HOO-RAY!!! My 2013 Topps Archives ‘Mini Tallboy’ Subset Is Complete!!

HOO-RAY!!!  My 2013 Topps Archives ‘Mini Tallboy’ Subset Is Complete!!

Yeah baby, the biggest subset I have tackled in years is finally complete.  And it took a lot of work to get here.

Thankfully, I had some help with this one.  Some trades, some donations, and some shared information all helped me get this one done.

40 cards deep, this set is big.  But, the theme is right up my alley – full of modern and vintage players all on a sweet design.

Have a look at all 40 cards:

The set is nice, and I am digging how it looks all together like this.  In my album, it is not as clean looking as the cards have a ton of room to shift and slide around in the standard sized 9-pocket page, but I will get over it.

As for the players included in the set, there are a few questionable things going on, but overall I am OK with the checklist.  I love the inclusion of Stewart, Concepcion, Greenwell, and Parker but I could have done without some of the others.  And way too many Red Sox in the set – 5 out of 40 cards when teams like the Marlins were not recognized at all.

Overall, I love it.  And I am very happy with my decision to put this set together when released with 2013 Topps Archives.

Hopefully the new Archives set has something else for me to go after…

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Roberto Clemente

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Roberto Clemente

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Roberto Clemente from the set:

 

One of the most dynamic Latin baseball players of all-time, Roberto Clemente was a pioneer for putting Latino players on par with the rest of the baseball world.

And Clemente was the star of the show!!

A 12-time All-star boasting enviable offensive and defensive skills, there was nothing that Clemente could not do on a baseball diamond.  The owner of 3,000 career hits, 240 home runs, and 11 Gold Glove trophies, Clemente was one of the brightest stars in the National League for the better part of 18 years.

Clemente competed in two World Series championships, winning titles in both 1960 and 1971.  In ’71 he was the World Series MVP largely due to his .414 batting average, 2 home runs, and 4 RBI.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Bryce Harper

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Bryce Harper

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Bryce Harper from the set:

 

As he prepares to enter just his third major league season, it feels as it we have known the name ‘Bryce Harper’ for the better part of ten years.

I cannot recall a player that got as much national attention as Harper did as a teenager, in baseball, that has actually panned out and become an All-Star and face of the sport.

If I could compare Harper to a player from another sport, it would be LeBron James.  The physical gifts, baseball smarts, instinct, and desire to win seem to mirror what LeBron brought to the sport of basketball as a teenager entering his profession.

Hopefully Bryce can take another step down that path in 2014.  I’d love to see him truly break-out!  And I hope that Matt Williams gives him that chance…

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Mike Trout

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Mike Trout

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Mike Trout from the set:

 

Mike Trout is ‘Mr. Baseball’ right now.  He is the young face of the game, and he has yet to do anything to deter anyone from latching on and enjoying the show that he puts on.

There is nothing that Trout cannot do on the baseball field.  He is electric in the outfield.  He is explosive on the base paths.  And at the age of 21 he is getting the experience to become an elite hitter of the baseball.

If the Angels are going to become a playoff team again, it will be on the shoulders of Mike Trout.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Mike Schmidt

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Mike Schmidt

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Mike Schmidt from the set:

 

Mike Schmidt’s credentials are as impressive as any player to play the game in the last 50 years.  If you were to look up the definition of a ‘power hitter’ and ‘defensive specialist’ you could very easily see a reference to Mike Schmidt in both sections.

Schmidt played for 18 seasons with the Philadelphia Philles and was and still is the face of the franchise for many baseball fans.  His raw power at the plate drew fans to the ballpark as he put on incredible displays of power while launching ball after ball into the outfield stands.  With 548 career home runs, Schmidt blasted 30 or more home runs in 12 of his 18 seasons in the majors.  And with 1,595 RBI, he certainly took advantage of have players on base when he was at bat.  Schmidt has a career batting average of .267 and hit .300 or better just 1-time.  But his job was to produce runs and that is exactly what he did – and at an unbelievable rate too.

And then there is the defense…  Schmidt was a 10-time Gold Glove winner at 3rd base.  His range, cannon of an arm, and desire to scoop up every ball hit in his direction made Schmidt the most dominant 3rd baseman during the 1980’s.

Elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1995, Schmidt was a 12-time All-star.  Schmidt may also be the most highly decorated player from the 1980’s as he won 3 MVP award – in 1980, 1981, and 1986.

Mike Schmidt competed in 2 World Series match-ups – 1 in 1980 and 1 in 1983.  His Phillies team in 1980 won the title in 6 games but lost in 7 games in 1983 to the Baltimore Orioles.  During their drive to the title in 1980, Schmidt amazed the baseball world while hitting .381 with 2 home runs and driving in 7.  These impressive stats led to him being votes the World Series MVP of the 1980 Fall Classic.  Unfortunately in 1983 he could not duplicate his success as he accounted for just 1 hit in 20 at-bats and hit a poor .050.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Buster Posey

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Buster Posey

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Buster Posey from the set:

After completing his fifth major league season in 2013, Buster Posey has built a resume worthy of Hall of Fame chatter.

Posey is a former Rookie of the Year.  He has won an MVP Award.  He has a Silver Slugger Award to his credit.  He is a batting champion.  And he is a 2-time NL All-Star.

Best of all, Posey already has 2 trips to the World Series to his credit – and both culminated with wins.

He may not be crowned as the best catcher in the game today, but he has the skills to achieve that status.  And at the young age of just 26, the sky is his limit!

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Al Kaline

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Al Kaline

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Al Kaline from the set:

Kaline spent 22 years in the major leagues, and he called Tiger Stadium home for the duration of that time.  A 15-time All-Star with the club, Kaline was on par with the game’s greatest talents from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The member of the 1980 Baseball Hall of Fame class, Kaline collected 3,007 hits during his career along with 1,622 runs scored, 1,583 RBI, 399 home runs, and 137 stolen bases.  He won 10 Gold Gloves for his excellent play in the outfield as well.  Never an MVP, he did finish in the Top 10 on 9 separate occasions.

Kaline was the offensive leader of the Tigers team that won the 1968 World Series.  In 7 games, he hit .379 while connecting for 11 hits, including 2 doubles and 2 home runs.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – David Wright

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – David Wright

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of David Wright from the set:

 

Simply put, David Wright is the ‘King Of New York’.

At The 2013 baseball season was Wright’s 10th in the league and with the Mets.  He is second on the team all-time with a .301 batting average.  He has the highest tally of all Mets players in hits, doubles, RBI, runs scored, and trails Darryl Strawberry by 30 in the home run category.

Wright is signed with the Mets through the 2020 baseball is season.  If he stays with the team that long, he will go down with the crown of ‘Mr. Met’.

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Yoenis Cespedes

2013 Topps Archives ‘Tallboys’ Subset – Yoenis Cespedes

With the new 2013 Topps Archives baseball card set release, the ‘Mini Tallboys’ subset is easily one of the best parts of the issue.

The cards from this subset offer a very basic, but throwback feel that screams vintage. The set is 40 cards deep and offers a nice mixture of current players, stars from the 1980′s, and Hall of Fame legends.

This is the card of Yoenis Cespedes from the set:

 

While Yoenis Cespedes may not have been a household name in the Bay Area prior to the 2013 Home Run Derby, the show he put on certainly elevated his status.

And now, as he enters his third big league season, it is time for him to take his game to the next level.  He needs to become an All-Star, chosen by the coaches.  He needs to launch 30+ home runs, and drive in 110+ RBI.  He needs to steal 25 bases and score 100 runs.  And he needs to see that the Oakland A’s surpasses the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and LA Angels yet again.

It is time for Yoenis Cespedes to become more than just a 1-night star.  It is time for him to break out!

I’m Looking For A Few More 2013 Topps Archives “Mini Tallboys” If Anyone Has A Few To Spare…

I’m Looking For A Few More 2013 Topps Archives “Mini Tallboys” If Anyone Has A Few To Spare…

Friends, the title of this post says it all.  I need a few cards from this set to make it complete so I am turning to the great readers of this blog to see if I can get any help.

Currently, I have four cards left on my ‘Need List’.  They are:

• Buster Posey
• Mike Schmidt
• Mike Trout
• Roberto Clemente

Quite a list, huh?

If you have any of these cards, and are willing to part with them, please let me know.  I’m certain that we can work something out – and I will surely be grateful.

Thanks for reading.  And thanks for the help!