Reggie Jackson 2008 Topps Triple Threads – Sepia

Reggie Jackson 2008 Topps Triple Threads – Sepia

While I really like the ‘Sepia’ toned baseball cards of the very modern years, like 2011, 2012, and 2013, there are a few that just don’t work as well from a few years back.

Like this card from the 2008 Topps Triple Threads set of Reggie Jackson:

 

For me, the Brown tone is just too much and it takes over too much of the total card surface.  And it is not a true baseball color either.

Now had this been a Green or Yellow toned card I think it would have worked out much better.  Maybe next time…

Oh well, at least the card is serial numbered as 481/525.  All is not lost…

George Brett 1981 Topps – 1980 A.L. Championships

George Brett 1981 Topps – 1980 A.L. Championships

I love what Topps was trying to do with this baseball card, but the execution just didn’t really work that well…  at least for this collector.

Have a look:

 

When I think of cards that celebrate team achievements, especially winning, I like to see something a little more celebratory than what this card from the 1981 Topps set is offering.

Show me a few players hugging.  Show me a bunch of players crowding the plate waiting for a winning run to score.  Show me a gaggle of guys in the dugout getting ready to party.

And while I appreciate that Topps chose to showcase George Brett with this card, they could have chosen a better image of him to use…

NEXT!!!

Hank Aaron 2012 Topps ‘Golden Greats’ – Oh Henry!!

Hank Aaron 2012 Topps ‘Golden Greats’ – Oh Henry!!

Hammerin’ Hank was featured on quite a few cards in the subsets that Topps issued in 2012.

In the ‘Golden Greats’ set alone, he was featured five times.  Yes, FIVE!!!

This card, tagged as ‘Oh Henry’, celebrates Aaron’s game winning hit in the 11th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.  The hit came on August 17, 1957 and sealed the victory for a young Aaron and the Braves.

Vince Coleman 1991 Fleer

Vince Coleman 1991 Fleer

I’ve read enough baseball card blogs to know that the 1991 Fleer set is often loved and often ridiculed.  I guess it all depends on if you like that Yellow and Black design…

Personally, for me it has more to do with the card image and the team color scheme and whether that either fits with or sticks out against the Yellow & Black.

And while some team colors just do not work at all, there are quite a few major league logos and color schemes that get along just fine.

And I believe that the St. Louis Cardinals colors are an example of that – this card of Vince Coleman is sweet!

Have a look:

While cards of the Mets, Rangers, Orioles, and Cubs may not be a great fit for this design, the Cardinals cards look just fine!!!

Very nice, indeed!

Did You Know…

Eddie Murray collected more RBI than any other player in the major leagues during the 1980’s.  He drove in 996 runs during the decade.

Million Dollar Question – ‘When I Say 1989 Topps, You Think What Card’???

Million Dollar Question – ‘When I Say 1989 Topps, You Think What Card’???

The 1989 Topps baseball card set is one of my favorites issues from the 1980’s – call it a ’30-YOC Classic’.

I like the large images that the design allows for, and while the graphics are minimal, I do like how Topps merged the team name and player name into the same graphic.

When I think about the set, there are a lot of great cards.  I really like the team leader cards from the set and the Record Breakers are all really, really nice too.

But, when it comes right down to it, there is one stand-out card from the 1989 Topps set that I think of before I think of any other.

And it is:

Jim Abbott’s card – The 1st Round Draft Pick!!!

As a kid that followed baseball as closely as I did back in 1989, I was shocked to hear of Jim Abbott’s story, and even more shocked that I did not hear of him prior to the 1989 Topps card hitting the market.  Sure, I knew he had a card in the 1988 Topps Traded set as part of ‘Team USA’ but media coverage back then was nothing like it is today.  Hell, when I first heard of Abbott and his ability to play major league ball with just one hand, I was shocked.  And none of my friends believed me when I tried to share the knowledge.  There was no Internet, no baseball specific cable channels, etc. – you had to rely a lot more on print media and sometimes finding details like this took time….

To this day I find Jim Abbott to be one of the most inspirational professional athletes of my time and I truly appreciate the positive approach he has to life and to the challenges he faced as he fought his way to the big leagues.

Easily my favorite card from the 1989 Topps set!!!