidt 1983 Topps

The 1983 Topps set featured a very nice, and very different, photo of Mike Schmidt.

Normally with Schmidt you get an image of him either launching a home run courtesy of a monster swing or a posed portrait.

This one here features Schmidt after making sharp contact on either a ground ball or line drive.

Have a look:

I really like the action that the photographer has captured for us.  The backswing is great.  And being able to see Schmidt’s pivot foot is pretty neat as well…

My Checklists Are Built. My Cards Are Inventoried. I Am Ready To Build More Subsets. Can You Help Me???

My Checklists Are Built. My Cards Are Inventoried. I Am Ready To Build More Subsets.  Can You Help Me???

Last week I announced that I had decided to collect a few more subsets that came from 2012 Topps releases.

Topps created some great subsets in 2012, and I look forward to going after many of them.  I am going to start with the three listed below, but something tells me that adding a few more to my roster of future subsets to collect is a guarantee.

So, I have compiled the checklists.  I have sorted what I presently own.  And I have documented all of it.

Here are the three checklists that I am going after:

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘MoonShots’ – I pulled eight of these cards from a bargain bin at a recent baseball card show.  You could say that purchase helped push me to go after the full set…

2012 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Moonshots’		Have It??
MS-AB	Albert Belle	y
MS-AP	Albert Pujols
MS-BR	Babe Ruth
MS-CG	Curtis Granderson
MS-EL	Evan Longoria	y
MS-FR	Frank Robinson
MS-FT	Frank Thomas
MS-JB	Jose Bautista
MS-JH	Josh Hamilton	y
MS-JT	Jim Thome
MS-MM	Mickey Mantle
MS-MS	Mike Stanton
MS-MSC	Mike Schmidt
MS-NC	Nelson Cruz	y
MS-PF	Prince Fielder	y
MS-RH	Ryan Howard	y
MS-RJ	Reggie Jackson	y
MS-RK	Ralph Kiner	y
MS-WM	Willie Mays
MS-WMC	Willie McCovey

2012 Topps Archives ‘Deckle Edge’ – I loved these cards as soon as I saw them.  And while I would prefer that the set only contained cards of players that played when the set was originally debuted decades ago, I still want them all. 

I am starting this set from scratch – not a single Deckle Edge card in my current collection…

2012 Topps Archives ‘Deckle Edge’		Have It??
69DE-1	Roy Halladay
69DE-2	Evan Longoria
69DE-3	Jose Bautista
69DE-4	Mike Napoli
69DE-5	David Freese
69DE-6	Ichiro
69DE-7	Joe Mauer
69DE-8	Bob Gibson
69DE-9	Juan Marichal
69DE-10	Orlando Cepeda
69DE-11	Carl Yastrzemski
69DE-12	Roberto Clemente
69DE-13	Willie Mays
69DE-14	Harmon Killebrew
69DE-15	Joe Morgan

2012 Topps Archives – ’77 Cloth Stickers – This is another one that looks great and offers a good mix of current and former stars.  I have two cards from this set already, Joe Morgan and Reggie Jackson – but they are in my player collections and  I don’t want to pull them so this is another one that I am going to start from scratch…

2012 Topps Archives ’77 Cloth Stickers		Have It??
77C-AM	Andrew McCutchen
77C-CH	Catfish Hunter
77C-CC	Chris Carpenter
77C-CL	Cliff Lee
77C-CG	Curtis Granderson
77C-DJ	Derek Jeter
77C-EH	Eric Hosmer
77C-GC	Gary Carter
77C-GB	George Brett
77C-MS	Giancarlo Stanton
77C-JE	Jacoby Ellsbury
77C-JR	Jim Rice
77C-JM	Joe Morgan
77C-JB	Johnny Bench
77C-JH	Josh Hamilton
77C-JV	Justin Verlander
77C-KY	Kevin Youkilis
77C-RJ	Reggie Jackson
77C-RY	Robin Yount
77C-RC	Rod Carew
77C-RH	Roy Halladay
77C-RB	Ryan Braun
77C-SCA	Starlin Castro
77C-SC	Steve Carlton
77C-WS	Willie Stargell

I am really looking forward to this challenge.

And if you can lend a hand, I would certainly be open to organizing a few trades that would be mutually beneficial for both of us.

So, if you have any Gypsy Queen MoonShots, Archives Deckle Edge, or Archives Cloth Stickers laying around that are not beloved parts of your collections, let me know.  I am wanting to wheel and deal!!!

Thanks for reading.  Have a great night!!

2012 Topps ‘Mound Dominance’ Subset – Card #MD-11 – Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves

2012 Topps ‘Mound Dominance’ Subset – Card #MD-11 – Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves

I really like the ‘Mound Dominance’ subset that Topps included in their 2012 base set.  The cards are sharp, the graphics are solid, and I am a sucker for cards that pay homage to a historic baseball event.

The ‘Mound Dominance’ set recalls 15 amazing pitching performances in major league history.

This is card#11 – Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves

The Dominant Day – September 16, 1960. On this day, Warren Spahn threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies.  The 39-year old Spahn collected his 20th win of the season with this no-hitter.  And he was as dominant as ever; striking out 15 batters and walking just two in the complete game shutout.

Progress – 11/15

Andre Dawson 1995 Upper Deck SP – Championship Series Die Cut

Andre Dawson 1995 Upper Deck SP  – Championship Series Die Cut

Amazingly, I still come across cards of Andre Dawson from the past that I either did not know existed or have simply never seen before…

When I found this card on Ebay, I had to question if I had it or not as it looked very familiar.

After a quick check with my official checklist, which documents each and every card that is part of my collection, I realized that I only had the base version of the card but not the die-cut one.

And from there, it was simple – I HAD TO HAVE IT!!!

And now it is mine, and it rests in my Dawson collection right next to the base version of the card.

And that is what a dedicated, and compulsive, player collector does!!!

Gotta get it done!!!

Nolan Ryan 2006 Topps Turkey Red – SWEET!!!

Nolan Ryan 2006 Topps Turkey Red – SWEET!!!

I don’t think you need too many words to accompany this baseball card.

Just let the magic do the work…

Enjoy!!

Did You Know…

At the conclusion of the 1975 baseball season,Fred Lynn became the first rookie to win the Most Valuable Player Award.  Lynn batted .331 with 47 doubles, 21 home runs and 105 RBI.  Lynn helped lead the Boston Red Sox to the World Series as the American League’s representative.  He also won the 1975 Rookie Of The Year Award.