2013 Collecting Goal Accomplished!!! My Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set Is Done!!!

2013 Collecting Goal Accomplished!!!  My Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set Is Done!!!

Friends, I have done it!!

I have finished one of my many 2013 collecting goals.  The 1999 Topps Nolan Ryan Commemorative set that I have been building for the better part of the year is finally complete.

The set features 27 cards in total – with the subject being one of each of Ryan’s base cards from his rookie card of 1968 to his final card from 1994.

It took me a bit longer to complete this set, but I think that I did so in a pretty economical manner.  Sure, there may have been a few gaps in time when I could not find a ‘deal’ worth making to add a card to my set, but I did not budge.  And eventually, I scored.

And now, the set is complete.  And it looks great.

Check it out:

Nice, huh??

I am loving it!!!

And once I completed this set and really looked at the cards as a complete set, I immediately thought of how nicely this set captures Nolan Ryan’s career, and how Topps should produce one of these sets every season for a recently retired star.  I could just imagine this same style featuring cards of Chipper Jones and Mariano Rivera – now that would be awesome!!!

Thanks for reading.

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #2 – 1969 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #2 – 1969 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 2nd card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1969 Topps baseball card:

At the age of just 22, Nolan Ryan competed in his 3rd major league season in 1969.  Ryan appeared in 25 games in ’69 and started 10 times.  He compiled a record of 6-3 with 2 complete games and 1 save.

In 89 innings of work, Ryan compiled an ERA of 3.53 while striking out 92 batters and walking 53.

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #27 – 1994 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #27 – 1994 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 27th and final card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1994 Topps baseball card:

Officially, 1993 was Nolan Ryan’s final season in the big leagues.  But, he had a card in the 1994 Topps base set, and they included it in this tribute set as well.

I really like the ’27 Major League Seasons’ badge that Topps added to the card – A very nice and classy touch!!

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #10 – 1977 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #10 – 1977 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 10th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1977 Topps baseball card:

Nolan Ryan worked his tail off in 1977.  He threw 299 innings in 37 starts for the Angels.  He compiled a record of 19-16 on the year with 22 complete games and four shutouts.  He had an ERA of 2.77 and finished the season with a league-leading 341 strikeouts and a K:9 Innings ratio of 10.3:1.

 

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #11 – 1978 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #11 – 1978 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 11th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1978 Topps baseball card:

Nolan Ryan was enjoying his 12th season in the major leagues when the 1978 season started.  And he was just 31 years old…

The results??  Fair.

I guess you could call it a ‘down’ year for Ryan.  The numbers: 10-13 in 31 starts, 3.72 ERA, 14 complete games, 3 shutouts, 148 walks given up, 260 strikeouts in 234.2 innings of work, 13 wild pitches, and a 10.0 K per 9 innings ratio.

Far from horrible, but far from Ryan-esque as well…

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #7 – 1974 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #7 – 1974 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 7th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1974 Topps baseball card:

Nolan Ryan was an absolute workhorse for the Angels during the 1974 baseball season.

He led the American League in the following categories:

1. innings pitched – 332.2
2. walks – 202
3. strikeouts – 367
4. batters faced 1,392
5. hits allowed per nine innings – 6.0
6. strikeouts per nine innings – 9.9

I told you!!!  It’s too bad that they don’t make pitchers like him any more!!!

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #13 – 1980 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #13 – 1980 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 13th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1980 Topps baseball card:

The 1980 baseball season found Nolan Ryan in a new baseball home – Houston, Texas.  It also found him as one of the wealthiest players in the sport after signing a six-year deal with the club in the offseason.

Ryan fared rather well in his debut season with the Astros – going 11-10 in 35 starts while throwing 4 complete games and 2 shutouts.  In 232 innings of work, he struck out 200 batters.

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #9 – 1976 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #9 – 1976 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 9th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1976 Topps baseball card:

As for Ryan’s 1976 major league season, he started 39 games for the Angels but was unable to post a winning record.  He went 17-18 on the year while throwing 21 complete games and a league-leading 7 shutouts.  Ryan posted an ERA of 3.36 on the year and allowed a league-leading 6.1 hits per nine innings.  Ryan was also the AL league leader in walks (183), strikeouts (327) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.4).

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #8 – 1975 Topps Design

Nolan Ryan 1999 Topps Commemorative Set – Card #8 – 1975 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 8th card in the set, a re-print of Ryan’s 1975 Topps baseball card:

As for Ryan’s 1975 baseball season, it was another fine season, just not a spectacular one  In 28 starts, Ryan went 14-12 with 10 complete games and 5 shutouts.  He had an ERA of 3.45 while striking out 186 batters in 198 innings of work.

In the seasons prior to and after the ’75 season, Ryan started 41 and 39 games.  In 1975, he did not play after game 131 of the Angels’ season missing between 6-8 starts.

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!!!