Jim Palmer 2012 Panini Cooperstown – Crystal

Jim Palmer 2012 Panini Cooperstown – Crystal

While I have been focused on trying to stay on top of the 2013 Topps Gypsy Queen and Tribute cards of Jim Palmer that I would like to add to my collection, I still have some cards from 2012 releases to go after.

And that includes the 2012 Panini Cooperstown set.

So far, I have been able to only pick up the base and ‘Induction’ cards.  Until now that is – as I have landed the ‘Crystal’ version of the base card.

The card is serial numbered as 281/299 and looks pretty neat.

Have a peek:

Now all I have to do is find the Red Crystal and Blue Crystal cards of Palmer and another set is done. 

Time to shop!!!!

Jim Rice 2012 Topps Archives ’77 Cloth Stickers

Jim Rice 2012 Topps Archives ’77 Cloth Stickers

I’ve scored another sticker for the set – and I am getting closer and closer to the finish line!!!

The card below is the Jim Rice sticker from the 2012 Topps Archives ‘Cloth Sticker’ set.

And if you asked me, I think Topps did a great job with their image selection for this card.

So much better than the posed portrait used for his original card from the 1977 Topps baseball card set!!!

Eric Davis ‘Fab Five’ – Card #4 – 1990 Topps

Eric Davis ‘Fab Five’ – Card #4 – 1990 Topps

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

Card #4 – 1990 Topps

While I am not a huge fan of the 1990 Topps baseball card design, I will admit that the sets does offer a few eye-catching cards in which the border design does not take away from the large image being presented.  I believe that the Eric Davis card fits into that group and I love the shot that was used for the card.  He is in the midst of a mighty swing at Shea Stadium and if I had to guess, he may have just connected for one of his 282 career home runs!

Alan Trammell 1987 Donruss Highlights

Alan Trammell 1987 Donruss Highlights

I’ve been picking up a lot of Donruss Highlights cards recently.  The reason?  Well, a lot of the player collections I am working on right now feature stars from the 1980s – and the Donruss Highlights set was issued from 1985-87 so there is some good stuff to go after.

This card of Alan Trammell is from the 1987 Highlights set and it acknowledges his winning of the American Leagues’ Player Of The Month Award in September, 1987.

It’s just too bad that the photograph selected does nothing to show you how well Trammell played in September of the 1987 baseball season…  Sheesh.

1983 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Collects 1,000th Hit Of MLB Career

1983 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Collects 1,000th Hit Of MLB Career

On this day in 1983, Andre Dawson and his Montreal Expos teammates played host to the Cincinnati Reds at Stade Olympique in Montreal.

At home, and in front of 20,316 fans, Andre Dawson connected for the 1,000th hit of his big league career.

The hit, a single, came in the bottom of the first inning off of Reds’ hurler Rich Gale.

Dawson would end up going 2-for-5 with a single, a double, and 2 runs scored.

The Reds won the game 4-3.

Congratulations Mr. Dawson!!!

 

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #22 – Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees

2012 Topps ‘Career Day’ Subset – Card #22 – Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees

I am working on this set because I find it to be the most appealing of the subsets issued by Topps in 2012.

The cards feature bold colors, great images, and a unique horizontal design.

I especially like the ‘Career Day’ theme as it pays homage to some of the greatest individual performances of baseball’s elite players.

Card #22 – Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees

The Career Day – August 19, 1962.  In a 21-7 rout of the Oakland Athletics, Mickey Mantle put on quite a show.  Going 3-for-4, Mantle connected for a single, a double, and a Grand Slam.  On the day, Mantle collected 7 RBI, scored 3 runs, and stole 2 bases.

Progress – 22/25

Frank Robinson 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Moonshots’

Frank Robinson 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen ‘Moonshots’

With all of the new members of the ‘500 HR Club’ and all of the modern sluggers that may one day be part of that club as well, I was really excited to see that Frank Robinson was included in this ‘Moonshots’ subset from the 2012 Topps Gypsy Queen set.

Here is the card:

And now, a little breakdown of Robinson’s home run prowess:

• 586 career HR
• 343 National League HRs, 243 American League HRs
• 392 HRs versus righties, 194 versus lefties
• 321 HRs in home ballpark, 265 in away ballparks
• 275 total pitchers – most was 10 versus Larry Jackson
• 32 ballparks – most was 176 at Crosley Field
• 196 Hrs with 0 out, 206 with 1 out, 184 with 2 out
• highest tally in one inning is 82 in 1st inning

Pretty neat stuff right there!!

Eric Davis ‘Fab Five’ – Card #5 – 1987 Fleer

Eric Davis ‘Fab Five’ – Card #5 – 1987 Fleer

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

Card #5 – 1987 Fleer

 

There was no way that I was not going to let this ‘Donut’ card into my ‘Fab Five’.  As many of you know, I am a sucker for cards like this – and the donut card for me is one of my favorite unintentional themes!!!

Have a dount ‘ED’, you deserve it!!

Tom Seaver 2005 Donruss Champions – SWEET!!!

Tom Seaver 2005 Donruss Champions – SWEET!!!

Of all of the modern sets that I have discovered since coming back to the hobby four and a half years ago, it is the 2005 Donruss Champions set that keeps presenting new cards to me.

And each time I locate a new one, I don’t hesitate about adding it to my collection. 

My most recent score from the set is of ‘Tom Terrific’. 

And it looks great:

I think it is time for me to finally examine the checklist for this set.  I need to see who I may be missing because if they follow the same pattern as the cards I already own from the set, they should be celebrated too.

Stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Luis Aparicio!!!

Happy Birthday Luis Aparicio!!!

Luis Aparicio turns 79 years old today.

Number 11 enjoyed a magnificent 18-season major league career. One of the best defensive shortstops in the history of the game, Aparicio was dazzling fans with his glove work decades before anyone ever heard of Ozzie Smith.

At the age of 22, Aparicio won the 1956 AL Rookie Of The Year award. He followed up his remarkable debut by making the All-Star team 10 times and capturing the Gold Glove Award 9 times.

A dynamic offensive player, Aparicio had a knack for stealing bases and scoring runs. He has collected 506 career stolen bases, while leading the league in steals from 1956-1964. He also scored 1,335 runs during his playing days, including 10 seasons of scoring at least 70 times.

A fantastic player and a Chicago legend, Happy Birthday Mr. Aparicio!!!