1986 Topps Sealed Cello Pack With Andre Dawson Card On Top!

1986 Topps Sealed Cello Pack With Andre Dawson Card On Top!

I am really excited about this pick-up for my ‘Ultimate Dawson’ collection.

Two weeks ago, I found a seller on Ebay that had listed hundreds of sealed cello and rack packs from the 1980’s featuring the game’s top stars and rookies right on top in the pack’s window.

I was able to but three for myself – and all of them feature Andre Dawson as the stand-out card.

The first one I will show off is from the 1986 Topps set release.

Here it is:

 

Pretty neat, huh?!?

While Dawson’s 1986 Topps baseball card is one of my least favorites from the 1980’s, I will let that pass as this is a very cool collectible for my collection.

And for now, it is the oldest, sealed pack of cards in my collection that features an Andre Dawson baseball card as the centerpiece.

I LOVE IT!!

Andre Dawson 2014 Topps ‘Rookie Class Of 1976’ Commemorative Class Ring Card

Andre Dawson 2014 Topps ‘Rookie Class Of 1976’ Commemorative Class Ring Card

When it comes down to it, I guess that I really don’t mind the manufactured relic cards that puzzle so many other collectors.

I find them to be kind of neat, and a nice way to commemorate a player or event.

What does puzzle me about these kinds of cards is how some of them continue to demand top-dollar while others can be had pretty inexpensively.

I have been able to snag a handful of manufactured relic cards over the last few years.  And while I know that the player being featured on the card is what ultimately drives the price and interest level of the public, I have been able to grab some great ones very affordably.

Like this one here of Andre Dawson from the 2014 Topps Series 1 ‘Rookie Class’ set.

 

 

I love it!  The card features a sweet, vintage photo of ‘Hawk’ from his early days in Montreal.  And the ring-looking metal insert is a nice touch for the ‘Class Of’ theme.

It took me a while to grab one of these for my collection, but my patience paid off and I was able to land one for my collection in my price range.

A great addition to my Andre Dawson PC.

Andre Dawson 2014 Topps Museum Collection – Bronze

Andre Dawson 2014 Topps Museum Collection – Bronze

This set has been a tough one for me to tackle as not too many singles have hit Ebay since it launched months ago.

Thus far, I have the base card and the Blue card.

And now, I have the ‘Bronze’.

Have a look:

 

The bronze looks nice, the way that the color is used adds to the framing of the image of ‘Hawk’ and I think that the Bronze coloring allows for the Blue of Andre’s uniform to really pop.

Hopefully I can land a few more cards from this set as they appear in the secondary market.  I’ve seen the Green version, but that is it…

Wish me luck.

Here Is My Andre Dawson 3-Card 2013 Panini America’s Pastime Career Numbers Relic Set

Here Is My Andre Dawson 3-Card 2013 Panini America’s Pastime Career Numbers Relic Set

I’ve never really tried to put together a complete relic set from a specific product of a specific player at any time.

For me, there is just too much involved with attempting to do that.  Too many cards, too many low-serial numbered cards, and more likely than not – t0o expensive to go after.

Still, I do try to grab what I can, when I can.

And I have been able to pick-up three different cards of Andre Dawson from the relic set of 2013 Panini America’s Pastime tagged as ‘Career Numbers’.

Each card is serial numbered to just 125 copies, and they all celebrate Andre’s 438 career home runs.

Here are the three cards:

 

As you can see, I have grabbed the Cubby Blue, the home White, and the home White with pinstripe.

I have no idea if other versions of the same card exist. But, if they do and if they can be had affordably, I will do what I can to expand this set past three cards.

Wish me luck!

Andre Dawson 2013 Panini America’s Pastime ‘Career Numbers’ Game-Used Blue Relic Jersey Card

Andre Dawson 2013 Panini America’s Pastime ‘Career Numbers’ Game-Used Blue Relic Jersey Card

I’d been hunting down this bad-boy for a few weeks, and I finally scored.

Have a peek:

 

I already owned the version with the White chunk of jersey.

And then I snagged the one that has a White chunk with a Cubby Blue stripe running through it.

And now, I have grabbed the All-Blue version!

This sweet card is serial numbered to just 125 copies.  Mine is stamped as #6/125.

I don’t now if other versions of the same card exist with varying pieces of jersey, but I am definitely on the watch for them.  And if one pops up, I will do my best to bring it home.

Do you know more about the other versions?  If you do, please share the info.  Thanks.

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson’s Final Major League Game Of His 21-Season Career

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson’s Final Major League Game Of His 21-Season Career

On this day in 1996, Andre Dawson played in his final major league game capping a 21-season career.

Dawson and his Marlins teammates were on the road in Houston taking on the Astros.  Regulated to a bench role in his final season, Dawson did not make start in the game, but he did make an appearance as a pinch hitter.

Dawson did not get a hit, he popped out in foul territory to record the final out of his major league career.

The Marlins lost the game 5-4 and Andre Dawson’s career was over.  Dawson was one of the most well-rounded players from his generation – a guy that displayed all of baseball’s ‘5 Tools’ en route to being a Rookie of the Year Award winner, an MVP, an 8-time All-Star, an 8-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a 7-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Congratulations on a fantastic major league career Andre.  And ‘THANK YOU’ so much for the amazing memories!!!

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Captures The Final Hit & Final RBI Of His Major League Career

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Captures The Final Hit & Final RBI Of His Major League Career

On this day in 1996, Andre Dawson connected for the final hit and drove in the last RBI of his major league career.

At home and hosting their divisional rivals, the Atlanta Braves, the Florida Marlins were looking to eclipse the .500 mark by the end of the 1996 baseball season.  With just 4 games to go, and a record of 79-80, the Marlins were hosting the leaders of the NL East, the Braves.

In front of a home crowd of more than 25,000 fans, Andre Dawson put on one last ‘show’ for the home team and the baseball world.

‘Hawk’ went 3-for-4 in the game driving in one run and scoring two times.  All three hits were singles, with them all coming off of Braves’ hurler, Denny Neagle.   The final player to score courtesy of an Andre Dawson RBI was Edgar Renteria who scored on a Dawson single in the bottom of the first inning.

The Marlins won the game 7-0.

Happy Anniversary Andre!!!

1985 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Connects For Career Home Run #200

1985 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Connects For Career Home Run #200

On this day in 1985, Andre Dawson hit the 200th home run of his major league career.

With the Montreal Expos on the road in Chicago, Dawson and his teammates were facing his eventual employer – the Chicago Cubs.

Dawson entered the game with 199 career home runs, and in the top of the fifth inning, against Cubs pitcher Steve Trout, Dawson delivered a solo home run that gave the Expos a 2-1 lead.  Dawson would end up going 1-for-5 in the game with 1 hit, 1 home run, and 1 RBI.  The Expos won the game 10-7.

Congrats on #200 Hawk!!!

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Connects For Final Home Run Of His Career, #438

1996 HEADLINE: Andre Dawson Connects For Final Home Run Of His Career, #438

On this day in 1996, Andre Dawson connected for the last home run of his major league baseball career.  Dawson and the Marlins were at home facing the Houston Astros.  Dawson entered the game as a pinch hitter and with two men on in the bottom of the eighth inning, he connected on a 3-1 pitch for a deep home run down the left field line.  The blast, #438 of his career, came against the Houston Astros and pitcher Xavier Hernandez.  Two men were on base for the shot, and Dawson plated three runs to help extend the Marlins lead and eventual 6-0 win.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Dawson!!!

1990 HEADLINE: Dawson Joins Elite 2,000 Hits, 400 Home Runs, & 300 Stolen Base Club

1990 HEADLINE: Dawson Joins Elite 2,000 Hits, 400 Home Runs, & 300 Stolen Base Club

1990 HEADLINE: Dawson Joins Elite Hits, Home Runs, & Stolen Base Club

On this day in 1990, Andre Dawson became just the second player in major league baseball history to achieve 2,000 hits, 30o home runs, and 300 steals.

The feat that got him to this mark?  The 300th stolen base of his career.  The steal came in the bottom of the first inning against the New York Mets.  Dawson singled off of Mets pitcher Ron Darling and immediately stole second base putting himself in scoring position.  He would score the second run of the game for the Cubs on a single by outfielder Derrick May.  The Cubs went on to lose the game 11-5.

Congratulations on #300 ‘Hawk’!!!!